FM12 Eastwood Town (2012 BSBN Champs)

[Poli]

18 AUG 2012

Lincoln City, 0-3 (23rd)
@
Eastwood, 1-1 (12th)

Dry, 66 degrees


Ladapo, Lacey

Andrews, Dyer, Elliott

Daniel, Joyce, Caines, Hanson, Bailey

Gilpin


West, Rewbury, Edwards, Parsonage, Troke

[Poli]

Lincoln City got hammered by Fleetwood, 5-0, in their last match.

Alex Dyer will make his 100th career league appearance.

Parsonage to make his career league debut if he plays.

[Poli]

I'm worried that my game has become corrupt.

I'll have to share a generic match report of Lincoln City and hope that the next save corrects this issue.

[Poli]

Eastwood Town 2 - 1 Lincoln City (Blue Square Bet Premier)

Eastwood Town battled to a deserved 2 - 1 victory over Lincoln City on a hard and bouncy surface in their Blue Square Bet Premier game at Coronation Park.

Centre-back Gavin Caines got Eastwood Town off to a flying start by scoring a close range finish which was timed impeccably in the 6th minute. Young striker Jamar Loza then equalized for Lincoln City in the 14th minute with a tidy finish.

Eastwood Town's winner came through Freddie Ladapo as he seized on Aaron Phillips' mistake to score a penalty.

Eastwood are currently 9th in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

Man of the Match: Gavin Caines (Eastwood)
Attendance: 1,562

[Poli]

In between matches, we sign 17 year old striker Victor Zapata-Caicedo. I'll call him ZC. Cheap and could help us. I need to stop shopping.

[Poli]

Salisbury: 4-6 (Fav) Draw: 9-4 Eastwood: 7-2 (Blue Square Bet Premier)

Cash-strapped Salisbury are clear favorites in this home encounter but will still have to make sure they do a professional job against newly-promoted Eastwood, according to Sky Bet.

Following Eastwood's 2 - 1 Blue Square Bet Premier victory over Lincoln last Saturday, Polston's men are currently 9th in the Blue Square Bet Premier with 6 points from their first 3 matches. Eastwood can overtake a number of teams including Accrington and move as high as 2nd if they win their next game.

Following Salisbury's heavy 2 - 5 Blue Square Bet Premier defeat against Fleetwood last Saturday, Clarke's men are currently 18th in the Blue Square Bet Premier with 3 points from their first 3 matches.

The referee for the match will be Gary Jerden from Grays who has shown 8 yellow cards and no red cards in his two Blue Square Bet Premier games so far this season.

[Poli]

Goals against Lincoln.

[Poli]

Caines and Bailey also picked up yellows. It looks like I may have cleared out the corrupt file.

[Poli]

25 AUG 2012

Eastwood, 2-1 (9th)
@
Salisbury, 1-2 (18th)

Dry, 55 degrees


Ladapo, ZC

Andrews, Gardner, Dyer

Daniel, Joyce, Troke, Caines, Hanson

Gilpin

Elliott, Benjamin, Edwards, Lacey, Bailey

[Poli]

6: Gilpin tips away a free kick for a corner

14: A pair of corner kicks by Eastwood are cleared away.

15: Salisbury mounts a counter but Hanson clears it out.

20: Ladapo has some fine work through the middle of the pitch and ends up alone with the keeper...but sends it wide right.

29: Salisbury dangerously close to a goal but Gardner does well to clear it out.

33: An unsuccessful corner by Salisbury ends up with ZC on the left side. He sends the ball up the sideline to Ladapo. Lad gets knocked over on the tackle inside the penalty area but nothing is called. When the defender tries to send it across the field, it's nearly intercepted for an easy goal by Dyer...but their keeper reacts just in time. I'm beginning to think this may not be the match for us.

38: Salisbury with another shot attempt, this one wide enough that Gilpin doesn't even dive for it.

45: Hanson doing more work. He clears a chance to the sideline and then forces a corner on another drive into the net. The ensuing corner results in a goal kick.

[Poli]

A few missed golden chances break my heart compared to the chances Salisbury has had. They're the better team.

I expected to sub out ZC at the half. He's not match fit, but his energy level is comparable to everyone else's. He stays in.

[Poli]

49: Hanson lobs the ball down the right sideline...ZC fights for the ball and wins, in the process the defender hits the ground. Rather than attack the net, he passes in to Ladapo. It bounces off a defender to Ladapo who quick kicks it in! 1-0

51: Hanson forced out with an injury. In comes Bailey.

55: Gilpin stops a shot but can't stop the second. Salisbury ties it up. 1-1

59: Salisbury appears upset that a PK wasn't awarded for Joyce clearing a ball. No bodies on the ground. Keep playing.

