retired_manragh

Game #9

With the team full of confidence our next match was another away game this time we headed down south to play at St. Georges’s Lane against the Worcester Team, with Ord out with a Slight strain Ruffer came back in to the starting line up, aswell as Tandy making a return to the bench after his head injury.

The team was starting to gel well, and in a confident mood after our last away win, but Worcester weren’t interested on what we had done and proceeded to give us a football lesson in the first half, despite their total domination we were only 1 down at the half. I urged our team on in the half time talks, we can still win this I told them, they’ve given it their best shot and only managed to get one through, your fitter and stronger than these guys, now go out out there and show them how to play.

We were a little better, after the half, but Worcester were still all over us and after 62 minutes Wilding intercepted a pass and put his second past Ashton, making a double sub Talbot got his chance to impress again and Morris had a chance to redeem himself, this time Rattlespurr didn’t look to happy at coming off, but wisely he didn’t do or say anything to earn my wrath.

We didn’t look like troubling the scorers with 1 shot so far in the game and Worcester dominant all over the ground but it was some Individual brilliance in a 10 minute spurt from Zak that gave us a draw, not a well deserved draw either.

8 minutes to go in regular time and Ruffer launches a hit and hope bomb down the field, with Zak in pursuit the Worcester defender made a mistake and Zak’s in on goal, he rounds the keeper with ease but now has to shoot from the narrowest of angles with 2 defenders closing, instead of trying to place it in the net he hits a rocket which thunders in and theirs his first goal for the club. The Barrow team immediately goes on the defensive and makes 2 subs trying to close up play but another Zak rocket this time a volley from 30 out, sails into the back with the keeper not moving. With our third shot of the day we’d manager to tie the game and on the 87th minute Daly was furious when ref David Storrie didn’t give a penalty when Zak was bundled over in an aerial challenge, and when Daly kicked out at Glasgow in retaliation for something he said the ref showed no hesitation and sent him off for an early shower. The whistle blew for the end of the game a few minutes later and we’d escaped with a draw with Zak earing the MoTM with a two goal haul.

[B}Game #10[/B]

Returning home with a game against Gainsborough would see us cruise to a 2-0 victory, Daly was suspended and after getting a stern lecture from me and an official warning he promised to improve his behavior. Adams sitting out aswell through accumulating 5 yellows the side was shuffled around, Warner moved into the left fullback role while Tandy made his return to the starting lineup, Fickling also returned to give Jimmy Williams a well earned rest at rightback, and Talbot started his first game and did not disappoint with a nice goal. Jags knocked in the second with half hour to go and with Gainsborough not getting a chance to get anything going, fulltime seen Zak get his second MoTM award in a row and the 600 strong crowd were well pleased.

Game #11

Struggling Farsley came to Slaughter House to see themselves cut up all across the park Talbot reveling in his recent starting position made the best of starts slotting home Zak’s pass in the second minute, when Tandy fired in a low cross on 19 minutes Potter couldn’t get out of the way and put the goal in his own net. Farsley got one back after half time with some good play, but when Morris was brought on after the restart he was putting his name up for a recall to the starters when he intercepted a pass, rounded two players and slotted the sealer past the keeper. Jags was awarded the MoTM with a good solid performance in the Centre, and our largest crowd for the year some 748 people cheered the side off, a great month of football had seen us move from 11th up to 3rd the only game left was against Worksop in the FA cup 2nd Qualifying round, a team we owed for their lucky 1-0 win earlier in the season.


FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round

The worst of conditions greeted us for this game and with the ground covered in puddles of water that the rain was making bigger as we watched, we knew it was going to be a hard slog and amazingly 190 people turned up to watch, but were no doubt disappointed as the game ground out to a nil all draw, Fearns had a penalty chance that slewed well wide but in the conditions who could blame him.

