retired_destiny1124

23.4.05
Inverness Caledonia Thistle (3) Arbroath (5)
Inverness- Gerry Ward 29 Dennis Wyness 41 Clayton Donaldson 85
Arbroath- Gareth Munro 12 James Coppinger 39 Steven Pressley 48 Mike Zonneveld 87 Robin Gibson 90
MOM- Dunga, Arbroath

"Last shot won?" asked Gond in viewing the stats following the match.

"Seemed like it was going to be that way. They did a nice job of answering our goals, but I think we were fresher in the late stages- and that was why we were able to score those two late goals to win the match."

"A tribute to our depth? We have been able to slot players in as needed."

"That has a lot to do with it. Actually, that has a lot to do with why we won the Division- we have been able to survive injuries that would have crippled Ayr and Partick Thistle."

***

30.4.05
Arbroath (5) Airdrie (2)
Arbroath- Peter Wolf 16,37 John Elliott 18 Paul Shields 26 Gareth Munro 75
Airdrie- David Arbuckle 48 Michael Craig 53
MOM- Peter Wolf, Arbroath

"A fine way to cap our season, wouldn't you say?" smiled Gond.

"Very nice to send our fans home happy with one last entertaining win. I thought this was also Peter's (Wolf) finest performance of the season- a very nice way for him to finish out, since I don't plan on starting him for our last match at Queen of the South."

"We had a lot of good offensive play today. So much so, that I think our backline let down a little bit when they got back into the match."

"Yes, they did- and Ian (Ritchie) also let down a little- but I really am not going to worry about it. They picked it back up and closed things out nicely."

retired_destiny1124

Queen of the South (1) Arbroath (3)
Queen- John Cusick 16
Arbroath- Mark Boyd 13 John Elliott 56 Thomas Paul Griffiths 85-P
MOM- John Elliott, Arbroath

"That was a great way to finish out the season- we played one more strong match," said Gond with a relieved smile.

"Not only a good season, but a record setting one- we broke the record for points in a season and goals in a season. Add the first ever Cup title and this was a **superb season."

"What now?"

"Players and staff are off until June 1. You and I have other matters to pursue..."

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** * Scottish First Division - Saturday 7th May 2005********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2004/5 Table============================================= ================================================== =Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st C Arbroath 36 17 1 0 54 11 10 2 6 46 32 84 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Partick Thistle 36 13 4 1 40 20 8 4 6 20 21 71 3rd Ayr 36 12 4 2 30 17 8 2 8 30 34 66 4th Raith Rovers 36 11 3 4 32 20 5 6 7 27 33 57 5th Morton 36 10 2 6 37 29 6 3 9 27 33 53 6th Airdrie 36 9 6 3 21 13 5 2 11 21 38 50 7th Inverness C. Thistle 36 6 6 6 28 27 4 3 11 22 31 39 8th Ross County 36 5 5 8 32 34 2 4 12 20 36 30 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9th R Clyde 36 4 5 9 21 31 2 6 10 15 28 29 10th R Queen of Sth. 36 5 2 11 26 38 0 6 12 12 35 23 </pre>

