retired_karenscholtz

Okay, I'll have a look around and see how other people do it. Thanks for the feedback guys :thup:

retired_karenscholtz

H 0-0 Chester

An awful game with so few chances it's unbearable to watch.

A £500k bid for Carl Finnigan is accepted from Gillingham and he is away. I now have £320k to use to find a back-up striker as his replacement.

Rob Lawton wins goal of the month, I get manager of the month and I turn down the QPR job.

A 1-3 Preston (Connell) FA Cup 2nd Rd

Despite Connell equalising in the second half after a fortunate rebound from Bodkin's shot, we were never really in this one and Preston ran out comfortable winners. At the moment they are a mid-table side in the division above us but the gulf in class was pretty obvious

In trying to find a replacement striker I find someone who I think looks ideal, Alex Williams from Morton. I agree a fee and offer him more than double what he is currently on but he says it isn't enough! Stuff you then. Oliver Allen signs instead from West Ham for £65k. He's certainly cocky as he declared his ability with a football will leave fans drooling

A 0-3 Kidderminster

End to end stuff as Allen misses a chance on his debut and then they go up the other end and score. A corner just before HT gives them their second and a corner on the hour gives them number 3. We really miss Dolan at the moment. That was embarrassing

A 2-1 Nottm Forest (Bodkin (2))

Not the best time to be visiting our rivals but when Marlon King missed a penalty after 11 minutes you could see the relief flood through the team. Bodkin punished Forest for their miss right on half-time with a lovely strike from just outside the box. With the ball just about to run out of play Tillen slides in on his man and King doesn't make the same mistake this time. Bodkin decides to do a carbon copy of his first goal five minutes later and we snatch all three points

H 2-0 Boston (Bodkin, Connell)

When Forest come sniffing round Bodkin I tell them where to go and he repays me with the opening goal against Boston. Connell quickly adds number two and we're in cruise control...right until Dolan gives away a penalty. Thankfully Dittmer makes the save and there is no late pressure from Boston

A 6-0 Gillingham (Connell (3), O'Connor, Tudor, Allen)

Six minutes in and Connell opens the scoring. Carl Finnigan is watching from the bench, their bench this time instead of ours. Bodkin is carried off soon after and I hope he is ok. The ref didn't even book their player for it. Connell makes them pay when he turns his man and fires it low into the corner and O'Connor adds a third from the spot. An incisive breakaway gives Connell his hat-trick and Tudor tucks away number five after Sean Evans gets to the byline and pulls the ball back to leave a simple finish. Five minutes from time and Oliver Allen notches his first goal for the club in what has turned into a rout.

Bodkin is only out for a few days with a bruised rib and thanks to a 0-0 draw between Mansfield and Swindon we sit atop the division with 22 games gone.

H 4-1 Scarborough (O'Connor, Dolan, Connell, Lawton)

A fantastic home performance and a good reason why ought to go up this year without needing the play-offs. We have good players in every position this year and rely less on the goal instincts of Darren Connell. He got his name on the scoresheet today but by then we were already on cruise control thanks to O'Connor and Dolan. Lawton added number 4 before a late penalty for Scarborough was their consolation

H 2-1 Leyton Orient (Connell, Lawton)

A first half of constant pressure is rewarded in injury time when Connell sticks out a leg and deflects O'Connor's shot into the net. We're unable to sustain our momentum going into the second half and are punished with six minutes left as Orient score. Questions must be asked of who was picking up their striker as he ran into the area. In injury time Rob Lawton picked up the ball and ran at their defence. He shaped inside before running round the outside and through on goal before finishing from the narrowest of angles for a thrilling winner

mrsevans7177

M U C H better layout, Gj m8, KUTGW.

Btw, never take the QPR job, they are bunch of... well not very nice people :p

retired_karenscholtz

A 0-0 MK Dons

A game short on quality so it is no surprise when it ends goalless. This is a valuable point for the Dons as they battle away near the foot of the table

Preston North End are the latest club to offer me a position and also the latest to be politely declined.

A 0-0 Mansfield

With Mansfield lying fourth, this is a pretty big game for us. Pity we don't get going until the second half and thankfully neither do Mansfield. With few chances created in a game neither side wanted to lose we both going away happy with a point.

H 3-0 Southend (Connell (2), Evans)

It takes us until the second half to break down Southend and it is O'Connor and Bodkin who are the key men as they get wide and put in great crosses for Connell to score. With all my subs used Tom Laws gets sent off and we revert to three at the back but are not greatly troubled. So much so that Sean Evans has the time and space to pick his spot from 8 yards out in a comprehensive win

H 3-1 Rochdale (Connell (2), Lawton)

An early goal from Connell as Lawton throws in a perfect cross is cancelled out minutes later as Rochdale score from a corner. Connell returns the favour later on as he finds Lawton unmarked at the far post with a firm cross. Connell nets his second when a Lawton free-kick lands right at his feet and all he has to do is get a touch on it and it flies into the net.

