Mercedes C180 CGi Sport

C 180 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY 

ESTATE SPORT

The other week I was kindly lent a C Class Estate. The timing couldn’t have been better, as I was due to take my son to Liverpool to watch the second leg of the Europa cup Quarter final, Liverpool V Benfica at Anfield.

After spending a few minutes acclimatizing, myself to the controls and a few calls to the Mercedes Benz press office when trying to set up the hands free on my mobile phone, we set off.

Driving on the motorway was very easy and even after 4 hours with a few stops I still arrived in the Wirral, not as tired as I had expected.

The trip to Anfield went well, Car left safely at a relative’s house in the Wirral and the new form of transport the train and the bus. Even better, Liverpool won 4-1.

Living with the car.

When designing this car Mercedes clearly set out to produce a car that would be a load lugger as well as a relaxing drive on the Motorway.

With its 485 litre boot with the rear seats up and 1500 litre with them down, there is plenty of space to fit a shopping or larger items.

Performance wise, the car handles well and the acceleration from 1796 CC petrol engine is very good. With the 5 speed automatic gearbox you have three settings, officially called Comfort, Standard and Manual, manual being operated by the paddles on the steering wheel. I should say manual with nanny holding your hand, because if you dare to try to change up or down and the car feels, it’s a step to far. It is simple. You can’t. “As nanny knows best”.

You can also change up or down using the “gear shift”; I use the term loosely as this is the stick as with other autos where a manual shift normally is.

In terms of performance figures the official 0-62 is 9.2 secs and in terms of Fuel consumption I returned an average of 36 miles per gallon, but when driven through the country lanes in the S mode of auto box this dropped down to around 26 mpg.

Mercedes Benz call S standard mode, but quite frankly I think of it as sports mode as the car becomes far more responsive when the accelerator peddle is depressed and holds on to a gear much longer before changing up, which is great when you need to over take.

The Merc comes with all the usual luxury trappings, Cruise control, SatNav, plugs to connect with MP3 player, climate control and of course Bluetooth hands free for the phone.

The SatNav was very interesting to use as this also included a traffic message channel and if there any holdups ahead, it would suddenly reroute you, as happened to us coming up the M5. We heard there was a hold up beyond Junc 1, clearly so did the satnav, as it suddenly told us to get off at Junction 1 and took us through the back streets of Wednesbury, finally joining the M6 at Junc 9.

We also had another run in with the satnav on the way back. It decided I should drive on M6 toll road, I decided otherwise and wanted to go back on M6 and M5 before heading onto the M40.

I spent the next 3 junctions with the Satnav telling me to get off the motorway and go through the Centre of Birmingham. I don’t think so. Finally after junc 3 it decided to go my route and promptly knocked 20 miles off the journey.

Generally I thought the car was a great car to live with and really enjoyed driving it, but in terms of Torque I would be very interested to know how the Diesel version of this car performed, and especially the fuel performance

The Last two Matches of the season

Sorry. I have been a bit slow putting up the reports this time.

First Match Redhill Albion Vs Junior sport's. A great match played with a lot of spirit. The final result was well deserved to all.

Peter Appleby takes up the story.

Tandridge League Youth Football League B Under 10’s

Redhill Albion vs Junior Sports 18/04/10

Both sides had good possession in the opening minutes and after 5 minutes Junior Sports took the lead when a through ball was picked up inside the box and fired into the net.

It took Redhill 10 minutes to get into the game when an individual effort by Senior almost led to a goal.

Good pressure from Williams created a chance for Stevens on the left.

In the 14^th minute Meldrum and Senior worked the ball to give Stevens another opportunity and 1 minute later Stevens went close again picking up a long ball. The ball came out to Appleby whose shot grazed the post.

In the 16^th minute O’Donovan hit a cross from the right wing which almost floated into the net and 1 minute later O’Donovan headed over the bar after connecting with a cross from Stevens.

In the 18^th minute Senior hit a superb through ball to beat the Junior sports defence but it was just too far ahead of O’Donovan.

Redhill kept the pressure on Junior Sports and just before half-time O’Donovan headed over from a Senior cross but at half-time the score remained 0-1.

Within 30 seconds of the restart Redhill were level when “lad of the match” Senior passed to O’Donovan who played a one two with Smart and drilled the ball into the net.

O’Donovan and Smart were combining well on the right creating problems for the Junior Sports defence but could not add to the Redhill tally.

A break away by Junior Sports in the 4^th minute looked like a certain goal until Senior who was tracking back made a saving tackle and was injured in the process.