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** * Arbroath - Saturday 7th May 2005********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2004/5 Senior Club Stats============================================= ================================================== =No Name Apps Gls Con Pens Asts Yel Red MoM Av R--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Boyd, Mark 34 12 0 0 10 0 0 8 7.88 - Brown, Graeme 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---- - Brown, Kevin 4 (1) 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 6.60 - Brownlie, Paul 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---- - Burchell, Kieren 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 7.60 - Cano, José 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---- - Clarke, Trevor 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---- - Coppinger, James 31 13 0 0 6 2 1 1 7.65 - Creaney, Philip 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---- - De Loenen, Nick 1 (3) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.75 - Dorrian, Ryan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---- - Dunga 9 (11) 1 0 0 3 0 0 1 7.25 - Elliot, John 12 (19) 10 0 0 9 0 0 3 7.45 - Fisher, John 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---- - Gallagher, Stephen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---- - Gibson, Robin 12 (1) 3 0 0 6 0 0 0 7.46 - Griffiths, Thomas Paul 10 3 0 2 (2) 0 0 0 0 6.80 - Harvey, Stuart 12 (2) 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 7.00 - Hazell, Reuben 11 (14) 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 7.00 - Jackson, Chris 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---- - Jonsson, Rickard 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---- - Laguardia, Luis 0 (21) 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 6.95 - Langfield, Jamie 12 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 7.50 - Lee, Tim - - - - - - - - ---- - Lewis, Neil 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7.00 - MacLeod, David - - - - - - - - ---- - Macdonald, Billy 32 (3) 5 0 0 4 2 0 1 7.20 - Magnusson, Thomas 27 1 0 0 2 3 0 1 7.93 - Malcolm, Stuart 21 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 7.48 - Moore, Michael 3 (7) 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 7.30 - Munro, Gareth 12 10 0 0 3 0 0 3 7.92 - O'Donnell, Andrew 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 5.00 - Pearce, Mark 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---- - Pressley, Steven 36 3 0 0 1 1 0 2 7.42 - Rankin, Isaiah 15 5 0 0 3 0 0 1 7.27 - Ritchie, Ian 22 0 24 0 0 0 0 0 7.27 - Samuel, J'Lloyd 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 7.33 - Schembri (II), Angelo 34 0 0 0 10 1 0 1 7.79 - Shearer, Gary 1 (9) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.90 - Shields, Paul 10 (1) 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 7.18 - Sjölund, Daniel 19 (1) 11 0 0 3 0 0 2 7.70 - Spiller, Danny 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 7.00 - Steele, Kevin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---- - Vassell, Darius 25 10 0 0 3 0 0 5 7.92 - Willoughby, Kirk 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---- - Wolf, Peter 33 17 0 0 13 2 0 4 8.03 - Zonneveld, Mike 35 5 0 3 (3) 1 1 1 1 7.57 - van de Wey, Frank 5 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 6.40 </pre>

"How many? That's great!" stated Gond as he hung up the phone. "We had 6 players on the Players Team of the Year."

"Who?"

"Mark Boyd, Peter Wolf, Mike Zonneveld and Angelo Schembri were selected as starters- James Coppinger and Steven Pressley as reserves."

retired_destiny1124

Allye Owen was breathing heavily. The dark, damp air clung to her as if intent upon engulfing her.

"Maybe it really is trying to devour me," she muttered to herself.

The trees seemed close around her, yet it seemed they were protective against the clinging fog. At least that is what she felt as she huddled close against the trunk of one.

"So close. It must be close by," Allye said to herself quietly as the sensation seemed to gain strength. "Just like that old man showed me- the feeling of it. I wouldn't have thought it could be so clear though."

A bare hint of cold, chill breeze stirred the fog around her.

"Why did I pick this time of the day to come out here looking," she grumbled. "Just too eager- once I felt it- I guess."

The sun was still only hinting at its early arrival and the fog seemed unwilling to grant its release to the waking morning.

She had felt the stirrings of the feeling the old man had demonstrated for her last night. It wasn't the first time for the feelings, but this had seemed stronger somehow. As she had walked along the coast at dusk, it had seemed almost a physical pang, but it had been drawing to dark and she didn't want to tackle the search in unfamiliar areas at night.

Finally she forced herself to move further through the fog. It felt like someone was peering over her shoulder, but then she realized someone likely was- the helpful countenance that could appear to her in thought.

She grimly chuckled and sent a thought, "*You* would be at home in this..."

***

Faramir had not thought he would find humor in his current plight, but her thought stirred the mirth still within him, as he caught the sensations from her.

He sent a thought back, "Ware the clouds on the ground, if they be like my world- they often contain ill omens and spirits."

***

"Now he tells me," sighed an already anxious Allye.

As she stepped around a large tree, a bright glow seemed to seer her vision. She stared, awestruck, at what appeared to be a chard of crystal. The shard was emanating a dazzling light.

She sent the thought on to her shadow companion and paused a moment, then started on- almost eagerly toward the crystal.

***

Farmair immediately forwarded the thought on to both Gandalf and Lady Galadriel.

Gandalf's thought was overwhelming in its urgency, "Tell her to move away! It is a trap!"

***

She neared the copse of trees where the crystal appeared to dangle between several overhanging branches. She couldn't see anything supporting it, but dismissed that to something that might be explained by magic.

Close enough to enter the copse, the thought suddenly beat upon her, "Trap! Move Away!"

Staggered with the intensity of the thought and its warning, she stumbled- one foot touching a barely seen line drawn in the dirt. Immediately the crystal seemed to flash and burst. The soundless flash seemed to immediately freeze her toes and shoe that had touched the line, but she fell away from the wintry blast and managed to crawl back a few feet into the cover of a bush. It felt like her toes had been frostbitten and she immediately cast off her shoe and brought her hand to the foot. She seemed little aware of her surroundings, but there were bushes with berries on them.

