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With Christmas falling on a Thursday, there's no Boxing Day fixture. Instead we have a fixture at home against York on Saturday, followed by a trip to Southend on Tuesday before the showdown with Bolton. Some shuffling of the squad is going to be required. No changes for York though.
Barker plays provider again once we've got to grips with York's 3-5-2 formation, with a cross for Harris to power home. Despite a couple of chances, the ex-Rotherham striker still can't score himself though. York are not going to lie down in this game, and they come at us looking for an equaliser. It's from one of their set pieces that we catch them on the break. Challinor's clearance finds Leo clear of the defence, and he makes no mistake in beating the keeper for his 20th of the season. Half time is achieved without further trouble to the scorers, and I get another nice, easy team talk.
Hart replaces Cameron as I try to make maximum use of my available resources, sending the lads out to take it easy. But they're enjoying their football too much at the moment, and Barker is in there again, claiming another assist as he sets Friars up (more by luck than judgement) only a couple of minutes after the break. More substitutions, as we really start to wind down at 3-0, and the icing is well and truely applied to the cake when Matt Williamson is on hand to tidy up after a Fortune-West header for his first goal of the season. Very satisfying. Barker takes a turn to be Man of the Match on this occasion.
Division 3 Game 23. 27th December 2003.
Stalybridge 4 York 0 Harris 12 Fortune-West 24 Friars 47 Williamson 78
That's made the board's Christmas anyway. And it means there's a nice 4 point gap to 4th place. Not only that, but we've set another club record with 6 wins in a row!
10-27-2004, 11:13 PM
"Hello, I'm the new Celtic Manager" (Editor's cut) Post #112
Not surprisingly given our current form, everbody declares themself 100% for the trip to Southend. I'm not going to complain! No changes, then, as we attempt to end the year on a high note.
There's nothing unusual in the fact that we open the scoring against Southend. What is slightly unusual us the source, as Collins claims what according to the published statistics is a solo goal, despite the suspicious intervention of Barker in the build up. What is even more unusual is that Southend score two goals in five minutes before the break. The culprit (or at least that's how I see it) is young attacking midfielder Bill Browne, scoring his first goals in only his third professional appearance. Collins is detailed to carry out a marking duty on the lad in the second half, whilst his name is passed to my scouts for a quick look.
Despite the changes, and the later introduction of Bastow and Hart, nothing is doing. We've lost our unbeaten run at the hands of a 20 year old. Repercussions may follow.
Division 3 Game 24. 30th December 2003.
Southend 2 Stalybidge 1 Browne 41,45 / Collins 21
Some good news from the week, though, as Dean Harris signs a new contract, which gives him a little more money, but gives me peace of mind with a £500k release clause. It's a good week for the youngster, as he gets Young Player of the month as well.
There's general nodding and murmuring of agreement when I gather the staff into a teleconference with the scouts, as we sit and discuss young Bill Browne. Only three questions remain unanswered after the call: Where did Southend find him from? What will it take to make him come to Stalybridge? and Is he Sam Swonnell in disguise?
11-07-2004, 07:21 PM
"Hello, I'm the new Celtic Manager" (Editor's cut) Post #113
So, with the new year celebrations well out of the way, we turn our minds to the question of how we are going to handle a Bolton side currently 17th in the Premier League? Well Cullip will come in for Williamson for a start, after his dismal performance in the last game. Other than that no changes are necessary, as it's only fair really to stick with those players who've been producing the goods in the league.
The atmosphere builds at the Bower Fold from lunchtime onwards, and by 2:30 the ground is heaving. Officially, the match is a sellout, but attendance figures released later on will show that 17 ticket holders were no-shows. Thus, we "smash" our record home attendance by 3, with 6483 in the ground.
The answer to how we handle them is, of course, that we don't. We start well, as Cameron gets fouled by a keeper with more accents on his name than I have decent players. Leo proves he can hack it at this level by converting the penalty. We hold the lead for a full 18 minutes before Premier League experience tells and Bolton score two in two minutes. It's downhill from there in I'm afraid. A disappointing end to one of the biggest days in the club's history.
FA Cup 3rd Round. 3rd January 2004.
Stalybridge 1 Bolton Wanderers 5 Fortune-West 6 (pen) / Stone 24,45 Pedersen 25 Carrick 70 Thorpe 89
I just hope that doesn't spoil the rest of our season.
