FM12 Eastwood Town (2012 BSBN Champs)

[Poli]

I'd like to get another goal or two. With West out, maybe that'll give Lee a few more chances to shoot.

[Poli]

47: We kicked off and took it down to their side. One of their defenders clears it. Montgomery dumps it back in to Gardner who sends it immediately to Lee. Lee fires off a shot that I figure has no shot of going in, but it does! From the left side of the field outside of the penalty area, he curls the shot around the keeper for the goal! 2-0

Maybe I wasn't kidding about Lee getting more chances.

51: Lee with a counterattack chance, he beats the defender to the net...I think he has the keeper beat but he hits the post! It bounds back! Lee and defender fight for it and Lee is called for a foul!

61: Caines repays the guy who hurt West with an injury. Attaboy.

65: A long series of good passing ends with Lee in about the same spot as his second goal. He tries it again, this time failing.

At this point Clarke comes in for Montgomery.

69: Some passing down the left sideline ends with Istead getting a one time shot from 25 yards out. He sends it up high.

[Poli]

Lee 8.8, Morris 6.8

Gardner 7.1, Elliott 6.9, West 6.8

Benjamin 7.4, Caines 7.1, Hanson 7, Keane 7.3, Montgomery 6.9

Gilpin 6.9


Wilson, Cooper, Istead 6.8, Edwards, Clarke 6.4


Lee takes MoM. Surprisingly 606 in attendance.

[Poli]

Shelbourne's back to visit Lee...I find out there are a couple of other teams interested as well. Go away, he's mine.

[Poli]

In other matches:

Hinckley 1-5 Histon

Corby 0-2 Altrincham

Nuneaton 3-0 Gloucester

Solihull Moors 3-1 Workington

Hyde 0-1 FC Halifax


Hinckley's fading. I never saw that coming. It's good to see the 5th place team give me more space in case I need it.

[Poli]

Next match is next week against Histon at Histon.

That should be fun.

[Poli]

20 Mar 2012

Gilpin is named to the Team of the Week

[Poli]

Histon: 4-5 (Fav) Draw: 2-1 Eastwood: 3-1 (Blue Square Bet North)

League leaders Histon are clear favorites in this home encounter but will still have to make sure they do a professional job against Blue Square Bet North surprise package Eastwood, according to Sky Bet.

Eastwood are currently on a six match unbeaten run and the promotion contenders are enjoying 3rd place in the Blue Square Bet North. By winning the upcoming match, Eastwood can move up to 2nd in the standings and will hope to leapfrog Altrincham. Although they were expected to struggle to avoid relegation at the beginning of the season, Eastwood have managed to guarantee survival before the end of the season, an outstanding achievement.

Histon have notched up five straight wins and the promotion contenders lie in 1st place in the Blue Square Bet North.

The referee for the match will be Paul Davison from Stockton-on-Tees who has shown 9 yellow cards and 2 red cards in his ten Blue Square Bet North games so far this season.

[Poli]

Current Standings:

1. Histon 69
2. Altrincham 65
3. Eastwood 65
4. Nuneaton 63
5. Workington 59
6. FC Halifax 58

[Poli]

24 Mar 2012

Eastwood, 19-8-8
@
Histon, 21-6-8

Dry, 51 degrees


Lee, Morris

Elliott, Caines, Gardner

Benjamin, Keane, Hanson, Troke, Cooper

Gilpin


West, Hall, Istead, Edwards, McIntosh


Troke is making both his 25th career league appearance and 25th appearance in league play with Eastwood

Istead will have his 25th league match with Eastwood as well if he plays

Edwards is still looking for his 25th career league goal.

[Poli]

15: Caines nicks a Histon middie...he's certainly injured but he'll stay in the game.

24: Elliott attempts to make an opportunity and finds Morris on the right side. Morris fails to make the most of the opportunity. Wide left.

27: Elliott gets a yellow for tripping an opponent.

29: Corner for Histon. I absolutely hate corners on defense. Header to the net and Benjamin heads it...into the top bar and into the goal. Own goal for Benjamin. 0-1

34: After a scramble on a corner of our own, Lee finds the ball along the left side of the penalty area. Can't get a good shot, though.

36: Lee again with the chance. He bangs it off the top of the bar from 20 yards out.