***

He could sense her sudden pain and sought to reach her with thought- to bear some of the burden. He realized that he could sense her surroundings and wondered at that- when he realized that the bushes bore the leaves that looked much like the herb kingsfoil. He sent the though to her, "Rub some leaves of the bush over your toes."

***

Not knowing why he was commanding her, she grabbed a few leaves from the bush. The pain seemed to be getting greater- though it still was only her toes that were in pain. She rubbed the leaves of the plant over her toes and felt an immediate lessening of the intensity. Her toes still throbbed and hurt, but it seemed a much duller pain now.

***

Faramir appeared to slump in his cloudy prison as he realized that she had escaped the worst of the pain and panic. He realized the struggle had drained him mentally and sent a quick summons for Lady Galadriel.

"Lord, let me ease you. That was a mighty effort indeed."

"You saw?"

"I had only just arrived, but yes I saw what the effort took."

"The warning from Gandalf seems to have served. Or at least the far lady seems to have survived whatever trap was set. I wonder how Gandalf knew?"

retired_destiny1124

"That was some serious detective work," grumbled Barry Gond.

Faramir nodded, "Still, now we know who was feeding Sammy Gohl information. I will have him out of here on the next train if I can manage it."

***

"Now you understand why I stuck to free transfers- though Christopher Doig only cost 3K because of impending end of his contract," stated Faramir

"How much are we in the red?"

"The stadium improvements cost 9.7 Million, so after taking away what was set aside- we are 7.5 Million in the red."

Gond winced, "Very fortunate we have most of our players under contract for another season or two."

"Yes, you're right about that. We will continue to pluck worthy players that we can get on free."

***

"It looks like the scouts have done their homework Barry. I told them to work under the assumption we wouldn't have any funds to make purchases- and they found some free gems out there."

Gond scanned the transfer listing, "I see that you managed to land some depth- if nothing else. Seems to be mostly backline?"

Faramir nodded as he glanced through another scouting report, "I believe we may well lose Thomas (Magnusson) sometime this season. Rangers and Celtic made bids in June, but I turned them down. With his 1.1 Million minimum fee release, it is likely one of those two will get around to bidding up to it. With that in mind, it was hard to turn down adding Richard Montgomery, John Paul Potter on free and Christopher Doig for 3K."

Gond looked further down the list, "I see a couple of promising forward additions too?"

"Arsenal released Joe Osei-Kuffor, it was hard to turn down the chance to sign him. Same thing when Manchester United released Paul Walker- he was pleased to return to Scotland to play. With Darius Vassell our other key player who has a minimum fee release- I was hedging against his loss sometime this season. I expect one of the English clubs with money to come calling for him."

"Only two midfielders- but that makes sense, since we didn't really need much help there."

"We have more depth there than the other spots, though I didn't pursue any additional keepers- since we really don't need any more than the four we have. Sam Swonnell was released by Watford and was another too good to pass up signing. I was surprised when he picked our bid- there were 7 other clubs besides us who offered him contracts. Didier Longuet I signed after Ajax released him- mostly as additional cover in defensive midfield after we let Danny Spiller go on transfer last season."

"How did Nick (De Loenen) the knife take his departure?"

"I don't really think he was upset- he will likely get to play in Dundee. He must have realized his usefulness to Sammy G. was at an end- so no matter the hold on him, he was set to go somewhere else."

retired_destiny1124

30.7.05
Arbroath (2) St.Mirren (2)
Arbroath- Darius Vassell 26 Mark Boyd 28
St.Mirren- Martin Fotheringham 44 Lucas Cornwall 54
MOM- Lee Mair, St.Mirren

"Well, we weren't intimidated at least," sighed Gond.

"We also blew a two-goal lead. It was a match we could well have won."

"Christopher Kirkland won the keeper battle- Jamie (Langfield) didn't play well today."

"I wonder why Liverpool loaned Kirkland to St.Mirren- he is starting occasionally for England now- it surprised me that they allowed him to come here."

"Maybe because they have Dionisis Chiotis? We had plenty of good chances at Kirkland, but he played very well."

"We just need to tighten our play some- you're right it wasn't a bad match, but we could and should have won it."

***

6.8.05
Aberdeen (0) Arbroath (3)
Aberdeen- None
Arbroath- Darius Vassell 3,37 Peter Wolf 28
MOM- Darius Vassell, Arbroath

"Nice way to get back into playing well," said a pleased Barry Gond.

"You wouldn't think we would be sneaking up on anyone- not given our League Cup title last season- but Aberdeen didn't seem to believe we could play with them."