11-07-2004, 07:58 PM
"Hello, I'm the new Celtic Manager" (Editor's cut) Post #114
Of course, now is not the time we want to be visiting the league leaders is it? This could go one of two ways. The midfield changes around a bit, with Hart and Mackenzie coming in and Friars moving to the left. Swansea have gathered an interesting squad, at the centre of which is 36 year old player-manager Paul Ince.
The first half is one of those tight affairs. We had probably the majority of the chances, but no-one could quite make the breakthrough. Second half, well that looked to be heading pretty much the same way. Until Jay Denniss picked up a poor clearance and crossed to substitute Barry Sheldon. Arse. That's about the whole action for the game as well, apart from a nasty looking injury to Cameron. We've outplayed the Jacks, but got nothing from it.
Division 3 Game 25. 7th January 2004.
Swansea 1 Stalybridge 0 Sheldon 75
Saving graces? Well we're still 3rd. Cameron will be out for three weeks though, so when Saturday comes, and we head for bottom of the league Scunthorpe, Harris gets a recall and Friars moves out right.
We struggle to break down by far the poorest defence in the division for a whole 28 minutes, until Mackenzie crosses for Leo to head home. Things continued to look shaky for the rest of the first half. Barker was replaced by Ommel on the hour mark, after a poor performance, and he contributed to winning the corner quarter of an hour later from which Collins headed our second. McEwen and Bastow came on and we eased our way to full time. Harris took man of the match. Not as convincing a result as the scoreline suggests, as we really should have pummelled the Iron, but after the last two results, any win is appreciated!
Division 3 Game 26. 10th January 2004.
Scunthorpe 0 Stalybridge 2 Fortune-West 28 Collins 77
11-12-2004, 10:26 PM
"Hello, I'm the new Celtic Manager" (Editor's cut) Post #115
It's time to concentrate on the league here. The Vans Trophy definitely takes second place at the moment, so a reserve team pays the visit to Macclesfield. And I mean a reserve team! Hulse in goal. Heaton, Elgert, Williamson and Cousins in defence, Marsden, Toms, Bastow and even Peacock in midfield, and Ommel and McEwen up front.
If I really cared what the result was I would have sent a better team out. We were awful, going 3-0 down. But we fought back to 3-2 with Toms and Cousins getting first Stalybridge goals.
The first team return en masse for the visit of Swindon, who are still struggling towards the bottom of the table.
A very disappointing performance. The build up play was there, and the shooting wasn't too bad, with 7 shots on target, but we couldn't beat Swindon keeper, and Man of the Match, Simon Royce. To make things worse, goalless Richard Forsyth broke his duck midway through the first half.
Division 3 Game 27. 17th January 2004.
Stalybridge 0 Swindon 1 Forsyth 17
Still third, as results go our way again, however Jaszczun's booking means a suspension to be served at the end of the month against Brentford. We have another home game midweek against Cheltenham. Maybe some changes are needed.
11-12-2004, 10:27 PM
"Hello, I'm the new Celtic Manager" (Editor's cut) Post #116
"Crisis" talks take place on Monday between involving the whole coaching staff. We go through the videos of recent performances, and the roles played by each individual member of the playing staff with a fine-toothed comb, as we really need to sort a few things out. The output from the exercise means a lot of players are on last chances. If they don't step up to the mark, they will lose their place in the first team, even if this means bringing in a couple of loan signings to bolster the squad. By the looks on their faces as they turn up for the next game on Saturday morning, the players are painfully aware of the discussions that have been going on. There is a grim determination in the air. Be it through fear or loyalty, they don't want to let me down. Barker and Harris are the most worried, and they are almost in tears when they see that their names are missing from the team sheet. Mackenzie and Ommel start instead.
Leo did everything possible to restore a little confidence after just five minutes, having been set up by Hart. Cheltenham were expecting an easy ride, given our recent form, and are shocked by the goal. I think we must be a little shocked as well, as we can't take advantage of the dazed Cheltenham defence straight away. We still have the best of the chances and just after the half hour mark Ommel and Leo renew their acquaintances and Leo pounces again. There's time for a first half hat-trick for the big man, which brings him up to 25 goals for the season thanks to a corner delivered by Jaszczun. By far the luckiest of the three, but they all count.
