idgamerd

During the week before our next game at home to bottom half Gateshead, I got some good and bad news. Midfielder Chalmers has returned to training, but is a couple of weeks away from any return to action, good. Jody Banim then went and spoke to the press about his disappointment of being left out of the starting lineup on a few occasions recently. I replied that if he trained well, he'd get his chance, but with his form having been awful when selected I was angry at his statements.

For the Gateshead game, I brought Whittington into the midfield, pushed Porter up front with Lloyd and dropped Daly and Hallows to the bench. The game started evenly, but we looked the more likely to score. We didn't early and the rest of the first half descended into a dull midfield battle full of endeavor but little quality and it ended at 0-0.

We needed a spark in the second half, but when Murphy took a knock 5 minutes in I replaced him immediately with Hallows. 10 minutes after that I replaced Porter with Daly, and Whittington with Byrne and we then looked to have a better balance in the side. Chances were still at a premium so when Byrne put a header over unchallenged from 6 yards everyone was getting frustrated. As the game reached it's conclusion, Adams picked up a knock but had to carry on as I had used all our subs and the game finished in a dismal 0-0 draw.

Poor finishing is one thing, but now we were failing to create good chances too against a mediocre side. Our form is now a worry to me, and we must start picking up wins soon. Fortunately Kettering lost and whilst they had won in midweek to put themselves top, we were now 1 point behind and still in second.

idgamerd

In the lead up to our FA Trophy first round tie away to Rushden, Adams knock was going to keep him out for a couple of weeks, and Porter fell victim to flu so I sent him home. I made numerous changes to the side, Barnard replaced Adams, Banim replaced Porter, Munroe was selected instead of Band and Byrne started ahead of Dutton. I hoped a shake up would give us impetus.

Rushden are a big club compared to Alty, and this showed early on. We spent the opening minutes chasing the Rushden players and ball, largely not getting near either. They were however restricted to long range pot-shots until 14 minutes when a good bit of skill from the Rushden right-winger gave him a good crossing position. His excellent delivery was matched with an equally impressive header to give Rushden the advantage. The game then reverted to Rushden taking pot-shots, but we did muster a couple of efforts from range ourselves. With half time approaching, Rushden attacked down the right again and used the same formula to extend their lead on 42 minutes. This proved to be the last meaningful action of the half and we went in 2-0 down.

I made an impassioned plea for work-rate for the second half, and when we came out we looked as though the fight was in us now. We started to match Rushden in the midfield until the flanks again caused our downfall in the 62nd minute. A left wing move from Rushden produced a magical through ball that the Rushden striker could not fail to score from and did so for 3-0. We have a lot of pride as a squad, and we kept battling manfully against the professional lads from Rushden. I brought on fresh legs as the game wore on, but we tired as a unit and a long ball caught us outon 83 miutes and left a Rushden striker with a run-in on goal to make it 4-0. We pleasingly carried on till the final whixtle, but Rushden had now eased down and the game petered out. 4-0 at the final whistle and not a lot to really crow about.

Rushden are a good side comparitively, and it was no surprise that we lost. The lads were crestfallen though and very low on morale after this defeat. This was the third game on the trot we had not won, and something needs to change quickly.

idgamerd

Hucknall away next for my beleaguered squad as I attempted to pick them up from the beating by Rushden. Daly replaced Lloyd up-front, Johnson came onto the bench and Band replaced Munroe in the heart of the defence. Fish had returned to training a couple of weeks earlier and took his place on the bench, Hallows started in place of Whittington and Dutton replaced Byrne. Most of these were down to the players being very tired, but some were tactical.

Early on at Hucknall, we didn't click in an attacking capacity. Near post runs were met by far post crosses and vice versa. We were not on the same wavelength. As the first-half wore on, a couple of chances fell our way but poor finishing again cost us. We were getting frustrated, and allowed Hucknall a couple of late chances in the first half. Fortunately they couldn't take them either so the half ended 0-0.

I tried to shake them up at half time, attempting to get a real reaction going forward. The second half though continued in the same vane, with us as the better side but unable to finish a chance off. Fish made his long awaited return from injury from the subs bench, Byrne and Johnson both had a go also but nobody seemed able to score and the final whistle heralded a 0-0 draw.

Another disappointing failure to win a game. I am now left scratching my head wondering what the correct formula might be for getting us going forward effectively. Whatever it is, I had better find it soon.

idgamerd

Hinckley away provided the next test, and without us having won in several weeks, we needed to get back to being victorious as quickly as possible.

