MARK MY WORDS.  November 2009 update

Apologies to those who may care! It has a been a while since my last words back in November but since then we have only played six matches, one win, two losses and three draws leaves us sitting in eleventh position.

Firstly I would like to wish Christian Money all the very best as he will now be travelling the world for the next three months (Lucky Lucky lad)

Christian has been an integral part of our much improved performances and he will be missed by us all

Welcome back Tants! Danny Tanti, a former player he has re-signed but only available for some mid-week fixtures however, his and our intention is with a view to him playing more regularly for us next season.

Another new and exciting signing: Sean O’Donnell-a tough, skilful and experienced C/M -unfortunately Sean is also unavailable for Saturdays but a great addition to the squad especially with the re-scheduled mid-week fixtures that we now have.

05th December 2009 H vs. Saffron Walden

Team: Bowden, Collins-Reed, Money, Thompson © Haynes, Davies, Clayton, Howard, Joseph, Davies, Mann( Branch), Dixon (Old).

December started very well with a an impressive 3-0 home victory against Saffron Walden.

Skipper Thompson scored his first goal for town with an unstoppable 25 yard strike before the impressive and reliable Dixon added a second . Our top goal scorer “Manno” put the game out of sight with his eleventh goal of the season and towns third on the day.

A much deserved victory and very impressive team performance ahead of our next tough challenge away to league leaders Gt Yarmouth.

12th December 2009: A vs. Gt Yarmouth

Team : Bowden, Collins-Reed, Money, Thompson ©, Haynes, Walsh(Branch), Clayton, Howard, Davies, Dixon, Mann. Sub not used A. Collins-Reed.

Just one change to last weeks team, Walsh in for Joseph(unavailable for selection)

We took an early lead when Mann’s surging run and precise delivery across the face of goal was pounced upon by Dixon as he scored his ninth goal in just ten games.

Yarmouth showed why they are league leaders with a strong and dominating response to score two, giving them a 2-1 lead at half time. A much improved second half performance kept us in with a chance of getting back on level terms but the home side sealed the victory on seventy minutes as Roach fired home to increase the lead to 3-1. Unfortunately Steve Davies was to see red as he received his marching orders late in the game for a somewhat over enthusiastic challenge.

A disappointing result but I was pleased with our second half response as we matched our hosts in strength, commitment and determination. Ok, maybe they edged the match on technical ability and looked sharper than us but we never gave up and still continued to create chances.

Saturday 19th H vs. Ipswich Wanderers & Saturday 26th December A vs. Swaffham

BOTH MATCHES POSTPONED DUE TO THE WINTER WEATHER

Disappointingly with the two postponements and no facilities to train our next fixture was now looking even more of a daunting prospect! We now have to welcome our previous Hosts and victors Gt Yarmouth.

Tuesday 29th December 2009 H vs. Gt Yarmouth

Team: Bowden ©, Collins-Reed, Money, Bailey, Haynes, Davies, Clayton, Howard, Joseph, Davies, Mann( Branch), Dixon (Old).

Two changes from the team that faced Yarmouth away, Joseph back in for Walsh(Unavailable/Holiday) & skipper Thompson, unavailable due to work commitments. Fortunately we welcome back on loan player Luke Bailey. Subs: Gregg Mann & Alex Chadwick (back from University for Christmas holiday) Henry Scott & Jeff Baxter

We had the last word in this encounter as Dixon again came up trumps with a neat turn inside the box before being fouled to win us a last minute penalty, as you would expect he got up and calmly slotted home to earn us a very good point. So here are a few carefully selected words taken from the Bloaters web site: On a night best spent beside the home fireside, Yarmouth and Thetford played out a 1-1 draw in torrential rain with both goals coming in the closing minutes. It meant the end of the Bloaters’ run of straight league wins which had amounted to ten on Boxing Day, but the point increased their lead at the top of the division to five points with FC Clacton having a game in hand. Despite the horrendously wet and cold conditions at Thetford, both sides put on a skilful show with not a great deal of weather-enforced error. Yarmouth dominated the first half and then half of the second period but the Bloaters were to regret a catalogue of missed chances. Stewart Roach hit the Thetford bar after only six minutes but it was a difficult snapshot with the leading scorer falling back as he struck the ball. In a rare Thetford attack, Steve Davies missed a golden opportunity around twenty minutes, hitting harmlessly wide when under no challenge.

