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But first it's back to league business, and the Scout report for conference newcomers Blyth Spartans indicates a threat from the wings. The North-east team lie in 13th, after a recent drop in form. In the Saturday morning TV game, Slough Town do us a favour, beating 3rd place Southport.

Despite some tiredness, I make no changes to the team, as it would probably ruin a players confidence to drop them after such a good performance. Cameron will probably only manage half the game though. Disappointing finishing in the first half sees the score remain goalless, and although Blyth have clearly come for the point, they look quite lively on the break. It takes until the hour mark to break the deadlock, with Cameron and Leo combining again. Relief is evident throught the team, and we cut loose now, with first Mackenzie and then Collins adding to the scoring. Another good alround performance is culminated with Neil Mackenzie getting his first man of the match award. He'd swap it for one next Saturday, I suspect.

Conference Game 17. 30th November 2002.
Stalybridge 3 Blyth Spartans 0 Fortune-West 59 Mackenzie 63 Collins 65

The win lifts us to 3rd, whist draws for Dover and Barnet also bode well for the future.

Much to my annoyance, Barnet make an £80k bid for Watford's young attacking midfielder Sam Swonnell, a player I have been watching for about 6 months, and who I have tried to take on loan on quite a few occasions. The fact that all my approaches were refused, yet Watford let him go to Halifax for the whole season, adds to my irritation. £80k would be over half my transfer budget, and the player wouldn't immediately fit into the lineup. What the hell! Things may be balanced out a little if I can persuade Queen of the South to give me £50k for Gerard Courtney. They are offering £40k. Only time will tell...

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According to the club scout, Niall Quinn(!)'s Blackpool are a bigger problem to deal with than York. Striker Brett Ormerod has nearly as many goals as big Leo, so we can't afford to let him get the ball too often. Something must be wrong though, what with them languishing at the foot of the league. If only my scouts would tell me what the weaknesses were.

Sam Swonnell claims not to be interested in joining us. I wonder if he is saying the same to Barnet? Apparently not, as he signs for them on the 2nd, so I put my chequebook away again. It is clear that Swonnell was thinking of his wallet, as he somehow manages to negotiate a £1300 p/w deal with Barnet, making him easily their top earner! Queen of the South stump up that £50k I wanted, so another Stalybridge player leaves the Fold. Whilst we gain a whole £4k as Port Vale sell on goalkeeper David Fish to Derby.

Gerard Courtney (Stalybridge 1/8/01 - 4/12/02) Played 35 Goals 12 Assists 4 Man of the Match 3 AvR 7.00

The local rag rings me up, and tells me they think Leo is playing the best football of his career so far. Talk about stating the bloody obvious. I considered responding that maybe that was because he was playing below his level in the conference, but you know what reporters can be like. Instead I just agreed and said that he has been putting in high standard performances.

We are unchanged (what, again?) for the visit of Blackpool, as there is no point in doing anything different at the moment. Neil Mackenzie is virtually climbing the wall by 2:30, eager to impress against his ex-colleagues, and the cameras. With so much at stake by getting through to the third round, it's a tight affair. Player Manager Niall Quinn hits the bar on 5 minutes, and Collins, another ex Blackpool player of course, hit the post after 24. Peacock also hit the post on the half hour mark, continuing his run of games without scoring. Young right back Mike Lewis picked up an injury which means that Kenny Munro has to take to the field. 0-0 at half time.

Other than the first half woodwork shots, our shooting was dreadful all game, and it took until the 63rd minute for Ommel to force the Blackpool keeper into a save. A quiet match for the Blackpool attack meant that 0-0 was almost inevitable. Another replay, then, but this time away from home. Mike Lewis will miss it, and the other matches in the next 3 weeks. At least it's a record attendance of 6480.

FA Cup 2nd Round. 7th December 2002.
Stalybridge 0 Blackpool 0

Dover, uninvolved in this stage of the FA Cup, win their conference game. It's getting to the stage now where they are going to have to have a dramatic collapse in form for us to clinch promotion.

I hate seeing Cup Draws when I'm not certain of being in the next round, but the media expect it. Especially the third round FA cup draw. At least we come out of the hat fairly early this time, and should we see off the seasiders, it'll be Premiership opposition at the Bower Fold again, but from the right side of the pennines. Bolton Wanderers. They're not exactly setting the Premiership on fire either. Of course, I shouldn't be getting my hopes up like this, so it's back to the draw to see what lies in wait for the other non-leaguers.

Northwich Victoria get a plum money-spinning tie away at Goodison Park, with Nuneaton travelling to Leicester for a Midlands derby. If Margate beat Torquay in a replay, then Liverpool will be making the long trip to Hartsdown Park and Isthmian league side Hendon will face Manchester City.

