Up the Iron

Thanks again Jamie! Thanks I am pleased to get them in especially where it says on the report that they are good league 1 players!

Halfway through the season and ten points clear, brilliant!

Thanks Dan! I am delighted with the first half of the season! I am hoping to win the title from here

Not as good a month as usual especially at home. But due to other teams losing we increased our lead at the top!



We kicked off January with a home loss to Rochdale and we played awful and only managed one shot on target they definitely deserved to win 2 Scott Hogan goals sealed it for them and they could have got more, not alot to say about this game.

Then we played Bristol Rovers at home and we turned it around to win this one despite playing with 10 men for most of the game! Sam Winnall gave us the lead with a good finish but they quickly levelled when we couldn't clear a corner and Hewitt smashed it in but quickly after that it became 2-1 just 17 minutes in Paddy Madden tapping in from close range after good work by Winnall, on the 31st minute Obeng was sent off for 2 yellows they threatened a bit after that but we defended well to seal a good win!

Next was a tough away trip to Mansfield and we started very slowly and the 1st half we were very much 2nd best, they went ahead early through beevers whos shot went in off Slocombe but Slocombe did make some very good saves to keep us in the game, we equalized on the stroke of half time as McSheffery went through on goal but the keeper saved it their defender went down injured so they kicked the ball out we had the throw in and Obeng threw it back to their keeper but the keeper dropped it and Madden tapped it in to put us level at half time the second half was much more even Madden had a goal disallowed for offside on 75 minutes but not long after we won it Winnall got down the wing and cut it back for McSheffery whos shot was parried by the keeper but Burton was there to tap into an empty net

Then we played AFC Wimbledon at home and the whole game was an absolute disaster we were crap in this game the worst we have played all season by a long way they were 4-0 up at half time a few mistakes by Slocombe in what turned out to be his last game for us as he was released soon after and I brought in a new 2nd choice keeper he was only playing because Williams loan had ended I was in the process of signing him. The 1st goal coming off a free kick which we didn't deal well with at all and the 2nd goal didn't produce much better defending as Moore had time to hit the post and then tap in the rebound after that they played a big ball over the top and Sainte - Luce finishing well, at this point I was wondering what the hell was going on so I again changed to 5-3-2 but it had no effect and they scored almost straight away after a horrible mistake by Slocombe as Hogg played it back to him he left the ball and Midson tapped into an open goal in the second half we improved but the game was over Obeng scoring a long range strike a very good goal and his 1st for the club.

But from that game we travelled to Dagenham and Redbridge and well we showed that the Wimbledon game was a blip straight away as we smashed them there were alot of factors which saw the game go our way though firstly was the fact Williams was back in goal and he made some amazing saves, David Mirfin who also missed the last game so he came back in too! And they went with a very adventurous 3 up front! Donal McDermott put us ahead after just 6 minutes after smashing in when Hogg flicked on an Obeng long throw! Burton put us 2-0 up after he turned in a great ball by McDermott shortly after Williams had to make a superb triple save to keep our 2 goal advantage and then right on half time a big hoof ball forward meant a sprint race between Mirfin and their striker Murphy,Mirfin has never been the quickest and Murphy got their so Mirfin hacked him down for a clear penalty, Dickson stepped up fro them and it was poor penalty but I was delighted to see Williams save it low down to his right hand side! Brian Howard then scored his 1st goal for us with a really good 25 yard free kick into the top corner! And then Obeng found Burton in the box and he finished well past the keeper for his 2nd of the game. Brian Howard got his 2nd and our 5th when they presented the ball straight to him and he finished well! They did grab a consolation late on through the man who missed the penalty Dickson.

