Short Stories

Consider me intrigued.

The Season begins….

First Round, 12 August 2023

Iveagh Park, Rathfriland. Attendance: 79

RATHFRILAND RANGERS    1 - 2    P.S.N.I FC

Scannell 9'                                           Briers 88'

                                                                        Blackstock 111'

Louis Blackstock turned out to be an extra time hero as we came from behind to win this League Cup First Round on a sunny day at Iveagh Park. The home side took an early ninth minute lead when Matthew Holloway's left cross was turned in on his debut by Jonathan Scannell. We made a trio of changes to try and change the narrative of the game, and it was looking like we might leave with a Cup exit until we scored a dramatic 88th minute equaliser; Jake McEneaney's hopeful cross was headed away by Ross Black but only as far as Craig Briers who took a touch before hammering in a  shot that was too hot to handle for Rohan Burns and found its way home.

That was the boost we needed as we upped the ante afterwards, and pushed on for that all important second. Extra time duly was needed, and with penalties looking a possibility - we scored our winner in the 111th minute. Substitute Nicholas Turkington played the ball infield to Blackstock who drilled home from the edge of the penalty area via the far post. Rathfriland looked for an equaliser to take the game to a shootout but we stayed solid at the back to go into the hat for the Second Round where the big guns await.

Blackstock was given the Man of the Match award and took home the beers.

Our side was: Magill; Briers, Ferguson, Mitchell (Graham 64), McEneaney; Brown; Wilson ©, Blackstock,; Hill, Zabrauteanu (Turkington 64); Doyle (Worthington 84). Unused Substitutes: McCullagh, McVeigh, Gordon, Cochrane.

August continues…

So we have now played our first competitive game of the 2023-24 season, and come away with a win after going behind so early on. Well happy with the goals we scored, unstoppable finishes from Craig (Briers) and Louis (Blackstock) right? The following day, the draw for the Second Round was made with the Premier Division sides included. It gave us this draw:

So we drew a Premier Division side in the shape of “Crues” at Seaview in the Second Round. Whilst financially it might be beneficial to the Club as it brings in some extra revenue, part of me is disappointed too. Why? Because I would have liked to go into the minimum of the Third Round stage as I know it will be hard to overcome Crusaders on their 4G pitch in North Belfast. The pick of the draw is an all Premier Division side where Purple Bricks FC (Larne) take on Linfield at Inver Park. We will just have to go to Seaview with no fear and try to upset the odds.

The same day, Albert Foundry lodged a bid for 22 year old reserve team central midfielder Matthew Devlin. Devlin, like most of the side, is an amateur and doesn't have an official contract so if he departs then we receive absolute nada in transfer fees. But that's how this league works at this level, and if we want to bring in some transfer fees then we need to progress through the divisions.

Midweek, Devlin made his mind up and he's agreed to leave us and join Foundry. Good luck in your endeavours there Matthew. Meanwhile I held a meeting with the Chairman and Club Captain Johnny Wilson, and agreed the level of bonuses to be paid out to the squad at the end of the season. We think we have come up as one with a good deal that benefits everyone. Then as soon as I came out of that meeting, I'm informed that defender Ben Mitchell and striker Jake Moore are wanted by Tobemore United and Crewe United respectively; we've countered both offers whilst still trying to acquire me a number two. No takers so far so might consider promoting in-house.

Saturday, and the draw for the Second Round of the Toals Steel and Sons Cup was made of which Bangor are the current holders. It produced us with this particular draw:

An away trip to some side called Newbuildings United who play at a lower level to us at the Newbuildings Community Centre. Newbuildings is a village that's 3km from Derry according to what Kyle (McDowell) tells me. Another new piece of information as we get used to our new surroundings.

August 2023

After the dramatic win in Rathfriland, we started planning for the league opener which was just a week away. However, we would have to move forwards without the services of Jake McEneaney who was our left back in that League Cup game. Jake joined Dromore Amateurs on the Sunday morning which meant that we needed to recruit and recruit quickly ahead of the league opener as Nicholas Turkington is more a winger than he is a defender, even though he has the ability to play left-back or left wing-back.

So I consulted Chief Scout Sammy Kerr, and he recommended we try to bring in Zach Annett who is on the books of Rathfriland but didn't feature in the League Cup encounter. Zach is a natural left back, 22 years old, and has played for Newry City in the second tier earlier in his football career so the pedigree is definitely there. We got the deal sorted in 24 hours which pleased me no end, the last thing I wanted was for the transfer to drag out especially with a transfer window on the final Friday of the month.