The early part of the second half saw a more determined Thetford who, with the wind and rain on their backs now, controlled play for a good twenty minutes.

Hilton was then called on to make three good saves: in the 55th minute he came to punch away a free kick, it was the ‘keeper’s feet that directed the ball away from goal a minute later, and three minutes further on Hilton went down to keep out a shot from the Thetford number nine and top scorer Simon Mann.

The 65th minute brought Thetford their best chance so far when a slip by King allowed Mann to race through and shoot but the ball skipped into the side netting to the relief of the several visiting supporters. Thetford attack saw their man go down in the box with the referee awarding the penalty although the decision looked dubious to say the least and the home players did not make any vigorous claims. Matt Dixon made no mistake from the spot to give Thetford a share of the spoils and end Yarmouth’s winning streak. For me this performance once again demonstrated we have a squad of players that can compete with the best in this division, a draw against current league leaders and previously a home draw against Clacton when they lead the title race back in October. Not a bad way to end 2009

We have come a long way since the start of the season and are still on target to achieve my original goal! To establish us as a mid table team able to compete well in this division.

Into 2010 and again the weather has forced many postponements, for us:

Saturday 02nd January A vs. Diss Town

Saturday 09th January H vs. Downham Town

Saturday 16th January H vs. Halstead

Saturday 23rd January 2010 H vs. Whitton United GAME ON

Team: Bowden, Walsh, Money, Thompson ©, Haynes, Clayton, Howard, Nita, Mann, Dixon & Scott. Subs: Old, Joseph & Jack Dennis. Unfortunately Bailey out with facial injury, Dimps suspended, Collins-Reed unavailable but Thompson back, Kris Nita available, Scott also starting after a long period of absence with groin strain. Whitton played well with pace and power, much sharper than us and this caused us many problems. Once again our determination and team spirit got us through this encounter, a clean sheet and another deserved point. Disappointed not to have scored despite again creating good chances, maybe two points dropped but credit to Whitton. I feel the away fixture will be another tough test but we will be better prepared and with more games under our belt , much sharper.

Saturday 30th January and again we have another postponement due to weather.

Halstead had a late pitch inspection and come 12.o clock mid day the game was off.

This was extremely frustrating as we have only played one competitive match throughout January and desperately needed another game ahead of Tuesday’s eagerly awaited fixture with local rivals Diss Town. Our reserves had a home fixture so we would be unable to train. Fortunately Dicko got a much needed 45 minutes for the reserves and Bruno Tavares was given 30 minutes on his return after months out with injury and suspension.

Tuesday 2nd February 2010 A vs. Diss Town 7.45pm k/o

Team: Bowden, Collins-Reed, Money ©, Thompson, Haynes, Clayton, O’Donnell, Tavares, Tanti, Mann & Dixon. Subs: Walsh, Bailey, Joseph & Jack Dennis

Former Diss players Dixon, Money & Collins-Reed

Former Town Players Skipp & Bryant

Money captain for his last game before he departs on his travels.

This eagerly awaited fixture certainly entertained and lived up to the expectations, following a bright start from us as Haynes struck a fierce shot but was denied with a good save from Matt Webster. A further period of good pressure continued but we lost our way when a misunderstanding between keeper Bowden and L/B Haynes in the 28th minute resulted in the hosts taking an early lead through Luke Catchpole The lead was increased when Tavares failed to close down his man (Brendan Foley) allowing what appeared to be an over hit cross from a full 30 yards that sailed over the head of a fully stretched and helpless Bowden.

