FM12 Eastwood Town (2012 BSBN Champs)

[Poli]

HOLY COW WE ARE IN THE GREEN.

[Poli]

I send Pitham, Edwards, and Burge down to the reserves...hoping to get them match fit with three games scheduled for the reserves next week while the senior squad sits for the week.

Then I get bad news:

Eastwood Town will play Preston North End in the English FA Cup Second Round.

The game will be played at Coronation Park on Saturday 3rd December 2011.

Preston last won the competition in 1938. The current holders of the competition are Manchester City.

[Poli]

Preston's currently 2nd in the Npower 1.

Yep, at least the money was good.

[Poli]

Boston Utd: 1-3 (Fav) Draw: 3-1 Eastwood: 7-1 (Blue Square Bet North)

Blue Square Bet North surprise package Eastwood are unlikely to face a very enjoyable away day excursion when they take on Boston Utd, according to Sky Bet.

Eastwood have been playing above all expectations so far this season and find themselves in 3rd place in the Blue Square Bet North. Eastwood could fall out of the play-off places if they lose to Boston Utd and results elsewhere go against them.

Following Boston Utd's Blue Square Bet North 1 - 1 draw with Blyth last Saturday, the promotion contenders are currently 5th in the Blue Square Bet North with 30 points from 17 matches.

The referee for the match will be Colin Harwood from Manchester who has shown 13 yellow cards and no red cards in his twelve Blue Square Bet North games so far this season. Harwood's last Eastwood Town match was Eastwood's 1 - 0 Blue Square Bet North victory over Droylsden on Tuesday 20th September.

[Poli]

U-18s beat Gainsborough, 2-0. Domination continues on the kid front.

Lee, Green
Elliott, Istead, Gardner
Riley, Caines, Keane, Troke, Hanson
Gilpin

Hinchley, Bailey, Nwadike, Morris, Cooper


Edwards was hurt in the last reserve match. He's out about 3 weeks.

[Poli]

Lee scores early on an odd play. Two guys bang the ball at the keeper from close range...Elliott's shot bounds off to the left, right to Lee...who runs it past the surprised keeper for the score.

Gardner took a knock, he'll have to sub eventually.

[Poli]

Lee opens the 2nd half with a hattrick. A hattrick in 10 minutes of soccer, with goals at 50, 56, and 59 minutes.

The first was pure hustle, chasing down a pass and beating a defender...one on one with the keeper, Lee knocked it in. The next was a header, followed by a short cross from Green that Lee zipped past the keeper.

I spell Gardner and Riley at that point with Bailey and Cooper. I take out Elliott for Morris and move him to the wing. I can risk playing short with an injury with this lead.

But Lee wasn't done. Istead lobs a pass over the defense. Lee does the rest. 5 goals for Lee.

7 minutes later Morris, finds Istead, who finds Lee...you guessed it. Goal.

An own goal by Boston finished the scoring. 7-0.

Wow.

[Poli]

Lee 10, Green 8.9
Elliott 7.7, Istead 9.2, Gardner 8
Riley, Caines 8.6, Keane 8.7, Troke 8.8, Hanson 8.5
Gilpin 7.4

Hinchley, Bailey 6.9, Nwadike, Morris 6.9, Cooper 7.1

[Poli]

Lee is named MoM. Surprisingly.

[Poli]

Working on a YouTube highlight of it.

[Poli]

The video can be viewed in HD...it's much more clear.

[Poli]

The win sends us into 1st...though two other teams have 34 points along with us.

[BYU 14]

Wow, Lee's second goal was just plain filthy. Tough angle in tight space, well done.

[Poli]

Lee set club and Blue Square Bet North records with the 6 goals. He also helped Eastwood set a new record win.

[Poli]

Six players are named to Team of the Week after that one:

Gilpin, Keane, Troke, Hanson, Istead, and Lee.

[Poli]

Eastwood: 2-5 (Fav) Draw: 11-4 Whitby: 13-2 (English FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round)

Blue Square Bet North surprise package Eastwood should record an easy home win against Northern Premier Premier outfit Whitby, according to Sky Bet.

Luton is just one of the 102 teams that potentially await Eastwood in the First Round if they get through.

Both clubs will be doing everything they can to ensure victory.

The referee for the match will be Peter Banks from Southport.

[Poli]

Eastwood fans are all set to welcome Whitby fans to Eastwood for their English FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round match, one which the hosts are expecting to take a comfortable win from.

Both clubs will be doing everything they can to ensure victory.

[Poli]

We will go to the 4-4-2 attacking on this one.

If it doesn't flow well, we may move back to our conventional 5-3-2.