The day we welcomed Zach to The Dub, also saw two more pieces of good news as both Ben Mitchell and Jake Moore resisted overtures from Tobemore United and Crewe United respectively to stay with us. Whilst neither are first choices, both players are more than adequate stand-ins for the men in their respective playing positions. 

MATCH PREVIEW

So we entertain Dollingstown at The Dub on Saturday in our first League game of the new season. The Dollybirds are expected to finish mid-table but have some experience in their ranks in the shape of former top flight forward Gary Liggett; a veteran of over 360 games; and defensive midfielder David McCullough who has almost 280 league games in his career. They have also taken midfielder Odhran Smyth on a season long loan from top flight side Glenavon which illustrates a bit of a gap in reputation between the two sides. The bookies have them as the favourites to take the points off us as they are priced at 5-4, us at 2-1 with 5-2 the best price for a draw.

The Dollybirds have had a mixed pre-season, playing five and winning two with one draw and two losses. Those wins came in their last couple of warm-up games, away to Ards Rangers and Willowbank respectively. Whilst their season opener was a game in the Final Qualifying Round of the Irish FA Cup, away to Sirocco Works. which they won 4-3 after extra time. This was played on the same day as we were taking Rathfriland Rangers.

2023-2024 Season: League Match 1

Saturday, the opening league game of the season at The Dub. We welcomed Dollingstown, a team that were on paper: expected to beat us on the day and comfortably too. The wind was blowing a wee bit of a hoolie so it could a big part on how things pan out. Could we start the new league campaign with a win against the odds? These were the sides selected:

The Dub, Belfast

Attendance: 93 (12 away)

We played with our now usual 4-3-1-2 variant formation which we are on the attack, reverts to a 4-3-3. Of the new signings made under me, I opted to hand debuts to left back Zach Annett, defensive midfielder Gary Brown and winger Sean Hill. The Dollybirds featured former top flight players Gary Liggett (searching for his 100th goal of his career today) and David McCullogh as Glenavon loanee Odhran Smyth.

After a tight first quarter of the game, where Jonathan Purdy clattered an effort against the visiting side's crossbar, the deadlock was was broken in the 25th minute when Louis Blackstock delivered a slide rule pass into Doyle who was brought down by Cameron Purdy for a clear penalty. Up stepped veteran defender Andrew Ferguson to drill the spot kick despite Tiernan parker going the right way. The away side almost equalised immediately but Richard Thompson's crashed against our own crossbar with Jonah Magill left motionless. Four minutes from half time, it was 2-0 and a second goal for Ferguson from the penalty spot after Nathan McConnell had tripped Hill. The visitors were given a lifeline two minutes later when Craig Briers tripped Liggett, and the striker picked himself up to send Magill the wrong way for his landmark goal. Half Time: 2-1

Despite conceding so close to half time, I felt that we were dealing with Dollingstown comfortably and could go on and still win the opener. However, that all changed in the 56th minute when Romanian left winger Raul Zabrauteanu was dismissed for a two footed lunge on Stephen Flanagan. To be fair, it was reckless and as such the right decision. So we reshuffled, taking off Blackstock and bringing on Nicholas Turkington to keep the wingers in play but push Gary Brown alongside skipper Johnny Wilson. Could we hold on?  We were hauled back level 18 minutes from the end when a patient build up saw Stuart Davidson drive in a low near post cross and Richard Thompson converted from three yards out. Now the question was, escape with a point despite the man disadvantage, Those plans were ruined five minutes from the end when Liggett flicked on a Purdy long ball into the path of Thompson who lashed home his second and the eventual matchwinner. So close, one rush of blood cost us…

Dollingstown's Thompson took the overall Man of the Match beers, whilst Ferguson was declared as our individual best performer.

