NEWS

NOTE: Unless there are substantial sums of money involved, I do not give permission for other clubs to use my match reports in their match day programmes. Use your own bloody material.

30 August 2008

Firstly, a word of warning. This is going to be a seriously crap report, as I'm working tomorrow for FourFourTwo and don't really have too much energy to do it properly tonight. Any and all complaints will be suitably ignored and/or ridiculed. However, as I'm so nice, I promise to make it up for you all for Braintree...

Speaking of lack of energy, Bath 2 Shower 2. Actually, if truth be told, I'm a mixture of pissed off and relieved. Pissed off because, well, I don't like not winning. At times today I think we laboured, although whether that was because we've had to really dig deep for two of the last three games I don't know. Wouldn't surprise me if a bit of fatigue has crept in, especially at this early stage. One thing is certain, this was our worst performance of the campaign so far.

And yet I'm relieved. Perhaps now the pressure of a 100% winning run has been lifted we can stretch our shoulders a bit now? I think we've proven to a lot of people - ourselves included - that we've got guts and determination as much as anyone. If we can play as ordinary like that - I don't think we were so much crap as mundane - and still get a point (especially away from home) then who knows what we can achieve?

Today showed that we are by no means the finished article. We never were anyway, but I think some were getting a little bit carried away with the season already. It's not as though the cracks haven't been showing already :we not only got out of jail against Bromley, but compensation and a quick nosh off the Chief Inspector's secretary as well. And you just can't keep scoring last minute goals and expect not to be arse bitten at some point later.

And yet, even with this, we could have won it today. Come to think of it, we should have won it - damn you Elliot Godfrey with your powder-puff "attempt" after Finn hit the post. That said, I think that would have masked a growing problem with our defence. Yup, I'm having a go at it today, although with the two goals we let in today I feel more than justified in slagging them off. Did somebody say "Ryman League"? It certainly seemed like some of those dark days at times...

I'm going to make a prediction for Tuesday - we are going to lose 3-0. I just cannot see today being a sufficient wake up call and it will take a whalloping just to gently remind us we're in the Conference South. At times, reality bit. I didn't get round to saying this on the WDON commentary, but today was the kind of game I expected all Conf South games to be like.

Am I over-reacting? Suppose so. But I'll be very interested to see how we do on Tuesday. I say we'll lose 3-0, not because we're actually quite shite but because we've had to dig out too many games late on too often. And that does take it out of you - what's it been, three tough games in the last seven days? With another big tester on Tuesday as well. On the flip side of course, today might have forced us to refocus, realise it won't be all our own way, and we'll turn up and send Braintree to the local anal injury unit.

Anyway, what else can I think of? Seemed to be a lot of us on that terrace, and trust me - from their mainstand we were loud in places. Bit silent in others, like when they scored. Twerton Park is often considered a favourite of opposition fans, and I can see why. It's one of the last traditional Division Four grounds (although Barf were never a league side), even down to the Wrexham-esque floodlights. Traffic through Barf itself though was absolute horse shit - next time I'm going via the M32 way, and I don't care if the turnoff looks like an outskirt of Dresden. The settlement of Twerton-Upon-Avon reminded me of Swords just outside Dublin for some reason. Also, how the fuck did it cope with Brizzle Rovers down there, especially with their 5k+ turnouts?

Oh, and the wedding. Nuff sed.

Other than that, we probably learnt a lot more today than we have in our previous five games. And I don't consider that a bad thing......

By the way, if anyone wants to do a "proper" SW19 report for me, feel free to jot it down and send it to the usual place. Normal rules for writeups apply, like no mention of the football whatsoever. Come on, you all appeared to have a good time on the terraces, and some of you even stayed down in Barf itself for decadance and wanton debauchery. Don't keep it to yourself...

25 August 2008

The run continues. I'm not too sure whether it's relief over the result, the continued stay at the table's summit, or whether it was just our lovely opponents, but Norbiton 3 Coney Hall 1 feels the result of the season so far, doesn't it?

Make no mistake, this wasn't Basingstoke in the first half, or Newport, or even Furruk. If you predicted a draw or a loss before the game, you could easily be forgiven. You wouldn't be the only one on that score, certainly. Indeed, before the game, you were going to wonder would this be the day where we'd come a cropper. We looked a bit tired for the last couple of games, and in truth we did for a fair bit of today as well.

When we went 1-0 up, you just wondered if it was a case of last season all over again. Never has "Hallelujah" over the PA sounded so apt. When they equalised, it was eyes rolling time. You knew it was deja vu all over again by that stage. In fact, who here thought to themselves it would be a loss at the finish? Go on, you can admit it, you're amongst friends here. And me.

But, but, but...... If you want to know why we're top of the table, with five consecutive wins under our belts, the last five minutes proved why. There has developed an almighty self-belief within AFCW right now that gets us through those difficult games. Whether it's the style of play that knackers the opposition out, or the personnel that TB's brought in, or even just the different attitude this whole club has right now, I don't know, but I'm sure as hell glad we've got it in our locker room.

It can best be described by JM's penalty. Think about it. This was a game where a draw could have been expected. We were pushing on more than they were towards the end and we got a penalty right on full time. Now, imagine in the past if something like that had happened - we would have cacked ourselves, especially with the way the crowd went silent before JM stepped up. That takes some bottle to even face a penalty in that situation. What was different this time was that you knew that JM would put it in. That's the level of confidence we have right now. And boy, when he put it in did the roof (metaphorically) lift off or what? Seriously, I can't remember the TE being that excited even during the playoffs, although we weren't so pant-cacky today.

