ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT...

Once again, yesterday`s footy results leave room for improvement in Snopper Street. 

First, our quest for nine points out of nine from the fortunes of the Saints, Charlton and the Gills has been thwarted once more.  The Saints went away to Notts County (the oldest football league club) and mounted a stirring second half come back from a one goal half-time deficit to emerge 3-1 winners, thanks to goals from Rickie Lambert Southampton`s Goal Machine (RLSGM,) Lee Barnard, who continues to play with his wrist in plaster following an unfortunate encounter with the flying jaw of a bystanding malcontent in a Southampton nite spot;  and a sublime 25-yard strike from the sublime Adam Lallana.

The fact that the full house of nine points again eluded us was once more down to the Gills, who suffered a 2-1 reverse away at Sixfields, where Nothampton Town had not won for six matches.  They have now.

But pride of place must again go to our street`s footy hero Scott ("Charlton`s Joint Top Scorer Gay Icon Pacy Flanker Buzzin` Six Pack") Wagstaff, pictured, whose 23rd minute strike rifled into the Sheffield Wednesday net for the only goal of the game.   But now that he is scoring regularly, it really is time that he worked on his goal celebration technique.   It`s all very well training all week on basics such as fitness, pacy flankness, getting to the byeline, taking on the last defender, picking out a pass and planting the ball beyond the opposing custodian, but what really catches the eye of fans, agents, scouts and opposing managers  is the goal celebration.  Duff celebration = duff prospects.  Ace celebration = every chance.

And so yesterday, when Scott scored his winner, connoisseurs of the finer points of the game such as my neighbourly Gills groupie Slightly and myself, would have been puzzled by the allegedly pre-rehearsed celebration  that followed.  In truth, it was more Norman Wisdom than Rudolph Nureyev, so as you can see from the photo taken whilst he wasn`t looking,  we are encouraging Scott to spend a little more time down the village green practicing his routine for next time he finds the back of the net. This could come as early as next week, when each of our teams are in the First Round Proper of the FA Cup, which always leads me to suspect there might be a First Round Improper. Surely the Gills will see off plucky Dover;  surely the Saints will spoil Shrewsbury`s Big Day Out;  and Scott and his chums must surely overcome the upstarts of Barnet.  Keep practicing, Scotty - there is certainly room for improvement but it`s coming along nicely.  To be fair.