39, 42, 45: Gilpin with a series of shots hit at him. He makes the save each time.

45+2: Cooper feeds the ball to Gardner inside the penalty area. It looks like Gardner is going to Lee, but the pass bounds off a defender...to Morris who is 6 yards away from the net. An easy shot, and we're tied! 1-1

[Poli]

Worse things could happen on the road. I'll take it. They certainly feel like the stronger team. Hope we can hang on for a draw. We'll go prevent if we get the goal.

[Poli]

We kick off to start the second half.

53: Gilpin starts a counterattack...sending the pass to Cooper, to Elliott, to Caines, who booms it out to Morris. Morris outruns the defender to the top right corner of the penalty area, but the keeper has spotted the problem and races out to grab the ball before Morris can get there. Morris beats the sliding keeper. Morris taps it in and it slowly rolls in! 2-1!

61: Lee gets fouled along the left side of the penalty area. Elliott comes over and kicks it with a quickness. Hanson hits a header...right at the keeper.

63: Corner chance for Histon...Caines clears it.

66: Elliott takes a shot from out deep...but puts it high and wide to the right.

71: Gilpin with a diving save in what I thought was bound to be a goal. The action was hot and heavy.

73: Cooper gets a yellow for tripping, though it appeared the Histon player took a dive. Istead in for Caines. Hall in for Elliott.

82: Gilpin takes a weak shot and holds on to it.

84: Hall with a ridiculous shot that's easily gathered. He must have been 30 yards out.

87: Lee passes into the box for Morris. Morris with a chance at the hattrick but it hits the left post and bounds out. They clear for a corner. Hall sends it in to Hanson who heads it...into the the same post and it bounds out.

89, 90+2: Gilpin handles too more relatively easy chances.

The team is overjoyed at the end of it. Can't blame 'em.

[Poli]

Got to love Cooper.

He suggests that we don't really need to say anything to the team after that. Screw that. ATTA BABY!

[Poli]

Lee 7, Morris 8.8

Elliott 6.8, Caines 6.9, Gardner 6.9

Benjamin 6.1, Keane 6.8, Hanson 6.8, Troke 6.9, Cooper 6.6

Gilpin 6.9


West, Hall 6.7, Istead 6.7, Edwards, McIntosh


Morris take MoM.

[Poli]

Other scores:

Altrincham 2-1 Vauxhall

Workington 0-0 Nuneaton

FC Halifax 3-1 Solihull Moors

Altrincham winning is a disappointment...but space between us and Nuneaton is always appreciated.

[Poli]

We'll host 12th ranked Stalybridge in a week.

[Poli]

Lee Morris is named to the Team of the Week.

[Poli]

Cooper let's me know we're 15 points shy of a guaranteed playoff spot.

[Poli]

Eastwood: 11-5 Draw: 11-5 Stalybridge: Pick 'Em (Fav) (Blue Square Bet North)

Minnows Eastwood go into this game as slight underdogs even though they have home advantage over troubled Blue Square Bet North strugglers Stalybridge, according to Sky Bet.

Eastwood have notched up three straight wins and the promotion contenders lie in 3rd place in the Blue Square Bet North. Eastwood can overtake a number of teams including Altrincham and move as high as 1st if they win their next game. Although they were expected to struggle to avoid relegation at the beginning of the season, Eastwood have managed to guarantee survival before the end of the season, an outstanding achievement.

Stalybridge have been disappointing in the Blue Square Bet North this season and find themselves below expectations in 12th place.

The referee for the match will be Paul Curry from Ashington who has shown 109 yellow cards and 5 red cards in his twenty-seven Blue Square Bet North games so far this season. Curry's last Eastwood Town match was Eastwood's 3 - 1 Blue Square Bet North victory over Hinckley on Saturday 10th March.

[Poli]

Current Standings:

1. Histon 69
2. Altrincham 68
3. Eastwood 68
4. Nuneaton 64
5. FC Halifax 61
6. Workington 60

[Poli]

31 Mar 2012

Stalybridge, 13-12-11
@
Eastwood, 20-8-8

Wet, 53 degrees


Lee, Morris

Elliott, Troke, Gardner

Benjamin, Caines, Hanson, Keane, Cooper

Gilpin


West, Hall, Istead, Edwards, McIntosh


Staly's coach talked a lot of smack before the game...particularly for someone who's had three straight 1-1 draw results.