The final game of the month was Fleetwood at home they were top of the form table with 4 wins and a draw in their last 5 games so I was thinking this was going to be tough! So far Greening,Gabbidon and Odhiambo have all struggled so far since joining but today Odhiambo was fantastic setting up both the goals which again saw Burton score another two! The first a Odhiambo cross brilliantly between the 2 centre backs and Burton flicked it in! The 2nd goal in the middle of the park Odhiambo turned away from Steven Schumacher at pace and played a delightful ball through for Burton to score again when one on one! Just 3 minutes later John Parkin who started the game at centre back moved up front and a big goal kick was not headed despite Dummott,Mirfin and Syers trying to head it they all missed it and he slotted in after that they had one more big chance when Parkin smashed an effort which just went past the post! We had loads of chances to make it 3-1 but couldn't take any but overall I am happy




We now lead by 15 points so despite not a great month we extend our lead as the other teams are not consistent enough, the race for the play offs is very interesting 3rd to 7th are all on the same points and 3rd to 9th are separated by just 2 points! The bottom of the table is already nearly decided with Newport County and Torquay being fast cut adrift! My next game is Hartlepool away so I need to pick up a point their to keep the lead at 15 points



Not to do with us but a very impressive month by Wimbledon I think we stopped Fleetwood getting it!

And here are my signings:

Comes in as my back up keeper may play a couple times signed on a free from Macclesfield!



Has joined on a 3 month loan deal and we are paying none of his wages he has done ok in the games he has played so far could have been slighty better but I am pleased to get him in as he has played a few times for Newcastle!



Brian Howard arrives on a loan from Birmingham until the end of the season and has looked very good so far scoring 2 goals and has also already captained the side he has a very good left foot, we are only paying 20% of his wages so £300 a week!



Ben Williams now joins after his loan spell such a great keeper and we look so much more solid with him between the sticks! Cost just 7k



My player of the month:

My player of the month this month is Deon Burton started off very slowly but now he is keeping Paddy Madden out of the team and he is a great player up front getting even better at the age of 37!

Another brilliant month George, your running away with it!

another brilliant month title is yours to loose now

Thanks Dan! I am very pleased that even a not so good month sees us increase our lead by another 5 points!

Thanks again Jamie! It is for sure!

A very pleasing month again! Only dropping 2 points and we played other two that make up the top 3! Strangely though in all 4 matches we played really poorly and really I could have ended up losing all 4 matches but we scored at the right times, Williams made some top saves also we defended quite well!



We started the month away at then 2nd placed Hartlepool and they gave us a very good game they were the better side throughout really but they couldn't finish off any of their chances! And Dummott got down the left hand side and crossed for Madden who took a tough around the keeper and their defender Burgess finished the chance for him!

Then we played 3rd placed Chesterfield and again 1st half they were the better team hitting the bar and Williams making some good saves but after half time we were much the better side and in the time between 45 and 60 we had alot of chances but when they didn't take theirs we took ours a big long throw by Obeng was missed at the near post and Greening right in front of the keeper tapped it in for his 1st goal for the club! They didn't create as much towards the end but on another day should have got at least a point!

Then we travelled to Accrington and bar the last 10 minutes we were hammered they were on a poor run of form losing their last 4 but it didn't look like it, they had a goal wrong disallowed for offside after just 10 minutes and they had numerous chances somehow we reached the break at 0-0! But they were soon ahead Tope Obadeyi scoring after 54 minutes he was brilliant all game for them. But another long throw by Obeng caused problems and their was a huge goalmouth scramble Bopp made a fantastic tackle on Mirfin but it broke for Howard who swept it in with his weaker right foot!

The final game of the month saw us play then 14th placed Portsmouth at home! They took a deserved lead on 28 minutes but it would have been comical for a neutral because Hanson for them ran through and then left the ball, Williams went to pick it up but Dummott took it off him he passed it to Obeng who smacked it off the back of Williams so it fell for Hanson to tap into an empty net. But just 2 minutes later we were back level Howard playing a great ball over to Greening and he finished really smashing into the net! In the 1st half they had 60% of the possession! But then just after half time Burton flicked on a long ball by McDermott and it should have been keepers all the Portsmouth players stopped but Howard beat the keeper to it and knocked it in to give us the lead! Howard had scored and assisted after that they turned on the pressure but we held on for all 3 points!