Our third goal was no real surprise, as I think Bromley lost it by then. JM's injury though was only a knock, as TB's interview later will testify. But today, a real hurdle was cleared, and this week will suddenly go a lot smoother.

So, why are we so good at getting last minute goals right now? Firstly, like the WFC sides of old, we just don't give up. We could have gone for the draw, although we shouldn't need to resort to that. Again, that comes with self-belief and confidence. Secondly, I think our style of play has helped. I bet if you're an opposition player it gets knackering having to chase us passing about a lot of the time. Which leads on to my third reason....

Basically, we're fitter. I believe we've employed a fitness coach this season, or at the very least looked at our physical aspect a lot more closely. In the days when Liverpool were running rampant across Britain and Europe (on and off the pitch), it was believed that they had the fittest squad of anyone. Because of this, they had a habit of getting last minute goals, especially when the opposition felt that they'd finally got the measure of them. If we have copied the Scousers in that, it's a pretty fine template to look at.

With physical fitness comes mental fitness. This season, we've always managed to have that second wind when needed. We've seen plenty of games down the years (more the WFC years than AFCW ones) where we've held on and held on and shagged ourselves out at the end of it. Even when we've looked tired recently, we've still had enough to either win or kill off games. It's a very simple thing to do, but clearly a lot harder to achieve.

Of course, the other reason why we score goals so late is our inability to score them in the first 85 minutes...

So, now what? Basically, enjoy the rest of this week. Quietly salivate at the league table, although by Friday you'll be thinking of Bath City away and saying "hmm, tricky one. Bet they beat us". At some point our luck will run out, and it may well be at Twerton Park on Saturday. But we've had the start we daren't have let ourselves consider. Only thing is though, won't it be a comedown when we aren't winning.............?

Plus points: We won. Pretty well in the end. Major hurdle vaulted. Finn. Main's two goals. Everything I said above about keeping going. Decent reception before and after the game.

Minus points: MH's injury. Conceding. Looking a bit tired at times. Trying the perfect goal at times.

The referee's a......: Wins loads of kudos because he managed to miss Luke Garrard's ever-so-slightly-accidental-honest handball right on the edge of the box. Surprised he didn't redress the balance, considering he must have heard the sniggers down the TE end afterwards. Reportedly a tourets sufferer....

Them: Can I say we would have lost this game last season? Bollocks, I will anyway. Bromley were a top ten side, and it showed. Slightly better than Basingstoke methinks, and will probably cause problems this season for many. That said, I don't think they were as skillful as us, and felt a bit like Coldseal in the playoffs (as in, ever able to cause us maximum damage without being massively skillful). Makes you wonder really how Nic McD would have done had he remained with a big club.

Anyway, their fans turned out in numbers, although Usain Bolt is now contacting those who were seen running to the exits for tips on how to move that quickly. As it's August Bank Holiday with plenty of kids about, I've created a game for all the family. No cheating now.

Feel free to photocopy this game for all your friends. And remember, the photocopy itself will be more original than the chants.

Point to ponder: A cursory glance at the BSS table is interesting. No, I don't mean how utterly wonderful it is that we're top, though obviously that's the first thing you look at. It's this - of the top six, three of the sides (including the top two) are the ones who got promoted to the BSS this season. In fact, this morning Chelmsford were fourth (derby games, eh?). I've heard that promoted sides always seem to do well in this division, yet I don't really understand why.

I've been making a lot of comments recently about how non-league is in the process of a shakedown, and how the Conf's metamorphosis into League 2.5 will affect the BSS and lower for years to come. But I wonder if the very creation of regional Conferences has created an artificial imbalance that is only starting to be rectified? With all due respect to Bognor, Basingstoke, Furruk etc, can you really say they should be in a higher league than Ashford (Mx), Rickay and - dare I say it - Staines...?

Meet the Manager: TB's latest post-match comments in MP3 format here. Haven't really listened through it all (even though I was there for the whole of the interview) but at least his comments about JM's injury rounded off an ultimately prosperous day....

Truth is stranger than fiction: (1) The "Happy Birthday" for Tintin Haydon at half time. The pained creasing up of my face is purely down to happyness at such a joyous occasion. No, really. (2) Speaking of cringing - if the individual who stood between the TE and JS side, and who sung songs at random intervals by himself, is reading this, a word please. You can't sing. Oh, and learn the lyrics properly as well. (3) 3149 there. To put it another way, it was behind Pompey v Man U, Oxford v Woking and Cambridge United v Kettering in the whole country. As said plenty of times before, I wouldn't put our long term future ahead of anyone elses (4) Why did today's WUP have an inability to credit contributors with their names? And yes, I know I do it myself, although I do that to protect the innocent from me stitching them up ;)

Anything else? Aye. To quote another Womble in the meeja after today's game, how come Alan Inns has played for the last couple of years four miles away from us yet hasn't got picked up on the radar until now? Perhaps it's because we only became a BSS side this season? Obviously, the likes of JM, Hussey, Luke G and Finn have stepped up to this new level, and Kennedy looks like he's settled in (not his best game today, mind). Now, think back to this time last year (to save you looking, we lost 1-0 to ETU away on this date and drew 1-1 with Staines on the Bank Holiday). Seriously, can you really recognise this club, let alone this team, right now?

So, was it worth it? What, a Bank Holiday beating one of your favourite sides in the manner we did? Dunno.

In a nutshell: And relax.......

23 August 2008

Four games in, four games with a victory and we're even top of the league. Who said this league was difficult?