Lee Morris needs two goals to reach 50 career league goals.
Luke Edwards needs just one more goal to reach 25 career league goals.

[Poli]

6: Staly's awarded a corner and it's headed right to Gilpin

8: After Benjamin is tripped we're awarded a free kick just to the left of the penalty area. Elliott kicks it toward the net. Instead of finding a teammate, he finds the net. Wasn't intentional, but we'll take it. 1-0

14: Lee gets a yellow for tripping.

15: Another corner for Staly. This time the header is high and wide.

23: Lots of action here, which finishes with Elliott pushes the ball to Lee. Lee tries to swing it in from the top of the penalty area, but he misses to the right.

25: Staly shocks us all with a score from 30 yards out. It's the kid's first goal of the season. What a disappointment for us. 1-1

28: Gardner lines up with a free kick 30 yards out and to the right of the net. He sends it to the net, but high.

41: Three chances are missed here. We're forced to a corner after the first, Lee misses a header when they clear it out...and finally we bring it back down but Morris pounds the ball into the keeper.

43: Elliott tosses the ball in near the left corner and has it sent right back to him. He fires a shot but the keeper swallows it.

[Poli]

Not bad, not great. One fluke goal for each team.

[Poli]

52: Corner chance for Staly. Resulting header hits the top bar and bounds over.

55: Another chance from Staly. They attack the left side, but Staly just doesn't have the angle. It spins past the goal.

62: Corner for Staly but we clear it.

64: Lee is tripped up and the guy is given a yellow. Lee then knocks him over and causes an injury. ATTA BABY.

66: Istead in for Gardner. Edwards in for Morris.

78: Elliott is served a yellow for tripping.

85: We get desperate for a goal. Hanson moves to the middle. Istead and Edwards move to attacking wings. It does nothing for us.

[Poli]

We didn't need a draw here, but with Staly actually favored to win, I guess we can take the point and be happy.

Lee 6.8, Morris 6.8

Elliott 7.2, Troke 6.6, Gardner 6.6

Benjamin 6.9, Caines 6.7, Hanson 6.1, Keane 6.7, Cooper 6.8

Gilpin 6.8


West, Hall, Istead 6.5, Edwards 6.4, McIntosh


646 at the match. Gotta love that!

[Poli]

Other scores:

Vauxhall 2:1 Histon

Gainsborough 3:3 Altrincham

Nuneaton 1:1 FC Halifax

Bishop's Stortford 1:1 Workington


Histon losing is certainly great while we keep pace with everyone else with the draw. I'll definitely take that.

[Poli]

Histon's loss drops them to 3rd. We rise to 2nd.

[Poli]

After the match, Staly's coach complained that Morris fouled one of his guys inside the penalty area and they should have got the PK. I hope he gets suspended. I watched it. His dude wasn't laying on the ground. Play the game.

[Poli]

Lee finishes 3rd in Player of the Month.

I win Manager of the Month. We didn't lose a match this past month, so I guess that helped.

[Poli]

To summarize, the board is delighted with the leadership qualities you are demonstrating.

The team's fantastic overall performance in the Blue Square Bet North has been a particular highlight.

However, they are slightly disappointed with the departure of Francis Green.

The club recorded a loss of $18.26K last month.

Monthly Turnover: $24.22K
Previous Month: $79.98K
Main Income: Gate Receipts $16.67K

Monthly Expenditure: $42.48K
Previous Month: $57.23K
Main Expenditure: Match Day Expenses - $11.81K

[Poli]

The team is 33.32k in the green so far this season.

Speaking of Green: Francis Green, in 13 games, has 2 goals and an assist for Southport. His average rating is 6.34. He had a 6.98 in 21 matches with us.

[Poli]

Next match is 7 Apr 2012 at 10th place Worcester.

David Lee's recognized for having the highest average rating in the league at the moment. His 7.4 on the season is .07 better than the next man.

He is also recognized for having obtained Man of the Match 12 times on the season. His closest competitor has made it 7 times.

I believe we're looking at the North Player of the Year.