"If they didn't before, we made believers of them."

"I am glad to see Darius off to a great start- that is the type of scoring we need out of him this season."

retired_destiny1124

13.8.05
Arbroath (5) Dundee (1)
Arbroath- Darius Vassell 5,86 Peter Wolf 20 Gareth Munro 41 Mark Boyd 47
Dundee- Barry Smith 11
MOM- Darius Vassell, Arbroath

"Once the boys realized that they could play at this level- they certainly relaxed- and today was a worthy result," stated Faramir.

"You would have thought they already knew that from winning the League Cup, but I guess the summer reintroduced doubts- no longer though."

"The funny thing about the match is that Dundee actually outshot us 14-13, but Jamie (Langfield) played well and Derek Soutar didn't."

***

16.8.05
Arbroath (3) Clydebank (0) League Cup 2nd round
Arbroath- Luis Laguardia 3,29 Kieren Burchell 17
Clydebank- None
MOM- Luis Laguardia, Arbroath

"Our depth shone again today," offered Gond.

"Luis (Laguardia) was certainly happy to start- and to show he deserves more playing time."

"Both those goals were fabulous runs, but it was Clydebank though..."

"True, but they certainly gave a game effort today- their keeper let them down or the match would have been much closer."

retired_destiny1124

20.8.05
Rangers (4) Arbroath (1)
Rangers- Tore Andre Flo 4,31 Barry Ferguson 19,81
Arbroath- Darius Vassell 71
MOM- Tore Andre Flo, Rangers

"When the wheels fall off- they fall all the way off," grumbled Faramir.

"The referee sure wasn't any help- that quick 2nd yellow on Darius (Vassell) and then a quick redcard on Peter (Wolf)- those calls were ill-considered," replied Gond.

"I protested to the FA and they have quietly agreed that the referee's work was poor in the match. I don't know if it will save Peter a suspension- but I appealed his. I didn't appeal Darius' because it was his own ill-timed outburst that got him the 2nd yellow. We can't blame the reffing for the loss though, this match was long gone by the time he started sending our players off."

"That was a terrible first half. A total lack of communication between Thomas (Magnusson) and Steven (Pressley)- you would think they had never played together before back there."

"We hung Jamie (Langfield) out there without much help today- and against the quality of 'Gers- we got exactly what we deserved. Hopefully we can drum the lesson into their heads in practice this week. Sammy's going to have a field day with this one..."

"Argh, I had almost forgotten that we were back within his purview when we reached SPL."

Rangers Romp
by Sammy Gohl
Rangers rolled over hapless Arbroath in an easy manner as they strolled to a 4-1 win at Ibrox. Tore Andre Flo and Barry Ferguson took turns slicing through the pitiful defense of the visitors. The unruly boys from the coast then resorted to thuggery and it wound up with both Darius Vassell and Peter Wolf earning redcards in their troublesome second half meltdown.

***

28.8.05
Arbroath (2) Motherwell (0)
Arbroath- Gareth Munro 10 Luis Laguardia 90
Motherwell- None
MOM- Richard Montgomery, Arbroath

"Jamie (Langfield) sure shone today- that was quite a performance," commented an obviously relieved Gond.

"They controlled too much of the match- we were very passive out there today," asserted Faramir. "Gareth's sensational shot was really the only good chance we had until Luis (Laguardia) scored that late goal."

"The backline played a lot better today, but the midfield seemed slow, they didn't manage to exert any pressure on Motherwell. I guess we should just be happy that we got the win without Peter (Wolf) and Darius (Vassell)"

"They both only got one match suspensions- correct?"

"Yes, this was the only match they had to miss."

***

"Hmm, another spate of injuries that we can't afford," sighed Faramir.

"I just heard back- Darius (Vassell) will be out at least 3 weeks."

"Add that to Gareth's injury and we are fortunate that we have some depth up front. I also signed Paul Keegan just now to give us more cover."

"Is he the Irish forward that Leeds released?"

"Yes, he is the one."

"He may help us- I thought he had a lot of promise."

retired_destiny1124

10.9.05
Dundee United (2) Arbroath (1)
Dundee United- Darren Williams 88,90
Arbroath- James Coppinger 86
MOM- Mark Kerr, Dundee United

Barry Gond and Faramir both looked out the window, frustration clearly evident.

"We worked so damm hard- finally take the lead- and then go and lose it in the last five minutes," ranted Faramir.

"Jamie (Langfield) had played so well to that point, but both of Williams' shots were ones I thought he would have stopped."