Well, Stoke 0 Port Vale 1 could have been the sort of game that would bring us back down to earth with a rather undignified bump. It certainly had the potential anyway - home side without a win since January, AFCW optimism high, even one or two of us keeping thoughts of BSP football next season to ourselves.

In the end, it was a shame it wasn't 4-0. By half time. Certainly in the first half poor old Basingstoke must have discovered another orifice, such was the pounding they got off us. And yet, we got only one goal out of that, and that was an own goal as well.

Truth be told, I'm pretty content with the turn of events today, but there's this niggling dissenting voice of disappointment in the back of my mind about this. While our strength was on show today, so was our weakness. Basically, we just can't score. Yes, despite four against Newport, three against BRT, and a couple against Furruk, we have a serious inability to put it in the back of the net. No, I'm being serious over this comment. If we could score goals when the pressure is on we could be lethal. Today's contest could and should have been over by 3.30pm.

Is this a bad omen? Well, it is and it isn't. At some point, no doubt against Bromley on Monday, our current fetish for scoring late on and/or scoring early and leaving it at that will suddenly run its course. While we moved closer to having a decent defence again, we played like we were 3-0 up as opposed to 1-0 up. And I don't meant that in a good way either.

And yet, it seemed almost impossible that we'd lose. Again, a step forward from last year - would have lost this game last season etc etc. But even at this very early stage there's something different at this higher of levels. Maybe it's because we've got a comfortable and capable centre back pairing this season in Judge and Inns? We even feel more confident this season. And let's face it, if our forwards don't fire in a game, we'll certainly need to keep them out the other end.

Striking wise, I think we can improve. A cutting edge in front of goal only comes with confidence throughout the whole team - if the forwards don't feel pressured enough to constantly bail out a shit defence, they can get on with their job better. While at times I think Basingstoke were camped in our half a bit too much for my liking, we handled them as much as I expect them to. And let's be fair here, JM did header onto the post from about 1 yard out late on, and a header of ours just flashed wide soon afterwards.

During the game, I thought we were labouring. But sitting here at SW19 Towers, leaning back on my leather chair in pensive mode, maybe I'm being a tad unfair. Perhaps we were more professional than I believed? After all, how many times have you heard of a team that whips the arse of the opponent, only gets the one goal then ends up without the victory? What did Basingstoke offer today? Seriously?

All this leads onto something I've heard a lot of, particularly this evening. It's the "yeah, we're top and playing good stuff, but wait until winter comes and the pitches get bad" viewpoint. Personally, I think we should cross that wobbly bridge when we come to it. We weren't the potent force we were in the second half, yet maybe that's preparing us for these tough, hard conditions in the bleak winter months. We did show an ability to put ourselves about a bit as well - not go round kicking people, but just let it be known that we don't roll over whenever anyone farts.

If we're as good as we like to think, we'll overcome heavy pitches well enough anyway. Again, that will come with confidence. I've no doubt we'll have to adapt slightly, but as our first four games have shown, teams aren't as barbaric in this division (copyright J Pullen). We might still have that Ryman mentality ingrained in us over this sort of thing - christ, I still have nightmares over Heybridge Swifts away....

Anyway, while we prepare for the inevitable fuckup against Bromley on Monday, here's.....

Plus points: We won. Away. Clean sheet. First half performance. Kennedy. Defence looked pretty solid. Ability to kill off the game in more ways than one.

Minus points: Only one goal. Stupid amount of offsides

The referee's a......: Hmm, yes, well..... Did anyone else hear that he kept referring to JM as "Jon"?

Them: The Draw Specialists, although it's interesting to note that even their own fans say that we bossed the game. They'll probably stay up, although even when I used to cover NLP games at the Camrose they were never really likely to break into the top eight. Also, their #5 looked like Jason Goodliffe, and had the same holding-it-together effect in their defence as well. Off the field, they seemed a well organised bunch, even if £11 is a piss take. Apparently, if they go into the top three by Xmas or something the price goes up to £12. Bright marketing I don't think. Mind you, think they'll be safe on that score. Oh, and their fanzine was interesting enough with our fans comments in, though I am a bit disturbed at their insistence of calling us "Don's" as opposed to "Dons"...

Point to ponder: Was it me, or did Jon Main have his worst ever game for us today? He missed a header from about 1 yard out, shot straight at the goalkeeper when one-on-one, and got caught offside so many times it was as though he was being sponsored to keep doing it. Still, as pointed out above, a poor game won't have as much an impact if everyone else gets it right.

Three's a crowd: 1509, so presumably about 800-900 of us. Thought we might have taken more down there, but I suppose the holidays etc will always knock a few off. We might beat ourselves up over not taking 1000, but let's give ourselves a bit of credit - most teams even in the Conference would kill to have that support. Quite nice to note that there was no segregation or obvious police presence, and none needed.

Truth is stranger than fiction: (1) Having to pay to get into the Camrose for once. I feel victimised. (2) Advert under their Main Stand. I kid you not - "Wickes. After 30 years we've finally arrived in Basingstoke". You can make your own comment. (3) Jamie Pullen's motor, reassuringly footballeresque. If his number plate really does read "P11 NIS" then presumably he's been working on his lobbing while injured? Although judging by his motor it's more likely he runs out of juice after 7 seconds...

Anything else? Not really. It seems that we're waiting for Bromley now, and the general concensus seems to be that we'll drop points. Bit like we predicted against Newport, although my jaw will make a dent in the floor if we win 4-1. We'll find out for certain on Monday, but I sense there's a slight lack of us accepting that we're doing well. Maybe that's a hangover from last season, or it could be that our view on the BSS is the total reverse of what we thought of the RP. We're expecting to drop points against Bromley because it's (a) the sort of thing we do, especially on a good run, and (b) we expect Bromley to be bigger and better in this division. We might be right on this score, but should we win, why would it necessarily be a surprise....?