I seem to have deleted the image of the team sheet for this game so will revert to what I used beforehand for this report…

2023-2024 Season: League Cup R2

Second Round, 29 August 2023

Seaview, Belfast. Attendance: 1156  (106 away)

CRUSADERS    2 - 0    P.S.N.I FC

      Lecky 45', 47'                                      

Our reward for seeing off Rathfriland Rangers in the First Round of this season's League Cup was a trip to North Belfast, and the 4G pitch at Seaview: the home of Premiership big-hitters Crusaders. The media were expecting the home side to run up a bit of a cricket score due to the mis-match in standard, but even though I was not expecting us to cause a massive upset; I just wanted the team to put in the effort and give their best. With Raul Zabrauteanu serving a one match suspension for his red card against Dollingstown, the team was reshuffled with no less than five changes made and named as follows:

Magill; McCullagh, Ferguson (Mitchell 73), Graham, Turkington; Brown (Cochrane 73); Wilson ©, Blackstock,; Hill, Verenka, Jake Moore (Worthington 73). Unused Substitutes: Briers, McVeigh, Doyle, Annett.

Predictably Crusaders  gave us the runaround from first whistle to last, in fact the game would end with them having a remarkable 81% possession as they showed the difference in class. We held them at bay for the majority of the first half, and just when we thought that we would go in goalless they got the opener as the fourth official prepared to emerge with their time added-on board and cause a re-write of my half time team ralk. The goal came from a set-piece when Rory McKeown's inswinging corner was met by a thumping header by the giant that is Adam Lecky, all 6'5 of him.

The same two combined for the Crues second goal which came two minutes into the second half. Another McKeown inswinging corner, and another header into the net from Lecky. Jonah Magill was having to work unofficial overtime as Crues pushed forward for further goals to really rub proverbial salt into an open wound, and the custodian denied them a third in the 72nd minute when he turned Ben Kennedy's spot kick around the post; it had been given for a foul by skipper Johnny Wilson on Crues' substitute Jordan Owens as they challenged for a Ben Kennedy corner. They didn't score any more and we came away with a narrow loss but it should have been more in reality. It was a 2-0 hammering to be fair.

For his brace, Lecky was given the Man of the Match beers whilst Magill was our best performer on the night.

The big game of the round was at Inver Park where holders Linfield were beaten 2-1 by fellow Sports Direct Premiership side Larne; Cian Bolger's penalty had given the home side a 56th minute lead but Linfield equalised three minutes later through Chris McKee. Joe Thomson would score the winner for the Invermen eight minutes after that Blues leveller and probably please Mr Purple Bricks no end. There were a couple of shocks as Premiership sides Dungannon Swifts and Newry City were sent tumbling out by Championship sides Dundela and Institute respectively.

2023-2024 Season: August draws to an end, and September starts

After losing so narrowly to the Crues and exiting the League Cup, it was down to business again and prepare for our second league game of the season on Saturday afternoon: our first one on the road at that.

However, we had to deal with a few things before looking to select a squad. Two of our defenders were targetted by other teams whilst we looked to bring in another player or two to add more competition for every position in the squad. I made no secret of this desire when the fourth estate called me on the Wednesday morning, well when you have a team where virtually everyone is an amateur and could depart at any given time, you have to be prepared to wheel and deal as often as you can whilst remaining within the constraints of a wage budget. With also the winter transfer window preparing to close on Thursday at 23:00 hours then you've got to strike at just the right point. After that you probably will have to make do with raiding the unattached players list to boost your squad depth.

Anyway as it happened, as I said a couple of our players were given offers to leave The Dub for pastures new and there would be nothing I could to stop them from leaving should they decide to move on. They had been looked at before, and rejected by the players in question initially but they were back for fresh attempts at testing the players' loyalties. Centre halves Ben Mitchell and Jack Graham were the players in question, with Newington of the Championship wanting Ben and our divisional rivals Tobemore United wanting Jack. I told them of the interest, and both came back with the same answer: “Not interested gaffer, want to stay with this bunch of lads.” and that was like music to my ears. I was keen also to add a left back and a right winger to the squad which would ensure I would have options in every possible position. Of the plan, only the right winger berth could be filled so it's going to be looking at the unattached market to fill the former. Joining us on a season long loan, and at no financial impact to us , is the following player:

Cain Stewart, a 20 year old who is comfortable playing either right wing or as a central striker. He joins from Championship side H&W Welders, but is yet to make a single appearance in the professional game for anyone including his parent club.

Meanwhile, since there has been no applicants for the assistant manager's position since we first advertised it I have decided to internally promote coach Kyle McDowell to the position, it just means we need a further coach to back fill. The search for that is underway.

