Mr Goodwin Career

[goodwin114]

Stockport County 1-1 Worcester City (Skrill North)

So after the disappointment of going out of the FA Cup in the week it was back to the day job and a home league game against Worcester City. Worcester have been going pretty well themselves in the league and will not be demoralised coming into this one.
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After the mild shock of a cup exit I played my strongest available team. Surrendering a two goal lead does not earn you a day off in my show. Charnock sits out the game anyway due to his sending off against AFC Fylde so in his place Tunnicliffe gets another start. Jacobs and O'Halloran return hopefully chastised and ready to go.
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I elected for my standard 4-4-2. Familiarity may breed contempt but repetition makes good. I am concerned about the performance of my full backs. Regardless of whom plays full back they get a terrible rating. That being said on the most part they are doing precisely the job within the system I am asking them to do and as previously stated we currently have the best defensive record in the this division.
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At the pre match team talk I told the men that we are on a good run (which we are) and that I wanted them to impress me (which I did).That was followed up with the I have faith which aside from Verma got a good response.
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The first ten minutes we created two chances which were half chances at best but we looked infinitely sharper and more at the races. That was pleasing.


Worcester looked stubborn if anything and I felt this was a game we would roll over. The breakthrough came in the sixteenth minute when Dennis moved the ball wide to Moke who jinked into the box ghosting past one man before cutting inside a second and beating a weak effort by the keeper at the near post.


This should now commence the rolling over of Worcester. As it turns out it didn't. Neither side created anything. It didn't even have the common decency to turn into a midfield battle. Both sides had the ball and subsequently hand it over and so forth. For the rest of the half neither side had a further shot on goal.


At the half I told the men that things were going well but could be better as well as a few I have faiths.
The second half started with a Worcester shot on goal. It was a shock insofar as neither side had mustered that much in the first half.
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Nothing happened during the rest of the second half aside Worcester equalising. The game was stagnant and scrappy and in reflection Worcester probably deserved a goal since they were equally as bad (or good depending on your standpoint) as us.


Taudry lofted a ball over the top which Williams took possession of in the area and fired across Ormnson for the leveller. Just prior I had the feeling the game would run out for a one nil win since neither side were reacting to anything.
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After the game I told the men that they should be winning these games (they should). I told the defence I thought they were unlucky (they were) I was unhappy with the midfield (I was) and I was unhappy with the attack (which I was).
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This got me red across the board here. If I could I would have had them all in for additionally training and simply have ran them until they puked for that reaction but alas I didn?t.


Results went for us elsewhere though and as a result I see this as a point gained rather than two dropped.
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Next up we have Barrow and a chance against a team who is struggling at the bottom to get some points on the board.

 

[goodwin114]

Some Points of administration

We had eleven days before the next fixture so this was an opportunity to factor in a friendly game to look at trailists.


Since my scouting department have been out for a sizable length of time now the knowledge base of players is at a decent standard. One player in particular jumped out from the rest.


Will Roberts, a young Welshman who has spent some time at Coventry City. He is a right sided midfield, a position that we have only one player currently.
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I trialled him and watch him and since both scouts had had a look already and said the kid was mustard I was happy at his contribution especially so since he put in the corner that the opener came from so I began weighing up an offer for him.


The deal that he wanted would take me further over budget and that was something I was keen to avoid.


I began looking through the squad at who could be purged and two names volunteered themselves.


Ryan Jones was my third choice keeper and wasn't even getting bench or friendly time and to be honest was only still at the club due to the fact he was on a non-contract deal. Still he had an appearance fee and that counted against my budget so he went.
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To further fund Roberts coming I elected to release Paris Bateman. He is not playing nor is going to and is only falling further and further behind and since his contract expired on the 14/01/14 I see no point in delaying the inevitable.
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Will Roberts signed up and I was pleased because the midfield is more balanced. We have cover and options and Will fits my criteria of players who can have an impact in the next division up.
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He's only contracted till the end of the season but he has time to now earn himself a new deal just like every one else.
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[goodwin114]

Barrow 0-2 Stockport County (Skrill North)

With the trip to Barrow we welcomed back to the starting line up Charnock. New signing Will Roberts will not play a part in this game. His fitness isn't there yet and with another fixture coming up on Saturday he will probably get a nod then but this is not his day.
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At this point I had a word with Jacobs and told him to pass shorter. Hopefully he could eliminate the wasteful balls over the top and retain the ball better. If that's so then it will only benefit the team.
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I elected for the traditional 4-4-2. With Barrow lining up the same I would expect us to be pound for pound better.