I brought in Johnson for Daly, and moved Lloyd to the bench for this one. The game started with both sides on an even keel. We perhaps had the better of the chances, but with no finish looking likely for either side another battling game ensued. The game was largely played in the midfield, and little real craft was shown by either side. It was perhaps inevitable that a set piece would break the deadlock. On 37 minutes, a right wing corner was met with a bullet header from the middle of the goal to give Hinckley the advantage. Some slack marking had lead to the goal, and we were clearly deflated from having gone behind. So much so that on 45 minutes, Hickley strolled straight down the middle with many 1-2's and slotted a second. Beleaguered, we trooped off at half time 2-0 down and in need of something special.

I tore into the lads at half time, something that was becoming increasingly necessary due to some abject performances. With fleas in their ears and covered in teacup shards, we went out for the second half. Being the last game before Christmas, we had to get something here.

My lads started just like I wanted them to, going forward with more purpose than we had shown in recent weeks. Our failing though was again finishing with Daly and Johnson particularly culpable. Hinckley though self-destructed on 68 minutes when a woeful back pass caught the Hinckley keeper out of his area and stranded, leaving Johnson with an open goal. Fortunately he hit it, and we were now only 1 goal down. I then made use of 3 subs, refreshing the forward line and midfield, and we continued to come forward. Hinckley were now dropping deeper and deeper, trying to hold on. As time went on the game became attack on defence, but we just couldn't hit the bit of space between the posts and under the bar. Several of the spectators were getting bruised with our wayward efforts, and even a late Daly strike that rattled the frame could not get us the goal we needed so the match finished 2-1 to Hinckley.

Another disaster. With the sides around us not being astonishing either though, we only have to recreate our early season form to start to get back into the running again though. Anyway, suffice it to say that I am really unhappy currently, and something needs to change and soon. I have started to bid for strikers on free transfers, and hope to offload some of my more useless players at the earliest opportunity.

idgamerd

With the Christmas turkey still fresh in our bellies, a boxing day game at home to Worksop was next for Alty. I decided to make wholesale changes here, especially the defence. We lined up as follows:

GK: Smith
RB: Rose
LB: Adams
CD: Stirling
CB: Munroe
DM Dutton
RACM: Winn
CACM: Porter
LACM: Murphy
ST: Lloyd
ST: Daly

Johnson and Whittington made the bench along with Coburn, Craddock and Byrne.

Well, what a reaction. After an even early period where Worksop looked dangerous on set pieces, an excellent move down our left culminating in a well placed Daly goal from a Porter throughball gave us a lead on 8 minutes. On 14 minutes, Adams played the ball down the left for Daly to chase. His cross found Porter on the edge of the area whose right foot volley scorched into the top left corner for 2-0. More chances followed, but the Worksop keeper was starting to get into his acrobatics and stop some shots. Worksop were trying to work at us on the break, but our pressure told again on 32 minutes when a low Dutton right wing corner found Winn on the edge of the box and his first time effort thundered into the top left corner. Worksop were being battered by us again and again and in injury time, a break and cross by Winn down the right found Porter unmarked on the penalty spot. His control and finish was sublime, and sent the long suffering home crowd into raptures. The half time whistle went soon after to bring to a close the best 45 minutes football produced by one of my sides, excellent stuff.

At half time, I encouraged the lads to keep going, and announce to the league in the most emphatic terms possible that we were back on form. After the break though, we were struggling to live up to the performance we put in in the first half. This was partly due to Worksop having parked the bus in-front of the goal for the second half, but also due to our old problem, finishing. Lloyd in particular was wasteful on numerous occasions, but the rest of his play had been excellent so it was had to criticise him too much, especially at 4-0 up. We toiled and struggled to find a fifth until the ref brought to an end the game that hopefully marked the start of a great run of form. 4-0 to Alty!

My shake up had worked, and we were looking hungry again for points. Some more performances like this and we'll find our way back to the top of the table.

idgamerd

Our 20th league game of the season saw us travel to Leigh RMI just down the road. Leigh are a team in decline, and we must secure a win here to keep our momentum going into the new year. I decided to keep the same side as had faced Worksop, despite them being a little tired due to the packed Christmas schedule of games.