2 minutes later Sowton took a ball full in the face and was replaced by Appleby.

Junior Sports were getting back on the offensive and Lewer was working well at the back.

After 10 minutes Senior, O’Donovan and Smart created another opportunity only to see Smart’s powerful shot blocked by a junior Sports defender.

Hickman worked a good position down the left flank to create a chance for Smart who shot wide.

Junior Sports continued to pose a threat on the break but Lewer and Meldrum were solid at the back and making sure Case-Green was not troubled..

After 40 minutes O’Donovan played a great through ball to Williams who was unlucky not to score.

After 43 minutes Hickman made an important tackle to win the ball and passed it to Senior who went close.

Redhill looked the more likely to get a second goal but it was not to be and the game ended a draw

Final Score: Redhill Albion 1 (O’Donovan) Junior Sports 1

Albion vs West Wickham

This was the last match before Easter, and very exciting it was too.

Peter Appleby takes up the story.

Tandridge League Youth Football League B Under 10’s

Redhill Albion vs West Wickham A 28/03/10

Both sides had attacks in the opening minutes with Smart gaining an early corner and Case-Green pulling off a fine save.

In the 6^th minute O’Donovan set up a chance for Senior which was saved by the goal keeper.

West Wickham were showing why they are second in the league, but Redhill was resolute in defence with Smart, Sowton and Meldrum working hard protecting their goal.

In the 16^th minute, Redhill took the lead when Senior played a ball out to Williams on the wing and Williams used his speed to get to the edge of the box fired an unstoppable shot in the top left hand corner of the net.

2 minutes later Senior laid another ball to Williams who rifled a similar shot but this time the goal keeper made the save.

This goal fired up Wickham who laid siege to the Redhill goal for the remainder of the first half with “lad of the match” Meldrum, outstanding in defence.

Just before half time Redhill made a rare foray into the Wickham half and some neat interplay between Williams, Hickman and Stevens almost led to a second goal for Redhill.

On the stroke of half time Wickham hit the post with a header but when the whistle blew Redhill were still in front.  

Within a minute of the restart Wickham were level with a shot from inside the box.

Redhill needed to “steady the ship” as the defence was kept busy. In the 7^th minute the ball was pinging around the box and hit the post but somehow Redhill kept the ball out.

But in the 9^th minute a long ball put the Wickham attacker through and he made no mistake with his shot to put Wickham in front.

Lewer had come on at half time and was giving a solid defensive performance at the back. Stevens was helping out at the back and Case-Green was putting in another great shift in goal.

Having withstood further attacks from Wickham, Redhill started coming back into the game in the last 5 minutes of the match. Appleby floated a cross into the box but it was just too high for Senior who put the header over the bar.

In the 47^th minute Williams played a ball to O’Donovan on the right wing who flighted a superb ball into the box and this time Senior kept his header down to score Redhill’s equaliser. Every Redhill player including the goal keeper rushed to congratulate Senior.

The last 3 minutes were tense but Redhill held on to gain a well deserved draw against one of the best teams in the league.

 Final goal scored by Ben Senior for Redhill Albion

Final Score: Redhill Albion 2 (Williams,Senior) West Wickham 2

Spring at Last

Finally spring seems to have arrived. With that it has allowed me to get out onto the farm again and shoot some farming activities.

This is mainly spraying and at this time of the year Ploughing. But being spring you have to have a spring lamb.

Albion vs Chiptead A team

Unlike the last home game things didn't go as well for Redhill Albion this week.

 Peter Appleby takes up the story

Tandridge League Youth Football League B Under 10’s

Redhill Albion vs Chipstead A 21/03/10

Redhill applied the early pressure and took control of the game. Stevens went close in the 6^th minute and a minute later Sowton put Appleby through but his shot was saved by the Chipstead keeper.

Williams was working hard up front and almost scored when Stevens got the ball into the box, but couldn’t force the ball over the line.

In the 9^th minute Sowton’s shot was saved and 3 minutes later “lad of the match” Appleby went close.

Appleby went close again after O’Donovan and Williams combined well to set up the chance.

In the 14^th minute Stevens’s cross into the box was controlled by Williams but his shot was blocked by a Chipstead defender.

Smart had an outstanding game at the back closing down early and distributing out to the right wing so that Redhill could build again. Smart and Sowton made sure that Chipstead did not trouble Case-Green.

In the 16^th and 19^th minute Case-Green was called into action and saved well from a corner and a powerful shot from Chipstead’s number 9.

Just before half time Redhill were awarded two free kicks just outside the box. Sowton went close from the first and O’Donovan placed the ball into the box, for the second, but no-one could convert.