I told the men that they could keep this good run going. I spoke to the attacking duo and told them that I wanted a performance from them. The team in general reacted well.
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The game started at a comfortable pace. We were knocking the ball about a looked pretty good. We were starting to find our pace in the game when a loose Barrow pass was tackled by Hand. This had the unfortunate effect of essentially passing the ball between my flat footed centre back and the Barrow forward ran in and hit the post unopposed inside the box. A huge let off. The ball however remained in play by the touchline and Barrow retained possession and as defensive cover flooded back the moved the ball inside and a second shot smashed in was fantastically saved by Ormson. The resulting corner was well dealt with.


Overall we were on top and pushing more. It was a scrappy game and it was a scrappy opener. Howard fired in a near post corner and Fagbola, Jevons, two Barrow defenders and the Barrow keeper all went for it at the near post and ultimately Fagbola fired in amongst the ricochets from about half a yard. Scruffy and scrappy but valid.

Neither side really carved each other up but as the half wore on it was more likely that we would score again. As it happens we didn't and the game ran to the half without further goals.


I told the players in the dressing room that it wasn?t the worst and issued a few I have faiths and the players seemed ready to rock for the second half.
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Despite scheduled changes the game remained scrappy but Barrow didn't really threaten at any stage. We were labouring to create good chances and in fact the efforts we did have we long ranged thumps into the defender stood in front of the shooter.


Jevons made it comfortable when he hit one home from about two yards in a virtual carbon copy of Fagbola's opener. Scrappy, scrappy, scrappy. However I care not a jot as its three points in the bag.
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After the game I told the men that it was a good win. Not much more to say other than that. I was struck by how much better Jacobs played. Maybe that's the way ahead.
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The league is starting to shape up now we are about a quarter of the way through.
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[goodwin114]

Stockport County 2-1 Gloucester City (Skrill North)

So another league game rolls around and this time it?s the visit of Gloucester City to Edgeley Park. Gloucester is currently sat in 15th place so form and logic suggests that this should be a comfortable day at the office.
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Charnock returns to the heart of the defence but Fagbola is now suspended and Tunnicliffe moves across. I decided to place Roberts on the bench at the expense of Moses. The new found flexibility allows Lofthouse to cover the centre if need be. Turner replaced Windsor on the bench. I am trying to be fair to both strikers by alternating them on the bench but it remains up to them to take opportunities when they present themselves.
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With the scouting report suggesting Gloucester would line up 4-4-2 I once again elected to go 4-4-2. As it happens Gloucester deployed in a more cosmopolitan 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 depending on you take on the formation. Anyway regardless it's a possession dominator and a very attacking formation.
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I was still content that my guys pound for pound are better and quality would be decisive.


The players were told during the team talk that we are on a good run and we should look to keep it going. The defence were told that I expected a performance. The defence have all individually wobbled but collectively got there so it's about sharpening up now.


The attack and midfield were issued with the customary I have faith.
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The game was an odd affair with Gloucester dominating possession but we were more incisive with the ball. I was very pleased to see the progression of the team as the individual partnerships develop. The defence has settled somewhat and the one touch fluidity is starting to emerge.


Indeed it was the slick one touch football which carved open Gloucester for the opener. After fifteen minutes a slick combination of passes found Verma who guided it immediately to Jevons who touch a touch in space, set himself and then fired the ball across the goal and past the keeper.