A 1-0 Wrexham (Connell)

Wrexham flood the midfield with their 3-5-2 system and for 40 minutes it works very well, until Bodkin makes a surging run with the ball and slips it to Connell who chips the advancing keeper. As Wrexham push forward Oliver Allen almost scores from the halfway line as their keeper had also pushed up but his shot is just wide. The ref has gone card mad in the second half and I'm surprised to see no-one sent off

H 3-1 Gravesend (Connell (3))

A mistake by Liam Lake ends up with him putting the ball in his own net. Connell spares his blushes ten minutes later with a right foot rocket and puts us ahead in similar fashion right on HT. Connell seals his hat-trick with a 25 yard effort into the top corner. What a player! Oliver Allen comes on and hits the post twice, things just aren't running for him at the moment but his time will surely come

H 3-1 Canvey Island (Connell, O'Connor, Way)

Two minutes in and Connell keeps up his great run with a well struck shot from the edge of the area. Liam Lake is turned too easily in the box and Clive Platt scores for Canvey Island, ffs. Connell is hacked down in the area and up steps O'Connor to do the business from the spot. We have the lion's share of the possession and chances but stubborn defending keeps us at bay until Darren Way converts a penalty right at the death after a trip on Lawton

A 1-1 Shrewsbury (Connell)

Dittmer is beaten from 30 yards when he seemed to have it covered. What was he doing? The first half was a footballing lesson from Shrewsbury and I'm not sure how we managed to keep it to one. When Connell's shot squirms under the keeper but is cleared off the line I wonder is that our only chance gone. We start to play more fluently and our deadly duo, Lawton and Connell, combine to snatch a point where we didn't deserve one

A 2-1 Swindon (Connell, Allen)

With us locked at the top of the table and well clear of third placed Forest, it looks like this could be a game to decide the title. There is a long way to go but it would be a huge psychological blow to lose this game. Despite controlling the first half it is Swindon who fall behind as O'Connor's driven cross is headed home by Connell. With them creating chance after chance it isn't much of a surprise to see them finally score as Andrew Caton is put in on goal. A second Swindon goal is ruled out for offside and much to my delight Oliver Allen nips in to score. Cue late pressure from Swindon but it isn't enough

A 2-0 Scunthorpe (Hart, Bodkin)

One of the most boring games we've played, until the four minutes added on at the end of the game. Suddenly Paul Hart leads a breakaway to score his first of the season and then a Jones cross is headed in by the late arriving Bodkin. These sort of games decide titles.

H 1-1 Cheltenham (Bodkin)

We played well but Cheltenham played better and yet we snatch a point late on. Their defence held us to few chances throughout the game but a surging Bodkin run makes it two goals in two games for him. We're heading for promotion

With Walsall on the brink of relegation to League Two they come to me for help and I turn them down. I'm confident that we'll be there next season, will they be?

A 2-3 Peterborough (Lawton, Allen)

Teams really seem to raise their game when they play us and Peterborough are no exception. A controlled first half performance sees us struggle to contain them and although they take the lead, they are bound to be disappointed that it isn't more. Two minutes after the break and they're justified as Lawton fires one in from just outside the box. Tillen ensures that they need not worry as he hits us with a double whammy, giving away a penalty and getting sent off in one go. Peterborough add a third before Allen pulls one back with a tremendous run and shot. With Lawton clean through on goal the ref blows his whistle for FT and we go down fighting till the last

Our 16 game unbeaten streak comes to an end but there is no time to think about it as Aldershot are next up

H 4-0 Aldershot (Connell (2), Smith, Evans)

Connell is the early scorer with his 100th league goal of his career and at a vital time too. Aldershot have been on a good run themselves lately and so when Nick Smith tries his luck from 25 yards I am delighted to see it fly in. Connell ensures there is no road back for The Shots when he turns his marker inside the area and his shot is just inside the post. Sean Evans dribbles through a beaten Aldershot defence for number four and that completes the scoring

That win has guaranteed us a play-off place and with nine games left we have a healthy lead over fourth place. Three wins should mean automatic promotion.

A 1-0 Northampton (Connell)

With Lawton and Evans both missing with knocks, it isn't good news to see Porter taken off in the first half. Connell scores soon after in what is a hard fought game. Connell himself shows signs of a knock and is replaced on the hour. I can't afford any more injuries in this game. With Northampton in need of points I was surprised that they didn't push men forward near the end. They stuck to their game plan but it never troubled us and to be honest, we really should have won by more

Steve Porter is out for the rest of the season with a torn hamstring.

H 2-0 Wycombe (O'Connor, Allen)

Tudor and Connell combine to present O'Connor with a easy chance about three yards out and he makes no mistake with the header. Wycombe don't seem at all bothered about being behind and have nothing to play for as they are mid-table. Pity then that they hack Bodkin down and he has to be stretchered off. Oliver Allen knocks one in late on to continue our good run

We are promoted \o/ Bodkin is out for two weeks with a gashed leg which isn't as bad as I first feared but Joe Dolan is ruled out for a month with strained knee ligaments

A 3-2 Chester (Lawton (2), Connell)

When Cooper misses an open goal for Chester it sparks ten minutes of madness as we go 2-0 up through Lawton and Connell before Cooper pegs us back with two goals of his own. Lawton nets the fifth goal of the game seven minutes before HT to end a half of drama and excitement. The thrills continue in the second half but without the goals to go with it, mostly as a result of two fine performances by the goalkeepers

H 1-0 Nottm Forest (Lawton)

A Rob Lawton shot is deflected into the net mid-way through the first half and is all that separates the sides in a well fought contest. Neither side really gained an advantage and with a packed midfield it was a game that didn't lend itself to open, flowing football with lots of chances.

