[retired_amitesh]

Thursday's session started with an away trip to Oldham. We made a fast start with Craddock scoring after 7 minutes. The rest of the half was fairly even and we went in 1-0 up. Oldham were reduced to 10 men shortly after half time. Craddock grabbed his second just before the hour mark. Nothing much happened after that and we cruised to a 2-0 win. It was a home game with Cardiff next. After a first half that was quickly forgotten we scored twice after half time, thanks to Easton & Craddock. Just as it looked like we would have our second 2-0 win in a row Cardiff equalised with 6 minutes to go to make it a nervous last few minutes. We managed to hold on for a 2-1 win.

We had a break from league duty as we played host to Bristol Rovers in the League Cup. The first half was pretty even until Foxe scored a stunning free kick to give us the lead just before half time. The second half was also pretty even and it looked like we would hold on for the win. Then with 8 minutes to go Rovers equalised. Into extra time Rovers scored 2 quick goals, including one screamer, to settle the game. This was really disappointing as we were looking to get through and get a good draw in the next round.

We played the other side from Bristol at home in our next game. We played really well and won 2-1 thanks to goals from Easton & Akinfenwa. We then faced Stephen's QPR at home in the JPT. We took the lead just before the half hour mark with another goal from Craddock. The lead only lasted 5 minutes before QPR equalised. The second half was really tight with both sides having chances to score. Just as it looked like we would be going beyond 90 minutes, Brooker popped up with 3 minutes to go to net the winner and make the final score 2-1. Back to league duty as we travelled to Cheltenham. We had an absolute shocker and got turned over 4-1 with our goal from Brooker.

The FA Cup saw us travel to Huddersfield. We played really poorly again and lost 2-0, with one of them an own goal. We finished the session by playing host to the league leaders, Bradford. We played well in this game, helped by Bradford being reduced to 10 men early on. We did everything but score in this game and had to settle for a 0-0 draw. This left us in 7th place, 1 point from the play offs and only 6 from top spot, after 19 games.

[retired_wazz]

Nice to see everyone keeping up with their updates Al.

[retired_wazz]

Coming upto to halfway through my first full season and things are going ok,but I am concerned with the lack of numbers in my squad.I nearly fully used the loans allowed and by and large Ive been very happy with my dealings in that market,Nathan Delfouneso is my leading scorer and I would love to make hima permanent signing although that is very unlikely.
Im just finding it hard to find the players that will not only bolster the squad but also improve it.Currently in 8th place just a point outside the play offs.

[retired_amitesh]

The first game of Monday saw us away to David's Yeovil. We were totally out played and had to thank our keeper Knight for keeping the scores level at half time. The second half was much the same until an inspired substitution as Akinfenwa scored within 10 minutes of coming on. We managed to hold on to steal a 1-0 win which was very harsh on Yeovil. We were away to Cheltenham in the JPT next. We had an off night in this match and lost 1-0 to an early goal.

It was Gillingham at home next. We made a good start with van den Berg giving us the lead after 11 minutes. We continued to dominate the first half but couldn't add to our lead. That changed 60 seconds into the second half as Brooker scored. Gillingham pulled one back with just over half an hour to play, but we managed to hold out for a fine 2-1 win. It was away to Wycombe next. I have no idea what happened as we produced a first half performance that was simply unacceptable. We were 5-0 down at half time. The second half was marginally better but there was never any chance of us getting back into the game and we lost 5-0.

We travelled to Gary's Notts Forest next. We played poorly again, not helped by Miller getting sent off after the half hour mark. We managed to hold on until 15 minutes from time when Forest took the lead. It looked like we had salvaged a point when Brooker scored with 7 minutes to go only for Forest to score the winner 2 minutes later. We had another away game when we played Brentford. We took the lead after 3 minutes with an Easton strike. Brentford turned it around to lead 2-1 before Craddock levelled things up. Things took a turn for the worse just before the hour mark as Brooker was ordered off. 7 minutes from time Easton got his second and it looked as if we would sneak a win. Unfortunately Brentford scored in the 89th minute to deny us.

The last game of the session saw us host high flying Doncaster. This was an absolute cracker of a game. Smith opened the scoring for us after 16 minutes only for Doncaster to equalise 3 minutes later. Akinfenwa restored our lead 3 minutes later before Doncaster equalised again shortly before half time. Akinfenwa scored again to put is 3-2 up after 52 minutes. We managed to hold onto the lead for 25 minutes until Doncaster equalised again. We weren't to be denied and 2 quick goals from Smith and Easton settled it, but not before Doncaster gave us a scare by pulling one back in stoppage time.

All this has left us in 6th place after 25 games, 1 point inside the play offs.

[retired_amitesh]

Thursday's session saw us start away to Brighton. We never got started in this game and were 2-0 down inside 30 minutes. We were given a lifeline when Goncalves scored a penalty shortly after the break but we never looked like scoring an equaliser. A 2-1 defeat and a very poor performance. We played host to Southend next. We were given a helping hand as Southend were reduced to 10 men after 2 minutes. Brooker scored 2 goals in the next 15 minutes to put us 2-0 up and cruising. Nothing much happened until Craddock scored in the 89th minute. Southend got a consolation in stoppage time to make the final score 3-1.