I was very pleased. We were moving the game the way we wanted and even though Gloucester were a threat at times I felt the first time we could breach them would give us the momentum we needed. That seemed to be the case. Gloucester went into full retreat and every player camped into the Gloucester half and even when they managed to hack it away it was returned very swiftly.


The only concern was that we hadn?t capitalised on the positional dominance and really put them to the sword. I got them in at half time and told that they played well but there's room for improvement and that went down a treat.
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We needed to kill them off in the second half really and the sooner the better really. We started on the front foot, the players fully echoing my intentions. A cheeky near post corner was half volleyed home by Jevons from about three yards. Two nil. Game set and match.


One thing I have learned about Stockport as FM manager and reading about the club in real life is that the Club does not do things the easy way and immediately after taking the lead we took our foot off the gas. Maybe it's the individual characters of the player's maybe it's a motivation thing but we settled in for the two nil and very sportingly gave Gloucester the run of the place.


They threw everything they had, ineffectively, at us and they eventually got on the score sheet fifteen minutes from time with their one real decent effort. Moke was unable to deal with the wing play and a cross made its way over to Morford who turned outside and created himself space in the box and fired home into the corner. A pretty decent finish.


Fortunately for us Gloucester seemed satisfied that was enough of showing willing and allowed the game to run away from them. Maybe they didn't understand the rules of the competition or something.....
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At fulltime I told the players that it was a good win and I was pleased with that. It's another three points in the bag and a superb start to the season.
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The table itself is starting to take shape and we are in real danger of taking a really good stranglehold on this league already.
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[goodwin114]

Sackings,chats and board requests

At this stage there were some managerial casualties within the division. Guiseley and Solihull Moors parted company with Mark Bowers and Marcus Bignott respectively. Guiseley in particular had a bad season and that was confounded by the fact they were preseason title favourites. That's the way it goes.
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I had two rather pleasant afternoon chats with Dennis and Jacobs over some tea and a scone from Costa and I told Dennis that I believed in him and had faith that he would start scoring. He will start scoring again at some point. Besides he plays a part within the team. I am considering giving one of the fringe strikers a chance and Dennis' lack of goals have made him prime choice to be replaced.
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I told Jacobs that I was happy with his work in the last game. He played a lot more solidly and much better ball retention.
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Both players took the chat pretty well so I am pleased with that.


I had a brief chat with the board about perhaps recruiting another scout. I had spotted a good candidate for a head scout which would complement my current pair of scouts. I was reluctant to let either of my current scouts go as they had built up a nice little knowledge base.
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The board declined. So no major decisions to be made.

 

[goodwin114]

Stockport County 0-1 AFC Telford (Skrill North)

Due to Histons draw in the FA Cup the subsequent replay means our midweek fixture is put back seven days which means our next game is against AFC Telford. It also means fourteen days since our last game so the players can have no fatigue issues whatsoever.
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In terms of team selection I retained Roberts on the bench and Tunnicliffe was suffering from flu but was going to be replaced by the returning Fagbola anyway. Yadolhai, as a consequence remains on the bench.
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I went for 4-4-2 again, no surprises there. It has served us very well thus far this season. At some point I may adapt and vary formations but right now 4-4-2 is doing very well indeed.
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I told the players that they should relax and the result will come. I did fire in an "I expect a performance" to the midfield department. The goalkeeper had a negative reaction but others were ok.
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The game essentially went along the lines of an attack versus defence exercise. We played well and pressed but it wasn't cavalier all out attacks. It was more pugilistic in approach. We created two decent chances but weren?t converted but otherwise it was us dominating possession and territory.


Telford offered nothing in terms of attack but that?s a classic football tale though isn't it.