A Swindon defeat leaves us nine clear at the top with five games left. I win manager of the month while Oliver Allen and Sean Evans are second and third in the goal of the month competition

H 2-1 Kidderminster (Allen, Lawton)

We're not playing well at the moment and it seems to be because players are tired. I end up making three subs at HT due to slight knocks and sheer tiredness and I've no sooner sent them out than Tillen comes off injured. Oliver Allen has a slice of fortune as his shot comes back off the post and straight to him. He doesn't make the same mistake. Harriers hit back straight away using their man advantage but are unable to stop Rob Lawton from making a mazy run through their defence at the death to take all three points

A 4-0 Torquay (Smith, Connell (2), Way)

If we win then we've got the title as our goal difference is so superior to Swindon's. Smith and Connell with the early goals settle us down before Connell hits his second and there is no way back for Torquay. Way completes the scoring with a fine header from Tudor's corner

As Swindon draw we are officially League Two champions \o/

A 2-2 Boston (Connell (2))

Three minutes in and Baldwin is sent off for pushing Jackson in the back. Jackson picks himself up and buries the free-kick past Dittmer. Lawton slips Connell through as Boston try to play the offside trap...but he's onside and buries his 40th league goal this season, equalling his own record from last year. It's also our 100th league goal this season. As Boston push men forward for the winner, Connell punishes them on the break. It is short lived as they snatch a deserved equaliser and only a dodgy offside call saves us right at the end

H 2-0 Gillingam (Hooper, Tudor)

A fantastic free-kick from Hooper sends us into the lead in our final home game of the season. Tudor misses when he's 1-on-1 with the keeper but five minutes later Oliver Allen tucks away a similar chance.

Connell, Allen and Lawton finish first, second and third in goal of the month and Connell picks up player of the month

A 2-1 Scarborough (Way, Connell)

Way opens the scoring with a header from Lawton's corner. Connell doubles our lead within minutes as his marker goes walkabout. Maher scores an identical goal to Way and suddenly Scarborough are right back in this. Gray's effort is parried by Dittmer and kicked out for a throw. The ball is launched back in and in the scramble that followed they hit the post. That was the closest they came and we run out 2-1 winners

Darren Way limped off and is out for 4 months. He'll miss the start of next season with torn ankle ligaments

It's mixed penalty fortunes for English clubs in Europe as Charlton lose the UEFA Cup final in a shoot-out but Man Utd add the Champions League to the Premiership thanks to a 4-3 penalty win over Barcelona

The board announce that the transfer budget will be in the region of £300k. Hopefully once the TV money comes in that it will be increased (I'm being greedy!). Lawton, Bodkin and Connell are named in the team of the year, Connell wins the golden boot, Lawton wins goal of the season and I am nowhere to be seen in the manager of the year.

Three weeks holiday is my reward before I begin preparations for the new season. Next up, League One...

http://www.rvhchessclub.co.uk/090105/league.JPG

retired_ellee5050

Great story,KUTGW

retired_karenscholtz

2008 - 2009 English League One

Darren Connell retains his Fans' Player of the Year award to make it three years on the trot now. We receive £300k in TV rights and the board expects us to battle bravely against relegation in the coming season.

In
==
Simon Clark (DMC) - £85k
Darren Pratley (AMC) - £45k
Brian Smikle (AMR) - Free
Stephan Lange (GK) - £65k
Chris Brown (SC) - £130k

Out
===
Cullen - Free
Brazier - Free
Melton - Free
Sutton - Free
Kinsella - Free
Molloy - Free
Griffiths - Free
Bodkin - £850k

France beat Italy in the summer's big tournament. After a tense 0-0 scoreline they triumphed in the European Championship final in the penalty shoot-out and Kevin Keegan has been re-hired as the England boss

H 2-2 BAT Sports (O'Connor (2))

The most testing offer of my time here comes in. The manager's job at Norwich with a whopping £17.5m in transfer budget is turned down as I feel we haven't peaked here. I feel I'll know the right job to leave for when it comes in.

H 2-1 Vauxhall Motors Reserves (Clark, Lawton)

Hardly the most inspiring of games as we struggle to beat the reserves. Err, I blame tiredness.

A 40-1 shot for the title indicates we need to avoid relegation. Preston and Swansea are this season's big favourites and I'm happy enough with that as although they beat us last year, it wasn't a thrashing...almost

H 3-0 Luton (Pratley, Allen (2))

O'Connor and Lawton combine to provide Pratley with his first goal for the Motormen on his debut. Evans has a goal dis-allowed for offside but it doesn't matter as from the resulting free-kick, Pratley sends Oliver Allen clear and his blasts one into the net to give us a two goal lead. It's another poor goal kick that gives us number three, this time Nick Smith setting up Allen to net his second of the season and we're off to a flier.

A 1-1 Preston (Connell)

An easy away game then to start, or not as the case may be. We looked comfortable for the first 45, almost as though we belonged in this division. It was a comforting sign. We look good until the 80th minute when a mistake by Lange hands Preston with the lead. Connell comes on as a sub and hits a late equaliser to give us no more than we deserve. A great start to the season for us

H 1-0 Stoke (Allen)

Our fantastic start to the season continues as a late Allen winner secures three points for us. I think 50 should see us clear of relegation and am determined to get us there asap but with Knight out for 4 weeks, it might be more difficult than I hoped.

A 1-1 Hull (Allen)

Brittain has a goal rightfully disallowed for offside and the crowd are not happy. Allsopp cheers them up with a fine left foot strike. Things get worse on the hour when Lawton is dismissed for his second bookable offence and we have to shuffle our midfield. Oliver Allen is brought on and makes an immediate impact, squeezing his shot under Bartlett. Hull are unable to break down our packed defence and settle for the draw

H 1-1 (3-2)p Wigan (Brown) League Cup Rd 1

Tom Laws takes a deft free-kick and finds Chris Brown in the area unmarked, he makes no mistake to score his first goal for the club. Wigan hit back with a penalty and the nearest anyone comes to adding to the scoreline is when Allen hits the post just before the 90 minutes are up. Extra time passes without incident and we have the lottery of penalties. This time it is our turn to be lucky and Wigan miss three of their five to send us through to the next round.

A 1-1 Cheltenham (Brown)

Chris Brown scores his first league goal for us with a 30 yard screamer that seemed to bend and dip in the air. A long ball confuses our defence and a slip by Lange allows Odejayi to run past him and score. A comedy of errors. A tense second half leads to no further scoring and also to our fourth 1-1 draw in five games.

H 0-0 Grimsby

Another game and another draw. We had a few more shots than Grimbsy but not enough to trouble their keeper. At least we aren't losing these games

A 3-1 Lincoln (Allen, Morgan (OG), Connell)

35 seconds gone and Oliver Allen has scored, Pratley the architect. We create loads of chances but just can't take them. Just as Hooper tries to launch an attack down the left wing he loses possession and the ball is whipped into the box and headed home by Green. Minutes later we're ahead again after a Morgan own goal before Connell seals the win after a fine through ball by Tillen.

H 1-1 (4-5)p Burnley (Knight) League Cup 2nd Rd

Lakis puts them into the lead just into the second half, after a first half that is to be forgotten. Ian Knight comes on and his first job is to bring us level from the spot...which he does. With nothing more before the end of extra time, once again we go to penalties. We end up missing five and go out on penalty number nine!

H 1-0 Colchester (Clark)

A game we controlled but never looked like winning until injury time right at the end when referee Kevin Friend gave us two free-kicks which moved us into striking range and Simon Clark's shot flew into the net

Kyle Wilson (SC) comes in from Crewe for £75,000.

A 3-1 Halifax (Connell, Brown, Knight) LDV Vans Trophy N 1st Rd

12 minutes in and we're a goal down, not what I expected against a Conference side. We get level thanks to Connell as their keeper chases the ball out of the area during a goal mouth scramble and it falls to Connell with an open net. Brown quickly adds a second as Halifax are on the ropes. Knight gets a third as we continue to dominate and a late Tudor red card can't alter the scoreline. It turns out that a slight knock for Allen will keep him sidelined for a month

A 2-0 Swindon (Lawton, Pratley)

Goals by Lawton and Pratley either side of half-time were enough for victory in this game. Swindon look to be fighting relegation this season while we confound our critics by sitting near the top of the table so far as the only unbeaten team in the league

As the Bristol City job becomes vacant I have to field more questions about where my future lies. It isn't at Bristol City. Joe Tillen is out for three months with a torn calf muscle. It's a big loss

A 1-3 Cambridge (Brown)

A mistake by Lake allows Cambridge to score early. After 30 minutes we've already used all of our subs as Connell (knock) and Laws (injured) have to be replaced and we need to reshuffle. Brown scores just into the second half but we're behind straight away. When Brown's shot crashes off the bar I can see it isn't our day. Sure enough they score again shortly after to put the game beyond us.

H 0-3 Bradford City

A goal within 20 seconds for Bradford is a killer. They double their lead on the half hour and we aren't getting back into this one. A free-kick makes it three and it's back to back defeats

H 2-2 Rushden (Evans, Connell)

Three minutes in and they score a penalty. FFS, this is getting ridiculous, what are my defenders doing? Martin keeps us in it with a fine display until Evans scores with a fine header from a corner. We're behind moments later Into the 2nd half and we score a freak goal, Ingham's free-kick hitting Connell and he shoots into the empty net from 45 yards. We salvage an unlikely point

http://rvhchessclub.co.uk/160105/league.JPG

retired_jgirl87

Nice going in League One. :thup:

You're nicely poised to move up in the promotion / play-off places at the moment.

The new layout works better too. KUTGW :cool:

retired_karenscholtz

cheers Spav

------------

A 2-1 Bristol Rovers (Evans, Connell)

We go in level at HT thanks to a powerful shot from Sean Evans that gives the keeper no chance, his marker should have done a better job. We are only level though as Rovers took the lead from a counter-attack when we were really pressing them. A half that should have produced more for us. We take the lead when a Dolan free-kick floats into the area and Connell controls it, turns his man and fires us in front. Rovers switch to a 3-4-3 formation but their one good chance of the half is parried by Martin and cleared upfield by Dolan.

H 6-1 Preston (Connell (4), Tudor, Brown) LDV Vans Trophy N 2nd Rd

With Swansea enquiring about his cost, Connell adds to his value with two early goals in this cup tie. Maybe I should be asking for more money! Mark Burchill hits one back for Preston but Connell completes his hat-trick to end their revival. His fourth comes on the hour and with that I decide to rest him for the games ahead. Evans gets his third assist of the game as he runs at the Preston defence, draws the keeper and slips the ball sideways for Tudor to score. Brown completes the rout with a 25 yard effort to give us number six. A fantastic display and I hope we can keep this run going

Swansea say that I'm asking too much for Connell and Rupert Lowe asks for my services at Southampton. They're currently bottom of the Premiership and have £9.25m ready for transfers. I decline his request

A 1-5 Port Vale (Tudor)

Port Vale over stretch is their search for an early goal and Connell leads a break-away. He heads for the byline and swings in a great cross for Tudor to score. Armstrong and Cort quickly hit back to put Port Vale in the lead. A mistake by Martin presents Cort with number three. A tactical re-think changes us to 3-4-3 but Vale hit us on the break to score two quick goals.

H 3-1 Blackpool (Connell, Tudor, Smith)

Blackpool must be gutted at that first half. They out-fought and out-played us but go in one-nil down as Knight's free-kick is controlled and finished off by Connell, two minutes before the end. A John Murphy header brings them back on terms and it's no more than they deserve. It doesn't last as they fail to clear their lines and Tudor runs across the edge of their box before cutting in and hitting a left foot shot past Ogden. Nick Smith comes on and immediately heads home his first goal of the season

A 2-0 Darlington (Tudor, Connell) FA Cup 1st Rd

It's Pratley with a header that goes closest to breaking the deadlock in the opening half hour, but it just drifts wide. He doesn't seem bothered as his slide rule pass to Tudor beats the offside trap and Tudor finishes well from a tight angle. Smith comes on and is an instant provider as his through ball finds Connell who holds off his marker and scores.

H 3-0 Walsall (Connell, Pratley, Knight)

Walsall are right down in the relegation zone and we cut through them at will. Pity it takes a mis-hit Connell shot that barely crosses the line to put us in front. Martin makes a great stop when 1-on-1 and then O'Connor goes on a mazy run that ends with a great far post cross to Pratley who heads home. Knight rounds off the scoring with a fine header from Pratley's bullet cross, but where was the keeper?

A 3-1 Stockport (Pratley, O'Connor, Lawton)

In a very open game we snatch the lead just before the break as Tudor crosses for Pratley to arrive late and smash it home. Minutes later O'Connor makes it two with his first goal of the season. Stockport have stopped really creating and instead are going for long range shots. I'm happy enough until one of them goes in. We dig in and when Oliver Allen goes on a solo run he relieve the pressure. He seemed to have run down a blind alley and then, somehow, he's in on goal. His shot is parried but falls to Lawton who makes no mistake. Stockport were second but we're now above them!

H 0-0 Bournemouth

With the keeper well out of his area Knight's shot almost hits the corner flag instead of the net. What a chance. We have all the play but it's Bournemouth who almost score when they hit the bar. We were so lucky. A header from Allen is ruled out in injury time for pushing, but there was no-one near him! Robbed of all three points...

A 3-1 Chesterfield (Connell, Tudor, Allen) LDV Vans Trophy Qtr Final

Tudor feeds Connell for what seems like our first chance of the game and he scores. Twenty-six minutes gone. Ten minutes after the restart and Gilroy equalises from the edge of our area with no-one near him. Where was the defence? Totally against the run of play we hoof the ball upfield, Connell passes to Tudor and he beats his man and the keeper with a great shot into the corner. In injury-time we win a corner that flies straight into the keeper's arms, or so it seems. As the Chesterfield players turn and run upfield, Knight suddenly has the ball and he knocks it square to Oliver Allen to score a tap in. It is a shock to win this game after the way we have played, but to win it 3-1 really rubs salt into the wound

H 2-1 Hednesford (Connell, Lawton) FA Cup 2nd Rd

Hednesford are near the top of the Conference North so I expect an easy victory. An early goal from Connell looks like handing us that until Roy O'Donovan fires in a free-kick. We're until until the 82nd minute when Evans runs to the byline and his floated cross to the far post is met by fellow subsitute Rob Lawton. His header is enough to see us through to the next round.

A 3-0 Swansea (Pratley, Evans, Connell)

A solo effort by Pratley opens the scoring and it's soon two. This time Connell turns provider and feeds the ball through to Sean Evans who drills his shot just inside the far post. We're comfortable with our lead and manage to extend it right at the end when Porter's long ball finds Connell free just outside the area. His quick control and shot are such that no defender can close him down and we leave Swansea 3-0 winners

H 0-2 Plymouth

Plymouth travel north with a defensive mind-set but it is they who take the lead from a set-piece. It hasn't been a vintage performance from us and as Daniel Rose chases down a lost cause we seem set to lose 1-0. He keeps the ball in play, turns and whips in a great cross for Peter Crouch to score. I was right, we're going to lose 2-0. Their keeper gets MOM

A 1-0 Rotherham (Pratley)

With Rotherham on full scale attack in the first half we have precisely one shot on goal, Pratley the scorer. Their pressure continues into the second half but Martin in goal is having a stormer. Somehow we hold out for a hard fought victory.

H 2-0 Nottm Forest (Evans, O'Connor)

Tudor goes on a surging run and plays a great square ball to Evans and his shot goes back across the keeper and into the net. Our wingers are tearing them apart so far. It takes us until the last five minutes to make the game safe, O'Connor running through the centre and then chipping the advancing keeper. A dominating performance.

A 3-1 Wigan (Connell (2), Tudor)

A long range effort from Lloyd crashes in off the post to give Wigan the lead. Our build-up has been good but lacking that cutting edge until Connell strides through the Wigan defence. What a pass from Pratley though! Just after the break Tudor goes on a wonderful cross-field run and caps it with a great left-foot strike. Connell increases our lead moments later and things look bleak for Wigan

And we are top! A Merry Christmas for everyone at the club. What will 2009 hold for us?

http://rvhchessclub.co.uk/180105/league.JPG

retired_karenscholtz

A 3-1 Wycombe (Connell (2), Clark) FA Cup 3rd Rd

Seven minutes gone and Dolan gives away a soft penalty. Martin makes a great save and Dolan is relieved. Tudor and Connell combine to put us in front soon after and Pratley lays it off for Connell to hit number two just before the break. When Matty Fox pushes O'Connor over in the area, Simon Clark steps up to smash it home and put us through to the next round. A second penalty for Wycombe, this time scored by Stonebridge, is nothing more than a consolation.

A 1-2 Luton (Knight)

An early goal from Lee Mathews separates the sides early in the first half as Luton forget their position at the bottom of the table to dominate. Unfortunately it is also Lee Mathews who punches a corner clear and allows us to equalise on the stroke of half-time with a Ian Knight penalty. Luton continue in the second half like they did in the first and their pressure is rewarded when a 25 yard free-kick flies into the top corner. We're unable to muster a response and lose 2-1

H 0-0 Hull

A tense and tough half sees no score but the Tigers have had the best of it. If the first half was theirs then the second half was ours. Creating multiple chances we wasted them all, Connell the main culprit, but at least we kept it tight at the back to secure a draw

With Oliver Allen already out for 3 weeks I get news that I don't like. Pratley is out for two months with a torn groin and Steve Porter is out for a month with knee ligament trouble. Joe Tillen should be back in training in a few days so we may not be short of a left-back for too long.

A 3-2 Leicester (Connell (2), Smith) FA Cup 4th Rd

With injuries and suspensions hitting home, it's a rather depleted side that travels to the Walker's stadium. The ground is silenced as Tudor's through ball to Connell finds its mark and he chips the advancing keeper. One nil and this was not in the script. Pity that a Hendrie corner was headed in by Nicky Hunt barely ten minutes later. With 30 minutes gone we're still locked at 1-1 and we've got the ball. Connell is shepherded towards the corner flag but decides to jink inside his man and try his luck. I can't believe it as the net bulges. 2-1 and slightly surreal. We get to HT in the lead and I realise that the next fifteen minutes are vital. Did I say minutes? I meant seconds. Leicester score from the kick-off as Reid's long pass finds McFadden and he smashes it past Martin. You're never more vulnerable than having just scored...and so it proves. A poor clearance finds Sean Evans in space and his sideways pass sits up perfectly for Nick Smith to strike. Strike it he does and right towards the bottom corner as the keeper scrambles to get back, but it's a yard too far and incredibly we're ahead again. I don't know how we did it, I don't think the players know how they did it but somehow we managed to fend off Leicester during the next 40 minutes of onslaught. Dolan was magnificent, Martin superb and their finishing? Let's just say it left a lot to be desired. Bring on the big guns!

H 2-0 Stoke (Dolan, O'Connor) LDV Vans Trophy N Semi Final

The gulf in class is obvious from the first whistle in this game. Although Stoke are in the same division as us they simply weren't at the races today and this is partly caused by their crippling injury problems. That's not to say we don't have our own as Tudor is carried off with fractured ribs and will be out for a month. We totally controlled this game but it took a fine header from Dolan and a late piece of magic from O'Connor to seal a deserved win. We're going well in the cups this season, I hope it doesn't adversely affect our league performances.

No sooner is he back than Joe Tillen is sidelined for two weeks. Darren Connell is also out for a week with a sprained wrist (no jokes please). They all seem to be happening at once Millwall offer me the job at The Den but it's probably the least attractive job offer I've received in quite some time

H 0-2 Cheltenham

With eight players out injured I hope we can salvage a draw or nick a win here. Chris Brown makes a rare start and puts in a good performance without adding the finish. He spoils his efforts by getting himself sent off early into the second half in what turns out to be the game deciding moment. We were in control and searching for a goal before the red card but afterwards Cheltenham were the ones in control. Two late goals as my players tired sealed an important three points for them

Just as things can't get any worse they do. Michael Allen fractures his jaw in training and will be out for 3 weeks. Evans and Lawton have picked up their fifth bookings and will miss a match which doesn't bother Lawton as he has sprained his ankle and will be out for 4 weeks.

A 1-0 Stoke (O'Connor)

A ridiculous amount of injuries sees us down to the bare bones for this game. Our midfield is the strongest part of the team on the pitch and it shows as they boss the game. Pity that we have no-one to score though. The defence looks shaky when Stoke get through but heroic displays in midfield by Clark and Hooper generally prevent that from happening. Our MOM has been O'Connor and sure enough with 5 minutes left, a poor clearance leaves the defender in trouble. O'Connor nips in and steals the ball before powering it home for an unlikely victory

O'Connor is out for a week with a sprained wrist and Pat Baldwin has picked up his fifth booking and misses a match. Our next game is away to Grimsby and we will be missing 10 senior players for that fixture. Crazy, just crazy.

A 1-1 Grimsby (Wilson)

It takes 70 minutes for our first shot on target in a terrible match but it's worth waiting for as Kyle Wilson scores his first goal for the club with a 25 yard effort into the top corner. Grimsby score three minutes later and both sides revert to negative boring football for a point each

H 0-2 Preston

Another poor performance and this time the opposition aren't dragged down to our level. Burchill finally gets the opener after having two goals disallowed and when Simon Clark gets sent off we don't look like scoring. Sure enough, Preston add number two and seal the win

H 1-1 Lincoln (Smickle)

Evans goal is disallowed and so there is slight justice when a Lincoln goal is also disallowed. Pity we didn't learn from our good fortune as Green is allowed to head home from close range after a well flighted corner. A huge slice of luck is dealt our way as Dunfield gets a straight red for a professional foul and Smickle scores the penalty. The remaining half hour has us get lots of possession but not many chances and another game ends a draw.

A 1-1 Stockport (Connell) LDV Vans Trophy N Final Leg 1

A half we controlled from start to finish but without the finish if you know what I mean. When Hudson gets sent off ten minutes before the break our grip on midfield tightens. It takes us fifteen minutes but the opener comes, a shot from Connell from just outside the box. A Danny Jackman free-kick crashes in off the post just before the end and is a knife to the heart for us. What is going on?

Sean Evans has hurt his wrist and will be out for a week.

A 2-1 Wolves (Connell (2)) FA Cup 5th Rd

A poor first half sees us defending most of the time as Wolves win corners and free-kicks and use them to pump high balls into the box. Into the second half and it's a long high ball that finally does it as Martin gets drawn out towards the ball but fails to get there and Wolves are ahead. Ironically a long high goal kick brings us our goal as it bounces over everyone and leaves Connell in the clear to chip the advancing keeper. We switch to a 4-3-3 formation in an attempt to win the game now and it works as Connell pulls away from his man and is found by O'Connor. He makes no mistake with the finish.

That win puts us into the QF of the cup and earns us £150k. The draw gives us...Millwall away. They are currently trying to steer clear of relegation from the Championship and are one place below Wolves. We'll try to give them a game

A 1-4 Colchester (Connell)

We are starting to get one or two players back from injury and up to full fitness and the performance shows. Pity that Knight pushed the defender in the back and gave away a penalty. Dolan kicks out at a player and gets himself booked before the kick is taken. They score and five minutes later Dolan is off. We go to three at the back and almost score as a huge punt sends Connell racing clear but his shot is driven straight at the keeper. Tillen makes a mistake and Colchester ram in number two, unreal. Smith drives through the centre and plays it wide to Connell on the right. He has a clear path to goal and takes it before giving us a lifeline with a fierce shot just inside the far post. As we push for another goal we leave ourselves open at the back and Colchester take full advantage. Three and four come quickly after each other in similar styles and we go down fighting

That loss drops us to tenth but we have a game in hand on most clubs above us and things are incredibly tight.

H 2-0 Swindon (Allen, Brown)

A much better first half than we've seen lately. A quick free-kick finds Tudor free in the area and his shot comes crashing back off the bar. OTher half chances come and go but when Oliver Allen bundles through their defence and slots one home the whole side visibly lift. Tudor has been our main performer this game, pinging passes through their defence and spreading the play beautifully. When he goes off with a slight knock we suddenly get nervous. We aren't creating chances but at least they aren't either. With 4 minutes of injury time I can sense a late goal coming, thanfully it comes our way as Brown gets free in the area and shoots. The keeper saves but the ball rebounds back to Brown who makes no mistake the second time.

A 1-3 Bradford City (Connell)

Two goals in fifteen minutes kills this game off. What were the defence thinking? A third right on HT means that we have got absolutely no chance of a second half comeback. Connell comes on and hits a late consolation goal but Bradford were not really trying at that stage

A 4-1 Rushden (Connell, Way, Tudor, Allen)

Another early goal and we're behind again. We seem unable to deal with crosses at the moment. Four minutes after the break and we're level as Dolan passes the ball to Smith who slides it through for Connell to provide the finish. Ten minutes later and we're ahead as Tudor is hacked down in the box and Way makes no mistake from the spot. Tudor has suddenly found his form and a swift counter sees Connell send him clear. He cuts back inside his marker and fires one like a rocket into the net! Straightaway his marker is subbed, haha. A Rushden free-kick hits the post and sparks a revival but with Lange back in nets in place of Martin there is no way through. Oliver Allen comepletes the scoring with a left foot volley in off the post. Two away games and two completely different performances

Gareth Hooper sustains a broken leg in training and will be out for 9 months. That is a massive blow for a player who was making a name for himself at the club with a string of impressive performances

H 3-2 Stockport (Connell (3)) LDV Vans Trophy N Final Leg 2

Tudor is having a great game and it's his mazy dribble that give Connell a mere tap in for the opening goal. Wade Small hits back immediately for Stockport and we have a real game on our hands. A mistake in the Stockport midfield gives Smith the ball and he feeds Connell who races away from his marker and clinically scores. It's deja vu as Small again scores within minutes, this time a thirty yard thunderbolt that almost broke the net. We're behind for the first time in the tie, on away goals. For the last ten minutes we change to all-out attack in search of that vital goal. Tudor goes in hard on two challenges but the ball breaks free and is hoofed over the top for Best to chase. Lange makes a great stop and sends Evans racing away on the left. he finds Allen who knocks it into space for Connell to chase. Darren Connell gets there first and turns in on goal. he shoots...and scores!! We're back in front. But with six minutes plus time added on can we hold out? Having thrown on so many attackers I worry that we can't. Luke Beckett goes off injured and with no subs left they are down to 10 men. AS it turns out we look more likely to score a fourth than they are a third and we run out the clock for a historic victory. I hope it isn't all in vain

We'll meet Hereford, currently 20th in the Conference National, in the final. It will be my second trip to Wembley and I hope it ends happier than the first one did.

A 0-5 Millwall FA Cup Qtr Final

As we travel to managerless Millwall the last thing we want to do is allow them to score early. We don't, well not if you don't count the fourth minute as early We're living on the break for most of the first half, and if truth be told also on a lot of luck. That luck ends two minutes before HT as another goal is scored from a header by the opposition. Another corner brings number three as it becomes apparent we aren't up for a fight today. Numbers 4 and 5 fly in and we end the game without a shot on target (only two shots on goal). Horrendous. Still, we've got a cup final to look forward to and we're still right up there in the league so it's not too difficult to keep spirits up

H 1-2 Cambridge (Connell)

Just what we need after the cup defeat, the league leaders. Cambridge play a poor offside trap in the first half and get lucky as Connell hits the post, has a shot tipped over and Tudor hits both the post and bar after being set clear. It's third time lucky for Connell just after the restart as he fires his shot low to the keeper's right to put us ahead. Jones and Connell have chances to kill the game but don't take them and we're punished doubly thanks to a mistake at the back and a late goal from a corner. They had three shots, two on target and two goals. I'm gutted

H 0-1 Port Vale

We create a lot of half chances that fly over the bar but nothing substantial. Port Vale seem happy to sit back and try to counter-attack, hopefully they never get the chance. Who needs to counter-attack when you're given penalties? FFS. To cap things off Lawton gets booked and then complains so much about it that he gets booked again. We need to turn this around quickly or the play-offs will be beyond us.

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H 2-2 Bristol Rovers (Connell, Tudor)

We play some pretty stuff but without a cutting edge as Rovers sit back. It takes them to launch an attack for us to score as Lange's quick throw finds Tudor and his ball over the top sends Connell away to open the scoring. What a pity Pratley gives them the easiest of chances to score, from the spot, and they're back on terms. As both teams tire chances are coming more and more. A scramble in the Rovers box ends when it lands at the feet of Tudor who buries it. Two minutes later and they're level again, Walker the scorer. The final ten minutes run out with no more goals so it's yet more points dropped.

A 0-3 Walsall

FFS. Five minutes gone and a hopeful punt into our box leads to a goal. It takes us fifteen minutes but we finally get going and begin to look a threat. Connell seems to be taking longer as he misses a sitter at the far post after great inital work from Pratley. We go two down as a series of weak challenges allows Dobson to power through and he takes his chance. Tudor's free-kick takes a deflection and hits the post. Their keeper runs out after it but Lake gets there first but instead of passing to the open O'Connor for a simple goal he tries the spectacular and fails miserably. A late free-kick for Walsall ends up in our net for a comprehensive win for them

With his contract running out Ashley Jones moves to Kidderminster for £6k. Pratley is out for a month and he's not long back after another injury.

H 0-1 Stockport

A truly awful performance where we had no shots on target and only three shots on goal. Stockport had two shots on goal, one on target and one goal which was a well stuck free-kick by Wade Small right at the death. We aren't getting the breaks at the moment. Thankfully our early season form took us well away from the relegation places.

A 2-2 Blackpool (Smith, Connell)

The ref goes card mad in the opening 23 mins as he dishes out 6 yellows. Tillen gets two of them and is off. I revert to a three at the back and try to keep the rest of the system the same. It doesn't work as two minutes later Blackpool score and I resign myself to defeat. Smith has other ideas as he breaks from midfield to score a great goal and put us level. Amazingly, just after HT Michael Allen intercepts a loose pass and feeds Connell on a quick break. He gets inside the box and his shot just manages to beat the keeper and sneak over the line for a shock lead! A well worked move leads to Allen getting in behind the defence and he finds Connell with a great pass along the edge of the six yard box but from there Connell's shot is well blocked. Four minutes later and it's the same story, this time it was Tudor with the good run and pinpoint cross. From our corner they manage to break and one player draws the keeper and slips it to his mate to score. I'm so disgusted I don't even bother to check who it is. We've barely restarted when Way gets his second booking and he's off as well! FFS ref, take off your Blackpool jersey. Somehow we hold out for the remaining 24 minutes despite being two men down and take our point.

N 2-2 (3-2)p Hereford (Allen, Wilson) LDV Vans Trophy Final

An early goal for Michael Allen as he runs straight through the centre of their defence to give us the lead. A few minutes later and Dolan shoves his man over in the box and they're level. Strutter scores with a massive deflection and suddenly we trail despite being the better team. With 20 minutes left I change to an unusual formation with Lawton playing in a very advanced position. Nothing happens until the board comes up to show 5 minutes of injury time but suddenly Lawton has the ball and his whipped cross is met by Wilson at the near post to bring us level and force penalties.

Hereford missWilson scores
Hereford score O'Connor misses
Hereford scoreTudor scores
Hereford missLawton misses
Hereford missAllen scores

Lange is the hero with three penalty saves and all credit to Michael Allen for slotting away the final one.

Vauxhall Motors - 2009 LDV Vans Trophy Winners

A 4-1 Bournemouth (Connell (4))

The clock barely shows 33 seconds and we're ahead. Finally an early goal heads our way. Michael Allen provides the pass and Connell the finish for number two. Minutes later he has his hat-trick and we're on our way to a win. Into the second half and Allen hits a Hollywood pass to Connell and he scores number 4. This is amazing. On the hour Hayter pulls one back but it's never going to be enough. As the FT whistle blows, I wonder is this the start of a miraculous late charge to the play-offs, or simply a false dawn at the end of the season

H 0-1 Swansea

A good performance followed by a bad. It's poor marking that allows a near post cross to be swung in and Swansea score with their only shot on target. Only having one ourselves doesn't help us and it's yet another defeat

A 3-1 Plymouth (Evans, Knight, Allen)

A quick free-kick sees Lange beaten at the near post when he was sorting out our wall. Tudor makes amends for conceding the free-kick by whipping in a great cross that only Evans can get on the end of to level the scores. It's more than we deserve to be fair as Plymouth muscle us off the ball at every opportunity. Into the second half and I'm amazed as Chris Casement punches the ball away in his own box but only gets a yellow card. Knight steps up to put us ahead and makes no mistake. O'Connor and Oliver Allen come on the pitch and settle things down. O'Connor seems to be heading for the corner until he suddenly crosses the ball to Allen and he beats the keeper from six yards to put this match to bed.

The Sunderland job is up for grabs but with them only in the Championship (I say only!) it has to be dismissed out of hand.

H 2-2 Rotherham (O'Connor, Way)

We look shaky on high balls into the box, again, and they take the lead using that same tactic. I do wonder how Lange wasn't able to simply catch the ball but it doesn't really matter. As the half progresses we push further and further upfield, culminating in a Tudor cross that is smacked in on the volley by O'Connor. Hopefully that'll dampen their spirits. Rotherham regain the lead from yet another cross as Porter can do nothing but turn it into his own net. Way scores from the spot in what is our second penalty in as many games and the last ten minutes are spent pushing for a winner. It doesn't appear and we must settle for a point

Pat Baldwin is out for two months with a fractured cheekbone. Realistically he only misses the final two games of the season but it's a blow none the less.

A 3-0 Nottm Forest (Connell (2), Smith)

From their free-kick inside our half we take the lead. A mis-hit gives Knight the ball and he plays one over the top for Connell to chase and chase he does. He nicks it round the keeper and slides it into the net. Just before HT he hits his second and we could deal a real blow here to Forest's chances. Connell turns provider as his cross is headed in by Nick Smith and victory is assured.

H 0-0 Wigan

A good but not great performance that ends our campaign with a draw. We're comfortably mid-table but just not quite able to push on for the play-offs.

I'll try to use the close season to bring in better players. We've got some good ones at the club but better ones are needed. I'll start that after a few weeks off. Next up, League One......

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