MATCH PREVIEW

Saturday sees us make the trip to the border town of Warrenpoint, and their stadium Milltown. They are the media's prediction to win the title which goes to show what a tough task awaits us on our maiden away trip, and it's made harder when you consider that they were in the Premiership less than ten seasons ago with a 10th placed finish in both 2017-18 and 2018-19 being their best efforts. They have suffered back to back relegations in the last couple of seasons so are trying work their way back up.

Former Glentoran midfielder Jim O'Hanlon features in their midfield as does Stuart Hutchinson who had two spells with us when we were a Championship standard side. Experienced defender John Boyle, now 37, anchors the defence in front of Lewis Deane who has played in the second tier for knockbreda. The bookies have “The Point” as 8-15 favourites to take the three points with us at 9-2, and 3-1 the best price for a share of the spoils.. Tomorrow's referee is Ross Dunlop.

Warrenpoint won their first league game of the season last Saturday, a 3-2 win at Moyola Park with Hutchinson (with a penalty), Fran McCaffrey and youth prospect Ryan Jones scoring the goals with the Jones winner coming on his first team debut.

Season 2023-2024: League Game 2

Second Saturday of the season, and a trip to the border town of Warrenpoint. “The Point” are everyone's tip to win the title this season, and we couldn't have asked for such a testing trip for our first away trip. We are not expected to come away with anything at all and remain pointless after our opening home and away fixtures. Can we surprise all and sundry?

Milltown, Warrenpoint

Attendance: 351 (7 away)

“The Point” hand a debut to their Premiership loan signing from Purple Bricks FC (Larne), Gibraltar Under 21 internationalist Kye Livingstone. We made a number of changes from the side that lost 2-0 to Crusaders on Tuesday ourselves, this included an instant debut for our loan signing from the Welders: Cain Stewart, whilst Romanian Raul Zabrauteanu was given a shot at redemption after his opening day red card a week ago against Dollingstown. We decided to go into the match with a defensive attitude in the hope we could frustrate Warrenpoint and maybe get something against the odds.

Despite the domination in possession, Warrenpoint were finding our defence unwilling to bend and as a result: see their chances fail to hot the target and untrouble Jonah Magill in our goal. So could we ride out our luck and land a sucker punch on the title favourites. Well we did with 17 minutes left to play when Gary Brown's left wing corner to the far post was met by a thumping header from Ben Mitchell and into the net past Lewis Deane. This set piece play seems to have worked pretty well so far. 

Then with confidence flowing, we hit them with a second just five minutes later when Louis Blackstock split them open with an inch perfect pass and Zabrauteanu showed ice cool nerves to drill past the exposed and advancing Deane for 2-0. They would pull one back in the 85th minute when substitute Jack Deery scored from distance with Magill scrambling to save in vain. However despite this, we held on for a quite incredible win which nobody thought would happen.

Warrenpoint's Ryan Jones took the Man of the Match beers; whilst Louis Blackstock was our best performer on the day.

2023-2024 Season: Post-Warrenpoint activity with Steel and Sons Cup Round Two action

Winning at Warrenpoint Town has to be the pinnacle of my short career at PSNI so far. But football likes to throw up surprise results from time to time, and that has to be up with it. Imagine if it defines both 'Points and our season in the long term. However, we cannot afford to let ourselves carried away with this single result, we have a busy schedule ahead of us which continues with an evening away trip to Newbuildings United in the Toals Steel and Sons Cup Second Round which is a potential banana skin since they play at a lower standard to us.

I will be making a series of changes for the game, not the full eleven, but a considerable few to give them some match time and keep them content. Ahead of it, we were informed that left winger Nicholas Turkington has agreed to join Wakehurst, who play in the Ballymena and Provincial Intermediate League B when the winter transfer window opens on 1 January 2024. Looks like we will be scouring for a replacement then so we aren't left short on numbers. The ideal candidate or candidates will ideally be able to cover left back and left wing.

Newbuildings Community Centre, Newbuildings

Attendance: 102 (2 away)

One noticeable difference for the Steel and Sons Cup compared to the bread and butter of the League, just five substitutes can be named as opposed to seven, as a consequence you can only make a maximum of three substitutions compared to five in the League games. All in all, I made six changes from the winning starting eleven at Milltown. This included resting veterans Gary Brown and Andrew Ferguson and giving number two 'keeper Alister McVeigh a start in between the posts. I also pushed up loan signing Cian Stewart into a striker role with Sean Hill coming back on the right wing whilst impending departee Turkington was given a run out on the opposing wing. Would the raft of changes pay off or backfire massively? That was the question we needed to answer.