Come half time I felt that the game was going one way and that way was us pushing and pushing and sooner or later Telford would crack. I told the men in the dressing room to keep going and we can win. I also elected to tell the defence I have faith in them. Mostly the guys were positive. Now it was about grinding Telford down.
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I spoke to Charnock and told him to pass shorter. His decision to play every pass long and straight was admirable in the respect that he wanted to quickly launch an attack but frustrating insofar as he was playing the ball straight out of bounds.
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Furthermore I spoke to Dennis who was neat and tidy in play but several times during the first half he had a chance to shoot but elected to pass instead and these all led to the move breaking down.
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The second half became a damp squib. Our chance creation rate slowed to a virtual standstill. This was not due to the endeavour of Telford more along the lines of tiredness and probably an element of demoralisation. We fashioned two further chances in a very laboured manner and even tinkering couldn't get the pace upped.


It was somewhat inevitable then when Telford won a free kick about thirty yards out slightly left of centre of the box four minutes from time. For the second time this season I'm watching an opposition free kick shaping up and wondering at the keeper's placement of the wall. The attacker had a clear sight of goal from distance and more concerning was the unmarked Clancy stood in the way, inside the area completely alone. Again, inevitably the free kick was played up to Clancy who controlled the ball and had the time to turn before a defender got within five yards and thump it in at the near post. Sucker. Punch. The suckers in this case being my defence.


My players all went over bar three to complain to the linesman about something but I didn't see too much wrong with their goal. It certainly wasn't offside. Not even near. But I have never seen the players crowd an official like that before. Five times they came and went and then went back again. We were fortunate not to receive any cautions for dissent.


Everything was thrown forward for the last four plus minutes to try and recover something but time dribbled away and the streak ended.


Being slightly philosophical; we had a fantastic start to the campaign so now it's about stringing another twelve games unbeaten. If we do that then we won't be too far wrong.
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I told the players to not let it bother them and don't look back on that game and the guys reacted superbly.
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The league still isn't a disaster. Three clear plus a game in hand is not bad at all. The game in hand is the rearranged fixture against Histon at Histon.
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[goodwin114]

FA Carlsberg Trophy Fourth Qualifying Round draw

The FA Carlsberg Trophy fourth qualifying round draw was made and it placed us at home against fellow Skrill North side Solihull Moors.
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Solihull have not had a great start to the season and find themselves in danger of being cut adrift at the foot of the table.


It's a game that I would like to maybe try and start one or two peripheral players but it's still not a fixture I will be taking lightly.


We are in it and we are in it to win it. Regardless of the FA Trophy's status it's still the major non-league competition and still carries a sizable chunk of prize money.

 

[goodwin114]

Histon 2-4 Stockport County (Skrill North)

So after the disappointment of losing our unbeaten league record it's now time to get back on the horse and get back to winning ways. This time it's an away day to Histon.
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There's was a single change in the line-up with Charnock serving a suspension it gave a chance for Yadolhai to get a start under his belt. Tunnicliffe still shaking off the effects of flu so is not quite right to play.
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On the bench I elected to withdraw Roberts in favour of Moses. The thought being that it will a much more fiercer contest in the centre and with the players still a little light on fitness having played recently I wanted more combat on the bench.


Despite the scouting report telling me that Histon would set up 4-5-1 I elect as usual to go 4-4-2. We are getting quite slick at 4-4-2 and the little partnerships are developing all over the pitch.
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I don't normally task against specific players but Sheppard is in such good form that he can't be allowed to range against us freely. To that end I let the players know that they were to go to town on Sheppard; tight marking, close down and hard tackle. If there was an option to follow him home and wreck up his garden in order to unsettle him I would have tasked the men to do that also.
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The players were told to go and give the fans their monies worth and this was supplemented by the customary I have faith to the departments. I got a nice green reaction.
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The game started and by the way this just might be me but it appeared that some of the Histon players are wearing gloves. If so massive feather in SI's cap.


We made a very bright start. The players were energetic and full of running and it appeared that there was no hangover from the Telford game.


We started nipping and yapping at Histon and I felt a goal was not too far away. There were several half chances by both sides but the incisive breakthrough came when Jevons wriggled free on the right and played a cross in toward Howard. It was intercepted but only headed out to Verma who smashed it through a crowd of players from the edge of the area and was well saved by the keeper but it squirted out to the lurking Howard who tapped home into an empty net from three yards.