We created a good chance in the first minute, with Daly heading straight at the Leigh keeper when well placed. When Leigh countered a couple of minutes later though, Munroe let his man get on the wrong side, pulled him back and was booked. Nothing came of the freekick, but when he did the same on 6 minutes, he was sent off for his second bookable offence. Disaster, 6 minutes gone, down to 10 men away from home. I brought Craddock on for Lloyd to fill the hole left by Munroe. The game then settled down to an even affair. Leigh's chances were perhaps better in the first half, but in fairness there was nothing clear cut created by either side. The whistle then brought an end to a relatively dull half, marked only really by Munroes indicretions.

Having gven Munroe a piece of my mind, I told the lads to get the ball forward early then get up in support of Daly as quickly as possible. It would be tricky, but Leigh are not a masterful side so a win is possible.

When a ball from Dutton was flicked on by Daly in the 51st minute, Porter ran through only to be brought down on the edge of the area by the Leigh right-back. He was the last man by a distance and was rightly sent off for his professional foul. Now 10-a-side, we had a real chance of the win. The first half had taken a lot out of the lads though, and as the game wore on we looked more and more tired.I threw on my last 2 subs, and pushed Porter up-front to try to get at Leigh, but they had now settled for a point and dragged the entire team back to defend their point. This they did effectively and the game ended in a 0-0 draw.

Anotehr clean sheet is the positive, especially when playing a man down for a half. Having someone sent off for 2 bookings in 6 minutes and also drawing another blank in front of goal was the downside. A couple of free transfer bids for strikers had not come off, and it was looking possible that I would have to go into the rest of the season with the lads I have. Another disappointment then, but were not completely out of it yet after 20 games.

idgamerd

20 games gone, and the table was as follows:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Kettering | | 19 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 29 | 16 | +13 | 38 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Altrincham | | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 30 | 16 | +14 | 36 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Vauxhall Motors | | 20 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 32 | 24 | +8 | 36 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Alfreton | | 19 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 33 | 21 | +12 | 33 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Stafford | | 20 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 24 | 15 | +9 | 33 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Worcester | | 19 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 24 | 26 | -2 | 32 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Barrow | | 19 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 27 | 24 | +3 | 30 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Lancaster | | 19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 23 | 16 | +7 | 29 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Hinckley | | 19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 20 | 16 | +4 | 29 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Worksop | | 20 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 28 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Hednesford | | 19 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 26 | 24 | +2 | 27 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Harrogate | | 20 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 27 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Moor Green | | 20 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 22 | 23 | -1 | 26 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Hucknall | | 20 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 19 | 22 | -3 | 26 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Redditch | | 19 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 20 | 22 | -2 | 24 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Gateshead | | 20 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 18 | 20 | -2 | 23 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Burscough | | 19 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 26 | 30 | -4 | 22 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Northwich | | 20 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 20 | 27 | -7 | 22 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Stalybridge | | 20 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 17 | 25 | -8 | 21 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Leigh RMI | | 19 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 17 | -6 | 18 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 21st | | Bradford PA | | 20 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 18 | 35 | -17 | 15 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22nd | | Gainsborough | | 20 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 32 | -20 | 8 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

There's some points to be made up, but the lead is hardly insurmountable.

idgamerd

New years day sees an exhausted Alty squad travel to Redditch for the first game of 2007. We need to start the year off right, and get back to picking up wins right away. Fatigue was the driving force behind numerous changes necessary, Fish came in for Porter, Whittington for Murphy, Hallows for Winn, Band for Munroe and Banim for Daly.

We retained posession well, and probed the Redditch defence with patience early on. Banim was lively, but ran out of options in the final third. Both sides created a good chance, with Redditch firing wide, and Lloyd forcing a good save from the Redditch keeper. After these efforts, both sides seemed to clam up a little, and only long range efforts were possible for both teams. The game continued in this way until a dull first half was brought to a close. Loyd had gone down injured just before the break however, with Johnson coming on as his replacement.

The lads were very tired, but I tried to gee them up for another push in the second half.From the kick off, redditch attacked with purpose, they were patient until their striker was tackled and the ball broke to his strike parter who rifled home in the 47th minute. The game was then cagey again until a long ball found Johnson in space on the left who laid the ball inside for Hallows to cross for Whittington to volley home on 55 minutes. By this time, Fish had run out of steam and Byrne replaced him. A couple of chances were then created by both sides, but in each occasion the keepers were not worked. As the game wore on, Redditch seemed to tire more than us. Johnson was foiled by 2 great saves, and Banim shot over when well placed. Redditch did connect with 2 crosses, but the player headed wide on both occasions. The game was then ended with a 1-1 scoreline, not the worst result but not a good one either.

