[Izulde]

Transfer In - DL/DC/MC Lewis Page (25)
We've had trouble getting consistent performances out of our backline, so Page will start either at DL or DC to start, and we'll see how things go from there.

Nicky Greene again skips training, and again I warn him. He's shocked yet again. At this point, he's starting to be more trouble than he's worth.

6th @ Elton Vale (12th)
G: Jordan Yorath
D: Lewis Page/Jamie Hopkins/Ian Penney/Ryan Leggett
DM: Justin Cooper
M: Nicky Greene/Chris Dickman
AM: Vernon Francis
ST: Gaz Wilson/Adam Cornell

Paul Nisbet got 5 yellows, so he has to sit this one out.

6 - Wilson gets the ball from Dickman, and in the muddy rain, a defender slips trying to tackle our striker. A 25 yard pass into the box finds Francis all alone, and the 1 v 1 is easy. 1-0

25 - Wilson with the indirect free kick in the box, and we're awarded a penalty! Cornell converts the PK, even though it's nearly blocked. 2-0

29 - He was offsides!!! FUCKER! 2-1

39 - Greene with the smooth free kick, and Francis stays just onsides for the easy score 3-1

57 - Attwood on for Greene

65 - Mbeleck for Page, who has been making mistakes all day.

71 - We're forced to retreat back into our half of the field, where the rear guard spends some time passing and building up patience. Finally, Dickman short back passes to Atwood. The ensuing long ball finds Francis, and a beautiful pass just inside the box sees Wilson firing the diagonal spear to lock this game up 4-1

Every full-time starter netted 7 or better today, and Ian Penney (7.5), Justin Cooper (7.6), Vernon Francis (9.4 and PotM), and Gaz Wilson (8.6), broke the 7.5 barrier.

Takeover is closer to happening. No transfers allowed.

Nicky Greene misses training a third time, and now I'm just going to let him go.

A youth pull who never was going to crack the first team leaves. For the second time, the takeover bid fails.

Transfer Out - MC Andy Haynes - N/C
Got snowed under by our overload of central midfield talent.

Transfer Out - DC/MC/DR/AMC Kenny Collett - N/C
What an ass. Comes back from his 3 month injury, and leaves.

Transfer Out - MC Nicky Greene - $12.5k
Good luck dealing with that headache, Goole!

6th vs Uppermill (3rd)
G: Jordan Yorath
D: Lewis Page/Jamie Hopkins/Ian Penney/Ryan Leggett
DM: Paul Nisbet
M: Justin Cooper/Chris Dickman
AM: Vernon Francis
ST: Gaz Wilson/Adam Cornell

9 - Nisbet on the corner. Hopkins gets it and kicks, but the shot is deflected. Ball is sitting there all alone, and Penney is first there, putting it in the open net. 1-0

52 - Chitty in for Cornell

64 - I forget who, but someone made a great clearance, and Wilson *just* has enough speed to beat out the opposition for the ball. Dribble down the pitch, and just as a sliding tackle is coming in, he crosses to Chitty, who somehow stayed onsides in torching the defense for the wide open score. Attwood goes in for Nisbet, due to the latter's knock-related tiredness, despite a strong game. 2-0

73 - Don't collapse now... 2-1

82 - Mbeleck in for Page, who is still struggling to adapt to our setup.

We finally showed we could beat an upper-echelon team, and it was due in large part to PotM Jamie Hopkins and his 7.6 at the back. We haven't moved up in position any, but the top half of the table is very narrow - between us and the top team is a difference of 6 points - between 2nd and us, just 3 points.

To put it another way, between us and 7th is a 5 point gap. So the top 6 in the league are clearly a pack in and of themselves, with separation from there.

6th @ Long Sutton Athletic (7th)
G: Jordan Yorath
D: Lewis Page/Jamie Hopkins/Ian Penney/Ryan Leggett
DM: Paul Nisbet
M: Stuart Pearson/Justin Cooper
AM: Vernon Francis
ST: Gaz Wilson/Adam Cornell

Stuart Pearson wants first team opportunities, and he's good enough that I've opted to give him a shot in the lineup, particularly since Chris Dickman is 32, and could use a rest.

2 - Pearson immediately rewards me by taking the ball away, and passing up to Cornell, who sends it forward to Wilson. Defense is done, and the strike is sure. 1-0

23 - A vicious foul on Wilson draws the deserved red card!

28 - Page centers to Francis just outside the box. Like four defenders are around our AMC, so he sends it back to Page, who jukes the defender, strides in, and fires the angled shot to go home! That's one way to show he's more comfortable with our setup! 2-0

51 - Wilson is finally forced off, and Chitty comes in for him, with a striker switch.

73 - Attwood comes in for the mistake-prone Pearson, who has seen his brilliance marred by other dumb errors.

89 - Great interception by Francis, and the end move sees Cornell kick it back to Nisbet, followed by the sail forth to Leggett. The pass into the box finds Chitty, and the weaksauce strike *just* finds its way inside. 3-0

Vintage dominance. 8.1 for Ryan Leggett, who has really turned it on after struggling. 8.3 for PotM Lewis Page in his breakout performance. We finally move up, albeit to 4th, and we're now 1 and 2 points respectively out of the promotion places.

But it's a costly win. Gaz Wilson is out 5-7 weeks with a severely sprained ankle.