retired_karamelkel

The three days before Saturday September 1 were uneventful. A couple of scouts wrapped up their searches, submitted their lists and were reassigned to different locales. Elliot did sign with us and was assigned to the reserve side. Saturday afternoon was hot and dry with the temperature in the low 80’s. Only 818 fans showed up to watch the game. Perhaps they realized that the starting lineup would be missing some key personnel. The lineup card for the game read: Gk: Browne, Chandler and Cooley at the fullbacks, Mitchell and Thomas in center defense, Young, Apilinga and Weddell in central midfield, Purcell at AMC and Gordon and Kirkwood at the forwards. I hoped this relatively fresh and fit lineup would halt our two game losing skids.

AXFC came out brimming with confidence. We set about dictating the pace of a game for the first time this year. We were getting solid chances, but nothing on the score sheet until just after the half-hour mark. Cooley collected a Burton Albion goal kick and took off up the right flank. He then hit a cross to the near post, where Purcell gathered in the pass and burned it in low to give AXFC the 1-0 lead. Five minutes later the referee gave us a questionable penalty off an unfair jump violation. The penalty was a bit harsh and the opposition protested to no avail. Thomas slotted the penalty and we led 2-0 at the half. We came out in a defensive mode for the second half. We soaked up the Albion pressure and prevented them from engineering a comeback. Albion did control the ball during the second half, but the only got one shot on target for their efforts. As such, our 2-0 lead held up to give us the win. The win put us in seventh place in the league table. We didn’t have much time to rest as we had a game two days later at Accrington.

retired_smelesko

EH in psychic ability shocker?

retired_karamelkel

Heh Mark, I wish That date should read September 11.


On Sunday, the board met and Hayes informed me that they were happy with my performance. Less rosy was the financial picture. We had lost nearly 15,000 pounds in August and the initial nest egg was down to 64,000 pounds. Still that did not dampen the team’s spirits as we traveled to Accrington for the Monday evening contest with Stanley. September had arrived, bringing with it cooler temperatures (17) and pitch was dry. Thornber returned to the starting lineup along with most of the regulars. The only regulars who were unfit were Mitchell, who was replaced by Ward and Gordon, who bowed out to Dallas. T also gave backup goalkeeper Robert Brook the start. Just over 1500 fans turned up and witnessed the AXFC coming out party.

We dominated in all phases of the game in the first half. Our offense was humming smoothly and though we wasted most of our seven chances, we were on target and goals. First on 13, Howard lobbed a pass for Bradley, but the pass was so high it went over the keeper and into the goal instead to give AXFC the 1-0 lead. We continued to put pressure on Accrington the rest of the half and it gave us another goal on 40 when Duffy gathered in a loose ball, stopped, scanned the field and took off on a broken field run that ended with the ball in the net to give us the 2-0 lead. At the half, the team was elated. It was the first time all year that we had dominated possession and completely outplayed the opposition. The second half saw us playing defensively and shutting Stanley down completely. Although they held the ball most of the time during the second half, they were unable to get it out midfield. On 75, I pulled Fatid, Howard and Dallas for Weddell, Purcell and Kirkwood respectively. The game ended with little fanfare 15 minutes later as we walked out 2-0 victors. We next had a glorious five days off before we faced Norwich Vics on Saturday afternoon at Yankee stadium.

retired_karamelkel

There was no team news of great importance the following week. Chelsea fans vented their spleens after a mid-week loss. Henrik Larsson broke his leg in training and would be out half the year and the AXFC reserves won their fourth straight match under the direction of Paul Child. If they kept it up, some of the players might just see some first team action. Saturday afternoon arrived and it was hot and dry with the temp being in the low 80’s in Norwich. The entire regular lineup got the nod for the game. For once, everyone was fully fit. The Vics were sitting 20th in the table and perhaps that is why less than 800 fans showed up to watch, if so, the missesd great game for the home team.

It was probably overconfidence, but we stumbled badly in the opening half against the Vics. They dominated possession and controlled the pace throughout. They didn’t take many chances, but they slowly built up play to capitalize on those chances. They seemed more interested in slowing down our offense with a vengeance. We were out of our game early and the Vics took the 1-0 lead shortly before halftime on a Thompson goal. It didn’t help us that our set-piece play was awful as we failed to do anything with the five corners we garnered during the half. Even attacking in the second half, we failed to do anything while their striker Whitehead got hot. He took a surfeit of chances and gave Browne all kinds of problems as he bagged goals on 68 and 79. After the first of his brace, I pulled Fatid and an unaccountably bad Howard for Weddell and Purcell. The changes did no good and we slunk out of Wincham Park, having been thoroughly beaten 3-0. Things wouldn’t get any easier as we had our third straight away match at Halifax on the following Tuesday.

retired_karamelkel

The 11th came with no team news whatsoever. We traveled to Halifax for the Tuesday night game. The evening was clear and cool (16) and dry, in short, a perfect September night. Since Halifax wear blue, we broke out our new red uniforms. Most of the starters got the nod for this game except for Browne, Howard and Durkin. The former two were benched for their pitiful performances in the last game and the latter was unfit. Their lineup slots were taken by Brook, Purcell and handler respectively. Just over a 1000 fans showed up for the affair.