We had a replay in 5 days at their home and if we were good enough we’d go through, plus we owed them a home defeat and that was to be our motivation for the match.

retired_manragh

September Review

Going into the monthly review with Doug I was feeling pretty good, we had increased our league position by 8 places and now we were in 3rd place, a playoff position. The team was gelling together well and our concentration on the pitch was better so we were less prone to giving up easy goals, I put that down to the fitness program that we were on, with our increased fitness, we weren’t tiring as much, so the players stayed focused for longer. Training injuries were pretty much non existent which was great, but with the teams we were playing going for increasingly rougher tactics to try and unsettle us, we were succumbing to more match day injuries, Jo was doing a great job though in the rehab department. The coaching staff was in high spirits and Dean will be starting with Chris Denham this month to try and turn him into a useful attacking midfielder. Andy Davis was doing a good job with the scout reports and Dave C was still scouting the Reserves comp, without much luck.

Doug was happy with the overall performance of the club but we lost another 8K for the month, the wet weather in two of our home games cost us some revenue, but with the supporters fully on board at the moment were hoping to get the crowds up at the game, just needed the weather to stay away.

Training has been superb and morale at the club is excellent, Moz is out for around a month with his strain, and Lynchy is still a month away with his knee, Rapley was unlucky with a late tackle from the last game and looks like a 1 to 2 month layoff with his fractured ribs, on a good note though Jody Banim has returned to do light training and his ankle is looking strong, about a week away from joing the rest of the squad.

Zak’s solid month of form won him September’s player of the month beating out Jags and Stevie Halford, hopefully it will continue and with him holding down the centre roll and Moz keeping him honest it holds us in good stead. Talbot also got a special coaches award, for someone who was almost cut he’s turned it around and now looking at regular spot.



| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts |
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1st | | Kettering | | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 24 | 4 | +20 | 24 |
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2nd | | Harrogate | | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 20 | 7 | +13 | 21 |
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 3rd | | Droylsden | | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 14 | +7 | 21 |
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 4th | | Hyde | | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 9 | +8 | 19 |
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 5th | | Workington | | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 12 | -2 | 19 |
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

retired_manragh

October

Traveling to Worksop for the replay I must admit I was a bit worried already playing them at home twice for a 1-0 defeat and a nil all draw, their defence appeared to have our measure. With Moz out, with the injury from the last game Rattlespurr moved up to the defencive midfielders role it was the only change on the starting line up.

Worksop was once again defending well and we found it hard to snatch a goal from them but on the stroke of half time Jimmy Williams sent a beautiful cross in from deep on the right and Talbot continued his scoring form and powered a header past the keeper for us to take a well deserved lead into the break. The second half we pressed hard for another and kept them locked up mostly in their own half, but were unable to improve on our score, as it turned out the Talbot goal was enough to see us through to the next round.

Game 12

Jody returned to train with the squad full time, but lacking a bit of fitness we left him out of the side, with Fearns and Talbot playing well up front and Daly offering good support from the bench we felt we could give him some extra time.

After the season opener where Workington succumbed to a 8-0 drubbing at the hands of Kettering they had ran themselves into some good form and were currently 2 spots behind us in 5th place, and playing at their home ground we thought we were in for a tough battle.

Upon arriving at the ground Andy Davis our scout informed me that Workington manager Tommy Cassidy thought the main threat would come from Daly, I had Daly penciled in a sub for the game, but after hearing that I moved him onto the ground and informed Fearnsy he would be sitting on the pine today.

I’d have to thank Cassidy later as moving Daly onto the ground proved decisive for us as he opened the scoring on 14th minute. Workington struck back on the 25 in what was proving a free flowing game, 4 minutes later Talbot was leading the chase from a long ball when their keeper Summergill came out to try a dispel the danger, Talbot got to the ball first just outside, Summergill had badly misjudged and the poor tackle that ensued earned him a early bath as the ref had no hesitation in sending him off for a professional foul, with the freekick in a goodspot and their second choice keeper now in goal Zak produced another good strike unfortunately going narrowly over, but now we had a hour to try and secure a win. 10 minutes before the half we were shocked when Workington went 1 ahead and some superb passing and movement of the ball that made us look like we were one player down on the park instead of them. We struggled to get going anything after that and at the half we were still 1 down.

Calling the players in close at the break, I stressed the importance of going out and pressuring them from the start, don’t let up till we get the goal back and then push for another, there’s 45 minutes left and we can win this still, and when they went back out they looked full of fire.