68: Sal with another shot, this time wide right.

69: Gardner out for Lacey. Lacey added for a scoring threat and plays an attacking mid center.

72, 73: Gilpin continues to hold off the Salisbury attacks.

76: Ladapo a yellow for a trip

77: Salisbury's keeper is called for a handball outside of the penalty area. He's so ticked off he ends up with a yellow card from the referee. Troke takes the free kick and puts it past the steamed keeper! 2-1

I look at my lineup to see how I can make it more defensive. I can't, really. Keep playing.

79: Daniel with a yellow after a great trip. Any trip resulting in an injury to the other team is a yellow card well earned.

[Poli]

Goals from the Salisbury game.

[Poli]

Ladapo 7.3, ZC 6.8

Andrews 6.8, Gardner 6.8, Dyer 6.8

Daniel 6.8, Joyce 6.9, Troke 7.7, Caines 6.8, Hanson 6.8

Gilpin 6.9

Elliott, Benjamin, Edwards, Lacey 6.5, Bailey 6.2



1,995 in attendance. Despite the victory, we don't net the MoM.

[Poli]

Troke is named to the Team of the Week and it appears Hanson is out for 2 months with a badly sprained ankle.

[Poli]

Striker Steve Lacey suffers a sprained wrist during training. He's expected to miss the next two weeks. Makes me feel better about the glut of strikers we have.

Also injured was defender Patrick Montgomery with a strained neck. He's out 2-3 weeks.

[Poli]

Striker Jervaise Christie is sick and is sent home for the time being...likely gone 2-3 weeks. Not part of our plans, it's not a problem.

[Portiere]

79: Daniel with a yellow after a great trip. Any trip resulting in an injury to the other team is a yellow card well earned.

The FA warned manager Poli today for encouraging his side to injure its opposition. "There is no place in football for a manager to encourage violence against the other side," said new FA fair play chairman Phil Brown. "If Poli continues down this road, he will be sanctioned!"

Phil Brown could not be reached when quarried about his own record whilst a manager.


All this to say: good dynasty, keep it up!

[Poli]

Thanks, Portiere. It's been enjoyable to say the least!

[Poli]

1 Sep 2012

To summarize, the board is pleased with your leading of the team.

This is in no small part down to your extremely tight control of the payroll.

However, your decision to let David Lee leave the club is regarded by the fans to be a poor piece of business.

The club recorded a loss of $6.28K last month.

Monthly Turnover: $60.29K
Previous Month: $57.94K
Main Income: Gate Receipts $41.38K

Monthly Expenditure: $66.57K
Previous Month: $68.95K
Main Expenditure: Player Salaries - $15.52K

[Poli]

As of 1 Sep 2012, the team balance is -32.27k.

[Poli]

Eastwood: 11-5 Draw: 11-5 Gateshead: Pick 'Em (Fav) (Blue Square Bet Premier)

Newly-promoted Eastwood go into this game as slight underdogs even though they have home advantage over Gateshead, according to Sky Bet.

Eastwood have helped their cause with three straight wins and lie in 6th place in the Blue Square Bet Premier. Eastwood could go top of the Blue Square Bet Premier if they manage to beat Gateshead and other results go their way.

Gateshead are currently lying in 2nd place in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

The referee for the match will be Ross Joyce from Middlesbrough who has shown 12 yellow cards and no red cards in his three Blue Square Bet Premier games so far this season. Joyce's last Eastwood Town match was Eastwood's 2 - 1 Blue Square Bet Premier victory over Lincoln on Saturday 18th August.

[Poli]

1 Sep 2012

Gateshead, 3-1-0 (2nd)
@
Eastwood, 3-0-1 (6th)

Dry, 59 degrees


Ladapo, ZC

Andrews, Gardner, Dyer

Daniel, Joyce, Caines, Troke, Bailey

Gilpin


Elliott, Benjamin, West, Parsonage, Rewbury

[Poli]

Niall Andrews will play his 150th career league match today.

[Poli]

8: ZC gets a yellow for tripping.

12: Gateshead with the corner...header in front of the net goes over the top.

15: A wide shot from the left side bounds off Gilpin. Bailey kicks it out.

24: An ill-advised shot by Gateshead. Way wide.

28: A similar shot from the other side of the field with the same result.

32: Yet another attempt at our goal...the header goes over the post.

35: Gilpin tips away a shot from the center of the field just beyond the penalty mark.

37: Gateshead finally finds a combination that works. A dump in pass from the left side surprised our defense and the quick shot was true. 0-1

[Poli]

Gates keeps hammering the ball at us and we can't get the ball to their side of the pitch and keep it there. They're running circles around us. I'm proud of Gilpin and company for keeping it tight.