What do you tell a team who have been badly underperforming in recent games, but suddenly find themselves 3-0 up at half time? Not a lot, other than to get out there and keep it up! Friars goes close with a freekick part way through the second half, before Leo is brought down in the area by Lee Todd. Up steps Leo, and it's 4-0! Another four goal haul for the big man! Five and a half thousand Stalybridge fans go wild for the last quarter of an hour, and Leo should have had a 5th had the linesman not ruled it our for a dubious handball.
Division 3 Game 28. 21st January 2004.
Stalybridge 4 Cheltenham 0 Fortune-West 5,31,39,73(pen)
What a way to bounce back! Leo shows the rest of the division the way to goal, and moves to the top of the scoring charts in the process. To celebrate, the club announces the signing of my first pre-contracted player for next season. Tranmere's 25 year old Centre Back Chris Morgan will join, in anticipation that Williamson will leave the club in the summer.
11-13-2004, 01:20 AM
"Hello, I'm the new Celtic Manager" (Editor's cut) Post #117
The intervention of the FA Cup 4th round sees to it that we have no fixture at the weekend, as our planned opponents, Rochdale, obviously had more luck in dealing with their opposition in the 3rd round. We play the Lancashire side midweek instead. They currently lie 14th and Cameron is raring to go now he's recovered, but has to make do with a place on the bench.
Collins starts this game in fine fashion, heading his 5th of the season to get the scoreboard moving. Rochdale kick, pull, tug and elbow their way through the rest of the the half, but that doesn't stop Collins setting up Leo for another goal midway through. Mackenzie knocked in a third right on half time to tidy up the scoreline and make thing nice and safe. Another easy half time team talk then. Cameron and Harris were introduced back into the action midway though the second half but there weren't any more goals. Collins got the man of the match, basically for doing all the work!
Division 3 Game 29. 28th January 2004.
Stalybridge 3 Rochdale 0 Collins 9 Fortune-West 22 Mackenzie 45
11-13-2004, 01:41 AM
"Hello, I'm the new Celtic Manager" (Editor's cut) Post #118
The league table says we are seven points clear of the 4th place team, which can't be a bad thing! We've got a trip to 10th placed Brentford which could prove tricky, judging by the reserve match-up, which ended 7-0 in the favour of the Bees! According to Aldo this was mainly the fault of Peter Brown, who is fined for the privilige. Mackenzie picks up an injury in training which will see him out for ten days.
Elgert comes into the side whilst Jazsczun serves his suspension, and Harris comes in for Mackenzie. We look to defend early on, and hopefully hit them on the break. Now I'm not an advocate of route one football. I prefer the passing, flowing sort of football that attracts the fans. It's not always easy in this division, what with the less than perfect pitches and worse players. However, sometimes you have to take exactly what comes. So when Friars gets on the end of a goal kick and pokes the ball past the Brentford keeper to open the scoring, I'm not complaining. By half time we're not exactly dominating, but Friars has had a couple more changes and the forwards are getting some service, so I'm happy enough.
The second half opens with a flurry of action, as Brentford equalise through Steve Hunt, promoted to the team due to the recent sale of top scorer Rory Allen to Portsmouth. We're straight back in the game, though, when Harris sets up Ommel for the simplest of finished. We carry on the attacking play, but it's obvious we're gradually getting pushed back more and more, and by the last ten minutes everybody is behind the ball. Brentford have set-piece after set-piece, as we defend madly and badly, picking up a couple of yellow cards on the way, one of which will cost Leo a suspension. But we hung on to take three points. Friars got the Man of the Match award. Presumably the judge likes long ball?
Division 3 Game 30. 31st January 2004.
Brentford 1 Stalybridge 2 Hunt 49 / Friars 24 Ommel 54
Leo will serve his suspension when we visit Blackpool on Valentines Day. We'll miss the 24 league goals from 29 games man. He does manage to get himself the player of the month award for January though, the second time he has taken the award this season! This prompts another Leo boot licking session by the local media. What can I say?
11-13-2004, 07:10 PM
"Hello, I'm the new Celtic Manager" (Editor's cut) Post #119
Whilst we prepare for one of the biggest league games of the season, the visit of Oldham to the Bower Fold, the scouts head off to local Premier League sides to run the rule over any youngsters who haven't agreed new contracts and are set to be out of contract in the summer. There are about 25 on the list at the moment, although that number will decrease before the end of the season, no doubt!