The boost from that goal was amazing. We set about shredding Histon and they were all over the place defensively and it seemed only a matter of time before we scored again. Eight minutes as it happened.
Jevons played a delicious ball over the top which Howard ran onto and his shot was well saved by Kitscha in the Histon goal. The resulting corner was hit into the near post by Howard and Fagbola had time to bring it down inside the six yard box and then broke a tackle before poking it home.


We had come flying out the blocks and Histon were in real danger of capsizing. If the next goal came from us the Histon were looking at a rugby score multiplied by a cricket score. We very nearly had that third but again a combination of keeper and two defenders scrambled it away.


Histon at this juncture had offered very little in terms of offence and yet another attack seemed to be petering out when Muggleton played it down the left to Hoban who looped a deep cross to the back post which looked like it was going to trickle out and Ormson and his accompanying defender appeared to have the confidence to let it go out. Unfortunately Taaffe arrived beyond the far post to head home relatively unchallenged.


It was a disappointment because they really didn't deserve a goal on the balance of play but balance of play don't mean squat.
Histon got a little bit more teeth following that goal, not so much in attack but more in terms of stemming us and as a result we got to the break 2-1 up. Goes without saying I would have much rather took 2-0 but 2-1 is better than a punch in the crotch.


In the dressing room I told the guys that things were going good but they could achieve better and backed up by telling the defence and midfield that I have faith.
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I also told Yadolhai to play the ball a bit shorter as he was determined to play a sixty yard pass. Unfortunately if he keeps playing a sixty yard ball he's going to hurt someone in the crowd because he is that far away at times. I'm sure with the financial trouble the Club has endured they could seldom afford a law suit from an injured fan.
The second half didn't begin as I wanted. Histon obviously had a good old fashioned **** kicking and came out swinging. They created two wonderful chances. Taaffe was denied at the near post by a smart low stop by Ormson. From the resulting corner Yadolhai injured himself headed the corner clear and was replaced by Duxbury.
A few minutes later that man again Taaffe drove down the right and crossed in dead centre and Sheppard arrived unmarked and headed wide. It was the first and only chance he managed in the whole of the game so ultimately can't complain.
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Straight from the goal kick however, Moke received the ball on the right and he went down the right and played in Dennis who cut inside then went right himself before putting a deep cross in and Howard arrived late at the back post ahead of the defender to side foot home. Sucker punch.


A few minutes later Verma and Dennis combined to play it to Jevons who dinked it forward ahead of the last defender into the path of the onrushing Moke who slammed it past the keeper for a fourth.


Histon did get another goal back from a corner and Beckles knocked it home from three yards but in reality Histon were done. They huffed and puffed but didn?t come close and they three points came home with us.
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I told the players postgame that I was happy with result and the performance. The team reacted well with the exception of POM Howard. Fair enough. If he scores two every week then he can sulk all he likes.
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Next up is struggling Oxford City and the table shows that they are right in the schtum.
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Post-game it turned out Yadolhai was fine and would be potentially available for the Oxford game.

 

[goodwin114]

Oxford City 1-3 Stockport County (Skrill North)

Now that we are back to winning ways we take the roadshow to Oxford City.
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The centre back roulette continues. The two centre backs from the Histon game dropped out in their places came Charnock and Tunnicliffe. Fagbola didn't recover sufficiently so I elected to place him on the bench.

Yadolhai I felt wouldn't be strong enough so I went with Fagbola. He didn't need to be fully fit to see out thirty minutes or so should he be needed.
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4-4-2 is the name again. Oxford on paper are very beatable but we still have to the hard yards. I believe our man for man quality is better than theirs.
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I told the men prior to the game that I wanted them to pick up from where they finished last time. That got a pretty indifferent reaction so all three departments were told I expect a performance. Still indifference. Might try a clown and some magic tricks next.
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The first thing that struck me when we kicked off was how narrow the pitch was. I thought it must have been some form of graphics error but with some minor investigation the pitch at Court Place Farm is some eleven metres narrower than Edegely Park.