So, was it worth it? Yeah, wasn't too bad I suppose.

In a nutshell: We are top of the league, say we are top of the league. Until Monday, anyway.

16 August 2008

If you had told me at this time last week we would be only one of three sides with 100% records, I probably would have patted you on the head and given you a dismissive "that'll be good, won't it?", whilst trying hard not to snigger or call you a complete twat.

Mind you, after Crack Cocaine 3 Rocks 1, maybe it is time to get excited? Actually, I think it's better if we have this week to just calm down, not wet yourself in ecstacy and just reflect on a bit of a baptism of fire. For the second time in a week we hit late twice on, concede another sloppy goal yet ultimately left the ground thinking the BSP is more than a formality.

No, I'm not going to say we're absolute fucking shit, that we've fluked each and every one of these victories, and that it'll be a travesty if we didn't go down. We've worked bloody hard to get them, our play and passing has been pretty much on the mark and everyone else is sitting up and taking hastily scribbled notes. We have deserved three wins out of three. Yet today just felt a little bit, well, flat. A comedown from the joy of Newport or the bowel-churning parpfest that was Furruk?

Actually, I think it's really down to us putting so much effort in - both physical and mental - that we didn't look as sharp as we could today. It does seem strange to say that when we've scored twice in the last ten minutes, but rather than pat ourselves on the back and say how wonderful we are, we seem to be relishing the break of seven days without a game more. Certainly TB's comments afterwards (see below) seemed to suggest that.

That's no bad thing . It means we're concentrating, rather than cruising along thinking it's going to be piss every week. Today, the first half hour or so, we just didn't really look there - certainly can't recall too many chances somehow. And yet, and yet, and yet.......... I really hope AFCW or somebody sorts out online video, because you'll wear out your mouse button just looking at Finn's strike over and over again. Seriously - outside the box, right foot volley (I think) and bam. If that was on telly, they'd still be playing it as the programme ended.

After that, we seemed to play quite well really. Which makes their goal on 45 minutes even more annoying. Do we fine our players if they keep a clean sheet? That's three games in a row that we've let in a goal that a backline of Douglas Bader, Stevie Wonder, a dead Georgian soldier and Nick Roddis would have kept out. Do we need to invest in electrodes for our defence, and operate them whenever the opposition has a free kick?

Whatever was shoved up the team's collective poop chute at half time, I think it worked. Today, as Tuesday, we were on top for the most part. Yet unlike Furruk there was no real sense that we'd get any strikes this time. Not that I'm saying that BRT would have popped up right at the end, netted, then celebrated like they'd won the UEFA Cup (though last season that would have certainly happened).

When Sam Hatton managed to shoot directly at the keeper when all he needed was to put it either side, you just thought that seven points out of nine wouldn't be a bad start. We would have accepted that at 2.59pm last Saturday, at least. But we kept going, kept pressurising, and when we finally found a way through, Jon Main proved why we signed him for £25m. And after that, there was no way we were going to lose. If you watch a top four Prem side, you'll note that the opposition can get at them for 85 minutes but never ninety. Witness Liverpool at Sunderland today : 85 minutes of shite, up pops Torres and Liverpool won the game there and then.

As Main struck, you knew we'd won. OK, Mason's goal was a nice bit of cake icing, and I'm always pleased when we realise that it's easier to defend two goals than just one. But today could have come directly from the Yernited/Chelski/Arse/Bindippers manual. I think that might be a good sign.

Anyway, while we get a week to iron out any deficiencies, see how many mistakes and areas for improvement you can find in the next section of writing......

Plus points: We won. At KM. Played reasonably well. Finn. Alan Inns. Kennedy. JM's strike. Never gave up or sat back. Decent passing at times.

Minus points: Conceding again. Not quite with it at times.

The referee's a......: Cock stain. Seriously, all this "Respect The Ref" thing is a crock of shite, especially when he doesn't give pretty blatant penalties, and books over five players in a game I'd hardly call dirty. I wouldn't be surprised to see us get about five red cards this season, and none of them for anything remotely cynical or dangerous. I'm not saying sides should harange the referee whenever they get a throw-in against them, but you can expect some of the jumped up little council workers to enjoy their extra little bit of power....

Them: Duncan Jupp Jupp Jupp, fucked it up up..... actually, he didn't. He was the captain, got treated to "Womble Reject" and led a committed if slightly lacking outfit. Didn't half look pissed off at the end though. Their #3 reminded me a lot of Perry Groves, though that's more down to his standing in the popularity stakes. Off the field, I thought they would give the Jupp Appreciation Day more of an airing, but I suppose after their clubhouse burnt down they were a tad subdued. Understandable, really. I do hope for their sake that it wasn't an insurance job, and "only" arson or an accident. That would lose them a lot of sympathy if that was the case, and prove fatal to them in the long run. Still, they seemed decent enough people.

Meet the manager: As usual when I'm on WDON duties, I get TB's comments after the game. And here's his latest (MP3 format). Some thoughts : I don't think there was too much that we didn't know already. He's clearly content thus far, though still thinks we're a forward short, although one does wonder if he's starting to get a bit fed up with Belal/Sully's continued slow progress. Doesn't seem to want to panic-buy, and why do I get a hunch we might get another Luis Cumbers-esque loan? Also, he does seem to be preparing us for our inevitable slip-up....