Workington were hanging of for dear life, our pressure was intense and on the 52 minute we were rewarded as Zak hit a trademark screamer from the edge of the box which thundered into the back of the net, we had drawn level. From that point the players were unbelievable our ball skills were brilliant, knocking it around the park with consummate ease, we were finding holes everywhere in the defence and at the end of the game we were 6-2 winners with Daly adding another 3 to take his tally to 4 for the game and Stevie Halford headering in one to get in on the party. Needless to say Daly was named Man of the Match for his efforts. If it wasn’t for Cassidy’s prematch comments it might have been a totally different result. I think it’s fairly obvious what happened on the long coach ride home and at the club afterwards, Sunday wasn’t a day I seen too much of, rising about 5 pm for a shower and another dose of the headache tablets I quickly retired back to bed.

Jo was less than impressed.

retired_manragh

Monday didn't prove to be a much better day, nursing a hangover for the second day seen me staying at home, after the days work Jo informed me that Jags wrist injury was a bad sprain, we could give him injections to get through the next couple games but we were much better with it healing naturally, so that what we did, he would be unavailable for the next week or so.

Our next game was a 3rd round qualifier for the F.A cup at home against Eastleigh A conference south team, I dont know what it is with cups but we were behind again at half time, and only managed to get a late equaliser in the 80th minute thanks to Jon Rattlespurr slotting home his first for the club.

The replay was played on the southern cost of England and Dave our Owner and new Bournemouth manager made the short trip over to watch, I wanted a good performance from the lads so Dave would be impressed and in a fast and furious paced game that lasted the whole 90 minutes we were victorius 2-0 from a Zak double on the 5 and 17th minutes. Unfortunately with what was becoming a alarming trend, tackles on our midfielders were getting ridiculous, late and somewhat dangerous tackles seemed to be the norm and when Zak was stretchered off and taken to hospital shortly after scoring his second with what looked a severe rib injury, I made my mind up to do something about it when we returned home.

I congratulated the players on the win, and Pacey also poped his head in and congratulated them but i was more concerned how Zak was, Dave gave me a lift over to the Hospital where Jo already was, he was rapt with our league position and after seeing how we played today he could see why we were doing so well. He said he was doing ok at Bournemouth and with a bit of luck they'd finish in the top half but not much else was said as the hospital was fairly close. I thanked him and he promised to ring soon.

Zak's had broken ribs a nasty injury that would see him miss atleast a month's football which i wasn't impressed with and with his good form at the moment it would be interesting if someone could step up.

Zak was to be kept in overnight to a couple days depending on how the pain was and just to rule out other complications it strengthened my resolve to right a letter to the F.A, it was a particularly crude tackle that the player wasn't even warned or booked for, yet 15 minutes later he was booked for holding, sometimes i just dont get the refs.

Zak returned home after 2 days in the hospital, the pain was quite bad for him everytime he breathed but the painkillers he was on helped. In that time I'd written a formal complaint to the F.A and was hoping for them to atleast look into the situation.

The local paper had also printed an article in that time about the Bloods and my Management with the headling "Burnie gets the Bloods Boiling" it was a good article about how good our form had been and since i'd been in charge and that we'd knocked in 28 goals and 15 games. It went on to mention a few good wins like the recent 6-2 win over Worthington and 5-2 win over Barrow which both happened to be away games. Hopefully it would attract a few more fans to the gates and it was definately an article for the scrapbook.


Game #13

Our next game was to be a good one with the top team Kettering making a visit, 917 paying customers passed through our gates the best so far for the season. It was a tightly contested battle with each team not giving an inch. Craig Westcarr opened the scoring for Kettering just before the half with an inspirational solo effort that even earned the ooooo's and aaah's of our own crowd. The second half was much the same as the first, tight , fierce but strangely fair, no rash tackles were made and the game was a good spectacle to behold. We leveled the game when our captain Jody Banim placed one home in the 69th, a well worked goal and this being his first game back from injury and only being brought on 10 minutes before hand it was high fives alround. The game ended with a draw but not before we had our chances to win, Kettering found themselves reduced to 10 when Roget was judged to have commited a professional foul in the 79th but we failed to capitalize on their reduced numbers, all in all it was a fair result.