Tommy Jaszczun returns for the only change to the starting lineup. Oldham should be tired after losing midweek, and Allan Smart who caused us so much trouble at Boundary Park is out of the match with a groin injury. His replacement Alfie Carter has the first chance of the game, but blasts over the bar when confronted with the frame of Batty. Up at the other end, a Challinor throw in comes to Ommel who lays off to Friars. The midfielder who couldn't make the grade at Carlisle blasts home for his tenth goal in a highly successful season. The lead is doubled just after the half hour mark, when Harris crosses perfectly for Leo to score another header! There really is no stopping the man. Within five minutes of scoring the goal, Leo is signalling to the bench. He's taken a knock to the shin, and the physio indicates he's unable to continue. With Friars waiting to dispatch a free kick, Barker warms up quickly and comes on for the last five minutes of the half. Sean Friars doesn't let himself get distracted, and he strikes the twenty yard freekick beyond the hands of a diving Andy Marriott. It's 3-0 again at half time, and things are many, many times better than we could possibly have expected!
The half time teamtalk again consists mainly of "go out and enjoy yourselves, you're doing brilliantly", but when Matthew Tipton scores his 17th goal of the season just after the restart, the signal goes out to tighten things up and get behind the ball. We do seem collectively to have got the hang of defending a lead recently, and the only noteworthy action in the rest of the half is a continuing trickle of players leaving the field with niggles. Challinor and Friars both complain of tight thighs halfway through the second period and are taken off. Friars will no doubt feel better once he receives his man of the match champagne.
Division 3 Game 31. 7th February 2004.
Stalybridge 3 Oldham 1 Friars 12,39 Fortune-West 31 / Tipton 48
There's some paperwork to deal with before we head to the seaside. A reminder on my calendar indicates that it is two years since Leo signed his contract. That means, under the current ridiculous transfer system, other clubs can make approaches directly to him rather than through the club. We draw up another contract, but he tells us he doesn't want to negotiate at the moment. Also, Southend are interested in offering Matt Williamson a contract. After not being interested in talking to us about a new contract, he recently indicated that perhaps he would consider an extension. However, his agent's demands of £875 p/w were completely unreasonable.
And that was just Tuesday! On Wednesday, Oldham submit a contract offer for Williamson, and Dominic Crookes notches his 20th league game for Burscough, triggering a £10,000 payment.
11-13-2004, 07:11 PM
"Hello, I'm the new Celtic Manager" (Editor's cut) Post #120
With all that out of the way, we can concentrate on Blackpool. We haven't beaten the Tangerines in three attempts, and despite their current 16th position in the table, they still have one of the best attacking pairings in the division in Ormerod and Fenton. They've also recently taken Crystal Palace's Steve Evans on loan, a player who I was looking at at the time. Barker comes in for Leo, and Cameron regains his right sided position at Hart's expense. All three ex Blackpool players in the squad travel, with Mackenzie fit enough to make the bench.
It took twenty minutes, but Blackpool did break down our defence when Evans crossed superbly for Fenton to head his tenth of the season. The lead lasted less than a minute, as Friars ran through the Blackpool midfield and fed Ommel with a neat ball. The Dutch striker headed home to level the scores. Disappointingly, we conceded again when Batty couldn't deal with Fenton's shot, and defender Michael Jackson was on hand to pop home his first ever Blackpool goal. Still, there was plenty of time to deal with the situation.
The second half kicked off with Stalybridge attacking and looking for the equaliser. Ommel, and particularly Barker both missed chances to level things up, before Harris was retired with what looked like a groin injury. That restricted our alternatives a little, especially with Cameron having a 'mare. With Challinor getting the runaround from Fenton, it never looked like we were going to get back into the game, and all that remained was for substitute Mark Bradley to score his first ever goal in the last minute to make the scoreline a little more reflective of our overall performance. Somehow, Ommel still took the man of the match though. Our horrible form against a team that has proved one of our best source of players continues.
Division 3 Game 32. 14th February 2004
Blackpool 3 Stalybridge 1 Fenton 22 Jackson 28 Bradley 90 / Ommel 22
Matt Williamson rejects our contract offer and notifies us that he is signing for Oldham. So much for loyalty! It's a good job we've arranged for Morgan to join us.
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