Point to ponder: Looking at some of the other scores, and especially Team Taxpayer - are we suffering as usual from the Cup Final effect? OK, we seem to cope with it a bit better, but this is the second game in a row where the opposition have been happy to defend to the point it kills them. Again, it's a compliment and a half to us, but when you consider that Taxpayer stuffed Furruk 4-1 you do wonder how we're clearly good enough yet still don't seem to get those stonking scorelines. Maybe it's time to read the Yernited/Chelski/Arse/Bindippers manual again?

Truth is stranger than fiction: (1) 2741 there, which was lower than Tuesday. Go figure. (2) What the fuck was their mascot all about? Was it a demented squirrel? Or was it a Hanna Barbera-type bear with some of the most shifty eyes going? Whatever, it seem very friendly with Tintin Haydon, posing for photos and even skipping off together at one point. One hopes the two of them didn't do that when they got out of uniform. (3) Leaving SW19 Towers today, I saw a kid in an AFCW t-shirt. Speaking Polish. Wonder what AFCW's reach to locals of Eastern European extraction is? Maybe sufficient enough to have a Polish page in our programme ("Uwaga! Szukamy wspolnikow w Polsce...."), which will at least make more sense to your average Womble than some features in the past. (4) Speaking of today's programme, are there no other pictures of Caroline Barker (BBC Non League show, Chelmsford fan and everyone's favourite Essex bird) about? Just want to know what the hell she was sitting on when they took that photo.....

Anything else? Yeah, seems like there was a collection of police vehicles outside the game afterwards. Apparently, and this is only speculation at this point, it was some youngsters drinking alcohol in the TE and acting like they couldn't handle half a shandy. Allegations that a phone was stolen by them afterwards were also made. Wonder if it was the same retarded mongs seen drinking cans of Carlsberg in the TE on Tuesday and got all pissy when the stewards clocked them?

Anyway, the point of all this is that we've got Bromley at KM next. Cue "Green Street" DVDs, identikit "loyalist" slogans, internet posteuring and the collective cacking of pants if they ever came across proper hooligans. Meanwhile, a fanbase sighs and rolls its eyes towards the sky.

All this leads me to put these words down. At some point, maybe even this season, our wannabe "lads" will find themselves in a situation that they can't handle. Think of those ex-league clubs in the division above us, who we could feasibly meet this season. And don't forget, we're travelling longer distances this season, and will bump into some groups anyway. Those of us who saw Birmingham v West Brom at Sheffield station in 2001/02 will know what I will be hinting at here.

I also make no bones about putting this bit in, because I've read accounts of this recently. It's not been unknown to hear of stabbing incidents either involving football fan scuffles. I know of two incidents in the late 90s/early 2000s where knives have been used against Wimbledon fans (Sheffield Wednesday and Crystal Palace), and by the sounds of it this problem hasn't died away. Suddenly, the posteuring and hard man persona doesn't seem so glamourous does it?

Next time you see our wannabe "lads" acting up, just think how they'd react with a couple of proper thumps to the face. Or worse.......

So, was it worth it? Yeah, it was all right.

In a nutshell: Anyone who says "Champions by Christmas" gets it.

13 August 2008

I don't really do midweek games, but I feel obliged to write something about Arndale 2 Lakeside Thurrock 1. And in just two words - bloody hell.

The general mood outside was one of understandable jubilation tinged with more than a heavy hint of "that was Staines all over again". Well, it was and it wasn't. See, the playoff final really was touch and go, whereas last night I really didn't think we'd lose. Seriously. OK, we left it a bit too late for my liking, but had Furruk left with even one point, it would be classed as stolen property.

The passing was intelligent and - far more importantly - effective. Some impressive ball control as well, and considering this is only our second competitive game as a team/squad, we seemed to find our players quite easily in doing so. This isn't to say we're the finished article, far from it. We need that extra cutting edge up front, able to change tactics as and when necessary. Our defending from set pieces is still shit. And we're not the biggest side....

But for this week at least, we can allow ourselves to bask in our own self-congratulatory glow. Last season we may have lost this game, or at least dropped points. We certainly wouldn't have won it two seasons ago. If anything, last night was a better result than Newport last Saturday.

When Furruk scored, they shut up shop. This was after 15 minutes, by the way - I really can't think of any attempts of theirs after that. Now, it's annoying that they didn't come out and have a go, but it was also the ultimate compliment to us. They knew we were outpassing, outmanoeuvering, hell out-everythinging them. Yet they had that one goal and we didn't. It almost felt like a slap in the face that we were losing. Yet we didn't panic, we stuck to the way we were comfortable with, and of course we got what we deserved in the end.

Last night was the kind of game I reckon will be the typical BSS game at KM. Opposition plays it dour and we basically have to pick them apart. If they get a goal, the majority of the game will be them hiding in their shell practically daring us to get at them. But unlike what we saw in the Ryman, these teams will have a bit more nous. As negative as Furruk were, they seemed to have that extra bit of guile and cunning that teams lower down the divisions didn't have. There were times last night when I thought we'd have to learn to develop a lot more of the grey matter to overcome these sides.

But we kept going at them, we wore them down, and justified TB's approach. Our victory meant that we overcame (in part anyway) another mental block that we developed last season - inability to put away teams at KM. We're still not remotely there yet on that score, and probably won't be for a while. But at least we can do it. Maybe this was like Staines after all...

Got to say though that it felt quite CCLish at times, and I don't mean Furruk hardly bringing anyone. There wasn't any massive weight of expectation - had we'd lost, we would have shrugged our shoulders, kicked ourselves for not winning, and walked out knowing we're heading in the right direction at least. Nobody was really getting on anyones' backs, probably because we know we were playing well. I'm not going to be condescending and suggest it's a maturity on the fans' part, but I think we're a lot more patient than some want to believe. In fact, I'd go further and say that because of that, we were able to not get bogged down with the pressure, and come back to win...