F.A cup Qualifying Round 4

Cambridge came down to the Butchers Arms ground and our largest crowd of 1250 were there to witness the spectacle, Cambridge were in good form sitting in 6th place in the Conference National, but we were in good form aswell and I was hoping we could produce an upset. Unfortunately Cambridge were in scintilating form an easily dispatched us 2-0, they controlled the game from start to finish and we barely had a sniff. Still i was proud of our players and was hoping we wouldnt be too down beat. The supporters clapped the team off, but there looked slightly less of them at the end of the game.

retired_manragh

Brief October Report

October was over we had a decent month, remaining in 3rd place and a first for the club this year we actually made a profit of 5K. My monthly meeting with Dave was short he seen no need to go into any great depth the club was traveling well so he couldn’t see the point in wasting both of our time. Fickling received the player of the month with some great performances down back. The only thing of minor concern was that Denham was not happy with training for a new role, we’d give him another month to see how he went and assess the situation then, but Deano was feeling that Denham wasn’t putting as much effort into it as he could.

Game #14

November started out poorly a 1-0 loss to Hucknall at their home was disappointing we had most of the play outshot them by 3 to 1 but luck wasn’t with us Banim hit the upright twice and numerous other chances went close, but Hucknall scored the winner when Jamie Tandy was lazy and didn’t run for a ball, which he was clearly closest to, Hucknall’s Fox picked up the loose ball then skipped around Tandy who put a terrible effort on the tackle aswell and hit a measured cross for Ricketts to put away. Tandy was immediantly subbed and will be lucky to play in the next match. Two things I won’t tolerate laziness and playing for free’s.

F.A Trophy Qualfying Round 2

Playing Leigh at home in another cup match, our form at home in the cups had been less than impressive so far so I was eager for us to get a result. Leigh came with intentions of spoiling our party, and that they did as yet again we conceded the first goal, Ellington pouncing on rebound to put it in the net un opposed in the 16th minute. Yet again we would have to come from behind.

The start of the second half had my blood boiling and almost had me removed from the bench, in yet another late challenge Taylor had come flying in to challenge Jags for the header, while Steve had nodded it on Taylor successfully completed a head clash which seen Steve coming off and heading off to have x-rays for what we later learned to a fractured cheek bone. Jumping out from the bench I proceeded to tear into the umpire who looked dumb founder that I had seen anything wrong with the challenge, I was politely warned by the fourth official twice before he told me one more word would see me gone. It was Aeon who pulled me away. I was seething on the bench, after my barrage the ref decided he would pull up every small little thing, the game finished and I stormed strait into our change rooms. I’d managed to cool down some what, and realized my anger was more at the officials than the team, I sympathized with team, but told them we missed a golden opportunity to proceed in the cup, that was the third game we lost in a row, I would not tolerate a fourth.

Game #15

Leigh was back 4 days later, I still hadn’t had a message back from the F.A so I decided to fight fire with fire and see how other teams liked it. The order was to tackle hard show no restraint if you can get the ball get it I don’t care how its done, nothing stupid that’s gonna get you a red I told ‘em though. With our depleted ranks Ian Fitzpatrick earned himself a start and was told he needed to perform and to the team it was that I expected a win today, no excuses.

We started off great, some heavy tackles stated our intentions right from the start and Leigh looked a little shocked at our intensity. Banim opened the scoring for us with a powerful header from an Adams free kick and from a similar position Fitzy headed in a goal this time the provider was Gareth Morris and we were looking good at 2-0 up in 15 minutes of play. Carrington narrowed the margin to 2-1 on the half hour mark but from there we were never troubled, our intensity in defence and over all tackling in the field left Leigh stunned and didn’t manage a decent shot on goal, In fairness we didn’t trouble their keeper much aswell, but we kept possession and the result was exactly what we needed.


Game #16

With a ten day break before our next home game against Lancaster, I lightened the training and gave the boys some time off, Zak was back doing some light training, and by the day of the match he was fit enough to take to the subs bench.