Well we couldn't have wished for an ideal start, as we scored within four minutes. A deep cross to the far post from the left wing by Turkington picked out Stewart who outjumped his marker to head into the net, his first goal for the Club. The game then saw both sides become very wasteful in front of goal when chances were presented with ourselves being very culpable indeed. We needed that second goal to calm any nervous tension, and got it with 13 minutes to play. Mark McCullagh sent in a corner which was challenged by the home side's Gareth O'Hara and our own Kian McConkey, however the former challenged a little too aggressively and the referee pointed to the spot: McCullagh assumed responsibility and blasted it into the top corner. Ethan Gray halved the deficit with three minutes to go, rifling in an unstoppable shot from fully 25 yards that Allister McVeigh saw whizz into the bottom corner. We held on after that but it hadn't been the most polished of performances yet we got the result we wanted.

Nicholas Turkington took home the Man of the Match beers for his efforts tonight.

Our reward for seeing off Newbuildings United is the following tie in Round Three:

2023-2024 Season: League Match 3

After playing midweek, it was back to the bread and butter of the league on Saturday as we entertained Ballymacash Rangers at The Dub. Rangers hail from a very loyalist area just outside of the city of Lisburn, and their fans have naturally a fondness too to that of the Glaswegian side of the same name. We brought back a lot of the players that were rested midweek hence these were the sides selected:

The Dub, Belfast

Attendance: 140 (57 away)

After impressing in midweek as a striker, Stewart was again given the main striker role ahead of Jonathan Doyle and Jake Moore. The bench reflected cover for all positions in the side which is ideal for us when making substitutions. Ballymacash named former Glentoran players Francis “Fra” Brennan and Carl McComb in their starting eleven as well as former Coleraine midfielder Gareth Tommons; all who have played in the top division. Former PSNI striker Tony Tumelty was on the bench for the visitors, would he come back and haunt his former site?

The first half saw us edge matters in terms of chances created, but we would not break the deadlock until the first of three minutes added-on. A loose pass from Rangers' Thomas McComb was intercepted by Louis Blackstock who threaded it onto Stewart who took a touch before finding the net from fully 25 yards out. A proper highlight reel of a goal. The lead lasted until the second minute of time added-on in the second half when Rangers' substitute Gary Warwick cut inside Zach Annett and Ben Mitchell to arrow in an effort to the corner that Jonah Magill had no chance whatsoever of saving. It was an unstoppable effort indeed, meaning the game had a couple of long range specials. Honours shared meaning we have had a win, a draw and a loss in our first three league matches played. Consistency, eh?

Gary Warwick was given the nod for the Man of the Match beers; whilst skipper Johnny Wilson was deemed as our best performer on the day.

Gameplay on hold whilst I recover from a couple of procedures in hospital 

2023-2024 Season: More Steel and Sons Cup action

After being held to a 1-1 draw at home by Ballymacash Rangers thanks to them scoring an injury  time equaliser, we move back into Cup mode in midweek. We have played three games and lie in seventh place which is above what the pundits are expecting us to have. Midweek sees us to travel again for the Steel and Sons Cup game, this time to Islandview Road in Greyabbey to take on Rosemount Rec.

We got to this stage after seeing off Newbuildings United in the Second Round stage thanks to goals from Cian Stewart and Mark McCullagh (penalty) in a 2-1 victory. “The Mount” , as our hosts are known as, are the bookmakers favourites to make Round Four despite playing a division below, they have been priced as 6-4 favourites with us at 13-8 and 5-2 the draw. Naturally we will be resting a few names from Saturday's match despite this being our final game of September unless we are successful.

The teams named are as follows:

Islandview Road, Greyabbey

Attendance: 49 (15 away)

Our side showed three changes from the side that were in league action a few days before with McCullagh, Nicholas Turkington and Jonathan Doyle coming in for Craig Briers, Sean Hill and Raul Zabrauteanu. Our hosts are captained by Ryan Newberry who was once on the books of Glentoran, but is best known for his spells at Ards Rangers and playing in the second tier with Knockbreda. it will be a tough encounter for sure.

