Ive watched later stages and enjoy it. Far far far better without daft crowd noise added in I feel like Im actually there can hear the bench and players more. Cardboard cut outs make it look like Disney land than Northants though. Second goal for Cheltenham was a killer for Northants even though away goals don't count its an uphill struggle now for Northants. Result Northamton 0-2 Cheltenham. Second leg is Monday.
Two good competitive games in the end. So, we'll be seeing Colchester and Cheltenham back next season. Think I'd like to see Exeter go on and do it from here - if only based on league positions.
Oh, and apparently first time a team at this level has made the final after coming back from a 2 goal deficit from the first leg. (….waits to be proven wrong ....)
What a turnaround and come back by Northampton - with Wembley so big and these clubs dont have that many got me thinking can you socially distance a final?
It is very rare to get a dud play-off game. Not everyone agrees, but I think they are one of the better revisions - along with the back-pass rule - in the last few decades.
The traditional mantra regarding them is: "It isn't what you have done all season, it is about hitting form at the right time".
This is evidenced by the disproportionate level of teams who grab their slot in the last week, but go on to outperform others who have been thereabout for most of the campaign.
So... what impact does a ten week break have... can it be said that ANY team is truly in or out of form...?
It is very rare to get a dud play-off game. Not everyone agrees, but I think they are one of the better revisions - along with the back-pass rule - in the last few decades.
The traditional mantra regarding them is: "It isn't what you have done all season, it is about hitting form at the right time".
This is evidenced by the disproportionate level of teams who grab their slot in the last week, but go on to outperform others who have been thereabout for most of the campaign.
So... what impact does a ten week break have... can it be said that ANY team is truly in or out of form...?
It seems to be about who is the best prepared to hit the ground running over the three games - plus a little luck thrown in.
It is very rare to get a dud play-off game. Not everyone agrees, but I think they are one of the better revisions - along with the back-pass rule - in the last few decades.
The traditional mantra regarding them is: "It isn't what you have done all season, it is about hitting form at the right time".
This is evidenced by the disproportionate level of teams who grab their slot in the last week, but go on to outperform others who have been thereabout for most of the campaign.
So... what impact does a ten week break have... can it be said that ANY team is truly in or out of form...?
It seems to be about who is the best prepared to hit the ground running over the three games - plus a little luck thrown in.
I am more concerned about match fitness and tackle timings. Seems to me there are a lot more injuries occurring as both players are slightly off the pace.
Congratulations to Northampton , fully deserved on tonight’s performance and for the comeback against Cheltenham in the semi-final. Third time in 4 years that Exeter have lost in a play-off final
Northants destroyed Exeter. Fully deserved promotion. Came good at right time. Very strange seeing players collecting their own medal and no fans there.
"Coming good at the right time" is really what the play-offs are all about.
Certainly on the league showing, no-one could say that Northampton were noticeably superior to us. We had played most of the top teams twice & actually had a decent record against them.
Seems to be a theme over the years that we play well against the fancied teams but struggle against those in & around us.
One of those games where (in the first half at least) I couldn't work out if Northampton were especially good, or if Exeter were poor. Exeter certainly looked very ropey at the back. The pundits reminded us that Exeter's poor form goes back some distance, so maybe the outcome was no great surprise, despite the final league placings.
Good to watch, and yeah Nicky Adams looked decent for the time he was on the pitch.