Lee, Morris,

Gardner, Nwadike, Elliott, Green

Riley, Caines, Keane, Hanson

Gilpin

Knox, Bailey, Cooper, Istead, Troke

[Poli]

Whitby's steals a goal from Morris and puts it in themselves to start the scoring. Gardner takes a nick and I'm forced to shuffle. Istead comes in to the right wing. Green vacates for the striker. Morris moves to the left attacking wing.

Morris hits Caines on a corner (I believe it was a corner) who heads it in. Lee forces his way into his 20th goal of the season.

3-0 good guys at the half.

[Poli]

Morris finds Lee along the left side to close out the scoring for the game.

Bailey and Troke make late game appearances.

Lee 9.4, Morris 8.4

Gardner --, Nwadike 6.9, Elliott 6.9, Green 7

Riley 7.5, Caines 8.4, Keane 7.9, Hanson 8.1

Gilpin 6.9

Knox, Bailey 6.8, Cooper, Istead 6.9, Troke 6.4

Lee is MoM.

458 came out for the game.

[Poli]

6.4k for the bank. That'll help keep us in the green for a little bit.

[Poli]

Unfortunately, Gardner left the game and was diagnosed with a concussion. He'll be out about 2 weeks.

[Poli]

First place U-18 Eastwood took on 5th place Hinckley...I was all set to report a rare loss, when we somehow tied it late. Direct kick bounced off the keeper's hands...hits the post and goes in.

[Poli]

A recent article in the paper states that Gilpin leads the league in shutouts with 11 and Lee leads the league in scoring with 17 goals.

That's what I'm talking about.

[Poli]

We're given news that we will play either Barwell (Southern Premier) or Bury Town (Isthmian Premier) next in the FA Trophy First Round.

[Poli]

Eastwood: 4-6 (Fav) Draw: 9-4 Harrogate: 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 out-of-form Harrogate, according to Sky Bet.

Eastwood have been playing above all expectations so far this season and find themselves in 1st place in the Blue Square Bet North. Eastwood could be overtaken by the likes of Nuneaton and drop as low as 3rd if they fail to win their next game.

Harrogate are currently lying in 18th place in the Blue Square Bet North.

The referee for the match will be Andy Pownall from Liverpool who has shown 9 yellow cards and no red cards in his ten Blue Square Bet North games so far this season.

[Poli]

Current top 5:

1. Eastwood, 34
2. Nuneaton, 34
3. Hinckley, 34
4. Solihull Motors, 32
5. Workington, 31

[Poli]

Harrogate, 3-6-9
@
Eastwood, 10-4-4

We're back to a 5-3-2. Harrogate, FWIW, lost their opening round match in the FA Trophy.

The injury to Gardner makes us noticeably thinner in a thin middle. Caines goes to the middle.

Lee, Green

Elliott, Caines, Nwadike

Riley, Troke, Hanson, Keane, Cooper

Gilpin

Knox, Bailey, Istead, Pitham, Morris

[Poli]

Nwadike made a tackle at 26 that was deemed vicious enough to earn a red card. Hanson moved to the middle. Lee responds with a quick goal 1 minute later.

1-0 good guys at the half. I'm going to sub Bailey in now for Riley as Bailey's hurting for match fitness.

[Poli]

We sub Istead in for Elliott, who hasn't had much of a break lately at 61 or so and Lee later adds a second goal. Passes from Caines to Hanson to Lee left Lee alone with the keeper. Lee put it where momma hides the peanut butter...in top right corner of the net.

It's only a few minutes, but we throw Knox in for Green at that point.

Lee 8.8, Green 6.9

Elliott 6.8, Caines 7.1, Nwadike 6.9

Riley 7.3, Troke 7.2, Hanson 6.9, Keane 7.1, Cooper 7.3

Gilpin 6.9

Knox --, Bailey 6.9, Istead 6.9, Pitham, Morris




Lee gets MoM. 529 at the game.

[Poli]

Bury Town beat Barwell. They'll be next on the FAT beatdown parade.

[Poli]

Boston United's head coach was in the stands checking out Francis Green. Didn't he get enough of a view during that 7-0 beating?

I issue a warning to Nwadike for the crap he pulled in the match. FWIW, he took it like a man.

It's addressed in the press conference afterward. I again voice my displeasure. The tackle...and leaving the team shorthanded.

[Poli]

Sweet. The next match...is Preston in the FA Cup. Nothing like losing two starters of your 3 man midfield.

[Poli]

The win does put us in sole possession of first place.

[Poli]

December is here.

David Lee gets player of the month, as expected.

