retired_brinker317

No idea. He's done well recently too.

retired_brinker317

Cheers, btw


Mark Coulson's injury was later confirmed as a bruised elbow - an awkward, niggly injury that would see him out for a week or two. The media would suggest we were slightly fortunate, but the draw, in my opinion, was well earned and well deserved.

The 'risk' with playing 5-4-1 comes when you don't finish your chances, and at the moment, that is exactly our problem. After three games, we've scored four and conceded the same number - an average of 1.3 goals a game is not especially encouraging.

Tuesday night - and the Champions League holders are through to the Group Stages. After failing to qualify through their league position, Liverpool have made the most of their 'special dispensation', knocking out Real Betis 3-1 on aggregate to go into the 'big money' phase of the tournement.

By Thursday, a decision has been reached - we'll go for defensive cover, in the form of 17-year old loan-listed Paul Hinshelwood . The youngster is on the books of Brighton & Hove Albion , so it would hardly be a trek for the teenager - presuming we can reach agreement with his club, and presuming that the defender wants the opportunity of some first team football.

Liverpool would again hit the headlines on Friday, after victory over CSKA Moscow in the European Super Cup Final - the one-off game which sees the European Cup and UEFA Cup winners meet. Liverpool battled hard, and won 3-2 - and will hope that their average domestic form will be boosted by Continental success.

Basingstoke v Lewes - Conference South Game 4 (27/8/05)

Lewes; 5-4-1; Tanner, McDonald, Legge, Hustwick, Robinson, Hankin, Kennett*, Johanssen, Beckford, Zadkovich, Holligan

Subs; Stewart, Wilkerson (GK), Taylor, Barker, Sigire

Again the strikers are rotated, with Sigire out for Holligan, while in midfield Zadkovich replaces Taylor. At the back, continued injury problems lead to Hankin moving to left wing back, with young McDonald making a senior start, and Stewart, one of his youth teammates, on the bench - we do need a decision soon please, Mr Hinshelwood. hatever, it was certainly a positive start - Ruben Zadkovich sprung the offside trap to score with an excellent effort. The Australian though wouldn't get the opportunity to waltz through again - unceremoniously dumped by Bristow in an aerial battle, which saw the 19-year old come off worse, and forced to be withdrawn for Barker. We did lead into the break - but perhaps shouldn't have - Ogbode guilty of an awful miss on the stroke of half time. Basingstoke had offered a lot coming forward, and both Wyatt and Stamp had chances before on 59 Uwabunkeone Ogbode made up for his horrendous miss - heading past Tanner from Stamp's floating free kick. A minute later, Paul Kennett's second bookable offence saw the skipper dismissed, and we began to fall apart. Sigire and Taylor came on - replacing Robinson and Johanssen - but with the extra space, and former Torquay midfielder Nick Skinner probing, Basingstoke soon grabbed a second - Uwabunkeone Ogbode slamming the ball home from Taylor's through pass. 10 became 9 on 83 when the aformentioned Nigerian hitman broke through again - young McDonald coming in with a hard challenge that saw him dismissed as the last man. With nothing to lose, we surged forward - Barker hit the bar with a header, before 'keeper Rice tipped Sigire's rebound over the top. We didn't deserve the draw - too slow to react at the free kick, and then throwing away our chances with the sendings off - but still, there were plenty of encouraging signs.

Basingstoke 2 - Lewes 1

Attendance; 430
MOM; Uwabunkeone Ogbode (Basingstoke)

retired_brinker317

Paul Hinshelwood signed his loan contract on Sunday morning - 24 hours too late really, but in the circumstances, it's not too much of a hardship. While Paul Kennett will serve a one-match ban after picking up two yellow cards, non-contract player McDonald won't be banned. One wonders why the FA allow us to play him, really, but we'll not be complaining. Also on the suspension front, Dean Hooper is now available for selection after that three-game ban earned on opening day.

By Friday, I've made my mind up over the team for Saturday - not the busiest of weeks, so after considering our options, there will be changes for the visit of Carshalton. We don't, of course, play for another week - Internationals would hardly of decimated squads at this level, but they do tend to have an adverse effect on attendances.