We gout things going early when on 10, Fatid leaped on a loose ball off a tackle and drilled it into goal to give us the 1-0 lead. We continued to pepper the Halifax keeper on our limited forays up the pitch. Otherwise we were content to let Halifax do as they pleased in midfield. However, our resolve stiffened within our half and we prevented the home side from doing any damage to the score line. Things continued in that vein until 44 when Brook launched a long goal-kick that Purcell collected just inside the Halifax half. Purcell then went on a quick run and ended it by burying the ball into the goal to give AXFC the 2-0 lead. We pulled out the defensive stops in the second half. Halifax actually managed to get a couple of shots on target during the time, but Brook handled each with ease. As the game wound down, Brian Mitchell cleared the ball from deep in our half. Duffy picked up the bouncing ball and took off. He headed straight for goal intending to put his stamp on the game. On 78, he completed his run and put the ball in the net to give us the convincing 3-0 road win which put us in fifth place in the Conference standings. We finally got a home game again, this one on Saturday afternoon four days hence. In an amusing sidebar, the Halifax supporters were so angry with their team’s loss to us that they held an angry protest outside the stadium. I’d say the manager had better start packing his bags family soon.

retired_karamelkel

The last sentence in the previous post should say "fairly" not "family." Damn spell checker.


Saturday September 15 was a hot Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium in London. Given that both Purcell and Brook had performed well in the Halifax game, both retained their starting posts. Durkin went back into the lineup at left back. Our biggest home crowd, 1731 came out to cheer us on and they were well compensated for their time.

We came out breathing fire and we set the tone quickly. We attacked a slightly stunned Stevenage defense who wee caught off guard. We pelted Lionel Perez with shot after shot and on 34 a corner finally paid off for us. Mutchell whipped it in to Gordon, who headed it in to give us the 1-0 lead. Three minutes later, Perez intentionally fouled Bradley, earning us a penalty as he got sent off. Durkin nailed it beautifully and we now led 2-0. With Stevenage down a man and us two up I sent in the word to play defensively. By halftime, I felt we were well on our way to winning. Although we didn’t handle the ball as much as the opposition, we had done far better with our chances. Stevenage came out determined to do something in the second half. They completely took over and began running their attack smoothly. Brook’s mettle was tested, but he and the defense hung on, using the man advantage to help clog passing lanes and angles. On 80, they broke through when Gould scooped up a loose ball and put it past Brook to pull Stevenage back within one at 2-1. At that point I pulled Bradley, who seemed to be favoring his knee and Purcell, who was tired. Kirkwood and Howard came in to finish up the last ten minutes. The home win sent all the fans home happy and feeling that AXFC was indeed a tem worthy of their support. Even better was the fact that we got the week off until the following Saturday when we had a home match scheduled against Chester.

retired_milla0225

Good work this, EH :thup:. Can't wait to see how your game against my beloved Chester goes....

retired_karamelkel

Cheers Chesterfan2- I think both sides were unhappy with the result of the AXFC-Chester first go-round- you be the judge.



The players enjoyed the week off as nothing of note happened except that the reserves’ five game non-loss streak was snapped at Chester. But, reserve matches are not important in terms of win/loss record. Saturday afternoon arrived two days after the reserve match. With the roof wide open, the temp was 82 degrees. All the regulars started, including Young at LMC. We drew a record crowd of 2070 fans, who saw a rather disappointing match.



We started things well enough for the first fifteen minutes. We were moving confidently. Then, on 17, Mitchell was sent off for tripping a Chester forward. I had to pull Gordon in favor of Cooley. Twiss scored on the resulting free kick to give Chester the 1-0 lead. Down a man, AXFC seemed to check out mentally. We barely put up any opposition as Chester pushed their advantage. They got some good chances and only good keeping by Browne kept the score where it was as halftime arrived. The second half proved to be even more frustrating. Several of our players such as Mutchell, Howard and Duffy were just out of it. Because I only had two moves remaining, I could only grind my teeth and spit tobacco juice in contempt. On 60, Howard moved the ball sloppily and we were just lucky that an alert Lee Bradley was able to corral the pass and put it into the Chester goal to tie the game at 1-1. Five minutes later, I yanked Howard and sent Purcell. We kept Chester at bay for the rest of the game and got the single point. Still, it was an irritating game and neither Howard, Duffy nor Mutchell would get the start for our next game which was on Tuesday the 25th at Gravesend.

retired_smelesko

Fiiiines, we want fiiiiiiines. Overpaid divas etc.

Oh wait, we're at conference level.. A fiver a game and complementry onion rings at the club cafeteria

retired_smelesko

I can't believe how poorly I spelled complimentary :thdn: