The Career of Fola

5th August 2016


One of my key players last season Kurtis Guthrie has managed to get himself a move to the Football League. He was my number 1 target this Summer so it's a shame to have not been able to bring him to the club permanently but it will be interesting to see how he does in the league above.

6h August 2016 - Vanarama Conference - Matchday 1.


Starting XI: Walker; Davis ©, N'Gala, Brundle, Habergham; Modeste, Miles, Woodyard*, Sparkes**; Payne, Strutton***.
Subs: Fry, Pipe, Isaac*, Emmanuel**, Cheek***.

What a poor performance to start the season. New signings N'Gala and Payne were given their debuts with the latter managing to grab himself a goal. We looked quite comfortable but fell apart near the end of the game. Need to do better.

Braintree Man Of The Match: Taylor Miles (7.1)
League Position: 18th
Next Opponent: Eastleigh (A)

9th August 2016 - Vanarama Conference - Matchday 2.


Starting XI: Walker; Pipe, N'Gala, Fry, Habergham; Modeste*, Davis ©, Woodyard**, Isaac, Sparkes; Payne***.
Subs: Brundle, Phillips, Miles*, Emmanuel**, Strutton***.

Absolute battering against a very strong Eastleigh side. I went for a 4-5-1 formation with the hope of crowding the midfield but it didn't really work. Not exactly the start of the season I was hoping for.

Braintree Man Of The Match: Bondz N'Gala (7.0)
League Position: 23rd
Next Opponent: Dagenham (H)

13th August 2016 - Vanarama Conference - Matchday 3.


Starting XI: Walker; Pipe*, N'Gala, Fry, Habergham; Emmanuel**, Davis ©, Woodyard, Isaac, Sparkes; Payne***.
Subs: Brundle, Phillips, Miles*, Modeste**, Strutton***.

Nice to grab our first point of the season but we should of won this one. Moses Emmanuel was given his first start of the season and had a good chance to win the game for us in the last few minutes. Need a win soon.

Braintree Man Of The Match: Sam Habergham (7.9)
League Position: 23rd
Next Opponent: Gateshead (H)

20th August 2016 - Vanarama Conference - Matchday 4.


Starting XI: Walker; Davis ©, N'Gala, Paine, Habergham; Emmanuel*, Brundle, Woodyard, Isaac**, Sparkes; Payne.
Subs: Pipe, Phillips, Miles*, Modeste**, Strutton.

Despite still not registering our first win of the season, this one feels like a win. Made a few changes to the line up for this one with Kenny Davis moving into right back and the energetic Mitch Brundle into centre midfield. We went two down before substitute Ricky Modeste grab one back for us with a long range effort. Stefan Payne, who impressed upfront on his own headed in the equaliser for us.

Braintree Man Of The Match: Kenny Davis (9.0)
League Position: 21st
Next Opponent: Guiseley (A)

23rd August 2016 - Vanarama Conference - Matchday 5.


Starting XI: Walker; Davis ©, N'Gala, Paine, Habergham; Emmanuel, Miles, Woodyard, Isaac, Sparkes; Payne*.
Subs: Pipe, Phillips, Brundle, Modeste*, Strutton.

Terrible performance against a lowly Guiseley side. I really thought that the comeback against Gateshead would of given us some momentum going into this match but that certainly wasn't the case. We grabbed a goal late on to make it an exciting final few minutes but it just wasn't good enough.

Braintree Man Of The Match: Kenny Davis (8.7)
League Position: 22nd
Next Opponent: Aldershot (H)

Good to see this return @Fola, need some work on the pitch though!

27th August 2016 - Vanarama Conference - Matchday 6.


Starting XI: Walker; Davis ©, N'Gala, Paine, Habergham; Modeste*, Miles, Woodyard, Isaac, Sparkes; Payne.
Subs: Pipe, Phillips, Brundle, Emmanuel*, Cheek.

Nice to keep a clean sheet but the lack of goals is a worry. We are now still to win this season so hopefully we can find some form from somewhere. We actually played quite well this match so it's a shame not to win. Captain Kenny Davis had another stormer at right back for us.

Braintree Man Of The Match: Kenny Davis (8.5)
League Position: 19th
Next Opponent: Altrincham (H)

3rd September 2016 - Vanarama Conference - Matchday 7.


Starting XI: Walker; Davis ©*, N'Gala, Paine**, Habergham; Emmanuel, Miles, Woodyard, Isaac, Sparkes; Payne***.
Subs: Pipe*, Phillips, Brundle**, Akinola***, Cheek.

We won a game! Brilliant win by the lads in a match where Altrincham rarely threatened. Stefan Payne put us ahead early on before a rare goal from Alex Woodyard put us in control. Alex Woodyard didn't manage to score at all last season so it's nice to see him on the scoresheet. Lets hope we can kick on from here.

Braintree Man Of The Match: Daniel Sparkes (9.0)
League Position: 18th
Next Opponent: Dover (A)

6th September 2016 - Vanarama Conference - Matchday 8.


Starting XI: Walker; Davis ©, N'Gala, Paine, Habergham; Emmanuel, Miles, Woodyard, Isaac*, Sparkes; Payne.
Subs: Pipe, Phillips, Brundle*, Akinola, Cheek.

What a game and what a fantastic win. Stefan Payne grabbed a goal against his former club before Moses Emmanuel scored his first goal for the club in injury time. As Dover pushed for the equaliser, Alex Woodyard popped up with his second goal of the season. This is more like it...

Braintree Man Of The Match: Kenny Davis (9.0)
League Position: 17th
Next Opponent: Woking (H)

7th September 2016


Shame to see him ruled out as I've given him a run in the side recently. This may mean that I need to delve into the transfer market to bring in a replacement.

10th September 2016 - Vanarama Conference - Matchday 9.


Starting XI: Walker; Davis ©, N'Gala, Paine, Habergham; Emmanuel, Miles, Woodyard, Brundle, Sparkes; Payne*.
Subs: Pipe, Phillips, Marrs, Akinola*, Cheek.

Great comeback against a strong Woking side. We were two down within 5 minutes which was a horrendous start from the lads. We then managed to get hold of the ball a little more and I pushed Taylor Miles in behind Stefan Payne and it worked wonders. Alex Woodyard grabbed his third in three games before Taylor Miles scored a brilliant long ranger to grab us a point.

Braintree Man Of The Match: Taylor Miles (8.7)
League Position: 17th
Next Opponent: Boreham Wood (A)

14th September 2016

Former Grimsby, Lincoln and Stockport midfielder Jon Nolan has joined the club on a deal until the end of the season. He will be a direct replacement for Chez Isaac who has been ruled out injured. He has quite good stats for this league and he's a relatively small wages so I will be interested to see how he fits in.

17th September 2016 - Vanarama Conference - Matchday 10.


Starting XI: Walker; Davis ©*, Brundle, Paine**, Habergham; Emmanuel, Miles, Woodyard, Nolan, Sparkes; Payne***.
Subs: Pipe*, Phillips**, Strutton, Akinola***, Cheek.

We are really starting to find our form after this great win against Boreham Wood. Jon Nolan was immediately thrown into the starting line up and he did well. One annoying thing is that star man Daniel Sparkes picked up an injury so hopefully he isn't ruled out for long. Nice to see Stefan Payne find the scoresheet, he really is a great striker at this level. I really think he can bag 20 goals this season.

Braintree Man Of The Match: Daniel Sparkes (9.0)
League Position: 15th
Next Opponent: Cheltenham (A)

18th September 2016 - Vanarama Conference - League Table


Despite a somewhat horrendous start to the season, we sit comfortably in mid table. It's still early days but we are five points clear of relegation and only six points off Play Offs. We seem to be finding our form recently and hope we can kick on from here.

18th September 2016


Key man Daniel Sparkes has been ruled out for three weeks. It's obviously a shame for him to miss out but we should cope for three weeks.

Hooray, you're alive and your story is revived! Time to change your username to Lazarus.

Hopefully the form will keep your league position rising too.

Like @Suffolk Seasider has said, I'm also glad this has resumed @Fola. KIU pal.

Cheers @Suffolk Seasider, @Shedender and @Dan. I know I can always rely on you guys to be reading my stuff.

19th September 2016

Signed as a cheap back up player to replace Sparkes when he's injured. Brought in on a non-contract deal so can be let go at any time. Plays as a right winger but left footed which will leave space for the right back to push forward.

20th September 2016 - Vanarama Conference - Matchday 11.


Starting XI: Walker; Davis ©*, Brundle, Paine, Habergham; Emmanuel, Miles, Woodyard, Nolan, Barham*; Payne.
Subs: Pipe, Phillips, Strutton, Akinola*, Cheek.

Brilliant win as we beat Cheltenham by three goals to one. Cheltenham are a good side but they could not handle our attacking play. Our top scorer last season scored 9 goals and Stefan Payne has already managed 7 and we are only 11 matches in. Let this good form continues.

Braintree Man Of The Match: Kenny Davis (9.0)
League Position: 14th
Next Opponent: Bristol Rovers (A)

24th September 2016 - Vanarama Conference - Matchday 12.


Starting XI: Walker; Davis ©, Brundle*, Paine, Habergham; Emmanuel, Miles, Woodyard, Nolan, Barham**; Payne.
Subs: Pipe, N'Gala*, Strutton, Akinola**, Cheek.

Was not expecting this one. To be fair Bristol Rovers are way too good for this league and their striker Matt Taylor should be playing in League One not the Conference.

Braintree Man Of The Match: Simeon Akinola (8.4)
League Position: 15th
Next Opponent: Tamworth (H)

1st October 2016


Clean sweep for the lads in terms of the Conference monthly awards. Can't really argue with them. Captain Kenny Davis has seen himself moved to right back this season from his natural centre midfield role and he's done brilliant for me. Moses Emmanuel has settled in well and scored some important goals since his Summer move from Bromley. Taylor Miles is a great player at this level with potential to play higher.

1st October 2016 - Vanarama Conference - Matchday 13.


Starting XI: Walker; Pipe, N'Gala, Paine, Habergham; Emmanuel, Miles, Woodyard, Nolan*, Davis ©; Payne**.
Subs: Brundle*, Barham, Akinola**, Strutton, Cheek.

Good to see the heavy defeat against Bristol Rovers didn't affect the lad's morale much as we comfortably beat Tamworth. Kenny Davis moved to left midfield this match and he managed to get another Man Of The Match. What a player.

Braintree Man Of The Match: Kenny Davis (9.0)
League Position: 14th
Next Opponent: Whitehawk (H)

4th October 2016 - Vanarama Conference - Matchday 14.


Starting XI: Walker; Pipe*, N'Gala, Paine, Habergham; Emmanuel, Miles, Woodyard, Nolan, Davis ©; Akinola**.
Subs: Brundle, Sparkes*, Payne**, Strutton, Cheek.

Disappointing defeat against a average Whitehawk side. We just didn't turn up for this one and deserved to lose. We face bottom placed Ebbsfleet next so expecting a win. Another Kenny Davis MOTM, he's on some great form.

Braintree Man Of The Match: Kenny Davis (9.0)
League Position: 15th
Next Opponent: Ebbsfleet (A)

8th October 2016 - Vanarama Conference - Matchday 15.


Starting XI: Walker; Davis ©*, N'Gala, Paine, Habergham; Emmanuel**, Miles, Woodyard, Brundle, Sparkes; Payne.
Subs: Pipe*, Nolan, Modeste**, Akinola, Strutton.

Outclassed from start to finish against bottom placed Ebbsfleet. I am not sure what has happened to the lads in the last few matches but I do not like it. I may look at changing the system slightly to see if we can get out of this rut as we are moving closer and closer to the relegation zone.

Braintree Man Of The Match: Daniel Sparkes (9.0)
League Position: 15th
Next Opponent: Macclesfield (H)

8th October 2016


Only ruled out for two weeks but still gutted that he's injured. He's been fantastic for us recently. Captain Fantastic.

15th October 2016 - Vanarama Conference - Matchday 16.


Starting XI: Walker; Pipe*, N'Gala, Paine ©, Habergham; Modeste, Miles**, Woodyard, Nolan, Sparkes; Payne***.
Subs: Marrs*, Brundle**, Emmanuel***, Akinola, Strutton.

Back to winning ways with a great win against Macclesfield. Our attacking threat was too much for Macclesfield as we managed to score four top quality goals (not sure why it was given an OG as it looked like Payne scored it). Nice to stop the rot of back to back defeats.

Braintree Man Of The Match: Bondz N'Gala (8.7)
League Position: 13th
Next Opponent: Torquay (A)

18th October 2016 - Vanarama Conference - Matchday 17.


Starting XI: Walker; Pipe, N'Gala, Paine ©, Habergham; Modeste*, Miles, Woodyard, Nolan**, Sparkes; Payne***.
Subs: Marrs, Brundle*, Emmanuel**, Akinola***, Strutton.

Torquay were bottom of the league going into this one so it would of nice to have got a win. However, to grab a draw away from home with ten men is pleasing. Just hope we don't miss N'Gala too much as he gained a straight red so his ban may be extended.

Braintree Man Of The Match: David Pipe (7.7)
League Position: 12th
Next Opponent: Tranmere (H)

22nd October 2016 - Emirates FA Cup - Fourth Qualifying Round.


Starting XI: Walker; Davis ©*, Brundle, Paine, Habergham; Modeste**, Miles, Woodyard, Nolan, Sparkes; Akinola***.
Subs: Marrs, Pipe*, Emmanuel**, Payne***, Strutton.

We played a slightly rotated side for this one but we still managed to grab a deserved win against Non-League Frickley. It would be nice to have a Cup run as it would help our finances so it will be interesting to see how we do. We have drawn fellow Conference side Cheltenham in the First Round proper.

Braintree Man Of The Match: Kenny Davis (8.3)
Next Opponent: Tranmere (H)