[Poli]

Worcester: 6-4 (Fav) Draw: 2-1 Eastwood: 13-8 (Blue Square Bet North)

Eastwood Town go into this away game with every chance of walking away with something against slight favorites Worcester, according to Sky Bet.

Eastwood are currently on an eight match unbeaten run and the promotion contenders are enjoying 2nd place in the Blue Square Bet North. Although Eastwood face a tough opponent in Worcester, they have a good chance to seize the advantage over their title rivals, who play each other.

Following Worcester's 1 - 3 Blue Square Bet North defeat against Hinckley last Saturday, Heeley's men are currently 11th in the Blue Square Bet North with 54 points from 37 matches.

The referee for the match will be Peter Banks from Southport who has shown 44 yellow cards and 3 red cards in his fourteen Blue Square Bet North games so far this season. Banks' last Eastwood Town match was Eastwood's 1 - 2 Blue Square Bet North defeat against Bishop's Stortford on Wednesday 1st February.

[Poli]

Current Standings:

1. Altrincham 69
2. Eastwood 69
3. Histon 69
4. Nuneaton 65
5. FC Halifax 62
6. Workington 61

[Poli]

7 Apr 2012

Eastwood, 20-9-8
@
Worcester, 15-9-13

Dry, 53 degrees


Lee, Morris

Gardner, Elliott, West

Benjamin, Caines, Hanson, Keane, Cooper

Gilpin


Troke, Hall, Istead, Edwards, McIntosh

Benjamin's making his 25th career league appearance as well as the 25th league appearance with Eastwood

Morris (2 from 50) and Edwards (1 from 25) are still looking for those career goal milestones.

[Poli]

Another matchup to keep an eye on:

Histon @ Altrincham

[Poli]

1: Worcester start the game off and fire it downfield. Caines intercepts and sends the pass to Benjamin, who clears to Lee. Lee beats the defense but is dropped just before he enters the penalty area. The referee quickly holds up a red card.

2: Caines sends that free kick to the net but it's high.

9: Morris gets nicked on a challenge, I'm asked if I want to sub him out. Rub some dirt on it.

11: Morris throws in to West, who sends a cross into the zone to Lee. Lee heads it out for a goal kick, though.

19: Hanson and Benjamin clear a counter attack to Lee, who passes on to Morris. Morris fires a shot that bounds off the keeper and is cleared by the defense.

26: Cooper to West to Morris. Morris fires another shot. This one bounds off the top post to Lee, who also misses the chance!

40: Lee takes a terrible shot from outside the penalty area.

42: West copies Lee. Taking a remarkably terrible shot as well.

[Poli]

Thanks to the red card, Worcester hasn't mounted one attack. I'll be moving the defense up as a result. Hanson will play more of a defensive middie in the second half.

[Poli]

63: Hanson intercepts a throw in and fires it to Gardner, who feeds Morris. Open shot and Morris nails it! 1-0

64: We sub in Istead for Elliott and Edwards for Morris. Feeling comfortable that Worcester will never mount an attack of note, I move Edwards and Istead to attacking wings and Hanson to the middle.

68: Lee picks up a yellow for tripping, though the Worcester player was taking a dive.

79: Benjamin clears a ball to Edwards on a counter. Edwards zips up to the left corner of the field and swings a pass in front of the net to Lee. Lee heads it in easily. 2-0

Hall comes in for Gardner.

[Poli]

Definitely good news. I'd hate to draw against a team a man down.


Lee 7.5, Morris 7.2

Gardner 6.9, Elliott 6.8, West 6.9

Benjamin 7.5, Caines 7.3, Hanson 7, Keane 6.9, Cooper 7.4

Gilpin 6.9


Troke, Hall, Istead 6.4, Edwards 6.9, McIntosh


Lee takes MoM.

[Poli]

Other scores

Altrincham 3:3 Histon

Guiseley 1:3 Nuneaton

FC Halifax 1:1 Bishop's Stortford

Workington 0:0 Colwyn Bay

The Altrincham/Histon match was interesting to watch update as our game went along. I personally believed Altrincham would win this. Histon scored early, but Alt scored just before the half.

Al then poured two on early in the 2nd half and Histon had a player sent off. I thought it was over. At the end of our match, I couldn't believe it...down a man they scored two goals for the draw!