We take a 21 point lead at the top which is amazing the other teams are far to inconsistent makes for an interesting promotion and play off race! Torquay and Newport County still make up the bottom 2 and despite and increase in form for Newport they are still big favourites to go down!



2nd place again this month out of the 7 so far I have won 2 and come 2nd 3 times!

My player of the month this month is ..... Brian Howard he has been fantastic since coming in on loan makes alot of goals and scores a few too and has taken over as captain for most the games really pleased with how he has preformed!

Another unbeaten month, that league title is just games away now!

Thanks Dan! I hope so

Great run mate, you'll have that wrapped up in no time!

Thanks mate! I hope so yeah I am very pleased with how it has gone in the 1st season!

another great month george title should be yours very soon

Thanks again mate! It should be hopefully I can stay up next season!

CHAMPIONS! I was delighted we secured a play off spot after our 1-1 draw at home to Burton! And then promotion when we won 3-0 away at Cheltenham! And the title when we beat Wycombe 1-0!



We started off the month with a win against struggling Newport County but they made us work for it as they went 2-0 up after Winnall was tackled when they clean through Jolley scored after a rebound off Taylor. They went 2-0 up off a corner but straight from kick off about 20 seconds later Winnall scored after going through one on one when Hogg played it over the top and we were level right on half time Winnall heading in a Nolan cross we dominated the 2nd half and Odhiambo scored a great goal smashed in after a long throw and right at the end Danny Gabbidon not know for his long shots put it in to the top corner with the outside of his left foot

Then we played Northampton at home and we were the better team in a poor game! Greening putting us ahead after an amazing ball in off a free kick by Howard! We had other chances and they hit the post but with one of their only chances they were level a Carter corner was tapped in by Morris that was with 9 minutes left but with 4 minutes left Litmanen's corner was poor but Tozer knocked into his own net and we dug out another win!

Then we had a thrilling game at home to Southend! They went ahead after a stunning goal by Corr but we were quickly back level and then ahead, Hogg tapped in a Howard corner! Then Zac Thompson scored an own goal when Howard put another corner in! And we were further ahead before half time when Litmanen played a great ball and Brian Howard capped off a brilliant first half with a goal for himself! 2nd half before we went 4-1 up we missed about 3 great chances to do it earlier mainly Madden trying to break his goal drought when he hit the post, Hogg scored the exact same goal this time with his left foot for the 4th! Howard setting up 3 and scoring one! They made it nervy in the last 10 minutes by scoring 2 goals through Rose a great goal into the top corner and Eastwood a powerful finish which made me a bit worried about our defending and it was a sign of things to come

Then we lost our only game of the month 2-0 away at Plymouth, they have done the double over us Jason Banton scored 2 with 2 chances inside 20 minutes and we defended really poorly but they were good finishes after that we dominated and had so many chances but we couldn't score we could easily have won the game really Hogg heading against the post and the side netting were the closest attempts



Home to Burton was the next and we secured a play off spot with a point and a point is all we deserved in a tight game our goal came off a corner Mirfin heading in from close range! But they equalized on 38 minutes when a Delap long throw was not cleared and Reed put the ball in past Taylor they didn't have any other shots on target but we didn't threaten either!

We secured promotion with a fantastic win over play off hopefuls Cheltenham! Brian Howard grabbing a hat trick! He was fantastic 2 off crosses when he swept in well and a amazing 30 yard free kick right into the top corner! I was delighted to be going up and Howard has been a great loan signing since arriving from Birmingham! Nolan was sent off with 2 minutes left but he held on to win!

Finally we played Wycombe at home and 1st half we dominated but again couldn't score a Sparrow header the closest we came and 2nd half was more even and maybe they deserved a draw but Jari Litmanen with a great finish showing his 43 year old class! Again we had other chances but couldn't score a second they only had 5 shots and one one target to our 25 shots and 7 on target so on those stats we deserved it but it was close and it was great to get back to back clean sheets and secure the title




All the acclaim!





Paddy Madden is on a 13 game goal drought and has struggled so Winnall is top scorer!



Manager of the month too !



Given this young lad a chance and he has done well in the couple of games he played!