What would unfold, would be an outstanding away performance to secure a Fourth Round berth. However for the first 30 odd minutes, it was a tight affair with both sides refusing to yield to the other but we were the ones that broke the deadlock. 11 minutes before half time, Gary Brown played a short free kick to the recalled Doyle who found the back of the net from 20 yards out. A fantastic effort.  Five minutes later, we doubled the advantage when Turkington's free kick to the far post was nodded back into the danger by McCullagh to Andrew Ferguson who hooked in his third of the season from six yards. Three minutes before half time though, Rosemount halved the deficit when Zach Annett was dispossessed clearing his lines, and Newberry's cross was driven home by right back Jay Collins: giving Jonah Magill no chance whatsoever.

The second half was only a couple of minutes old when we bagged our third. Some concerted pressure saw skipper Johnny Wilson tee up midfield partner Louis Blackstock to drill home from just inside the area. We added a fourth seven minutes later, Turkington's corner being met by a thumping Ben Mitchell header. It was the signal for some home fans to leave and more left when we added goals five and six in the last quarter of an hour. Firstly in the 74th minute, Mitchell played in Doyle who finished calmly for his second of the night and almost immediately afterwards another Turkington delivery was this time headed in by Gary Brown for the veteran's first goal since re-joining us in the summer. Rosemount were well beaten, but scored a consolation second in time added on when David Moore found the net but by that time the majority of the home support had gone home.

Jonathan Doyle was given the nod for the Man of the Match beers for an excellent performances.

Just look at that xG, unbelievable! And even more remarkable when you consider the possession stat too…Our reward for winning this; is the following Fourth Round tie, which sees us again drawn away from home…

2023-2024 Season: Time to to reflect on things so far.

We had a two and half week gap between games as the month of September draws to its conclusion. Being a part time outfit, with most of our players being amateurs means that they don't train as much as the professionals actually do. In fact,  we train alternative days like most teams in our division which in our case is Monday, Wednesday and Friday unless we have a midweek game.

Therefore it's a case of hoping that we don't pick up any injuries in that schedule. However, having a reserve team in place is a step forwards as we can have settled squads of first teamers and reserves. The objective behind that is that cover for all positions in each squad so we can adapt accordingly. The league table at the end of September is as follows:

Queens, one of our biggest rivals, lead the way at this early stage on the basis that they have scored one more goal than second placed Dollingstown. We would have been fourth if we had held on that bit longer against Ballymacash. It's surprising to see both Warrenpoint Town and Distillery (the latter being the club which launched the career of a certain Martin O'Neill) languishing in the bottom half but I'm sure both will pick up as long as it's not our expense. Expect more changes to come in this table as this season unfolds.

We finish this season with the Fourth Round of the Steel and Sons Cup, and our third away trip in succession in it. This is also the last sixteen stage of the competition which we are seemingly doing better than expected. If we can be competitive in every competition that we are in, whether it be League or Cup, then this will stand us in decent stead as we plan to progress. Once more though, the bookmakers are expecting us to fail again with their odds: Dromara Village (who play in the fourth tier, we play in the third) are seen as 5-4 favourites to advance, we're 2-1 and it's 5-2 the draw. With no midweek game after this, I'm torn between naming a strong side and picking a rotated line up like I have done in the last two rounds. 

One thing is for sure, we will be playing the same formation that we have since I took over. There's no point in changing that. But who starts and who doesn't is the conundrum we have to deal with. Can we make the quarter-finals? That would be nice… 

2023-2024 Season: September ends with another Cup match

So the second month comes to an end with yet another Cup game for us. Out of the five matches we have played in September, four of them have been away from home and three of them have come in the Steel and Sons Cup. Whilst the Board don't expect us to take the trophy, they do want us to put up a decent showing in the competition and that's what we are all about here. Today we head to the Down village of Dromara to take on their local side with a place in the last eight at stake for the winners. The hosts are managed by former Ballymena United and Glenavon striker James Costello.

Can we finish the month with our fourth win in the last five matches?

Bells Bridge, Dromara

Attendance: 107 (15 away)

With a place in the quarter-finals the winners' reward, I opted to field a very strong side this time out. Jonathan Doyle, who was outstanding in the previous round against Rosemount Rec, remained in the lone striker role whilst Raul Zabrauteanu came back on the left wing with Nicholas Turkington taking the left back spot ahead of Zach Annett. Craig Briers was also recalled in the right back position ahead of Mark McCullagh. The home side featured veteran goalkeeper John Connolly, 45 years young and a former top division custodian with Cliftonville.