With the game now in the hands of the hosts leading 2-0 at the interval, we had much to do. Joseph replaced the out of form Tavares and his tenacious tackles and hard work appeared to inspire our battling and vastly improved second half team performance. Early chances from Thompson and Mann thwarted by the in form Webster before Bowden was also called upon to deny former town player Bryant. Diss again increased their lead on 70 minutes but this time our response was rewarded when on 78 minutes substitute Walsh made an immediate impact setting up Dixon for what was to be his first of a brace. Dixon was then brought down by another former town player Craig Skipp, the resulting spot kick was put away by Dixon taking his tally to 12 goals from 13 matches.(now our leading scorer) The score now at 3-2 we gave it our all in search of that all important equalizer, unfortunately a very harsh decision awarding the hosts with a free-kick from what was a very good tackle, the resulting kick dropped kindly to the feet of Catchpole for his second of the game and Diss fourth. Collins -Reed was given his marching orders late on for a second book-able offence.

Another spirited performance but we lacked sharpness, made several poor decisions and conceded three poor goals. This was another tough game but we made it harder with our forced errors, we now need to bounce back and get a much needed win sooner rather than later.

Saturday 06th February 2010 H vs. Stowmarket Town

Team: Bowden, Collins-Reed, Walsh, Thompson ©, Haynes, Clayton, Howard, Joseph, Old, Mann & Dixon. Subs: Bailey, Scott & Fabio Almedia

After the disappointment of Tuesdays defeat away to Diss this was a fixture we all felt was a good opportunity to get back on track with a much needed confidence boost and three points. Earlier in the season we dominated today’s opposition for the majority of the match, taking a well deserved lead through Scott but with just ten minutes remaining conceded two poor goals and came away very disappointed and with no points. This was our chance to avenge that painful defeat!

I felt we played the better football but the visitors stood strong and battled for every ball. Chances came and went for both sides throughout the first half but it ended goalless. As in most recent performances our second half display was much improved but again we failed to convert any of our many chances. Matthew Howard lead by example but despite his dominating and extremely competent individual performance he was unable to inspire a number of his team mates who just simply under performed. The introduction of Bailey and Scott almost paid off, when Scott found some space just inside the penalty area but his first time left foot shot crashed against the bar and the rebound was cleared. Top goal scorers Manno and Dicko both failed to convert any of the several chances created. Bowden made a couple of good saves to deny the visitors and the match ended goalless.

I have been extremely pleased with all my players commitment, effort, endeavour and overall development over the past three months but today was a day of reflection for me! I am struggling to contain my disappointment but I remain positive and believe my players will again demonstrate their true ability.

We simply made poor decisions, lacked conviction in front of goal, ran out of ideas to break down a very resilient defense and frankly many key players under performed. We cannot rely solely on our strikers for goals and cannot afford to allow any complacency to creep in.

We now find ourselves being dragged back into the bottom half table battle, this is not good enough and we will have to work extremely hard both on the training ground and in every one of our remaining fifteen fixtures.

I am setting us a target of a minimum 20 points from these games, this will not be easy considering we still have to travel to Clacton, Brantham, Halstead, Gorleston, Godmanchester, Whitton, Saffron Walden and Swaffham. Our seven remaining home fixtures will be equally as challenging as we host Downham, Cornard,

Fakenham, Team Bury, Ipswich Wanderers, Diss and Halstead.

I still firmly believe we can finish tenth in the league, anything less will be a huge disappointment and any higher will be testament to my players and indeed the hard work of my head coach/assistants Steve Livingstone and Simon Richards

We have now secured some excellent training facilities, both indoor and out! We have the services of two very experienced physical training instructors so we will be up for the fight.

I hope to announce the signing of another experienced centre half within the next day or two.

We really need all the support we can get from all and any of you that care about this club, so get behind us and help us achieve that tenth position.

Mark