And what of those Internationals? - the biggest news in Cardiff came in team selection. How often have we seen David Beckham as an unused substitute for the national team? - Shaun Wright-Phillips chosen ahead of the Real Madrid star on the right of midfield. The Chelsea man proved an inspired choice - winning the Man of the Match award and scoring in a 2-0 victory. Wayne Rooney scored the other goal in a 2-0 win over Wales . Northern Ireland drew, uninspiringly, 0-0 at home to Azerbijan , whilst Scotland were thumped 4-1 by Italy - Garry O'Connor's late effort the sole bright spot. Pick of the results though? - Armenia . Hardly a world footballing force, but in a wonderful display of goalkeeping, Roman Berezovsky of Dinamo Moscow became the hero - keeping out Holland , who had no less than 20 chances, and holding the Dutch to a 0-0 draw.

Tuesday's return of Mark Coulson would certainly give us a boost - although the battle between Coulson and Hooper for that left wingback slot is by no means decided. Someone else returning would be on Wednesday night - David Beckham coming off the bench for England to score the winner against Northern Ireland - Micheal Owen had opened the scoring before Warren Feeney netted a shock equaliser. Scotland earned a superb 2-0 win in Norway with goals from Robbie Winters and Kris Boyd , while back in Group 6, Poland beat Wales 1-0. Ireland too went down to a defeat - France victorious 2-0 in Dublin.

Lewes v Carshalton - Conference South Game 5 (10/9/05)

Lewes; 5-4-1; Wilkerson, Hankin, Legge, Hinshelwood, Robinson, Hooper*, Johanssen, Taylor, Beckford, Zadkovich, Holligan

Subs; Hustwick, Tanner (GK), Harkin, Barker, Sigire

Wilkerson, Hinshelwood and Taylor in - the suspended Kennett, as well as Hustwick and 'keeper Tanner left out. We began in promising circumstances, and both Holligan and Zadkovich looked dangerous early on. Carshalton's Lee Roache - who signed this week - should have opened the scoring on 28, touching the ball on from a cross, but only diverting it into the side netting. At just 17, Paul Hinshelwood certainly impressed at the back - several times sweeping up to clear as well as create chances - his long ball releasing Beckford, only for the resulting square ball to go astray. On the stroke of half time, and somewhat against the run of play, Carshalton levelled - Richard O'Connor turning home an overhit Richardson cross with an outstretched foot. We replaced Holligan with Sigire at the break, and then procceeded to struggle - Carl Wilson-Denis having a header well stopped by Wilkerson, before we threw Mo Harkin on for Robinson in an attempt to get more of the forward play. With time running out, the equaliser finally came - good work from Barker, on early in the second half, led to an opportunity, and when the ball broke, Ruben Zadkovich relished the opportunity to blast it from the edge of the box into the roof of the net right in front of the most passionate home supporters in the modern, covered Philcox Stand. There could have been a winner - twice crosses, from Barker and Hinshelwood, flashing across the penalty area - but it was not to be. The point, however, is still a bonus.

Lewes 1 - Carshalton 1

Attendance; 329
MOM; Aaron Barnett (Carshalton)

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Eastbourne Boro | | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | +7 | 13 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Bognor Regis | | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 10 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Weston-super-Mare | | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 10 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Basingstoke | | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 10 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Histon | | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 9 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Weymouth | | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 5 | +6 | 8 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Bishop's Stortford | | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 8 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | St. Albans | | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 8 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Cambridge City | | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 7 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Farnborough | | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 7 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Havant & W | | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 6 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Sutton Utd | | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 11 | -1 | 6 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Thurrock | | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 5 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | LEWES | | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 5 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Welling | | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 5 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Dorchester | | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 5 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Carshalton | | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 5 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Hayes | | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 5 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Eastleigh | | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 5 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Newport Co | | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 4 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 21st | | Yeading | | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 2 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22nd | | Maidenhead | | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 10 | -8 | 2 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

So after 5 matches, local rivals Eastbourne Borough head the table. Our 14th place is definatley respectable so far, while you would expect Newport County and Eastleigh to be doing better than they are. At the other end, another fellow Sussex side, Bognor Regis , as well as financially struggling Bishops Stortford , are perhaps punching above their weight.

retired_brinker317

Jay Lovett reported fit for training on Wednesday evening, and will certainly be considered for Saturday. The Right wingback is certainly more of a natural in the position than current incumbent Steve Robinson , although the youngster has impressed with his tenacity.