[Poli]

FC Halifax have put in a bid for Green...with Boston United and Southport looking to offer as well. That's lovely.

I hope they take him off the team before we face Preston. That would be just perfect. FWIW, he wants 475 a week. I'm not willing to pay anything close to that.

[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.

The club made a profit of $41.22K last month.

Monthly Turnover: $104K
Previous Month: $94.85K
Main Income: Gate Receipts $59.05K

Monthly Expenditure: $63.39K
Previous Month: $60.94K
Main Expenditure: Match Day Expenses - $16.17K

We are 31.15k in the green so far this season.

[Poli]

Eastwood Town could see their largest ever attendance on Saturday with fans expected to flock to Coronation Park to see Preston North End in the English FA Cup.

Over 3,000 tickets are expected to be sold for the English FA Cup Second Round clash on Saturday.

Preston are seen as strong favorites for the match and The Badgers supporters will know that they are unlikely to see an upset.

Eastwood beat Wakefield, Bishop's Stortford, Chelmsford City and Northampton Town while Preston beat Wrexham to get this far.


Eastwood: 15-1 Draw: 11-2 Preston: 1-10 (Fav) (English FA Cup Second Round)

Part-timers Eastwood face a near impossible task in this home encounter against a vastly superior opposition in the shape of League Cup quarter-finalists Preston, according to Sky Bet.

Man Utd is just one of the eighty-two teams that potentially await Eastwood in the Third Round if they get through. Eastwood have been performing well beyond expectations in the FA Cup this season.

Preston beat Wrexham while Eastwood beat Wakefield, Bishop's Stortford, Chelmsford City and Northampton Town to get this far.

The referee for the match will be Andy D'Urso from Billericay. D'Urso's last Eastwood Town match was Eastwood's 1 - 0 English FA Cup First Round victory over Northampton on Saturday 12th November.

[Poli]

U-18s win again, 1-0 over Histon.

That will be the bright spot of the day. I dipped into the reserve team and pull up McIntosh. He'll make his debut on the defensive line as the right wingback. Good luck, kid. I sit Green as well.


Eastwood @ Preston, FA CUP

Lee, Morris

Elliott, Caines, Istead

Riley, Troke, Hanson, Keane, McIntosh

Gilpin

Lye, Bailey, Burge, Knox, Pitham, Cooper, Green

[Poli]

Two early chances in the first 7 minutes lead to compelling soccer, but no goals for the good guys. We lose their star Hume in the middle and he makes us pay, 1-0.

We get two more shots in, but nothing as a result. At the half, I sympathize. It's better than I expected, honestly.

[Poli]

I make some subs right then and there...for some fresh legs. Burge makes his season debut in the midfield replacing Istead. Pitham in for Troke. Troke's a little dinged, anyhow.

[Poli]

When Hume puts another in at 60, we know it's all she wrote. Morris out for Knox.

Elliott picks up a late yellow...and we drop this one, 2-0.

I'm proud of em. It could have been a lot worse. They took care of business admirably throughout the FA Cup. Very proud of the team.

[Poli]

Lee 6.6, Morris 6.5

Elliott 6.1, Caines 6.7, Istead 6.2

Riley 6.7, Troke 6.9, Hanson 6, Keane 6.5, McIntosh 5.9

Gilpin 7

Lye, Bailey, Burge 6.8, Knox 6.8, Pitham 6.1, Cooper, Green


A likely record 3,641 attended the match.

[Poli]

It was a record. The previous record was 2,723 set back in 1965.

[Poli]

Francis Green turns down FC Halifax. To my surprise.

Boston U and Southport remain very interested in him.

[Poli]

David Lee is named to the latest Team of the Week.

Edwards is deemed healthy enough to resume full training. He'll need some reconditioning.

[Poli]

The U18s finally lose...to Liverpool, 3-1. No shame in that. Thrilling match for us, really. They scored the 3rd goal with the extra time at the end...we had numerous chances to tie it up. Just couldn't get it done.

[Poli]

Great news for us: Nwadike is suspended for 2 more matches. Wait. That's not great. Friggin Emeka.

[Poli]

So Green has interest in him, and I believe I mention Keane did as well. Caines had a team interested earlier in the season and I ponied up to pay him 350 a week through next season.

That apparently still hasn't kept a team from expressing interest in him.

Go away. He's mine.

[Poli]

U-18s play to a scoreless draw with Basingstroke.


We have Bury Town up next in the FA Trophy.

Lee, Green

Elliott, Cooper, Gardner

Riley, Troke, Keane, Caines, Hanson

Gilpin

Burge, Pitham, Istead, Morris, McIntosh