retired_destiny1124

26.10.05
Worksop (1) Holyhead Hotspur (0)
We started well against Worksop at Babbage Way, but a redcard to Mark Studley in the 14th minute proved ultimately to be our undoing. Despite being a man down, we generated some quality scoring chances, but were again missing the goal with our shots. Studley's foul left us playing with a 3-man backline and Lee Morris finally found space early in the second half. Andy Love, injured himself but unwilling to come out, made the initial save and Morris hammered home the rebound for the only goal of the match as he earned MOM honours.

***

29.10.05
With both Andy Love and Paul Nicholls out with injuries, I made a transfer purchase of a young keeper that my scouts liked a lot. 19 year old Stuart Cain was playing for Welsh side UWA and they were willing to accept my 1K bid for him. Cain was pleased to sign on with us and will now move into the backup role until we get healthier and Luke Weaver- just healed himself- will start.

retired_destiny1124

29.10.05
Holyhead Hotspur (2) Moor Green (1)
It was a spirited match from the start- though not always a well played one by both sides. We squandered a few good early chances- Tom Byrne is a good talent at forward, but hasn't shown me yet that he can put his shots on goal- but broke through when Michael Tuohy deflected a stewart Morris cross past James Coates. They promptly answered that when Karl Vernon missed intercepting a cross (again!) and Paul Kitson deflected past Luke Weaver. The match became a see-saw after that as each side took turns attacking. We benefitted in the second half as our pressure paid off. Coates came out to play a ball out of his area and lost control of it with John Mann right on top of him. Mann, just back from injury, celebrated his return by driving a 35 yard shot into the goal for the eventual match winner. We had to withstand a late rally, but the final whistle found us still in front. Christopher Gilligan earned MOM honours for us.

retired_destiny1124

5.11.05
Kidderminster (1) Holyhead Hotspur (0) FA Cup 1st Round
Stuart Cain deserved better in his debut, but a terrible giveaway by Soloman Henry allowed Taiwo Atieno to launch a 30 yard strike past Cain for the only goal of the match. We had played a solid first half and gotten some good chances, but neither Tom Byrne or Paul Wheatcroft seem able take advantage of space and they both wasted chances. Cain made three good saves in the first half and played well after being hung out to dry on the goal. We gave the larger side a good match, but they move on in FA Cup.

retired_destiny1124

8.11.05
Barrow (0) Holyhead Hotspur (3)
Another great match out of John Mann as his hat-trick keyed us to a nice road win. Unfortunately, it came at the expense of him injuring his hamstring (again), so he will again miss a month of play. We played solid on defense and Stuart Cain did well in earning his clean sheet in the win. Mann earned MOM honours, but our entire midfield and backline also played well in the match.

***

12.11.05
Eastbourne Boro (0) Holyhead Hotspur (1) FA Trophy 2nd Round
Another solid match for us as we managed to get the one goal we needed and then stood off home side Eastbourne Boro for a taut 1-0 win. The first half featured plenty of action at both ends, but neither side managed a goal as we went to the dressing room scoreless. We scored the lone goal of the match early in the second half when Tom Byrne made a terrific short cross that Scott Hayhoe deflected past Lee Worgan for his 1st goal at Holyhead. After the goal, we played excellent defense and Luke Weaver earned his clean sheet with a pair of timely saves. Defender Stewart Morris claimed MOM honours.

retired_destiny1124

19.11.05
Holyhead Hotspur (2) Hinckley (1)
We had to fight back from the opening minutes of this match as the Referee caused havoc with our plans. Aaron Nowacki crumpled in a heap in our area, due to an aggressive challenge by Jonathan Harkness. With him down, play moved up the pitch- our boys hadn't noticed him missing- and Daniel Sloane took advantage of him laying there to stay on side- cheaply. When they lofted a ball down to him, Stuart Cain made the save, but the Ref immediately whistled Christopher Gilligan for a push in the area. Cain came up with a huge save of Carl Heeley's penalty and Sam Shilton missed over the goal on the rebound. The Ref wasn't done yet though and five minutes later awarded a second penalty kick after a questionable foul by Rob Walker on Chris Kerry. Heeley didn't miss this penalty kick and we were trailing 1-0. We got back to even later in the first half as MOM Jamie Ougham snapped a shot past Ryan Price. We spent the second half storming their end and it finally paid off in the end as Gilligan crossed to John Connors. Price tried to snare the cross and instead saw Connors deflect it past him for a dramatic match winner in the waning moments. Our injury problems continue to mount with the loss of our best midfielder- Nowacki- to knee problems for the next month or two.

retired_destiny1124

26.11.05
Burscough (2) Holyhead Hotspur (1) FA Trophy 3rd Round
A costly penalty kick wound up dooming us in the second half of what had been an entertaining match. We had the pressure in the early going, but they scored first when Gary Martindale slipped the marking of Liam Burns and snapped a shot past David Nicholls- just returning from injury. We went to halftime even at 1-1 thanks to an injury time goal as Tom Byrne finally scored his 1st goal for us off a nice through ball from Carl Murkin. Michael Merrick was called for a trip in the area on Martindale early in the second half and Martindale converted the penalty kick to earn MOM honours. The effort for the equalizer was there, but our execution was faulty and we couldn't find the goal we needed.