One thing is certainly clear. As a team, and indeed as a club, it's amazing just how far we've come since Furruk knocked us out in the FAC (was on the 16 October 2004, in case you're wondering). Actually, reading the report of that very game, it reads as quite familiar doesn't it? Had we lost, I would have been tempted to say that Furruk were one of those sides that we never seem to beat. Our success and progression will come from results last night, and the ability to beat these sort of teams week in, week out.

I wonder how many people will be ultimately disappointed with the BSS? If what we faced last night is typical (negative team, CCL level of travelling support), the enthusiasm for this division will die down quite quickly. If we're not winning, of course. If Staines bought us five years of prosperity, last night bought us even more breathing space for the next couple of months. In all honesty, I doubt even with this start if we'll be in the playoffs come the season's end. I think we're a work in progress and that will be painfully obvious at times. That said, already it'll be a comedown if our season wasn't extended...

Few other random thoughts from last night : with Furruk getting there late, the turnstiles not opening until late (lost keys, apparently) and the subsequent delayed kickoff, it had that feel, didn't it? Mind you, our PA is fucked - the way it kept cutting out would have been symbolic had we lost. All that money spent on it and it still doesn't work. Seriously, a new PA installation shouldn't keep working intermittently like that, should it? Unless we purchased it in the throwout section of the nearest Maplin.

The crowd of 2786 is a pretty good one, especially for an evening game in the summer holidays. Whether our average gates will rise like we hope remains to be seen, but it does prove that the worst thing (normally) that can happen to a club is stagnation. We'll get higher numbers if we're playing decent football, doing well in the table and all the while KM becomes an enjoyable place to visit (and not for the away sides either). They do need to sort out bar staff shortages though.

Good to see the BSS sign up, not only on the Main Strank Stand outside and on the team shirts, but also on the front of season ticket books as well. Not that we're trying to lord it up or anything about getting promoted. But for those there last night - didn't it feel proper, IYSWIM? I don't whether it was the stupid handshake business beforehand, the electronic sub board, or even playing a team that we've met before and always considered "up there", but everyone just appeared to be more comfortable in their skin last night.

I know my Ryman bashing can reach obsessive proportions at times, but now it's proven that there's no comparison. The game yesterday felt better to be at than probably the vast majority of RP (and indeed R1) contests. True, nobody liked Turdeyland, but I don't think we had much respect for it either. We have the utmost respect for the BSS, the teams and the organisation, because we know that it's one division below the top flight of non-league, that it seems relatively "proper" and well run.

It's quite clear there's a real gap in talent between the BSS and the RP already - Furruck were difficult opponents for sure, but they weren't the RP carpet-trippers. Jamie Pullen wouldn't have called our Essex opponents as "barbaric", like he described some sides from last season. Yes, we played a negative side, but it was a respectful negativity, if that makes sense. Their #4 clapped the WB afterwards last night in a kind of "OK, we lost but fair play". Would we have had similar last year?

Of course, if you fancy a blast from the pretty recent past, just lurk on the Ryman forum every once in a while. You'll still see the subtle (and not-so-subtle) digs at us, all in the name of non-league purity you understand. Still, doesn't hurt to forget where you came from...

Anyway, enough of such irrelevancies. It's Bognor Regis Town on Saturday, and the return of one Mr D Jupp. I just hope he doesn't give me the same nightmares come Saturday evening as he did when I saw him play at White Hart Lane..............

10 August 2008 [0030 BST EDITION]

This Conference South stuff is a bit of a lark, isn't it? All the hype, anticipation, concern over what we'll do when we step into the Great Footballing Unknown, and at a well known difficult venue and............

Be honest. Who here really expected it to be Cymru 1 Ingerlund 4? Even the most arrogant, testicular-heavy Womble wouldn't have put money on this particular result beforehand. Talk about walking into town and waving your massive weapon about. The last time I can remember an opening day fixture like this, with such tempered expectations beforehand, was our one in Ryman One. And we all know how that turned out.

OK, it's only the first game. It could just be a baptism of fire, it could be beginners luck. Team Barf won 6-0 at Fi$her after all. We could lose on Tuesday and go into a downward spiral never to recover. Even now, we could get relegated by January. It could be......... nah, fuck that. Great, wasn't it? Seriously, this is the sort of game we not only hoped for last season but expected. It was the kind of performance we put out against the likes of Maidenhead, only with something to really prove this time.

The game? After an admittedly nervy first half-hour, I thought that because it was so slippery, we'd lose due to a defensive error. However, we started getting back into it, and came close a couple of times. Then, when JM's rather strong header went in, there was only going to be one winner. Seriously - Newport just seemed to stop playing and we just merely went up that gear. Not only that, but we showed something I can't remember us doing since the early days - we took control of the game and just drained the sting out of the opposition. In the past, you had that nagging doubt in the back of your mind that we would lose our focus and the opposition will get back into it when they shouldn't. Yesterday, there was none of that.

In the few notes the weather allowed me to write (note to self : buy a pencil next time), I made a comment that we needed a second goal to kill it off. Well, lo and behold, about 3 minutes after scribbling it down, you guessed it. Though I can't remember Main's second goal, his third was a peach though. And Finn scoring as well - even the Russians haven't gone through Georgia quite that ruthlessly. Shame that we had to put a slight scuff on an otherwise perfect performance by letting that goal in.

