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56 FOOTBALL SATURDAY FEBRUARY 15 2014 WESTERN MORNING NEWS WMN-E01-S2 Duffy to see season Pat Baldwin out with Exeter City defender talks life, the universe and everything football Glovers

BY CHRIS SWEET A week of ups and downs as hammy Shane Duffy has revealed he snubbed offers from elsewhere in January to remain commit- ted to Yeovil Town’s relegation goes and Gowzer becomes a Pirate b at t l e. The on-loan Everton centre- half has proven one of the high- First and foremost, I hope risking injuries. Last Sat- happened so quickly. He first lights of the Glovers’Champ- everyone is safe and sound u rd ay ’s game was a great at- mentioned it to me on ionship campaign, becoming a from the dreadful weather that mosphere, assisted by the high Thursday that a deal was look- commanding figure at the shows no signs of easing up. If number and loud away support ing likely. heart of defence. you have been affected in any that Portsmouth are renowned With the financial position His form in the first half of way just concentrate on the for. I was really enjoying the we are in, the deal was a great the season caught the eye of light at the end of the pro- game and felt confident in get- one for the club. other clubs but the Republic of verbial tunnel –the rain will ting a result even after going a This is something I honestly Ireland Under-21 international eventually stop! goal behind. do not know, but I could ima- said there was only destina- It did threaten another home We thoroughly deserved our gine the club would have saved tion on his mind. game of ours last week. Al- equaliser, albeit leaving it a bit itself some money in letting “It was a good test to stay though there were downpours late and I really hope it’s a sign the move happen and we have h e re, ”said Duffy. “I could have overnight in patches and again of us turning a corner at home. signed a young, hungry player gone to other places but I just before kick-off, thankfully Unfortunately, from a personal in Eliot Richards. wanted to stay. it was not enough to stop play point of view, I was extremely He is still only 22, has played “I thought it would be a test and the pitch was actually in disappointed to have had to go a lot of games for his age and for myself and the lads. I have pretty good nick, all things off at half-time. certainly knows where the never been in this situation in c o n s i d e re d . I felt my hamstring tighten goal is. Eliot was just breaking my career, so I wanted to give it Our fantastic team of up quite badly midway through into Rovers’first team my best shot. groundsmen were very kindly through the first half and as I when I was on loan there a few “If we come out of it, hope- loaned The Blotter by Som- have never pulled it before, it years back so I knew a little bit fully it will be good for my erset County Cricket Club so took a while for me to realise it about him before he came. He career. It’s different to any- we were well prepared in fend- was not a case of just running is a nice lad who I am sure will thing I have ever been involved ing off any ground water. it off so I had to be honest and be a roaring success for us. in. Hopefully, when I look back In the week building up to let the management know that As for Gowzer, we both ar- at the end of my career, it will the game, the training ground I was not right. rived at the club around the have stood me in good stead. was again unplayable for the Any player will tell you that same time so I became very “We have got some import- most part so manager Paul Tis- it is one of the hardest parts of close with him and it is never ant home games that will see dale and the coaching staff had our job to hold your hands up nice to see one of your mates where we are. We have had a to be creative to give us the best and say you need to come off. leave, but that’s football. I have rough time with a few tough game-related environments to The last thing I ever want to do become used to it over the games and we haven’t really train as possible. is mess with the manager’s years with seeing many play- got the squad to cover playing We found ourselves at the tactical plan, as I know how ers come and go. them [the likes of Southamp- indoor facility at Newton much preparation Tis puts I am sure everyone joins me ton, Derby County and Nott- Abbott as we often do at the into every game. in wishing him well with his ingham Forest] every week. moment, but the rain stayed off I must admit it was a bit of a new endeavours but we have enough for us to train at the surprise to see leave to, and will, move on as a team Cat and Fiddle on Friday. the club, purely because it and a club, starting today at ‘Hopefully, when Obviously, the Cat has been high-flying Southend. I look back at badly affected by the amount of The game will be tough but the end of my water and was very muddy and ‘Any player will tell we can go into it with great career, it will sticky. We did not train for too you that it is one of confidence in how we have per- have stood me long as, from a physical per- formed in our last few games in good stead’– spective, it is hard to go from the hardest parts of but it is very important that we Shane Duffy training on a hard surface like do not let up on the basics that Newton Abbott, to a slippery our job to hold your have enabled us to go three one like the Cat. hands up and say you games unbeaten. But we’re going to give it a It is very easy to pick up For those of you who make good go and now we’re playing injuries that way, so the coach- need to come off’ the journey over to my home teams around us. We need to ing staff made the very sens- county, have a safe trip and to win these games, that’s what ible decision to cut the Pat Baldwin everybody else, have a great really matters.” The loss of good pal Alan Gow to Bristol Rovers was a surprise PINNACLE training length down to avoid we e ke n d . Duffy added that swapping the bright lights of Liverpool WEEKEND FOOTBALL FIXTURES AND POOLS GUIDE for the quieter surroundings of Somerset had also played a key TODAY 10 Rochdale v Morecambe...... Macclesfield v Forest Green...... Clevedon v Bishop’s Cleeve, Evesham v North Tavistock v Ivybridge –postponed. role in his rapid development. 11 Southend Utd v Exeter City ...... Nuneaton v Hyde...... Leigh, Fleet v Didcot, Guildford v Stratford, Carlsberg South West Peninsula Southport v Salisbury ...... Mangotsfield v Bridgwater, Shortwood v He said: “It’s all right, it’s League Division One East: Axminster v 3pm unless stated, 13 Dundee Utd v ...... SKRILL CONFERENCE NORTH Godalming, Taunton v Merthyr, Thatcham v Plymstock –postponed, Budleigh Salterton v just quiet. It’s probably what I pools coupon numbers shown on left 14 Hibernian v Ross County...... 33 Brackley v Gloucester...... Yate, Tiverton v Swindon Supermarine, Galmpton, Crediton v Liverton –postponed, needed. I maybe needed to get FA CUP FIFTH ROUND 15 CT v Hearts ...... 34 Bradford Park Avenue v Gainsborough...... Wimborne v Cirencester. Newton Abbot Spurs v Exwick Villa, University out of the big city and focus on Cardiff City v Wigan Athletic...... 16 Motherwell v Partick...... 35 Colwyn Bay v Boston Utd ...... FA Carlsberg Vase fifth round: Dunston of Exeter v Sidmouth –postponed. Manchester City v Chelsea ...... (5.15pm) 17 St Mirren v ...... (12.45pm) Hednesford v Solihull ...... UTS v Brightlingsea Regent –postponed, East football. Just going to training, Sheffield Wednesday v Charlton...... Histon v Harrogate Town ...... Carlsberg South West Peninsula SCOTTISH Preston Athletic v St Andrews –postponed, League Division One West: Dobwalls v going home and often then Sunderland v Southampton ...... (12.45pm) 18 Alloa v Livingston ...... Leamington v Vauxhall Motors...... North Ferriby v Oxford City...... Eastbourne Utd v Morpeth Town –postponed, Truro –postponed, Foxhole Stars v Penryn, watching football is good for SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP 19 v ...... Hadleigh Utd v Wisbech Town, Sholing v 20 Morton v Cowdenbeath ...... Stalybridge v Guiseley ...... Holsworthy v Wadebridge, Porthleven v someone who arrived here Birmingham v Huddersfield ...... Telford v Stockport County...... Larkhall Athletic –postponed, Spennymoor Penzance –postponed, Sticker v Bude, Vospers Bournemouth v Burnley...... 21 Queen of the South v Dundee...... Town v Newcastle Benfield –postponed, West 22Raith Rovers v Hamilton...... 