At half time Redhill were the better team and should have been in front but the score remained 0-0.

In the second half Chipstead came out with more determination and started to press Redhill. Case-Green was in action in the first minute and Sowton made a great “last man” tackle.

Meldrum was working hard against what was now a much livelier Chipstead midfield.

In the 30^th minute Hickman played a great through ball to Appleby but the keeper was brave and prevented the goal and was injured as a result.

Hickman was playing a lone striker role up front and getting into good positions but he was unable to get the vital goal. 

Chipstead were in the ascendancy and after 14 minutes went in front with a powerful shot from the edge of the box.

Redhill showed great determination to get back into the match and Stevens had a good effort saved in the 41^st minute. One minute later Case-Green made a terrific one on one save to keep Redhill in the match.

The killer blow came in the 43^rd minute when Chipstead made it 2-0 with a great header direct from a corner.

 Redhill’s “never say die” attitude kept them going and in the 45^th minute Appleby played a defence splitting through ball to Williams who only had the keeper to beat but the keeper was brave and dived at his feet to prevent the goal. Stevens hit a shot over the bar and O’Donovan went close but it was not be.

Redhill were excellent in the first half playing some of their best football of the season, but were unable to sustain it for the second half and Chipstead won the match 2-0. 

Final Score: Redhill Albion 0 Chipstead 2

Albion vs Chistlehurst wanderers

Last Sunday Albion was back to Chistlehurst for a second attempt, after the match was called off last time due to a frozen Pitch. Unfortunately by the close of play, defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory.

Peter Appleby takes up the story.

Tandridge League Youth Football League B Under 10’s

Chiselhurst Wanderers FC vs Redhill Albion 14/03/10

Redhill started brightly, with Williams going close in the 2^nd minute following a pass from O’Donovan but fell behind a minute later when a Chiselhurst throw into the box was finished clinically by the attacker.

In the 4^th minute Appleby worked his way into the box and hit a shot which was saved by the goal keeper.

Case-Green pulled off a great save in the 5^th minute when Chiselhurst broke through the Redhill defence.

The next 10 minutes saw the game ebb and flow to each end with neither side getting on top.

O’Donovan and “lad of the match” Appleby combined well in the 12^th minute but Appleby’s shot was saved.

Lewer was playing solidly at the back and made a terrific saving tackle in the 13^th minute and passed the ball to Sowton who hit a long ball to Senior who placed the ball past the goal keeper  to make it 1-1.

Chiselhurst responded quickly from the kick-off and hit the bar. Chiselhurst pressure persisted for several minutes and Case-Green was kept busy.

After 20 minutes Redhill broke away down the left with Hickman who passed to Senior, but Senior’s shot was saved.

Chiselehurst continued to push Redhill back and after 22 minutes Chiselhurst took the lead when an attacker collected the ball in the box turned neatly and fired the ball into the net.

A succession of attacks should have increased Chiselhurst’s lead but good defending by Lewer, Smart and Sowton kept Redhill in the game and just before half time Stevens passed the ball to Senior on the edge of the box who rifled the ball into the net to level the score 2-2.

Just before the half time whistle, the Chiselhurst goal keeper picked up a back pass and Redhill were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box but there was confusion over whether or not it was direct free kick and Redhill was unable to capitalise and the half-time score remained 2-2.

In the second minute of the second half a Redhill corner fell to Appleby who took the ball to the line before pulling it back to Sowton who fired the ball into the net to give Redhill the lead.

2 minutes later Chiselhurst were level when the ball was passed to an attacker on the left of the box who chipped over Case-Green into the net.

The game continued end to end with both teams going close. Meldrum was working hard in both defence and attack. Sowton had a powerful shot saved and Senior shot over the bar following some neat interplay with Appleby.

In the 42^nd minute Appleby was fouled in the Chiselhurst box but the referee waved play on and from the break away Chislehurst made it 4-3.

Both Stevens and Senior went close in the final minutesbut there were no further goals and the game finished 4-3.

Final Score: Chiselhurst Wanderers 4 Redhill Albion 3 (Senior(2), Sowton)

Stop Section 43 of the DEB act being passed

You'll have heard of the Digital Economy Bill: it introduces powers to cut your Internet connection if you're caught illegally downloading films, music or software. It does more than that. It takes your photographs from you, too.

This diagram below shows you what happens now and what could happen if the law is passed.

We must stop this happening for more information go to to http://www.stop43.org.uk/

This blog was put together with the help of the Stop43.org Site and other photographers contributions