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It's the reserves' "cup final", a cliché to be proud of, as they travel to Wigan in the Vans Trophy, and to add to the spice, Steve Bushell is making his Wigan debut. There's no big cup shock to be had here, as the lads go down 2-1, but they held the Division 2 opposition for a long time. It is a big day for Matt Williamson, however, as the defender scores his first goal in 30 games for the club.

Vans Trophy 1st Round North. 10th December 2002
Wigan Athletic 2 Stalybridge (Reserves) 1 Henderson 6 Russell 85 / Williamson 60

Boston next at the Bower Fold, and the Lincolnshire outfit aren't the force they were last season, when they finished 2nd and I considered home and away draws to be good results. My scount identifies another potent strikeforce of Weatherstone and Town, so the defence can expect another battering. Second place Barnet win the Saturday morning Sky match, to keep the pressure on. Every game in the leage is now a must win game.

Lewis' injury means Perkins and Munro both start, but otherwise it's a familiar line up. It's also a familiar start, with an early goal from Mackenzie as we absolutely pummel the Boston back line. The attack are obviously up to the task, but are the defence? It would seem so, as Boston haven't got a shot on target when Ommel knocks home his 5th of the season for 2-0. Of course, their first shot on target goes in to make the scoreline tighter at the break. The equaliser, still against the run of play, comes 5 minutes into the second half. Although we wake up and absolutely batter them again for the last half hour, there's nothing we can do about the scoreline, and I'll have to settle for another draw. I can't begin to express the frustration I feel at the fact that 20 minutes of completely out of character play throughout the team, not just by one or two individuals, has cost us two points.

Conference Game 18. 14th December 2002
Stalybridge 2 Boston Utd 2 Mackenzie 5 Ommel 30 / Weatherstone 36 Wood 52

I can't decide whether my mood is made better or worse when the results come through, and I find out that Dover and Stevenage both lost. It means the gap isn't as bad as it might have been, but then it means we could have really closed it up with a bit more concentration. Back to the office, and Belper Town are interested in Winfield Steele. They are willing to splash around a reasonable amount of cash for a level 6 club. I'm considering getting my cheque book out as well, in an attempt to stop the slow leak of goals. Dave Challinor, out of favour at Tranmere, is my target, and a ridiculously low offer of £24k is accepted. Of course, we're talking big money wages.

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I could have done with getting the cash out earlier, as even if Dave agrees, it will be too late for our cup replay. For the first time in my, and his, career I find myself dropping Peacock on form basis. Hart comes in, and to make it all change down the right, Heaton comes back in for Perkins. I'm hoping he can create something with freekicks and corners.

Disgusting refereeing leads to Blackpool being awarded a penalty in just 12 minutes. Brett Ormerod doesn't miss those, and we are struggling. The ref is also insistent in booking our players for every single incident. But we manage an equaliser on the half hour mark, and it does come from a corner! Just as I thought we were going to go in level, up popped Ormerod to head home right on the whistle. It's all to do in the second half. Right from the kick off we just can't get hold of the ball, and although it took a quarter of an hour, Blackpool get the killer third. Frustration starts to show, as ex Blackpool players Collins and Mackenzie both try that little bit too hard and pick up bookings. Mackenzie, in particular, has a shocking game.

FA Cup 2nd Round replay. 18th December 2002.
Blackpool 3 Stalybridge 1 Ormerod 13(pen),45 Caldwell 61 / Crookes 29

At least Niall Quinn didn't score...

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Spirits are lifted a little with the news that Dave Challinor will become a Stalybridge player, but the down side of the rollercoaster is that Jason Batty will be out for about a week and Winfield Steele will not be moving on. At least we actually have a reserve keeper this time! The trials and tribulations of the cup replay have taken their toll on the rest of the squad as well, with Cameron well below full fitness and Hart dead on his feet. So Peacock comes back after missing only one game. Challinor makes his debut, even though he is lacking in match fitness.

It's a Cheshire derby, and it's the Deva stadium, but Chester are languishing on the edge of the drop zone. After what seems like an age, but is really only three games, Leo gets his goal after a tight opening. The rest of the teams confidence is boosted accordingly, apart from Andrew Cameron who, having just signed a new and extended contract, gets himself injured close to half time. Challinor's performance in defence, without having played a game all season, is making Hocking and the full backs look decidedly amateur, whilst up at the other end Ommel is doubling our lead. There'll be time for him to get his second, and tie up the man of the match award, as well before the ref puts the couny town side out of their misery.