It was relegation threatened Burnley away next. Mazzola opened the scoring after 15 minutes after a goalkeeping mistake. Burnely scored 2 before half time to turn it around. Dodds equalised for us after the hour mark. Burnley scored twice late on to make it 4-2 at full time. We are becoming more and more eratic.Sheffield United came calling in the next game. We were really unlucky in the first half as 3 players had to go off injured inside the opening 30 minutes. Just before the hour mark United were reduced to 10 men. Unfortunately we couldn't take advantage, partly due to the injuries, and had to settle for a 0-0 draw.

Carlisle away was the next game. We played well in this game but couldn't manage to find a breakthrough - hardly surprising with our injuries. We did manage to keep a clean sheet which earned us a point. We hosted Stevenage next, with manager Taz on holiday. We made a bright start with Easton giving us the lead inside the first 15 minutes. The rest of the half was fairly even and we went in 1-0 up. Stevenage equalised on the hour mark. A quickfire double from our new loan signing Castles settled the game. Goulding rounded off the scoring with 4 minutes to go to give us a 4-1 win. we travelled to Hartlepool next. The first half was very even and it looked as if it would be 0-0 at half time until Mazzola scored on the counter attack. Our lead was extended shortly after the break when Kanu scored an own goal. We were never really troubled after that and held on to win 2-0.

We hosted Peterborough next. We dominated the first half but couldn't find a goal. Castles scored 4 minutes into the second half. Castles grabbed a second with 7 minutes to go to seal a fine 2-0 win. A mid week game away to Notts County followed. We had a shocking first half and were 2-0 down at half time. Goncalves pulled one back with 10 minutes to go but we couldn't find an equaliser and lost 2-1. We looked to bounce back at home to QPR. We played poorly in this game and were lucky to get a point. Away to Tranmere was next. We had a shocking first half and went in 2-0 down. The second half was every bit as bad and only a late Mazzola goal salvaged any respectability as we lost 4-1.

We finished the session at home to Swindon. This was another poor performance and we lost 1-0. This poor run of games may have cost us the chance of a play off spot. This left us on 7th place, 3 points from the play offs, with 9 games to go.

[retired_nickyfit]

Originally posted by GAZMANGOLF:

Coming upto to halfway through my first full season and things are going ok,but I am concerned with the lack of numbers in my squad.I nearly fully used the loans allowed and by and large Ive been very happy with my dealings in that market,Nathan Delfouneso is my leading scorer and I would love to make hima permanent signing although that is very unlikely.
Im just finding it hard to find the players that will not only bolster the squad but also improve it.Currently in 8th place just a point outside the play offs.

Couldn't stay away I see Gary, and how did you manage to get a decent club?

[retired_ck8300]

At the start of the season I felt confident of getting close or into the playoff positioned but at Christmas we where looking closer to relegation, so I decided to keep it simple and go back to a 4-4-2 formation with a defensive midfielder and I cant believe the difference in results, in the last session we won 7 of the last 8 games and at the end of the session we have zoomed up the league and are now in the playoff positioned (6th I think from about 14th) becoming the form team of the division I now just need to keep it up for the last 8 or so games and finish in the playoffs or even push for 1 of the top 2 spots.

[retired_wazz]

Couldn't stay away I see Gary, and how did you manage to get a decent club?

You can have them now toon if you like,coz ive left again.

[retired_amitesh]

Monday's session saw us start away to Bristol City. Bristol had the better of the first half but neither side managed to score. The second half was a different story. Castles scored with 15 minutes to go. Fordyce scored with 2 minutes to go to give us a valuable 2-0 win. We played Oldham at home next. We lost an early goal and it seemed to make our players angry. Mazzola equalised before Brooker scored a hat trick before half time. Not much happened in the second half and we won 4-1.

Next up was Cardiff away. This was a pretty even game that went Cardiff's way when they scored in the 88th minute to win 1-0. We faced David's Yeovil side at home in a must win game if we want to make the play offs. The first half was pretty even. Yeovil took the lead before Brooker equalised 2 minutes later. We dominated the second half and took the lead with 14 minutes to go through Ramirez. We managed to hold on for a vital 2-1 win.

It was another home game when Cheltenham visited. The first half was pretty even. Cheltenham took the lead before Mazzola equalised just before half time. The second half was almost identical. Cheltenham again took the lead before Ramirez equalised in the 90th minute to make the final score 2-2. We travelled to Bradford next. Bradford had the better of this game and we were lucky to get a 1-1 draw with Brooker getting our goal. It was the final away game of the season next when we travelled to Gillingham. We had a shocker and lost 2-0. This result just about finished our chances of the play offs as we are now 4 points back with 2 games to go.

Our second last game was at home to Wycombe. We dominated the first half but couldn't find the break through and went in 0-0. We dominated the second half as well and got the breakthrough with just over 20 minutes to go when Brooker scored. Wycombe didn't create anything after that and we held on for a 1-0 win. The final league game was at home to Nottingham Forest. We needed a win and results to go our way to make the play offs. We made a poor start and were 2-0 down just past the half hour mark. Goals from Brooker & Goncalves brought us level before half time. Forest took the lead right after half time only for Brooker to equalise 3 minutes later. Forest scored just before the hour mark. We threw everything at them but couldn't find an equaliser. In the end it wouldn't have mattered eve n if we had won.

This meant we finished the season in 8th place. This was a good effort and I would have taken that before the season started.

And for Gary's benefit, Forest finished 2nd after he left.

[retired_dbonus]

A good read blokes =)
Best of luck to you =)