retired_destiny1124

30.10.04
Altrincham (1) Phoenix Sports (1)
I feel fortunate to have escaped our match at Moss Lane with a 1-1 draw, given the distractions of the last week, but it could have been a win if we had finished better. We took the early lead when Anthony Jackson rifled a shot past Stuart Coburn after a good pass from Paul O'Brien. The rest of the first half we spent in our own end under siege as Altrincham tried to rally. Fortunately, their shooting was as off the mark as well- as they missed several good chances. We came out with more fire to start the second half and our execution was excellent in gaining good chances. Jackson and Adam Webster could not make those chances count though and we would rue missing them as Peter Band outleapt Rob Cousins to deflect a cross from Peter Wright past Alan Williams to equalize. Williams remained steadfast to earn MOM honours as he helped us to earn a point from the match with two key saves in the waning moments.

retired_destiny1124

30.10.04
After the match I received word from Justin Marsden's agent that he had accepted a contract from EC club Accrington Stanley and that we could finish completing the transfer paperwork to allow Marsden's move. That was fine by me and several members of the club quietly offered their 'don't let the door strike you on your way out' comments about his leaving.

***

3.11.04
It was nice to be able to add some midfielders, we needed them badly. Coming to us on free transfer were two that our scouts- Campkin and Jarrett- both thought highly off in the scouting reports. 23 year old AMRLC Lee Mudd is versatile and should help us anywhere we need him. He comes to us from the Woking reserves and he accepted a pay cut to come here for a chance to actually play. Also joining us is 17 year old AML Paul Parle. Parle arrives from the Brentford reserves, where he had played really well while Campkin was scouting him. Ross Squire also resumed light training, but he is still a long ways from returning to the lineup.

retired_destiny1124

6.11.04
Banbury (1) Phoenix Sports (1) FA Trophy 1st Round
I spent most of the first match second guessing my decision to give Chris Taylor another start at keeper. Taylor missed an easy 25 yard shot from Paul Tait and it looked like we would be broomed out of the competition due to that goal. We had our share of chances, but Scott Ward looked pretty sharp on the other end of the pitch. We were saved by Anthony Jackson, who had subbed on for Stuart Scheuber. A good pass from Steve Daly found him with room in the area and he blasted a shot past Ward for a dramatic equalizer at 89 minutes. Howard Forinton, who had give us fits all day, nearly ended our hopes but his rising blast bounced back off the crossbar. Taylor came up with the save of the match in second half extra time when he managed to ruin George Redknapp's hopes by tipping a shot over the bar, and that also helped him to MOM honours.

retired_destiny1124

10.11.04
Phoenix Sports (4) Banbury (3) Extra-Time FA Trophy 1st Round
It was a wild match, but we finally were able to beat a determined Banbury side when we scored in the second half of Extra-Time to take a 4-3 win. Anthony Jackson got us going when he scored a goal in the early moments of the match after being setup by a good pass from Daniel Bent. Banbury then struck for two goals in a three minute span to put us behind. The first came when the ball pinballed out of a scramble in front and Jamie Southall rapped it into the open right side of the net. Shortly after that Howard Forinton flicked a header past Alan Williams. We pegged them back as young Paul Parle scored on his debut thanks to a 25 yard shot that fooled Scott Ward. We regained the lead for halftime when Jackson zipped a pass that allowed Adam Webster to drive a shot by Ward. We dodged a bullet early in the second half when Forinton was taken down by Ridley in the area, but Williams saved Forinton's penalty kick to keep us in the lead. Banbury returned our favor from last match as they struck for a dramatic equalizer in the late moments as Tommy Goodwin's header slipped past Williams. Both sides had good chances in Extra-Time, but it was a good pass from Webster that allowed Lawrence Yaku (on for tiring Bent) to slip a shot past Ward for the eventual match winner. Our backline didn't play well today, but we overcame it.

retired_destiny1124

13.11.04
In what I consider a great transfer for us, we managed to sign David Poole to a contract after Manchester United allowed him to come to us on an almost free transfer (50% sell-on clause, but I don't plan on selling him). Poole's contract is a hefty one, but he and Daniel Bent should pair up to give us a pretty potent combo up front. Adam Webster will give us good cover and Lawrence Yaku and Reza Sotoudeh will also remain to help fill in.