Conference Game 19. 21st December 2002.
Chester 0 Stalybridge 3 Fortune-West 22 Ommel 80,90

Having accepted our early Christmas present from our neighbours, Barnet deliver us a cracker by losing at home. Dover win again though. Cameron will only miss a week, thankfully. A damaged heel will prevent him doing a Christmas jig!

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In another attempted raid on Blackpool, I table a £20k bid for Tommy Jaszczun, the 25 year old left sided defender with probably the hardest name to spell in the squad, if not the division. This, too, is accepted (Blackpool, it turns out, are in financial strife as well as a poor league position) but Tommy tries to sneak in a ridiculously low release clause into his contract, which will require some negotiation. Surprisingly, he accepts my counter offer (a £500k release clause, and £75 per week less basic) and will join former team mates Collins and Mackenzie. It could spell the end for either Perkins or Munro, as the wage bill has now risen to the uncomfortable level of £12,500 per week.

The Turkey sandwiches are all packed up again for another long Boxing day trip, to Dagenham & Redbridge. the Essex side are also struggling to reproduce the form that saw them achieve 3rd place last season, and the hurriedly drafted scouting report, on the back of some wrapping paper, singles out defender Lee Goodwin for praise. That's fine by me, as I have my own defensive solidity to test. Jaszczun is registered in time to travel and plays. Harris starts his first league game in place of the injured Cameron.

Steve Heaton has the dubious pleasure of carrying the captain's armband. Let's hope it doesn't affect his ability to cross the ball!

In possibly the quietest first half of a game this season, it takes us until the 44th minute to get a chance. We still force keeper Quy into two good quality saves before halftime. The home side waste no time after the break though, as a mispaced pass in midfield sees McAuley clear on the break. He sets up Aldred for the goal, but we go straight up the other end and equalise through big Leo's head. It's looking like another 2 points dropped as we faff about for the entire second half. But out of nowhere, substitute Gary Hart pops up on the edge of the box and blasts home in the 93rd minute. How important could that goal be?

It's not hard, given my current first team selection, for an ex Blackpool player to gain the man of the match award. This time it's Collin's turn.

Conference Game 20. 26th December 2002
Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Stalybridge 2 Aldred 47 / Fortune-West 50 Hart 90

Leo's booking is his 5th, and means a suspension. He will miss the visit of Morecambe on the 11th January. Dover won, but Barnet's form continued to dip with another draw. We're now four points behind them, but ten behind Dover albeit with a game in hand.

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Two days later, pre season favourites Halifax come to town, carrying their excellent 17th position for all to see. They still have Steve Kerrigan, and he still looks dangerous, but I'm quietly confident. The players are appreciative of my quietness, as they are trying to sleep. Mackenzie has no chance of making the game, and Hart comes in. Fortune-West drops to the bench with Allison given a start.

Despite giving Challinor the job of man marking Kerrigan, the irritating striker pops up to open the scoring after just 3 minutes. Quarter of an hour has gone before we've had enough possession to be worth mentioning, but Allison manages to get on the end of a through ball to equalise on 20 minutes. 5 minutes before half time, Dean Harris gets on the end of a palmed away Allison shot and scores his first goal for the club. Looking to keep players fresh for the next game, I sub off Hart and give Matt Woods a run out. It looks like a mistake, as Halifax find an equaliser whilst we are busy reorganising. Lee Collins is in the mood again though, and makes the most of his advanced position by scoring at the second attempt. He sets up the fourth for Allison in the last minute to guarantee the man of the match award.

Conference Game 21. 28th December 2002.
Stalybridge 4 Halifax 2 Allison 20,90 Harris 42 Collins 62 / Kerrigan 3 Chapman 58

An outstanding performance, and we got the break we've been looking for as Barnet and Dover both lose. I can't think of a better way to end 2002.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ***************************************** English Conference - Saturday 28th December 2002********************************************** ****************************************========== ================================================== ========================== 2002/3 Table============================================= =========================================Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Dover 22 9 1 1 25 9 6 2 3 16 12 48 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Barnet 21 6 1 3 20 14 6 5 0 21 12 42 3rd STALYBRIDGE 21 7 3 1 28 11 5 2 3 19 15 41 4th Stevenage 22 7 2 1 27 15 5 3 4 26 25 41 5th Southport 22 6 1 3 19 13 6 2 4 18 17 39 6th Slough 22 4 5 2 11 8 6 3 2 18 16 38 </pre>

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Cameron and Batty would both be recovered from their injuries for our New Year excursion to Farnborough, another team we managed to beat twice last season. It was more good news to follow a double for the club in December's awards. The manager of the month award came to sit on my desk for the first time in the season, whilst Lee Collins won an extremely deserved player of the month award. Chris Perkins' days at the club may be numbered, however, as he is repeatedly complaining about not getting first team action.