I hope what I saw in deepest South Wales will be de rigeur for the whole of the season. No, we won't win every game 4-1. In fact, we won't win every game. But we won't go far wrong if we make a habit of going in for the kill. Maybe that's what playing at a higher level has and will do - we know the likes of Newport are good enough to do you over, so when you're on top you take every single advantage you get. Call it better focus, if you prefer. Last season, we would have got 2 goals up and just left it at that. We couldn't afford to do that then, and certainly we can't do it now.

But I think there's something else as well that contributed to our victory. We played like a team that just didn't have a care in the world. And I mean that in a positive way as well. Nobody expected anything from this game, yet we were just able to play. Granted, I thought that Newport would be better than what they were but it almost like we faced up to them, cocked a snoot and went to work...

Then again, it seemed like everyone was quite relaxed yet focused. Our turnout, certainly in the high 900s, wanted to sing, watch a game and enjoy itself - and not collectively shit itself every time the opposition crossed the half-way line. We sung a lot, and apparently it was the best ever atmosphere in their ground - we are, reportedly, on a par with Swansea. Though I'm not too sure if that's entirely complementary ;)

All in all, a good day out. Everyone knows we still have a long way to go, and Furruk on Tuesday could put a serious prick in our inflating confidence. But win that game and Saturday and that's a major mental block out of the way already. And you never know, this season might turn out quite fun...

Plus points: We won. Away. Quite comprehensively. All round team performance. Defence looked solid (for once). Jon Main. Kennedy. Learning to keep it tight for the first 30 minutes. Playing with confidence towards the end. Looking like we fit already in this division.

Minus points: Letting that goal in. The shit weather.

The referee's a...... : Rumours beforehand suggested it was the notorious Ron Ganfield. Led to believe that it was indeed him taking charge, which certainly explains some of the decisions. To our amazement we were allowed to not only win the game but have 11 players left on the pitch at the end. Maybe Ganfield has turned over a new leaf? Perhaps he had an accident that involved a blow to the head, affecting his judgement. Or maybe it proves the rumour that DA's "comments" to him before a certain game really were true......

Them: Roadsigns in two languages, rolling green hills and excessive rain. Wales could almost be Ireland. As for Newport, apparently they were a very friendly club to deal with. Couldn't help thinking they could have been a tad better organised, especially with the portaloo situation. Then again, if they dealt with our level of support each week they probably would be. It was a bit of a nostalgia trip today, even down to getting kept in 10 minutes afterwards. As for their team, if they're one of the best in the CS we really have nothing to worry about. It was as though their heads dropped when we went 1-0 up.

Good to see Dean Holdsworth's PR exercise beforehand didn't go down too well - "Judas, what's the score?", wasn't it? Bet he won't last the season. Really good to see KC (mark one) get a good reception though, and like the other KC he managed not to do much against us either.

Nee naw nee naw: Speaking of nostaliga trips, when was the last time we had a police presence like we did today? Met spotters, police cordons and even the good old fashioned Cop Cam, taping your mugshot for the secret DNA database. Probably. To be fair though, Newport fans (and Welsh clubs in general) have a "reputation" and I think Heddlu Gwent have it more or less sussed. I shudder to think what the Swansea game was like a couple of years ago there. Oh, and for the first time since the old League days, a police escort for the coaches - your humble/esteemed editor managed to tag along the back of it. One thing you may not have noticed was that the coppers were still around for the M4 section, checking nearby bridges. Again, nostalgia....

Point to ponder: How many games in the last three years can you say you enjoyed as much as this one? Only Aldershot and G&N really. The other games were so racked with tension that they were practically unenjoyable. But this was feel good football - the kind of game where you go home and have that real glow that you've seen a goodun.

Thinking about it, here's something else to consider. It was a 3 and a bit hour car journey from SW19 Towers to South Wales. No matter what sort of car or conditions you have, it's still a punch to do. But how much easier was the rain to deal with whilst going down the M4? Those who travelled to the long away games in the WFC era will testify to this - there is no better feeling than getting on the main route back home, settling down and realising just what you have achieved....

Truth is stranger than fiction: (1) The weather. It's August and yet I felt as cold as I do in October. Kudos to anyone and everyone who made the trip by road (those on the train took the cowards way out). Especially considering the amount of accidents on the M4. (2) Spotted : D Anderson and M Gayle. (3) Why is provincial radio so shit? I listened to the output of the likes of 2Ten FM, Radio Wiltshire, Brunel FM, Red Dragon FM and without exception they were all banal local radio, Pop Idol production line hell. At least in London you get XFM, Virgin, Smooth, even RJ isn't too bad (depending on your taste). We'll ignore Crapital, shall we? The worst one was one of the Wiltshire stations I had on, which claimed to "only play the best music" and then announce they were going to spin Sing It Back by Moloko. If that's not a major trade description violation I don't know what is. (4) Passing Staines on the M25 when going. Funny to think our last competitive fixture took me exactly the same route...

Anything else? Yeah, that bit before the start of the game where they all line up and then walk along shaking each others hands. They do it in the Champions League, and now by the looks of things they do it in the CS as well. Authorities insist on it because they can convince themselves that the "spirit of fair play" is adhered to and it's supposed to look good. Personally, I think it's a pile of horse wank. What next - kissing opposition players beforehand? Although I'd start watching the womens game a bit more if that was the latest FIFA diktat.

So, was it worth it? Hey, we've been waiting six years for this.

In a nutshell: So, Champions by December then?

8 August 2008

We've been waiting close to three months for this, although if truth be told it's nearer six years......