I guess losing Burke worked out for the best, since I get to add one of my favorite players...

***

13.11.04
Not only Poole, but now John Spicer has joined us on season long loan from Arsenal. Spicer should immediately command a place in our midfield, as he is superior to Scheuber, Squire to fill our right side attacker spot. With his addition, our suddenly bolstered midfield has gone from a clear weakness to possibly a strength.

retired_destiny1124

17.11.04
Phoenix Sports (2) Worcester (1)
Despite giving up a goal in the first few minutes of the match, we fought back to defeat Worcester 2-1 with a nice rally. We gave away the early goal as Mark Owen said 'Thank You very much' when Sean Daly passed the ball right to him and he blistered it past Alan Williams into the right side of the net. Anthony Jackson got us back to even with his 5th goal of the season off a nice pass from Paul Parle. Both sides moved the ball up and down the pitch, searching for the go-ahead goal, but we had the better of the chances as we showed fine passing today. Adam Webster keyed the winning goal when he picked out Lawrence Yaku (on for tiring Daniel Bent) on the move and scorched the pass to him. Yaku went in free and made no mistake driving his shot past Lewis Skyers for the match winning goal. David Poole wasn't ready to go- due to recovering from a slight leg injury and Yaku took advantage with today's effort to make sure he is noticed for playing time.

retired_destiny1124

19.11.04
Another couple signings on free and one of them might be an important player in our future. We purchased Anthony Pulis on free from Portsmouth (no fees even) and the 20 year old Welsh MC should be one of our best midfielders. Our scouts raved about him in their scouting reports and I was happy to add him to the club. There was less fanfare for the minor free transfer purchase of 24 yeard old D/MC Richard Field. Field was purchased from Redditch with the express intent of providing some (er, any) cover for Andrew Wright at DMC. He won't be getting much playing time unless Wright needs a breather.

retired_pink3jan

Faramir;

How the bloody hell do you do it?

Im currently playing as Hayes in the NCS (my favourite and local team IRL) on FM05, second season, having missed the play offs by one point (!) last year; and despite the fact I had some money unlike you, I couldnt get the team winning games for yonks!

Then when we hit form, thanks to the signing of 3 20+ goals a season strikers and a new 'keeper, our season turns on its head and we rise from the relegation zone in November to 6th place eventually.

But I receive nout bids for my players!

Still; Im not too fussy, Ive ousted 2 and bought in 3 hoping for a successful second season, hopefully ending in promotion.

Oh, and great story btw, Ive just read up to here from the start. Come on Pheonix!

retired_pink3jan

Oh, forgot to say; the first 2 times i tried we were relegated first season so I finally acheived my objective of escaping relgation (third time lucky in this case!)

And every single time I buy Lawrence yaku; yet he has never racked up more than about 20 apps by the end of the season.

I suppose it's out of desperation at the start of the season that I always snap him up!

retired_destiny1124

Scott- Thanks much for the comments I count myself lucky on the transfer market, especially since this is FM 05- of which the market was one of my main gripes. It is much, much improved in FM 06. This is my last 05 story btw.

***

20.11.04
Phoenix Sports (4) Redditch (1)
This may have been our most impressive win yet and was also one that showed we are making strides as a club. David Poole immediately paid dividends when Daniel Bent gave him a nice cross and he knocked it past William Coyles for a goal in the first minute of his debut with us. We gave that one back midway through the half when Scott Voice escaped the marking of Martin Ridley and slipped a shot past diving Alan Williams. Bent keyed our 2nd goal, that was credited as an own-goal to defender Andrew Penny, but really could have been Poole's 2nd goal as he flicked the ball toward the net- but Penny pushed it in. John Spicer was the architect of our 3-1 halftime lead as a brilliant through ball found Bent moving in free on Coyles. Coyles stopped the shot, but Lee Mudd swooped in to put the rebound in the net for his 1st Phoenix goal. Lawrence Yaku, on for tiring Bent, was the beneficiary of Poole's driving shot that Coyles blocked away. Yaku was waiting and pounced on the rebound for his 5th goal of the season to finish off a stellar 4-1 win.