36 Worcester v Barrow ...... P Oak Villa v Helston. aged 21.” Doncaster v Barnsley...... 37 Workington v Altrincham ...... Auckland v Hallen. Duffy first popped up on Ipswich v Blackpool ...... Throgmorton South West Peninsula Millwall v Bolton...... SKRILL CONFERENCE SOUTH Toolstation Western League Premier League Cup third round: Mousehole v Ye ov i l ’s radar during a similar 23 Airdrie v Brechin ...... Division: Bitton v Willand, Brislington v Watford v Middlesbrough...... 24 v Rangers ...... 38 Basingstoke v Chelmsford...... Stoke Gabriel (2pm). 39 Bishop’s Stortford v Hayes & Yeading ...... Buckland Athletic, Bristol MF v Bishop Sutton, –but shorter –temporary spell SKY BET LEAGUE ONE 25 v Dunfermline ...... Cornwall FA Senior Cup third round: St 26 Stenhousemuir v East Fife ...... 40 Boreham Wood v Eastbourne Borough...... Gillingham Town v Odd Down, Ilfracombe v at Scunthorpe United when Bristol City v Tranmere...... 41 Dorchester v Bromley...... Dennis v Launceston (2pm). Coventry v Bradford City ...... (2pm) 27 Stranraer v ...... Winterbourne, Melksham v Hengrove, Radstock both clubs were in League One. 42 Dover v Bath City...... v Bridport, Slimbridge v Longwell Green. Cornwall FA Senior Cup quarter-finals: Crawley v Carlisle ...... 43 Ebbsfleet v Staines...... St Austell v St Day, St Blazey v Godolphin, Having spent time at a similar- Toolstation Western League First Crewe v Brentford...... 28 Annan v East Stirling ...... Maidenhead v Concord Rangers...... Wendron v Bodmin –all postponed. sized club with a stadium built Milton Keynes Dons v Oldham ...... 29 Berwick v Elgin ...... (4pm) Sutton Utd v Weston-super-Mare...... Division: Almondsbury UWE v Ashton & to a near-identical blueprint Preston v Leyton Orient...... 30 Montrose v Queen’s Park...... Tonbridge v Eastleigh...... B’well, Barnstaple v Wells, Calne v Portishead, Rotherham v Stevenage ...... 31 v Clyde...... 44 Whitehawk v Farnborough...... Chard v Bradford Town, Cheddar v Keynsham, TOMORROW helped the defender settle. Shrewsbury v Port Vale ...... (1pm) 32 Stirling Albion v Albion Rovers...... •Pool coupon numbers 45-49 are Spanish Chippenham Park v Wellington, Corsham v “It was very similar when I Wolves v Notts County...... Welton Rovers, Cribbs v Wincanton, Devizes v R FA CARLSBERG TROPHY League fixtures. 3pm unless stated, came –I thought that as soon SKY BET LEAGUE TWO SEMI-FINALS FIRST LEG G St George, Oldland v Shepton Mallet. 1 Burton Albion v Dagenham & Redbridge...... Calor Southern League Premier pools coupon numbers shown on left as I arrived,”Duffy said. “I was Cambridge Utd v Grimsby Town...... Division: Arlesey v Stourbridge, Bashley v Les Phillips Western League Cup 2 Bury v Bristol Rovers...... Havant & Waterloville v Gosport Borough ...... second round: Cadbury Heath v Sherborne. FA CUP FIFTH ROUND more used to it this time. 3 Cheltenham v Wycombe ...... Cambridge City, Bideford v St Albans, Arsenal v Liverpool...... (4pm) “When I was at Scunthorpe 4 Chesterfield v Torquay Utd...... SKRILL CONFERENCE PREMIER Biggleswade v Hitchin, Chesham v Frome, Carlsberg South West Peninsula Everton v Swansea City...... (1.30pm) 5 Fleetwood v Northampton ...... Alfreton v Aldershot...... Corby v Truro, Hemel Hempstead v Chippenham League Premier Division: Camelford v Sheffield Utd v Nottingham Forest ...... before, it was more of a shock. I 6 Hartlepool v Newport County...... Barnet v Tamworth ...... Town, Hungerford v Totton, Redditch v Poole, Saltash –postponed, Elmore v Liskeard – Braintree v Wrexham ...... P SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP have enjoyed it here at Yeovil, 7 Oxford Utd v Mansfield...... St Neots v Burnham, Weymouth v Banbury. postponed, Exmouth v Torpoint, Falmouth v Queen’s Park Rangers v Reading...... (3.30pm) 8 Plymouth Argyle v York City...... Gateshead v Woking...... so hopefully I can help keep the Calor Southern League Division One Elburton –postponed, Newquay v Bovey Tracey 9 Portsmouth v Wimbledon...... Lincoln City v Kidderminster ...... –postponed, Witheridge v Plymouth Parkway, SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP club in the Championship.” Luton v Hereford...... South and West: Cinderford v Paulton, 12 Celtic v St Johnstone...... (12.45pm)