It's wins we need, and we are now at the half way point of the season. I estimate we might need 5-10 more points in the second half of the season than we amassed in the first to win this league, and the sooner we get them the better. Kettering drew also, leaving the gap teh same at the top.

After the game, the pysio came to see me about Lloyd. He had torn his calf and would be out for 3-5 months. This basically means the end of his season disappointingly. Before the next game, Barnard went down with the flu, and Adams with a cold. Both players were sent home to recover.

idgamerd

Lancaster away were the next opposition for my faltering Alty boys. Daly came in for Lloyd, Munroe for Band, Porter for Fish, Winn for Hallows and Murphy for Whittington who made the bench. As so many changes had been made for the last game due to fitness, I changed many of them back. Adams had just about recovered from his cold so retained his place, but we now had to cover for Lloyd's injury.

We started well at Lancaster, and Banim was put through early only to fire over. Lancaster then tightened up a bit, but we were still the dominant side. On 22 minutes, a left wing counter attack from Lancaster produced a good cross, eluding Munroe in the middle. The Lancaster strikers control and finish was a lesson to our misfiring forwards. Now behind, we surged forward again only to find Lancaster having dropped deep in numbers and we were left frustrated until half time, 1-0 down.

Creativity was lacking in the midfield, so I asked the boys to really up the tempo and play the ball longer, hopefully bypassing a lot of their increased numbers protecting their back 4.

The second half was, in truth, a dismal half of football. We were by far the better side, but had resorted to more direct football which was effective but not good to watch. Banim had 2 sitters that he failed to take, and the subs werejust as ineffective at getting the result we so desperately need.

So, the game finished with us unable to score, and a 1-0 loss was the result. We didn't really look like scoring, despite Banim having had a trio of opportunities that I think my mother would have scored from. I have finally lost patience with Banim, and he will not start for Alty again unless we are desperate, and I duly placed him on the transfer list. I also decided that we needed to get rid of several fringe players. We were operating just under our wage budget, but this could be improved and hopefully leave Alty better off financially.

Bids came in for Burns, reserve left winger, and Hussin. I accept them both gratefully. I am going to have to completely rebuild the squad sooner or later, so I might as well get started now.

idgamerd

Now back in 4th place, we need to start clicking again and pick up some results quickly. Our next game was Harrogate at home. I had called up striker Lee Hendley from the reserves, and decided to give him a game on the bench to drop Banim. Johnson started up-front with Daly, Whittington came back in for Murphy, Hallows was picked on the bench, and Byrne replaced Dutton on the field.

I needed a performance, or at least a result. Our 3rd game of 2007 had to be the one where we would open our accounts for the calendar year, and start being positive once more.

We were a bit tentative as we started the game, not entirely sure about ourselves. We were low on confidence and it showed. When a Rose cross from deep found Porter breaking into the area unmarked to head bast a stranded Harrogate keeper on 17 minutes, I thought our form had finally been turned around. I expected us to now go on and win the game hansomely. We pressurised Harrogate almost continually after the goal, but were failing to really create chances. On 43 minutes a Porter finish was ruled out for a dubious offside call that I ranted to the 4th official about. It was all to no avail though as the goal remained disallowed and we finished the half 1-0 in front.

Finally, we had gotten into half time with a lead. I warned against complacency against the distinctly average Harrogate side, and urged the boys to go out and kill the game early. Bouyed by a decent first half display, we came out with all guns blazing after the break. It was far more than the Harrogate defenders could cope with, but unfortunately we found a goalkeeper in the mood for a virtuoso performance. His acrobatics kept Harrogate in the game time after time as we surged forward in waves. As the game wore on, we started to be less effective going forward, slightly down as all our great play and pressure in the second half had as yet yielded no result. That changed though on 84 minutes when a left wing break from Whittington resulted in a cross that Daly poked home from close range to finally put the game beyond most doubt.

We relaxed after scoring the second, and Harrogate accepted their defeat. The game petered out to a 2-0 victory that was most welcome. We had finally reversed an awful run of form and got ourselves back on the front foot. We had climbed into third, and amazingly were still in good touch with the pace setters. We just need to keep up the fight and verve that we beat Harrogate with and Alty will be successful this season.