At least he will have some company - we've decided that Steve will continue, and that Jay needs a couple of days of rest before he's even in contention. Mark Coulson and Mo Harkin are the other two who won't be travelling to Cambridge.

Cambridge City v Lewes - Conference South Game 6 (17/9/05)

Lewes; 5-4-1; Wilkerson, Hankin, Legge, Hinshelwood, Robinson, Hooper, Kennett*, Beckford, Johanssen, Zadkovich, Holligan

Subs; Hustwick, Tanner (GK), Taylor, Barker, Sigire

With skipper Kennett back for Taylor, there's just the one change for our trip to a side who are comfortably in the top half of the table. What Wilko didn't need - with Tanner champing at the bit after his run in the side earlier on in the campaign - was to concede a silly goal early on. Fortunatley, if such a word is acceptable when you are talking about conceding a goal - he could do little about it - Lee Chaffey's deep cross, much in the same vein of the one Martin Johanssen scored for us earlier in the season, dipped into the far corner on 3 minutes. While Cambridge pressurised - Gash firing over on 11 - we certainly had a couple of opportunities for ourselves, with Holligan having one saved by Milliard before he shot wastefully wide on 29. With Barker replacing Beckford at the break, we set out our stall for a more attacking emphasis in the Second period, and Zadkovich was unlucky with a header on 47. The Australian almost turned provider on 51 - his cheeky pass through to Barker slotted just wide by the teenager. We were certainly by now in command, and Holligan had one well saved by Milliard before changes on the hour. Holligan - perhaps suprisingly, given his poor finishing, stayed on - but Zadkovich and Hooper made way, Hustwick and Taylor replacing them. Finally, on 72, we would score - and Gavin Holligan would have to be the man who got it, picking up on Barker's pass to beat 'keeper Milliard. There could have been a late winner - Holligan yet again wasteful - but we are certainly doing things the right way. The victories, I told the players on the way home, will come.

Cambridge C 1 - Lewes 1

Attendance; 310
MOM; Steve Barker (Lewes)

retired_brinker317

Monday morning - FA Cup Second Round Qualifying draw day. Lewes' biggest day out came in the FA Cup - three years ago, the side, then managed by Jimmy Quinn, reached the First Round Proper before bowing out, in front of the SKY cameras, 2-0 to Stoke City . An equal run would certainly be apppreciated, and, on a personal note, would certainly help to build my reputation as a manager. We'll have to travel, but the trip to Kent side Dartford should result in a victory - in any other competition but the FA Cup. In this one, you can never, ever tell. We'll go to Stonebridge Road on Saturday.

Dartford v Lewes - FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round (24/9/05)

Lewes; 5-4-1; Wilkerson, Hankin, Legge, Hinshelwood, Lovett, Hooper, Kennett*, Beckford, Johanssen, Zadkovich, Holligan

Subs; Hustwick, Tanner (GK), Taylor, Barker, Sigire

Although we've been installed as favourites for the match, it's still not - especially given our form this season - assured that we'll go through. Dartford will give it their all, and that's one reason why the more experienced Jay Lovett has earnt a recall, replacing young Robinson at Right wingback. As was perhaps to be expected, in front of a very healthy crowd - with a fair chunk of away supporters - Dartford threw everything at us early on. 'Keeper Wilkerson quickly became the busier of the two netminders, with an early stop from O'Connor before Morrison smashed a free kick over the bar. Our first real chance came on 35, and this time, Gavin Holligan would be in far less forgiving mood. The big striker beat White to reach at Zadkovich through ball, before cutting in and firing past 'keeper Jackson. With the advantage of a goal, we began to play with more confidence, and Zadkovich hit the side netting before curling a wicked corner which needed sharp reactions from the stopper. At the interval Chris Taylor replaced a subdued Johanssen - but, horror of horrors, the home side equalised through Kyle King on 65, two minutes after we had again reorganised with Barker replacing Zadkovich and Hustwick replacing a rapidly tiring Jay Lovett. When Browne's cross, seven minutes later, found Phillips' head, it was heart-in-the-mouth stuff - but fortunatley, the referee blew early, and although his header hit the net, it was already ruled out for a foul. Going into the final 10 minutes, it looked anyone's game - but eventually, legs began to tell - Semi-Professionals fitter than Dartford's amatuers, and when Dean Hooper swung over a cross, Gavin Holligan met it with a powerful header. Dartford then dropped back, launching long balls forward in the hope of getting something, but it was not to be - a win!