Congratz on Winning The Title George see how you fare in League 1

Thanks mate! I hope I can do well, staying up will be the aim first season!

Well done on the league title george, top work!

Thanks very much Dan! I hope the good form continues into next season!

Well done buddy. Alex Ford seems a decent prospect too

Should easy stay up. Top 16 next season I reckon.

How well did O'Keefe do? Just wondering as I went to school with him!

Thanks for the comment mate! He does! I hope he can play a couple of games for the first team towards the end of the season!

Thanks for the Comment! I hope so but I don't think it will be easy but thanks!

Ha ha that's cool! Did he always stand out as being very good? He has had his fair of injures and a couple of suspensions but whenever he was available he usually started! 23 starts, 5 off the bench and a 6.78 average rating, but scoring no goals!

Yeah, he was pretty good from what I saw. I think he was 2 year groups above me so I don't actually know him personally. I live in the same village as him and sometimes you still see him back here doing some training over the local park.

Yeah that's good! Ha ha yeah!

A perfect April! Some fantastic results with alot of under 18s playing too!



We were very poor away at struggling Torquay but we came away with the win like we have so often this season! Odhiambo scoring with 20 minutes to go after a good finish when one on one!

Next we had Bury at home and I gave Alex Ford a debut! And he scored after just 5 minutes his shot was deflected and then the keeper palmed it into his own net but it went down as his goal! Alex Ford also got man of the match in a fantastic performance! But on 57 minutes they equalized a free kick went in and Edjenjuele scored at the far post but Madden finally broke his huge goal drought which was excellent as he then had a great month! A good header

Then we had Morecambe away and we played very well and came away with all 3 points 2 fantastic finishes by Madden who is coming back to his best form! his first a good finish inside the near post when Syers played him through! His second was an amazing ball by Odhiambo right around the defence and Madden finished it off! They offered some threat but there closest effort was a long range Drummond shot which hit the post!

We had a game just 2 days later so I played a team of under 18s and not first choice players, I wanted to keep Madden in to keep his scoring form going and despite the fact they had a number of early chances somehow not scoring young Weaver in net making one brilliant point blank save! But then we started to pressure them and when Madden was brought down and he stepped up himself to slot it into the corner! And right on half time it was 2-0 a great ball by young Connor Purdue found another youngster Connor Jennings smashed in with a very confident finish! And a Dawson corner was knocked in by Canavan! They scored after 89 minutes young Weaver dropped the ball and Rose tapped it in.

The final game of the month was away at Exeter and it was a very poor game and we could have gone 1-0 down but Madden who started on the bench came on and scored 2 with three minutes the first after a mistake by the keeper the other another one on one and it made a 100% month!








This is all the youngsters that made debuts for the 1st team!











Good for young Ford and Madden finally gets his goal which opens the floodgates for him!





I have signed Kane Hemmings he cost just 6k and should hopefully do a job next season in league 1.



Great record



Player of the month is ........ Paddy Madden! Great to see him back in form!

We unfortunately ended the season with a loss. They went ahead inside the 1st half which was deserved unfortunately after just 9 minutes Paddy Madden went off injured so we really struggled after that but we did equalize just after the hour mark when a mistake by them fell to Odhiambo and he ran through and scored but with 10 minutes left they bundled in a corner and we fell to defeat



We had a sell out crowd for the last game of the season and we lost the last time we had a big crowd was when we had a fan day and we lost 4-1 at home to AFC Wimbledon so that is very odd we seem to be losing in front of big crowds.



But a great season has finished Chesterfield and Plymouth join us in going up automatically and Mansfield who also finished 4th went up via the play offs and Torquay and Newport County have gone down although they had a mini bit of good form they were in the relegation zone for alot of the season.




Here were some awards we won the league so comfortably but only David Mirfin got in the team of the season.











No money and only an extra 1k left for wages.



But I have signed 2 more centre midfielders to join Kane Hemmings here for a season in league 1.

This is how the players preformed this season! Hogg,Sparrow and Burton have already left but their stats are at the bottom!