Now I had a moment of concern as I thought this could be a problem with such a narrow pitch that isn't our place.


As it happens I shouldn't have been concerned. The first five minutes our passing was poor constantly going out of bounds before something clicked and everything found its target. The diagonal play was tremendous and we were finding acres of spaces time after time.


The unexpected often happens and despite dominating the first period of the game Oxford exploded into a pulsating three chance burst. A corner was headed of the line by the improving Jacobs and returned very quickly which resulted in two quick fire chances which were superbly blocked.


We finally got our foot on the ball and took the sting out of the game. We played the ball up from the back through the centre and Jevons played Dennis in superbly who in turn took a touch to the left and set himself and placed the ball in the net across the face of the goal.


It was Dennis' first goal in a long time (eleven hours apparently) and it transformed him. His running became very direct and dangerous and his general play was phenomenal. A little confidence goes a long way.


We began to really stretch Oxford so it was somewhat of a surprise that the equalised. They had several weak endeavours down the left of our defence and eventually they managed to get a cross in. Winters was alone in the centre of the six yard box to nod home. Charnock was meant to be policing him but he overran the play.

The response by the players was phenomenal. Jevons in particular pulled the strings and the diagonal play was simply unplayable.


It was only a case of ten minutes but the ten minutes were superb. Oxford were simply outclassed and the inevitable happened five minutes before half time when Verma chipped a long pass from the half way line into the penalty area and was controlled by Jevons in an instant and his second touch was to fire home past the keeper.


The third followed very soon after when a throw in from midway inside the Oxford half was thrown in by Jacobs straight into the box and Jevons controlled with one touch and finished with the second in a virtually identical position to his first.


That was a superb way to take the game to the halftime break. I told the men that it was a good performance and I was pleased.
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The second half was a much more relaxed event with us dominating passion. The only downside was that we didn?t score again. We didn?t create that many chances but Oxford created far less so the game ran out a three one win.


I was pleased with the performance especially the reaction to their equaliser. The play was at time spectacular and the players are definitely gelling now and that can only be a good thing.
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I told the men post game that I was a good win. Nothing further to be said.
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The league is good and strong looking. A nice six point lead and we have to simply keep winning.
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We get a week away from the league now as we go into the FA Trophy against Solihull Moors so it's a fantastic place to have a break from the league.

 

[goodwin114]

Brendon Windsor

After the Histon game Brendon Windsor wanted a chat.
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He wants more first team football. This happens to be a happy coincidence as I was debating whether to give more starts to Turner or Windsor in lieu of Dennis. This has forced my hand slightly but Windsor would have been the choice. I plan to start him against Solihull Moors in the FA Trophy.

 

[goodwin114]

Stockport County 2-4 Solihull Moors (FA Carlsberg Trophy Fourth Qualifying Round)

Now the league is in a decent position, it's an ideal time to take a break and look a different competition. The FA Carlsberg Trophy is realistically not a competition we can win this year. I'm not saying we can't win it but with all the professional sides kicking around in the Skrill Premier then it would represent a significant challenge.
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Prior to the game there was a chat with Windsor demanding more time and he was in my thinking for this game. To that end I select Windsor as the partner for Jevons and Dennis went to the bench, which obviously meant that Turner dropped off. Fagbola returned and that meant Tunnicliffe dropped to the bench.
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No surprises tactically as I went 4-4-2. Since Solihull were scouted and were likely to go 4-4-2 themselves I once again fancied my men player to player to be a better quality than Solihull.
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I told the guys that we were favourites and to show me what they could do. It went down well. I also told Windsor that I expected a performance from him. Since he had earned a chance in the team it was all on him now to deliver.
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The game started briskly and we were on top and pushing Solihull around at will. We were top of the division and they were bottom of the same division so it was highly expected to go that way.


The opener arrived in the opening twenty minutes and all was well. Windsor picked up the ball from Moke inside the area and simply moved inside the defender a pace and thumped it at the near post. Superb start.
We were totally and utterly on top Solihull hadn?t even got of the coach at this point but that old saying; goals change games proved very true.