Once again I instructed the team to tackle hard and it was seemed to work for us again, the opposition was intimidated, and there was no late or stupid tackles coming from them.
Our passing was as good as I’ve seen this year but it was Lancaster who scored first a nice header from Mat Bailey on a tight angle opened there account. Our pressure was good and tackling was still hard, I credit our first goal that of an Own Goal to Taylor to the physical pressure we were putting on them, half time came with us level.

Zak came at the restart, and with instruction for the team to keep the intensity up we looked a lot livelier, with Lancaster sitting back and letting us come at them, it was Fitzy that scored making it two in two games when Morris again the provider hit him a nice pass that he slotted into the right corner giving the outstretched keeper no chance.

We slackened off to our own detriment after that and Lancaster leveled it at 2-2 a few minutes later from a corner that was powerfully headed into the back of the net giving Ashton no chance to make the save, the game finished a draw in which was slightly disappointing, but we’d managed to sneak into second place so all wasn’t bad.

Game #17

After the 2 fine performances for us I gave Fitzy a reprieve and took him off the transfer market, he would stay off the list aslong as her trained well and played well in the games, he was to be a backup at the moment and nothing more. He was happy with the role and assured me that he would be trying to make himself more of a regular.

I don’t know what happened in our away game versus Hinkley but we were comprehensibly beaten, Ashton was having a dud which everyone is entitled to know and again, it just hurts a lot more when its your keeper, so he was subbed and Tate brought on the half along with Zak but by then the damage was done 3-0 down and with Hinkley not looking to let us back in the game it finished at with the same score, although it could have been worse as Tate lasted only 17 minutes in his debut, the momentum from a full stretching save seen him careen almost comically one would say into the upright, bad luck for him though and the team as he had a nasty gash above his right eye, which would see him not continue, Stevie Halford went into goals and did enough for the score to remain unchanged.

retired_manragh

November was a disappointing month for the team although we actually climbed one place on the ladder, getting knocked out of the F.A trophy was disappointing and to have another injury to a midfielder from a late tackle was infuriating, if you can’t beat em join em is the old saying so that what we did. A win a draw and 2 loses was the form for the month.

Doug wasn’t too concerned he was happy we were in 2nd and so should of I been really, Inconsistency’s in form plagues the teams in the Conference North, but slowly I was starting to iron them out. Finances were on the decline again we droped another 8k for the month but the board wasn’t too worried we always lost money during the season, but made it up in the preseason to get back to square, If we could get to the Conference National then we could look at making a profit, but until then Dave and Doug were apparently happy to remain afloat.

The only concern for the month was the Chris Denham had dropped of his training and was making noises about not wanting to play in the midfield, I had a quick word with him and he seemed to take it in that we didn’t another Striker and going to the midfield would be his best if he wanted to make it into the line-up.

I was looking forward to December, with 5 league games for the month it would take us too the half way mark for the season, it was a good chance to see where we were and where we were headed, Dave Pace was coming down for a meeting in Early January, so hopefully the team could produce, and we’d there about in the promotion race still.



Ladder:

retired_manragh

December proved to be a decisive month for the club with some decent results, our first game was a short trip inland to Rivacre Park to play 9th Place Vauxall. Paul Phillips was brought for only his second game of the season and Zak was back in the starting lineup, other good news was the Steve Jagielka or Jags as he was known around the traps was back to full competitive training after recovering from his cheekbone fracture, he was still a game or two away though just to see how training went.

retired_manragh

December continued

We returned to our winning ways and against Alfreton at their Home we a managed to come from a 2-0 deficit to win by 2 at fulltime. Fearns was in full flight as he opened our scoring, was involved in the second as his shot rebounded out to Lynchy who slotted a great goal through a congested six yard box, Fearns scored his second and the teams third as Substitute Daly layed on a lovely through ball, Fearns could of easily had a hatrick, maybe more if Alfreton’s keeper hadn’t of hit a purple patch. Deep in injury time Zak finished off a great comeback with an uncharacteristic goal that seen him calmly place it into the net instead of smashing it in.

Great news for the club as we moved to the top of the tables for the first time, although we had played an extra game, with no more games until after the Christmas break, Dave came through and managed to secure me three tickets for the family to go and see Man U play against Middlesborough at Old Trafford.

