Happy Easter Monday!

Like Boxing Day after Christmas, the UK apparently also has a bank holiday for the Monday after Easter. Because of that, the English leagues had matches today. For me, Oxford and Newcastle played early in the day, 9 am my time. Of course this was during my work day – and a busy Monday no less – so I could only periodically check the match tracker. However, anytime I saw a goal for either the Yellows or Magpies I would give a large silent fist pump in the air.

Newcastle United vs. Bolton Wanderers – In the first half, but really for the whole match, this wouldn’t be a match with a large quantity of offense. In fact, in total for the match, Newcastle would take just eight shots (three being on goal), while Bolton would take nine (also with three on goal). The first half though seemed quite boring, as there wasn’t any goals, but not even any bookings either.

Newcastle would get going in the second half however. It also seemed that what offense they didn’t have in quantity was made up in quality. On fire men Hatem Ben Arfa and Papiss Demba Cisse would score for the Magpies. Ben Arfa would score off of a breakaway run through Bolton’s defense in the 73^rd, while Cisse would put the match away in the 83^rd following a ground cross into the box from Shola Ameobi. Newcastle would take the 2-0 win over Bolton, their fifth win in a row. Keeper Tim Krul also got his third clean sheet in a row, his fourth in this five-game winning run.

Chelsea also played today against Fulham, and came out with a draw. That means that Newcastle moved up to 5^th place in the standings, now two points above Chelsea. That fifth spot also is a qualifying spot for European competition, a spot in the Europa League. Even better, 4^th place Tottenham also lost their match against Norwich. While they are still in 4^th, their loss means that Newcastle is now tied with them on points. Tottenham do have a much larger goal differential though that breaks the tie. Still, things keep looking up for the Magpies, especially with them not only being able to keep the opposition’s goals out, but more importantly being able to score goals themselves.

Oxford United vs. Torquay United – While Oxford didn’t let Torquay score in the first five minutes (as the opposing side has in the last two matches), Torquay did score relatively early, going ahead 1-0 in the 17^th minute. From then of course, Oxford had to play catch-up. They finally leveled the score in the 59^th minute when midfielder Adam Chapman scored directly from a corner kick. (I would love to find a video of this, but keep trying to no avail.) Nine minutes later in the 68^th, Cristian Montano would score making the score 2-1. He’s now scored in two straight matches (I guess I shouldn’t have doubted him). Oxford’s chances of holding on to the win greatly increased in the 79^th minute when one of Torquay’s strikers got sent off with a second yellow card offense. However, sides that go down a man can often be the most dangerous. That would be the case today, as Torquay would score in the 90^th minute, leveling nearly at the match’s death. As much as I’ve complained about Oxford previously giving up goals in the first five minutes, they have now let the opposition score right at the end of the match – in the 90^th minute against Northampton and now in the 90^th against Torquay. Today’s match would luckily conclude at 2-2, giving Oxford the draw.

Oxford still maintained 7^th place in the League Two table, but things have only gotten tighter. Looking up, Oxford did catch up slightly to Cheltenham Town in 6^th place, now just two points down instead of three. Looking down, Crewe Alexandra is tied with the Yellows on points, but have a smaller goal differential than Oxford, keeping them in 8^th. There is bit off a gap to 9^th and 10^th, Gillingham and Rotherham respectively, both four points back. The Yellows, if nothing else, can hopefully increase their points lead over Gillingham when they play them this weekend.