Dartford 1 - Lewes 2

Attendance; 1747
MOM; Kyle King (Dartford)

shannon2007

Brilliant as usual, reminds my of why you are one of my favourite FMS writers.

zeppelinrocker

C'mon Lewes!. Will be cheering on the EB Borough when you play them though.

Used to use Lewes's car park when we trained on the field next to their ground, so I owe my support to your story I suppose . Good luck!.

retired_jgirl87

I haven't heard of Ruben Zadkovich before, but having an Aussie in your team can't be anything but good. He seems to be doing the business too. :cool:

retired_brinker317

Cheers PM, Heskey and Spav - Ruben certainly has began well, and my scout was perhaps lucky to find him )

Monday's FA Cup Third Qualifying Round draw came around quickly, and we'll go to Lodge Road on Saturday 8th October - facing Yate Town . Should we progress, there would just be 90 minutes of football standing between ourselves and a place in the First Round Proper.

Weston-Super-Mare v Lewes - Conference South Game 7 (27/9/05)

Lewes; 5-4-1; Wilkerson, Hankin, Legge, Hinshelwood, Robinson, Hooper, Kennett*, Beckford, Johanssen, Zadkovich, Holligan

Subs; Hustwick, Tanner (GK), Taylor, Barker, Sigire

After our FA Cup adventures there's just one change to the side for the trip to Weston Super Mare on Tuesday night. It's a bit of a trek for a midweek game, and Steve Robinson replaces Jay Lovett for the long drag to the West Country. It wasn't the best of starts, and after Zadkovich missed a good opportunity on 10 minutes, Weston took the lead when Walker's snap shot hit Leon Legge and flew into the corner of the net. We would go in one behind at the break, but despite replacing Holligan and Beckford at the interval - Sigire and Taylor coming on - things got worse, rather than better, on 49 - Marvin Brown cracking the ball into the corner of the net to claim a superb goal. Again we found ourselves needing to regroup - but when Chris Lewis netted on 54, it looked grim. Zadkovich immediatley made way for young Barker, and almost immediatley, we did claim one - the 16-year old fed through Jean-Michel Sigire , who flicked the ball past 'keeper Northmore to at least give those who did travel something to cheer. Kennett smashed one wide, and as we hit a brief purple patch, Sigire could - and should - have brought the scores closer on 75. Grim.

Weston Super Mare 3 - Lewes 1

Attendance; 808
MOM; Darren Hawkins (Weston)

retired_brinker317

So it's five games without a win then, and down to 17th in the League. Suddenley, things have started to look a little greyer at The Pan, and as Saturday's match is the last League game before it's FA Cup time again, a victory against Bishops Stortford would certainly be most welcome.

Searching the transfer market has again become a regular pastime - and we may have found a young striker who could do a job. Initial enquiries have been promising, with Crewe Alexandra accepting our season-long loan bid for Kyle Wilson . Wilson, 19, is strong and hard-working, but yet to make his senior debut for his boyhood club.

Bishop's Stortford v Lewes - Conference South Game 8 (1/10/05)

Lewes; 5-4-1; Wilkerson, Hankin, Legge, Hinshelwood, Robinson, Coulson, Kennett*, Beckford, Johanssen, Barker, Holligan

Subs; Hustwick, Tanner (GK), Taylor, Zadkovich, Sigire

With the Birkenhead-born teenager still yet to make up his mind, there's two changes to the side for the trip to the side currently lying in 5th place after a good start. In midfield, young Barker replaces Zadkovich, while at the back, Mark Coulson is in for Dean Hooper. Bishops' were predictably strong going forward, and twice put the ball in the net during the game with both disallowed offside. It was something of a miracle that we were level at the break, but it wouldn't last - Steve Morrison scoring on 56. Gavin Holligan limped off to boot, leaving us with real problems. Six games without a win - 19th in the table - no vote of confidence. Yet.

Bishop's Stortford 1 - Lewes 0

Attendance; 960
MOM; Danny Gay (Bishop's Stortford)