Watching United and making comparisons is truly a disheartening thing, to say they were great was an understatement of the highest order, the only thing they were missing was scoring in regular time, they stepped it up another gear though in extra time and Ronaldo with some truly mesmerizing runs destroyed Middlesborough’s defence, he even surpised me and managed grab an assist, at the end of the game United ran out 3-0 winners with Rooney knocking two. Their field passing and movement was something I could only dream off, the pace of the game was also amazing, TV doesn’t do the game the same justice as being there. Zak was dumb struck it was his first time at the ground and I think he was hit with the United Bug, even Jo was impressed which was nice.

Coming back after Christmas seen us play Reddich at home, they must of heard about the Stalybridge game and low and behold adopted a 451 formation strait from the whistle aswell, us being a little rusty with a 10 day break failed to capitalize on the couple of chances we created and the game ended in another zip all draw at home.

In the four days before the Scarborough game me and the coaching staff devised a few plans to beat the 451 formation but it was thanks to Ordy who was the main contributor and managed to get the players to up to speed with what we wanted. It resulted in a 4-0 whitewash against the bottom team with Fearnsy running rampant, Zak smashing in another long range effort and Jody capping a great captains performance. Lynchy was the key in the game and from his defensive midfield role dominated the tempo of the game superbly launching attack after attack.

At the end of the year we were in 1st place although it was tight at the top few spots it was a great effort by all involved. Zak earned the clubs player of the month just pipping Fearns and Danny Warner who was instrumental in our success for December.

retired_manragh

retired_manragh

February

After the disappointing month we have intensified training again, if the players can’t keep up the good results then they don’t deserve to have an easier time in training, there was no January club awards as we honestly felt that no one was worthy of receiving it.

A game against Nuneaton brought some added excitement, when their manager went blabbing to the press about how they would beat us and effectively ruin our chances of promotion, all they had to do was to stop Daly and they would no have trouble. Looking at the odds for the games it had us at an incredible 9/1, even the bookies are thinking our bubble has burst.

Another frustrating game seen us walk away with draw in controversial circumstances, Nuneaton jumped us early, scoring in the first minute, but an equalizer came when Fearns drove one home from the spot after Zak was crudely hacked down in the box, the offending player wasn’t even given a card.

The half seen both teams walk in equal and playing a good brand of football, plenty of chances at both ends, although we weren’t capitalizing on our shots, missing the target way too many times.

The game continued and it could have been anyone’s games but in the 77th minute Jody Banim tucked away a rebound into an empty net and we were one up. We were defending well, repelling all their attacks and continuing on with our own, but with a few minutes to go the ref robbed us by giving them a penalty for a slight push on the very edge of the box, the penalty was there if you follow the letter of law but seeing there was 3 or 4 other instances of that happening through out the game, some of them way worse, it was just a crap decision and one I voiced my opinion about that seen the FA fine me.

What followed this game was an unacceptable 1-0 defeat at home to lowly barrow, we dominated possession and most of the play was in their half, our midfield was sensational but the forwards were missing chance after chance, most of the time they couldn’t even hit the target from dead in front, We are blowing our chance for promotion with these results.

Another loss this time at the hands of Gainsborough at their home, once again it was our forwards who couldn’t hit the target, the partnership will be changed for the next game against Worcestor.

The forwards got the message in this game, Daly came off the bench to fill Jody Banim’s position, Banim and Talbot were dropped and Rapley came into the side as the backup striker. Daly opened the scoring for us on the 15 minute mark, it took a deflection though probably why it was on target. Gainsborough equalized immediately and it looked like being one of those days, the crowd which was decreasing in numbers alarmingly over the weeks weren’t that happy. General play was good for us the passing was good and the so was the defending it took till the 67th minute before we scored, Zak curling in a nice free kick from the edge of the box.
The 68th minute brought a surprise another goal this time it was us, Daly was hit a great thru ball by Lynchy, showing some skill he rounded one before blasting past the keeper which went into the bottom right hand corner, me who is getting very cynical at the moment will have to ask if he was aiming for the middle of the goals. Zak rounded of the performance with a rare header from a Tandy cross to complete the game 4-1.

Luckily we were still in 4th place but the signs are not looking good another month with only 1 win anymore of these sorts of months and it will be over for us.