The game kicked off in a downpour which made it hard for everyone to keep control of the ball on the slippery surface and for the first 20-odd minutes; we seemed to be affected by it more than them. A few choice words woke the Lads from the slumber, and three goals in just six minutes ended the tie as a contest before the 35th minute mark had been reached. In the 27th minute, Ben Mitchell's lofted ball forward landed at the feet of Doyle whose goalbound effort was diverted into his own net by Sam McKeown. Five minutes later we had a second, Louis Blackstock finding Zabrauteanu wide left and the Romanian cut inside before hammering home a shot into the net off the underside of the bar.

The cheers from the away support had barely subsided when we had our third. Skipper Johnny Wilson passed to Cian Stewart who had drifted inside from his right wing spot, and the Welders loanee unleashed a 20 yard effort that found the net, although Connolly will be angry at himself for letting the effort squeeze under him. It was his third goal for us since signing on loan, and in only his fifth appearance. We could have had more but did score a fourth with five minutes to go, McKeown tripping Stewart as they tangled in a chase for a Turkington ball. The forward picked himself up to drill the resultant spot kick perfectly in the bottom left hand corner for a team-leading fourth of the season. Quarter-finals here we come!

For his two goal performance, Cian Stewart took home the beers as he was declared Man of the Match for the first time this season.

After a slow beginning to the game, we controlled it with ruthless efficiency. Another very impressive xG stat which is very pleasing indeed!

Before I post the next updates, I thought I would tell you about future stories which will be included in this collection. All stories will begin in 2023.

England - The Monkey Challenge: Get Hartlepool United into the second tier for the first time in their history and survive for a whole season. Time limit of 7 seasons.

Italy - Foggia Fortunes: In the 1990s, Foggia were an established Serie A side with players such as Bryan Roy, 'Beppe Signori and Luigi Di Biagio in their side under the management of Zdenek Zeman. Our task is to get them back there within five seasons.

Scotland - From Small Acorns Grow: We take charge of Bonnyrigg Rose and look to make them a Premier Division side in six seasons whilst also beat both Glasgow giants at least once in a season.

Sweden - The Potter Challenge: Graham Potter took Östersunds FK from the fourth tier to European football in five seasons. Our task is to pick a team from the lowest possible Swedish playable division and get them into Europe in the same amount of time.

If anyone else wants to add a challenge to this story in addition to those above, please let me know via PM. Thanks.

NB: I don't have all playable nations patch added onto my installation because of space constraints. Please bear this in mind when considering a challenge for me.

2023-2024 Season: The beginning of October

So we are in the quarter finals of the Steel and Sons Cup, a tournament that we won in 1993 and have been runners-up three times in our history.

The draw for this latest stage was on conclusion of Saturday's matches, and sees us again on travels. We have been drawn against East Belfast or Valley Rangers with the tie being played on 21 October 2023. This fixture coincides with a league match at Distillery, the first ever club side of a certain Martin O'Neill before he made his name with Nottingham Forest. It's likely that one of these will be re-arranged.

The outstanding East Belfast/Valley Rangers is to be played at East Park, Belfast on 3 October 2023.

As we entered a new month, the Club chairperson Ken Green called us in for a wee chat and said he's very happy with how things are going. Hopefully we can start to kick on further after that and gain more success with maybe a bit of silverware chucked in for good measure. We're in five different competitions which illustrates why I felt we needed a large squad with cover in all positions being required.

The first Saturday in November also sees us start our adventure in the Irish FA Cup, and we have been given this particular draw in the Third Qualifying Round stage:

Our opponents are Killyleagh Youth Club who play in the fifth tier of the Northern Irish football structure. They have a young squad with the oldest players being 21: goalkeeper Jonathan Holland, central defender Aaron McKeown and striker Conor Dunne. The fixture replaces the league fixture at Limavady United which had been scheduled for that day, as a result it has been moved to the Saturday before but there's every chance it will be moved again as it is the First Round stage in the Intermediate Cup.

2023-2024 Season: Back to the bread and butter of the League

We had begun October with the draw of the Irish Cup, but were still awaiting to find out where we would travel in the Steel and Sons Cup quarter-final. Tuesday night, and our opponents were confirmed. In a bit of goal fest at East Park, it was home side East Belfast who will be our opponents as they overcome visitors Valley Rangers 6-3. In goal for the visitors was Ryan Dalzell, a former Glentoran schoolboy prospect who will be joining us at the end of the winter window.