retired_destiny1124

29.11.05
Gainsborough (2) Holyhead Hotspur (1)
A wasted match for us and a disappointing loss. We had taken the lead early on in the first half when MOM Lloyd McGowan deflected a Carl Murkin corner past Andy Capp. We were not able to build on the lead, though Ben Woods continues to adapt well in his move to forward. Woods came close to scoring twice, but missed close both times. Rob Walker had a forgettable match and his unnecessary trip in the area allowed Danny Steadman to convert the penalty kick past Stuart Cain for the equalizer in the opening moments of the second half. Things got worse for Walker when he failed to mark Adam Kerley on a free kick and it was a quickfire double to put the home side into the lead. Walker came out as Danny Walsh came in for a more offensive approach. It almost paid off- we had some nice chances to get back to even, but couldn't find the goal with our shots. We could have won this match and I am disappointed that we didn't garner a better result.

retired_destiny1124

3.12.05
Holyhead Hotspur (5) Stafford (0)
What a stunning match! What a stunning performance from Ben Woods! Stafford came in comfortably in 1st place in the ECN and were heavily favored. Instead they saw Woods put their backline to the sword as he scored all 5 of our goals in the match. Clearly demonstrating that he was adapting to forward, Woods scored his 1st goal in the 4th minute courtesy of a good pass from Carl Murkin. He quickly made that a brace at 11 minutes as Andy McGregor skipped a pass into him and he put it away past Dean Williams. The hat-trick came on a 20 yard free kick from the center of the pitch that he rocketed past Williams. It appeared that we might have opened the door to allow them a chance to comeback when Adrian Bristow was called for a last-man redcard at 62 minutes, but we just kept working on defense. Woods scored #4 at 77 minutes as Michael Tuohy found him with space and he snapped his shot past Williams. Christopher Gilligan put Woods away for #5 on a through ball. Woods raced down the right and then slammed his shot past Williams to cap a match for the ages.

retired_destiny1124

4.12.05
It was a whirlwind of transfer activity as I begin to try and sort the squad to better suit our style of play. Paul Wheatcroft will be moving to Connah's Quay on January 1 as they will pay us 16K for him. John Sutton will be moving to Rossendale for 2K. Signing on with us is a significant addition as we added 21 year old Northern Irish forward Neil Teggart on free transfer. Teggart had been playing in Australia, but had returned when his Perth Glory contract had not been renewed. He gives us a forward who might do very well pairing with Woods up front. Since all my original player contracts were for one-year only, there was a lot of renegotiation as I tried to get the players I wanted to keep under new contract. For the most part I was successful, but the one who won't sign is John Mann. He is already being scouted by several sides (Scoring 7 goals in 4 matches will draw that kind of interest) and I may well have to sell him for his minimum release fee come January 1.

***

8.12.05
A small price of 1K landed us 19 year old English Center Midfielder Craig Mitchell from S****horpe. Mitchell impressed my scouts and should quickly work into the Senior side mix.

***

9.12.05
Portsmouth was the club who came calling about John Mann. There was little I could do when I counter-offered his minimum fee release amount and they agreed to pay that for him. Mann was pleased to be moving to the bigger club. We will receive 475K when the deal is completed on January 1- a nice amount to help build up our coffers.

retired_destiny1124

10.12.05
Alfreton (2) Holyhead Hotspur (5)
It was 1st place Stafford last match and 2nd place Alfreton this time as we blew open a close match in the second half on our way to an impressive 5-2 road win. They scored first in the match when Lee Featherstone knocked home a rebound after Paul Nicholls parried a blast from Jason Blunt. We hammered away for the rest of the first half as we controlled the midfield, but we couldn't find a way to score on Shaun Bodkin. The second half was another story as our offense roared to life. James Pike got us even when he deflected a cross from Christopher Gilligan past Bodkin for his 5th goal of the season. We quickly took the lead after Liam Clarke tripped Andy McGregor in the area. Carl Murkin calmly converted the penalty kick to move us ahead 2-1. It turned into a quickfire double as Ben Woods made a quick move and a fine finish past Bodkin on a pass from McGregor. Alfreton hit back to narrow the margin to 3-2 as Jason Blunt deflected a short cross from Stephen Quinn past Nicholls. With the match on the line, Alfreton turned into their own worst enemy. Dave Robinson sent a pass across, but Woods skinned Clarke and was in free on Bodkin. Woods rifled a shot inside the left post for his brace. Mark Blount then added to their woes with another pass that Woods stepped in front of and went off to the races down the middle. Woods made another good move with the ball before firing a rising shot over diving Bodkin for his hat-trick and 10th goal of the season. Woods earned MOM honours and has scored 8 goals in the last two matches against the top-placed clubs in the ECN.

***

15.12.05
We will have to wait for his loan to expire in mid-January, but I was pleased to be able to complete a modest 1K transfer purchase of 20 year old English forward Danny Morgan from Oxford (on loan to Havant & W). MOrgan is a quick left footed forward and should blend in seamlessly to the group of forwards we are working on improving.