[Poli]

46: Despite our kickoff, Gates immediately gets another chance at goal. Fortunately, it's a deep shot that has no chance.

51: Quick throw in from our right sideline by Gates leads to a quick volley that is just wide. Nearly a goal.

56, 58: One of their strikers throws a tantrum. He first receives a yellow and after a trip immediately afterward is sent off. I try to go on the attack.

59: Bailey with a toss in from the right sideline. He finds ZC who scoots it to Gardner. Gardner with a one time shot just wide!

62: Joyce with the yellow for a trip.

69: I make all three subs hoping fresh legs will generate a chance and a goal. West for Gardner. Parsonage for ZC. Elliott for Dyer. Bailey moves up to the midfield.

71: Daniel clears up some mess in the box and clears the ball from the area.

[Poli]

Not too disappointing, but I'd like to have looked like I belonged on the pitch with them. Instead, we looked lucky to have kept the score so close.

[Poli]

Ladapo 6.5, ZC 5.9

Andrews 6.1, Gardner 6, Dyer 6.6

Daniel 7.1, Joyce 6.7, Caines 6.7, Troke 6.8, Bailey 5.8

Gilpin 6.6


Elliott 6.5, Benjamin, West 6.7, Parsonage 6.5, Rewbury


1,268 in attendance.

[Poli]

We turn around to play Kidderminster on the 4th.

[Poli]

Kidderminster: 4-7 (Fav) Draw: 5-2 Eastwood: 4-1 (Blue Square Bet Premier)

Penniless Kidderminster are clear favorites in this home encounter but will still have to make sure they do a professional job against newly-promoted Eastwood, according to Sky Bet.

Following Eastwood's 0 - 1 Blue Square Bet Premier defeat against Gateshead last Saturday, Polston's men are currently 8th in the Blue Square Bet Premier with 9 points from their first 5 matches. Eastwood can overtake a number of teams including Hayes & Yeading and move as high as 3rd if they win their next game.

Kidderminster are currently lying in 13th place in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

The referee for the match will be Matt Stewart from Ipswich who has not shown any cards in his two Blue Square Bet Premier games so far this season.

[Poli]

4 Sep 2012

Eastwood, 3-0-2 (8th)
@
Kidderminster, 2-1-2 (13th)

Dry, 50 degrees


Ladapo, ZC

Elliott, Gardner, Dyer

Benjamin, Joyce, Caines, Troke, Cooper

Gilpin


West, Rewbury, Andrews, Barrett, Daniel

[Poli]

I neglected to mention today's game will be on TV.

[Poli]

5: Right corner by Kidderminster is dumped into the box but headed out wide left.

27: A left corner this time has the same result. Wide left.

29, 33, 34: More corners by Kidder. More missed opportunities.

38: Ladapo takes a header from the back line and finds ZC cutting to the goal. The pass is good and ZC snakes the shot past the keeper! 1-0

43: Another corner chance wasted by Kidderminster.

45: Gilpin fails to keep his goal kick away from Kidder. The striker streaks to the goal behind the defense but Gilpin forces a difficult shot that hits the side of the net!

[Poli]

I expected to be losing after the barrage of corner kicks. I had a defensive posture going already in the game, I'll take shouting steps to try to entrench the defense.

[Poli]

47: A free kick and header force the Kidder keeper to try and clear the ball quickly. It goes straight to Gardner who tries to lift it over the retreating keeper...it would have worked but it was just a bit high.

49: Caines hits ZC on a counter down the right side. ZC pushes the ball upfield and cross passes to Ladapo who fires it in! 2-0

I'm feeling great now.

54: Ladapo with an interception and he's behind the defense...but the keeper makes a great save!

69: ZC tries to curl a shot in from 20 yards out but it's high.

We sub in West for Gardner and Andrews for Elliott.

73: Kidder with a close range shot that bangs off the top post!

85: Corner by Kidder that goes straight to Gilpin. The only time he's actually made a save off any of the corners.

90: A great header try by Kidder....skims off the post.

[Poli]

I'm thrilled to have won this. Early on it felt like there wasn't a chance. When ZC scored late in the first half, I thought...well, maybe. When we came out attacking early in the second I was surprised. I haven't seen a momentum swing quite like that before.

Kidder came back with attacks late, but being down 2 made it that much harder for a comeback.

[Poli]

Goals from the Kidderminster match.

