Friday, 15 January 2016

IT'S A LONG HARD ROAD TO WIN THE CUP

I took the trouble to pay £5 from my pension allowance last weekend to watch the first leg of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, Northern Final first leg at Barnsley. It resulted 1-1.

Last night the other half of the draw saw Oxford United beat Millwall 2-0 at the Den, with over 7,200 watching Oxford's FA Cup hero, Kemar Roofe score both goals, taking his total up to 4 in two games. Having put Swansea to the sword on Saturday, Kemar, who didn't "make it" at West Bromwich Albion, now seems to be in prolific form for his club. Another Jamie Vardy perhaps?
Oxford will do well to lose the tie overall, as it goes to a second leg, whilst Fleetwood may well have the advantage over the Tykes.

If you think this round of cup ties adds to the Winter fixture clag up, then have a look at this bundle of facts from the French National Cup. 

The Coupe de France invites all teams from any part of the national pyramid and even those in dependencies overseas into their competition. Last season's tournament  was at the quarter-final stage when the new competition began in March. It's a long affair.
6163 clubs started the first round and as well as Sunday sides, teams from overseas' territories entered. This includes Reunion from the Indian Ocean, Tahiti and French Guiana for the early rounds.

After six preliminary rounds the winning teams are pitched against teams from the mainland.
A bit like Accrington Stanley going to the Falkland Islands. GSI Pontivy from Brittany played AS Pirae from Tahiti, away in the seventh round. But Pontivy chose to go into the "pot" that ended in having an overseas trip. So it was "voluntary"! Nice idea having the choice.
Seventh Round madness:
Epernay v Hienghene Sport, New Caledonia 10,208 miles.
Pontivy had to travel 9,607 miles to Pirae!

It's a long way to win the Coupe.







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