Andrew Cameron would miss the cut, as he was short of fitness, but Batty returned, as did Mackenzie and Leo after just one game missed. The first half was tight, and although we would probably have won it on points it was Farnborough who ended the half on top with a shot from left back Justin Gregory clipping the post with Batty helpless. With the team suitably fired up, we started the second period better. Leo hit the bar and pulled a good save out of the keeper, but it was the turn of Dave Challinor to step up and score his first goal for the club to put us ahead. It was backs to the wall defending from then on. Farnborough threw the kitchen sink at us, and even Leo was back defending. We hung on and, of course, Leo got the man of the match award, although on this occasion it was more for his tackling than his scoring.

Conference Game 22. 1st January 2003
Farnborough 0 Stalybridge 1 Challinor 53

It wasn't the world's most convincing result, but it was good enough. If we could carry on winning, even when playing badly, then we had a chance. Especially as Barnet lost at home, continuing their appaling run of form. They were now four without a win. All we needed now was a slip up or two from Dover. One of them would have to come in the next game, though, as we were due to make the long trip down to fortress Crabble to play the league leaders.

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Three days after the tough encounter at Farnborough would not have been when I would have chosen to face Dover, and a complicated offer from Spanish side C.F. GandÃ*a for Chris Perkins was an additional distraction I didn't need. I negotiated a week's delay with them, after which I might have more idea where our season was going. On to the team selection, and Cameron would have to come in to the side even though he wasn't fully fit. The real question was where. Both Peacock and Harris were knackered. Mackenzie, too, wouldn't be up to a full game. This wasn't good, as we would need to keep it tight.

In the end I decided to ask Collins to step up into a more forward role and allow Woods to come into the Defensive midfield position. Hart would play on the right, and Cameron in his favoured position on the left. Surprise choice on the bench was 18 year old Alex Hutchinson, who had been having an excellent run in the reserves.

As you would expect for such an important game, it's very tight from the kick off. Dover have the best of a few clear cut chances, but we play well and create plenty of set pieces. The defensive formation is working, but probably restricting our normal attacking play somewhat. We're doing quite well at frustrating Dover's key creative players Allen and Place. 0-0 at half time is good enough for me.

We come out fired up, but without any changes in the second half. Woods cleared well from a Dover corner before we hit Dover on the break. Leo, Cameron and Hart combined well, with the ball ending up back with Leo. He was unlucky to see it flash inches past the post. The breakthrough finally came when Lee Shearer brought down Ommel on the edge of the area. The combination of Heaton and Fortune-West worked once again to give us the lead. I sent the subs out to warm up, ready to tighten things up for the inevitable onslaught, but it soon became clear that changing things wouldn't be necessary, as the league leaders had nothing to offer. I was right as, with ten minutes to go, the Dover keeper turned away an Ommel shot for a corner.

Steve Heaton delivered the corner, and for once it didn't find a Stalybridge head. Hedley cleared, but only as far as Challinor. Big Dave played the ball back out to Heaton who delivered another wonderful ball into the box to find Woods unmarked. The midfielder may not have scored all season in his 15 appearances, but he made no mistake this time. 2-0! The whole bench were on their feet, as the players mobbed Woods. The game was safe!

Conference Game 23. 4th January 2003
Dover 0 Stalybridge 2 Fortune-West 63 Woods 81

The table now showed just a single point gap between Dover and us, with Slough Town the new third place team. In the FA Cup, all non-league interest ended without as much as a whimper.

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Completely out of the blue, Barnet make an approach to sign Phil Salt, the ex Oldham midfielder on the fringe of breaking into the first team. I tell them they'll need to cough up a lot more than their £8k offer, and they lose interest. Maybe it was just an attempt to destable the camp, as the third in our New Year trio of away games is at Barnet. Not surprisingly, Sam Swonnell () is nominated as their main threat by our Scout.

I decide to stick with the same principle that worked so well against Dover. Mackenzie comes in on the right, though. Barnet open the scoring, with Batty getting caught badly out of position, and we are unable to create anything for the rest of the half. In the second half I had very little choice but to change things back to our more attacking tactics. It seemed to work, but we still couldn't break the home side down. All our hard work was undone.

Conference Game 24. 8th January 2003.
Barnet 1 Stalybridge 0 McNiven 11

A win for Dover took them four points clear again.

Isthmian league club Purfleet made an offer to loan Ronnie Howells, closely followed by an offer from Southern Premier Folkestone Invicta inquiring about Alex Hutchinson. Why not. It's not like it matters anymore. After having had a week to think about it, I decide to let Chris Perkins move on as well. The fee is an amazing £200k, albeit over a six month payment plan.