New Zealand

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scores twice to move Man Utd to the top of the Premiership after a 2-0 win over Newcastle. James in Hospital today sus break of left arm again(looks broken) hospital says its okay!! we will see. Xray showed a crack but they say it is the old one?. My District team lost 1-0 to HULL yesterday, we were robbed. Hull FC lost to St Helens in First semi play off. They now play Bradford in 2nd semi. We are going to Galloway for new year. Going to the lakes next weekend going up on high street and around Patterdale. Keep enjoying. Let me know if you get near Wellington, i'll direct you to that good outdoor shop. Brian

01.10.2006 by bagnall

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's double moved Manchester United to the top of the Premiership table on goal difference.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side were always on top and struck the woodwork four times.

Darren Fletcher hit the post early on, as did Cristiano Ronaldo just before the break, but this time Solskjaer was on hand to sidefoot past Steve Harper.

Solskjaer's second goal had an element of luck about it when Nemanja Vidic's shot richocheted off the Norwegian and past Harper early in the second half.
Ronaldo, who had a superb game, seemed to have a particular affinity with the woodwork, hitting the bar and then the post in the space of six minutes after the second goal.

Throughout the game Manchester United's attacking play was a rich mixture of individual trickery and fluid passing movements, with Ronaldo invariably involved.

Newcastle deployed five men in midfield in a bid to stifle Manchester United, but the tactic had no effect, as the home side laid siege to the visitors' goal.

Newcastle were under pressure from the start, with Harper saving from Vidic and Steven Taylor bravely blocking Rio Ferdinand's shot.

Manchester United finally went ahead just before the interval when a powerful run from Ronaldo from a short corner ended with the Portuguese winger unleashing a shot that hit the base of the post.

The ball rebounded to Solskjaer, who had the simplest of tasks to beat Harper to score for the first time at Old Trafford since April 2003.

01.10.2006 by bagnall

Newcastle's tactic of deploying five men in midfield also ensured Shola Ameobi was always isolated in attack.

Just after Solskjaer's first goal James Milner did manage to make inroads into the Manchester United defence, only to undo that good work by overhitting his cross.
As a contest the game was over when Solskjaer scored his second on 49 minutes.

After a Ronaldo corner Newcastle never really cleared their lines allowing Vidic to shot.

It is debatable whether the Serbian defender's shot would have beaten Harper but the Newcastle goalkeeper was left stranded as the ball hit Solskjaer.

Just past the hour the Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder introduced Obafemi Martins to support Ameobi but by then the game had slipped too far beyond the visitors' control.

So poor were Newcastle in attack that Edwin van der Sar did not have to make a serious save until the 75th minute, when he parried an effort from Peter Ramage.

That Manchester United did not score more was down to luck and Harper's goalkeeping.

Steven Taylor was fortunate referee Mike Dean missed his deliberate handball as he tried to block a Fletcher shot in the area, while Harper did well to tip over a Paul Scholes shot.

The only downside for Manchester United in this game was the sight of the injury-plagued Gabriel Heinze limping off to be replaced by Patrice Evra in the first-half.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze (Evra 31), Fletcher, Carrick, Scholes, Ronaldo, Rooney, Solskjaer.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Brown, Saha, O'Shea.

Booked: Scholes.

Goals: Solskjaer 41, 49.

Newcastle: Harper, Carr, Ramage, Moore, Taylor, Milner (N'Zogbia 45), Butt (Martins 62), Emre (Pattison 69), Parker, Duff, Ameobi.
Subs Not Used: Krul, Luque.

Booked: Parker, Carr, Taylor.

Att: 75,664

Ref: M Dean (Wirral).

01.10.2006 by bagnall

Monday,damp and obviously autumn.Nice to hear you on the phone yesterday,especially as the Ali side of Pollyali seems to do all the writing on tinternet,pointed out by PJ when he was home.Thanks for the photos you look good.Liam has a 2nd baby now- a girl,Emily May,born last night.Annette is comming to stay next weekend,Mark is off to Las Vagas with his girlfriend for a hol.Shona is still in college doing some art course.Got to go to Ull today,must get my white trakki bottems out!I'm going to Primark for some seriously cheap shopping for winter.xxx from us at Rowley,enjoy your car and your journey,don't reverse into any sheep Sarah!Ali's concentration is maybe better and don't row!!-- x mum.

02.10.2006 by red1

Maisy loves her swimming lessons. She cried a bit the first time, but last week she enjoyed it all, even being dunked under the water. She looked a bit shocked but not overly concerned. She's just had her first cold, poor thing. Not a pleasant experience for any of us! Like your Mum says, enjoy your car and journey. But watch out for wasps while driving! Love Emily x.

03.10.2006 by mrsspoon

Great to hear from you. What's all this about Man U. FC play tomorrow night in their bid to get to Old Trafford next Sat. What an occasion that will be. Mike's just been to Lakes with Hermione. Rain, rain, rain but warmer than C'church. Heading for rural NZ sounds exciting. Huge mountains etc. Mike and Carol xxx

05.10.2006 by Ackroyd