With us playing our quarter-final, the away trip to Distillery has been re-arranged for the Tuesday before this Cup game. It's a jam packed schedule for sure hence we need a strong squad, depth-wise, if we are to remain competitive in every game that we feature in.

Our first game in October is a league encounter with Tobemore United. We locked horns with United in our pre-season schedule and came out on top by the odd goal in seven at the Dub with central defender Andrew Ferguson starring with a brace. Can we build on a successful month of September and go six games unbeaten, a club record? Naturally enough the bookies didn't agree as they had the home side as 7-5 favourites, us best priced at 7-4 and 5-2 for a draw.

Fortwilliam Park, Tobemore

Attendance: 100 (5 away)

We made just the single change from the side that comprehensively defeated Dromara Village in the Fourth Round of the Steel and Sons Cup seven days ago. That change was left back where Zach Annett came in for Nicholas Turkington, who dropped to the substitutes bench. United's side contained former Moyola Park midfielder Daniel McIlhatton, experienced full back Shane Mulgrew as well as striker Gary Keane who is in his eighth season with them.

Once more we made a slowly beginning with United controlling proceedings as incessant rain made it very hard to maintain a serious foothold of the game. However, we started to get a bit more confident and twice struck the post through Jonathan Doyle and skipper Johnny Wilson with the 'keeper beaten all ends up on both occasions, Yet in between both efforts, Tobemore took the lead in the 34th minute when Owen McKeown escaped down the right before drilling in a low cross to the near post where skipper Keane tucked it home.

A few home truths were said in the dressing room as we look to get back on level terms. With things looking unchanged, we made a change just before the hour with Turkington coming into the defensive midfield role in place for veteran Gary Brown. We planned a second change shortly afterwards, to take off Jonathan Doyle as the striker was getting very little joy up front. But an equaliser changed that in the 63rd minute, Doyle picking the ball up just inside the United half and then going on a run before teeing up Wilson to drive home a shot from just inside the penalty area. That equaliser got our tails up, and we believed we could go on and win. It looked like a draw would be the outcome until a dramatic winner in the fourth minute of six added-on, Ben Mitchell lofted it forward and substitute Sean Hill headed it in the danger area when Doyle rose to head in from six yards out. Victory grasped from the jaws of defeat.

For his dramatic change in fortunes where he created the equaliser and scored the winner, striker Jonathan Doyle took the Man of the Match beers for the second time this season.

The win took us to a remarkable fourth place in the table, definitely overachieving. Elsewhere our local rivals Queens University maintained their 100 per cent record with a 3-0 home win over Coagh United since Dollingstown lost theirs despite coming from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Distillery at Planters Park. Attention now switches to a rare Friday night fixture under the Dub's floodlights, can we keep the momentum high?

2023-2024 Season: Moving serenely onwards….

After that great win at Tobemore United, where we showed our great powers of recovery to turn defeat at one stage into a last gasp victory, our next game is Friday night against Rathfriland Rangers.

Such was the way we showed resilience of the highest order, we got three nominations in the Team of the Week. Goalscorers Johnny Wilson and Jonathan Doyle were named as was impact substitute Sean Hill whose all-important header put the ball into the danger zone for Doyle's dramatic winner. The actual team was as follows:

A very nice reward for all three players indeed.

We go into Friday night's match with a clean bill of health throughout the entire squad. Back up striker Ryan Worthington pulled up on the Monday with a tight thigh strain but it was not serious to keep him out of action for too long. The afternoon of the game saw us involved in yet another Cup draw, this time the First Round Proper of the Intermediate Cup. When our tie was drawn there were just eight teams left in the hat, anyone would think that we hadn't been included. Anyway we were handed a tough draw as you can see.

Yeah it's trip to Championship side Ballyclare Comrades who are having a similarly decent season in the second tier as we are having in the third. Instead of switching the trip to Limavady United for a second time, we will be playing in Ballyclare on Hallowe'en night which coincides with my birthday. I wouldn't mind a win on the night as a present, that would really scare everyone and give notice that this side is not to be taken too lightly by anyone. For sure, we aren't here to be just one of the numbers…we want to be successful in our own right!