"We just quit pressuring them once we got the lead- we can't do that against clubs of this caliber."

Dundee United Gains Revenge
by Sammy Gohl
Dundee United took revenge on ex-manager Faramir as they punished them in a come from behind 2-1 win. Young Darren Williams provided the goal power as the home side overcame a lucky Arbroath goal that had put them behind late in the second half. Faramir and Assistant Manager Barry Gond could be seen visibly fuming as their club collapsed and played dead in handing the match to Dundee United.

***

17.9.05
Arbroath (3) Hearts (2)
Arbroath- Billy Macdonald 29 Daniel Sjolund 35,90
Hearts- Andy Kirk 19 Robert Tomaschek 32
MOM- Daniel Sjolund, Arbroath

"It seems when one part of our play is right, another is faltering," lamented Gond.

"I think I need to get Jamie (Langfield) a match off- he certainly played a poor match today."

"Good thing Daniel (Sjolund) stepped up today- he won us this one with his first strong performance this season."

"It wasn't our best match, but we battled and worked hard to earn this win."

retired_destiny1124

21.9.05
Arbroath (4) Dundee United (1) ExtraTime League Cup 3rd round
Arbroath- Stuart Harvey 49 Gareth Munro 92 Joe Osei-Kuffor 99 John Elliott 120
Dundee United- Stuart McDonald 28
MOM- Dunga, Arbroath

"They finally ran out of gas in extra time, but I have to give them a lot of credit for battling after Jamie Buchan got redcarded," stated Gond.

"With him off at 59 minutes, I thought we would be able to beat them in regulation time, but they really worked hard and earned the right to play in extra time. You could see them really deflate when Gareth scored on his header in extra time though."

"We didn't lack for any killer instinct this time- at least we took that away from our loss to them."

"No, you're right about that. I was really happy to see us keep the pressure up and get the other two goals. It was great to beat them with the non-regulars too."

"Helps us have the regulars fresh for our match against Kilmarnock. Oh, did you see what Dundee U announced after the match?"

"No, what?"

"They are selling Darren Williams to Fulham for 2.5 Million."

"I won't be sorry to see him go- we don't seem to have any defenders who can mark him on a regular basis- he is too quick and powerful. He is going to be a good one and they will likely rue having sold him."

***

24.9.05
Kilmarnock (0) Arbroath (0)
Kilmarnock- None
Arbroath- None
MOM- Ian Ritchie, Arbroath

"I am proud of the effort we put forth, but the reffing was abominable," pronounced Faramir.

"Oh come on. Just because he handed out 4 yellow cards and two red cards to us and not even a yellow to them," teased Gond.

"I know, I know Barry. The FA agreed the reffing was a 'little' one-sided, but that isn't going to help our two additional suspensions of Richard (Montgomery) and Billy (Macdonald)."

"Not to mention the injury to Coppy (James Coppinger), looks like he will be out a couple weeks."

"Ian (Ritchie) deserved his honours though- he earned us a point by keeping our clean sheet and every point helps."

retired_destiny1124

1.10.05
Livingston (1) Arbroath (3)
Livingston- Massimiliano Caputo 81
Arbroath- John Elliott 20 Darius Vassell 45,45
MOM- John Elliott, Arbroath

"John (Elliott) really stepped up today- he keyed the win," declared Gond.

"Both he and Darius (Vassell) were the keys actually. Those two injury time goals by Darius were the real back-breaker for Livingston."

"They showed a lot of heart in the second half, but Jamie (Langfield) played well."

"That little rest seemed to make a world of difference in his play."

***
Gond flipped the newspaper on to Faramir's desk, "Might want to enjoy that while you can."

Faramir looked up to see him grinning and unhurridly reached for the paper. It was folded open to the SPL table.

"Rangers lost to Aberdeen, so we temporarily are top of the table."

***
15.10.05
Arbroath (0) Celtic (1)
Arbroath- None
Celtic- Alan Shearer 22
MOM- Thomas Magnusson, Arbroath

"One header- that was the difference," sighed Gond.

"That's all it takes when you are talking Alan Shearer."

"I thought overall, we played pretty well. We stayed with them on our coverage and managed as many shots on them as they did on us."

"It was a good entertaining match. They played a little bit better, but I am pleased with our effort."

Celtic Moves Up
by Sammy Gohl
Celtic used a highlight reel header by veteran Alan Shearer to help see off home side Arbroath and move up in the SPL standings. Celtic demonstrated much control of the flow of the match and when it came time to score, Shearer was right on the money with his deflection of an Abgar Barsom cross.