Still, with both of them in a deadlock, that means Eastwood is back in first place!

[Poli]

U-18s won the league. 10 points separated them from 2nd place.

[Poli]

Next match: 9 Apr 2012, hosting Boston United. Two day turnaround.

[Poli]

Eastwood: 4-6 (Fav) Draw: 9-4 Boston Utd: 7-2 (Blue Square Bet North)

Blue Square Bet North surprise package Eastwood have been touted as comfortable favorites but will have to be wary about complacency when taking on struggling Boston Utd, according to Sky Bet.

Eastwood are currently on a nine match unbeaten run and the promotion contenders are enjoying 1st place in the Blue Square Bet North. Eastwood will secure a play-off place at worst with a point in their next match against Boston Utd, but will have eyes for a much greater prize with promotion still a realistic goal.

Boston Utd have been disappointing in the Blue Square Bet North this season and find themselves below expectations in 11th place.

The referee for the match will be Colin Harwood from Manchester who has shown 21 yellow cards and 2 red cards in his twenty-five Blue Square Bet North games so far this season. Harwood's last Eastwood Town match was Eastwood's convincing 4 - 1 Blue Square Bet North victory over Guiseley on Wednesday 18th January.

[Poli]

Current Standings:

1. Eastwood 72
2. Altrincham 70
3. Histon 70
4. Nuneaton 68
5. FC Halifax 63
6. Workington 62

[Poli]

9 Apr 2012

Boston United, 17-4-17
@
Eastwood, 21-9-8

Breezy, 48 degrees


Lee, Morris

Hall, Wilson, Elliott

Benjamin, Troke, Keane, Caines, Hanson

Gilpin


Burge, Cooper, Istead, Edwards, McIntosh

Cooper could make his 150th league appearance for Eastwood if he enters.

Morris (1 from 50) and Edwards (1 from 25) are still looking for those career goal milestones.

[Poli]

1: We take the opening kick and drive to the goal. Lots of passing inside the box before Morris sends it to Elliott just outside of the area. Elliott unleashes a fierce drive at the goal, but it's high.

6: Lee brings the ball to the keeper along the left side and fires a shot at him. He blocks it but the ball bounds off to Morris. Morris is tackled, without a foul called, and the ball is cleared.

8: Elliott and Morris execute a give and go...with Elliott snapping off a pass to a streaking Lee on the return pass. Lee takes full advantage and sinks the shot! 1-0

15: Caines starts a counterattack by passing to Elliott, who finds Lee open. Lee drives to the net and fires off a shot, but it swings wide right.

29: Some banging in the midfield. When a Boston U man goes down, Hall gets the red card. Hanson moves to the midfield as a result.

33: Wilson finds Lee at midfield. Lee and Morris exchange passes as they head up to the goal. Morris takes the final pass and fires it in from 20 yards out! GOAL! Morris obtains his milestone! 2-0

34: Following the kickoff, Keane sends a counter chance to Lee. It's just Lee and the keeper, but the keeper wins this one. The ball is cleared.

[Poli]

Not a bad half. I'll take it! Hate to be down a man, but up 2 makes it easier to handle.

[Poli]

46, 49: Gilpin makes a save by tipping it away for a corner...following it up with a grab off a volley.

51: Wilson hits a direct kick towards Caines, but Caines heads it over the net.

53: Troke weakly sends one into the keeper's hands. Not sure what he intended there.

58: Lee find a streaking Morris through the defense. A quick shot leads to a quick goal! 3-0

Subs pour on. I make sure Cooper has his milestone achieved. Burge for Elliott, Cooper for Benjamin. Edwards for Lee. Cooper heads to midfield, Hanson moves back.

62: Troke misses on a header from the corner. He sent it over the net.

63: We successfully clear a corner on our side.

64: Boston U brings it back and Gilpin wins the one on one battle!

68: Morris takes a shot from outside the penalty area...but it's wide left.

74: Edwards centers a ball to Burge, who heads it over the goal.

75: Cooper centers a ball to Edwards, who heads it barely over the keeper. Edwards first goal as a member of Eastwood, and his 25th career league goal. 4-0

79: Troke's taken down by Boston U. We decide to just play with 3 defenders since we're up 4.

83: Cooper gets a chance to head a goal in off a corner but sends it wide.