An undangerous foray down the left-hand side of our defence saw O'Halloran fail to take any one of three attempts to tackle or make a block and Solihull put a timid cross in the centre of our six yard box and Charnock didn't attack it but elected to wait for it to land on his head and Bogle nipped into to head it home right in front of the visiting fans and boy did he celebrate it as well. And why not?


Goals change games. That goal certainly changed this game. Solihull were alive and into the game now and they were sharper, focused and urgent in their play. They closed better, pressed better, harried better, passed better and their all round game improved. They began to create some chances and the game began to look a lot more even a lot quicker than I liked.


As the half began to run out my half time team talk was shredded after a foul by Charnock 25 yards out from goal dead centre. The resulting free kick was slammed home by Sherratt and from a fantastic start the game was slipping away from us.


I began to focus my thoughts on what I could do at half time to rescue the game when Windsor held up the ball in injury time just outside the Solihull box and turned sharply and played a superb ball into the box that Howard ran onto and his shot was brilliantly tipped onto the post by the keeper but it bounced loose in front of goal and with Howard closing in to tap it home a defender hacked it behind for a corner.


The resulting corner was pinged into the near post and Fagbola surged in to head home from six yards. My second team talk in five minutes thrown away but we went into the half time break level and now we had a half to go and win the game.


I told the guys that they could still win this game and I put a little mustard on it and the majority of the team reacted the right way.
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The second half started at a furious pace with both sides creating chances, the best coming from Solihull when Ormson saved a ranged effort a tipped it away but it was picked up and the resulting shot hit the post and rebound into the middle of the area where after an almighty scrambled it was thrashed away.


As we got into the last twenty minutes the game was even and I was faced with the dilemma of stick or twist in an attempt to win this at the first time of asking. I decided to wait till the last ten minutes before committing men forward. As it happened events overtook me.


Bogle received the ball on the edge of the area with fifteen minutes to go. Fagbola went tight to home but Bogle simply turned him and fired home from the area to put Solihull 3-2 up.


Now I committed. Everything I could do to push the attack forward was done. Wingers pushed up, direct play and so forth.


We began to nibble at them but as a consequence we started to leave gaps at the back. It didn't matter if we went out by one goal or six it was still the same end result.


Charnock got himself sent off for a second bookable offence and that undermined our efforts to get back in this game. I elected to leave just the three at the back. It did leave us exposed and Solihull placed us under a lot of pressure but we were also scything away on counter attacks ourselves.


There was another goal coming but unfortunately for us it was Solihull who finished us off. A throw in near our by-line was headed on and the directed toward our goal which was pinged away straight to Birch inside the area whose shot somehow made its way through the mess of bodies and in.


That was it, our goose was cooked.


In the dressing room the players were told that that wasn't good enough. Jacobs had the audacity to become demotivated. If there was an option I would have taking motivating him by kicking his head off this planet.
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However we are out the Trophy, another early cup exit, and I'm disappointed. A good cup run would have boosted the finances a bit, but now we have the league to concentrate on. If we go up the no-one will remember the two early cup exits.
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[goodwin114]

Some squad disciplinary matters

So the inquest into the Solihull defeat is underway. First order of business was to fine Charnock for his second sending off of the season.
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I was a little surprised he had the audacity to think it was harsh but there you go. He will miss two games now due to this being his second dismissal.
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Two of the biggest culprits from the FA Trophy game were called in for a chat. I don't take just one game into consideration as everyone in every walk of life can have a bad day at the office but for O'Halloran and Jacobs it's been a constant thing all season.


Jacobs was told he would be placed on the transfer list if he didn't square himself away.
It was a good response. He wants to change his attitude.
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O'Halloran received the same ultimatum and he certainly didn't want to go onto the transfer list.
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Needless to say I will be watching these two, like I do every player, like a hawk. They are however expected to put in a marked improvement though.


We shall see.