Goalkeepers:



Ben Williams was my number one keeper throughout the season he has only played 14 games on there because he was on loan at the start of the season and they haven't counted but he was fantastic at the start, Taylor came in January as a number 2 keeper and he has played well in his 4 appearances so far. Pat Weaver despite the name is only 17 and has played one game so far!

Right Backs



Eddie Nolan played quite a few games sometimes at right back some at left back but he was solid enough wherever he played and will be good back up for next season! Curtis Obeng joined on loan from Swansea and he had a very slow start with some poor performances but he improved defensively and his long throws were a real weapon and we scored alot of important goals from his long throws! I am hoping he will join on loan again next season!



Centre backs



Mirfin was fantastic all season and got in the team of the year! Scoring 8 goals too Canavan also did well and became a starting centre back! Gabbidon didn't do as well as expected but I am willing to give him a chance next season! Thacker and Ford are 2 youngsters who played a few times towards the end of the season and they both did very well especially Ford who I will look to give a few chances next season!

Left backs



Only Dawson and Dummett are actually playing as left backs! Nolan did a couple of times but I have covered him as a right back, Dummett did very well when he came in on loan from Newcastle and was my starting left back and he played 14 times and was always ultra consistent I will look to get him back on loan next season! Dawson did well last season and will do again as back up he is also a coach and scored a great free kick.

Centre midfielders



Greening did ok but is on high wages so I will look to move him on he scored a few goals but now at 35 I think it is right to let him go. Andy Rose has just joined so nothing to say on him, O'Keefe did quite well not scoring any but he played as a more defensive midfielder and although he was injured alot he was always 1st choice when he was fit, Alex Cracknell was another youngster who played towards the end he struggled a bit but expect him to play a bit next season! Michael Tonge has also just joined, Donal McDermott will be covered in right wingers, Jari Litmanen did very well at the age of 43 he only played about half the games and came off the bench alot and he grabbed 2 goals a penalty and a very important winning goal unfortunately now he can hardly run so to save wages I will be looking to sell him too, Brian Howard was amazing and was a great loan signing grabbing 8 goals and alot of assists I am looking to sign him this season! David Syers was almost ever present and was fantastic and ran the midfield in alot of the games I have accepted a £825k offer from Brentford for him but I am unsure of weather to let him go it is a great offer but he is fantastic in midfield.

Right Wingers



Just the 2 here and both did very well Odhiambo coming in, in January and he did well after a slow start he scored some great goals and was a key member of the team he will be staying! The other winger was Donal McDermott who also did very well in numerous positions and he was very consistent didn't do alot special but kept chipping away and grabbed a few goals!

Left Wingers



Just the one here and that is young Connor Purdue who only played towards the end of the season and made a great assist he will play a few times next season! Winnall,Howard and McDermott were the players who mainly played on the left and they have been covered in other positions!

Strikers



Connor Jennings came in towards the end another youngster playing from the right mainly but he scored one very good goal he will be staying, Paddy Madden I expected big things of him and he started the season quite well but then he got a long term injury and he missed alot of games and his form went towards the end of the season he started scoring again to boost his tally to 14 goals! Sam Winnall ended up being our top scorer which is quite remarkable as he played left wing for alot of the season only really playing up front in the 3 months Madden was injured but he did well and scored alot of good goals 18 in all as he played in nearly every game this season! Winnall and Madden will be staying, Kane Hemmings has just joined the club!



Chris Hogg has a great average rating but was on huge wages for us so I had to let him go which was a shame as I feel he would do a job for us as he has joined Sheffield United who have been promoted to the championship



Sparrow did ok but he is the wrong side of 30 so I have let him go he didn't offer alot he was more of an attacking midfielder but didn't offer any goals and not enough assists for me.



Burton also did well when he played a big target man who was very poor at the start of the season but in the middle of the season scored quite a few goals before tailing off again but now I feel I have a younger and better option in Hemmings so Burton has gone as he is 37!

Good luck George seems you got a lot of rebuilding to do before start of the Season