[Poli]

Ladapo 8.5, ZC 8.1

Elliott 6.8, Gardner 6.8, Dyer 6.8

Benjamin 6.9, Joyce 7.1, Caines 7.1, Troke 7, Cooper 6.8

Gilpin 6.7


West 6.5, Rewbury, Andrews 6.9, Barrett, Daniel


Ladapo is MoM. 1,496 in attendance.

[Poli]

Eastwood: 3-1 Draw: 2-1 Stockport: 4-5 (Fav) (Blue Square Bet Premier)

Newly-promoted Eastwood are up against it in their home encounter against Stockport, according to Sky Bet.

Eastwood are currently lying in 6th place in the Blue Square Bet Premier. Eastwood can overtake a number of teams including Hayes & Yeading and move as high as 1st if they win their next game.

Stockport are currently on a three match unbeaten run and the promotion contenders are enjoying 12th place in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

The referee for the match will be Darren Handley from Wigan who has shown 15 yellow cards and one red card in his five Blue Square Bet Premier games so far this season.

[Poli]

Speaking to the media ahead of Stockport's clash with Eastwood, Jim Gannon appeared reluctant to comment on Eastwood head coach Rodney Polston.

When pushed by Jay Knight from BBC Manchester however, Gannon did eventually come up with a response, saying "The field looks really quite bad, it's not in a great state and could pose us a few problems."

This is the first time that Gannon has talked openly in the press about Polston.

Stockport are currently lying in 12th place in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

[Poli]

8 Sep 2012

Stockport, 2-3-1 (12th)
@
Eastwood, 4-0-2 (6th)

Dry, 59 degrees


Ladapo, Falconer

Andrews, Gardner, Dyer

Daniel, Joyce, Troke, Caines, Bailey

Gilpin


West, Rewbury, Elliott, Barrett, Benjamin

[Poli]

Gavin Falconer makes his debut today. ZC is worn, Lacey's dinged, and Barrett is more of the 4th at this point.

Gavin Caines is set to make his 275th league appearance.

Stockport has a 17 year old winger making his professional debut. They are also in a 3-5-2. They're coming after us!

[Poli]

4: Stockport came out on fire. Multiple attacks finally led to a goal, though Caines was noted as failing the defend on the play. 0-1

13: Dyer misses on a free kick from 30 yards out.

16: After Stockport pours on another attack, I begin to wonder if they're going to win this due to their heavy presence on my side of the pitch. We turn a corner away and get a goal kick.

23: The great thing about three defenders is that there's just 3 defenders to beat. Dyer tries a shot that forces the keeper to dive. It's wide left but hits the post. With the keeper recovering, Ladapo comes in and finishes it off. 1-1

I have to admit, my concerns vanished there.

26: Falconer slow plays a ball near the goal line and is tripped. Free kick for us. Gardner boots it to Troke and Troke punches it in. 2-1

36: Dyer runs wide right with the ball and swings a crossing pass to Ladapo...cleared at the last moment by Stockport.

[Poli]

Truth is, we look like we're dominating after a rough 13 minutes to start out. We just couldn't clear the ball out of their attack zones. Once we got into the under belly of the defense, our forwards and middies made them pay.

[Poli]

48: After clearing the ball into the left sideline, Daniel came over to toss it back in. The midfield didn't appear too concerned that we were outnumbering the defenders. Ladapo sat near the corner alone while Andrews, Falconer, Dyer, and Gardner all clogged the middle. Some middies came over late, but no one came over to Ladapo. Daniel lobbed it in to Lad. When the nearest defender came to contest, Lad sent in a laser to Falconer who made a sliding cut for the goal! 3-1

52: Corner by Stockport, Caines redeems himself and clears the ball this time.

56: Corner for us. Gardner sends it in to Joyce...he gets his first goal as a Badger! Joyce with the header! 4-1

66: Gilpin saves a looping header from going in.

67: Daniel picks up a ding and hobbles off.

71: I can't get the subs in fast enough. Benjamin in for Daniel, obviously. Barrett for Falconer. West for Gardner.

88: Niall Andrews tries his best to stop an attack but heads the ball past a diving Gilpin in the process. Poor guy. 4-2

[Poli]

Clearly a great game for us. Disappointed in the Andrews own goal in the end, but I won't complain with 4 goals.

[Poli]

Hammering them home!

[Poli]

Ladapo 8.2, Falconer 7.8

Andrews 6.8, Gardner 8.2, Dyer 7

Daniel 7.2, Joyce 7.8, Troke 7.7, Caines 6.6, Bailey 6.9

Gilpin 7.1


West 6.7, Rewbury, Elliott, Barrett 6.7, Benjamin 6.5


Ladapo is MoM. Nice attendance of 1,706.

[Poli]

Next match is in a week against 23rd Bath. It'll be nice to rest the boys for a bit.