It's funny that the proper season starts tomorrow. It's been a long, long time since our last competitive fixture, and yet in a way it's crept up on us without warning. Guess we're still convinced we aren't actually promoted, and we're playing Ks tomorrow in our last PSF instead.

One thing is guaranteed though, never has the phrase "looking forward" applied so much in the AFCW era. For the first time since 2002, there's a buzz. In fact, I'll go one step further - we never had this buzz even back then. We're geared up for tomorrow and beyond in a way I never even thought possible, at least not as soon as 2008. Tomorrow is about football - we're excited for footballing reasons. When we got excited about games in the past, I couldn't help thinking we were putting up a front of sorts. Did we get excited about games against AFC Wallingford because they were genuine big games? Or was it because we refused to admit that we'd fallen so low in the pyramid that we would take anything - anything - that made us feel good? In hindsight, it was a tad humiliating for us to be like that.....

Tomorrow, we make a giant step towards normality again. Sure, winning the playoffs was great but as a growing amount of people are now prepared to admit in public, we shouldn't have been down there in the first place. Was it any coincidence that before Staines, the biggest glows from an AFCW victory were the FAT wins over Aldershot and G&N? Hopefully this will be the last time I ever have to write this, but more so than ever now, we really didn't belong in the RP or lower....

All this excitement has been helped by our opponents tomorrow. OK, we would have been excited about playing Welling at KM, but facing Newport County has that little bit extra IYSWIM. I think the best comment I read all week came on the Newport messageboard, where one of the Taffs reckoned we're excited because we're playing a proper club in the league. Which isn't that far off the mark in truth.....

Up until now, we haven't really been able to relate to the vast majority of clubs we've faced. True, playing Slutton means a bit more to people than facing up against, say, ETU, although I put that down to local factors. And there's been attempts in the past to take a club or two and convince themselves that they really are like us and we can work on building them up as our rivals.

But we "get" Newport in a way that we can't with any other club outside the Conference. Maybe FCUM but their agenda is different. We can fully understand how County dropped down the divisions and getting done out of their ground. We can fully understand the feelings their own support have when they talk about playing Carl Zeiss Jena in the ECWC. There will be people under 40 years old there tomorrow who will remember WFC 6 Newport 2 all too vividly. In other words, Newport County will be the first side we've played in the league who we recognise and more importantly relate to.

And yes, before you say "Maidstone", I will point out that they were never on our radar until last season.

All this BBB posteuring does hide the fact that we are stepping into the great footballing unknown tomorrow. It's quite possible that we'll lose, that we'll find the step up a bit higher than we first thought. We may even find at some point this season we'll go on a run of 4-5 games without a win. We may play quite poorly and at times we may even be outclassed. You know, football as it really is.

We'll find out soon enough whether our choice of PSFs really did screw us up, although we looked more of the unit against Tonbridge last week that we need to be. We won't be the top dogs this season, especially if predictions are anything to go by. Most are suggesting H&W and Chelmsford as favourites (presumably because of the money). Some reckon we'll be playoffs but only along with the likes of H&R and Eastleigh.

Which could, believe it or not, work in our favour. Only the most braindead could have failed to twig the strain we put ourselves under last season. Yet if we were to do this season what we were supposed to do 12 months ago, it would be an irony almost too huge. If the PSFs have suggested something though, it's that the whole AFCW organisation is a lot more relaxed, a lot less stressed out and a good deal more willing to be patient. We can certainly do without the shit-stirring elements that were clearly operating last season.

And it's rubbing off. Tomorrow, we only have Jon Main up front, yet nobody is getting stressed out. Could you imagine last season if that was the case? The Samaritans would be taking calls off our fans before the game starts. Now, it's an inconvenience. We know that we'll get somebody in eventually, preferably sooner rather than later. But we'd rather wait and get it right rather than a Webb-esque panic buy now. Dean Mason's signing yesterday has as much importance as us signing Guiliano Grazioli a year or so ago. With luck, Mason will be a bit better....

So really, there's not much else to say. The time for talking is as good as over. I can't be arsed to go through Dean Holdsworth's comments, I'm sure he means well but joining Franchise and praising them in the beginning will always work against you. That said, he wouldn't be the only one, and plenty of us thought that AFCW wouldn't come on in the way it has. All hail Kevin Cooper (mark one) though. And the South London Press seems worth getting this weekend. But as we've waited a helluva long time for something like this to happen, and with possibly over 1000 of us turning up in South Wales tomorrow, you can't really say that AFCW is stagnant.

Though what we'll be saying when we get stuffed 3-0 tomorrow.........

2 August 2008

Thank fuck that's over. Maybe it's the excitement of South Wales next weekend, but I really cannot remember a pre-season that has been so underwhelming as this one. At times it's really dragged along, and in some cases taken the piss as well. Not to mention the £8 entrance fee and occasional tenner....

At least Angels 0 Devils 3 finished the football equivalent of a phony war on a high. For once, a player of ours comes back to haunt his ex-club, which makes a change from the usual suckerpunches we have to endure. And rather promisingly, JM looked sharp enough to start next week. Certainly the best of the pre-seasons anyway, and the kind of performance you expect from games this time of year.

Actually, the first goal was funny - it was a rather dodgy passback to their keeper, and obviously they still thought that Main was still playing for them. Cue one sheepish defender and one even more sheepish PA announcer, announcing to everyone that "there's not much to say about that"....

This by the way was after two minutes. It wasn't that much later that Main - again - got upended in the box and we got a penalty. You knew damn well he was going to take the penalty, and score it. Which he did. Again, this PA bloke must do night club compering at weekends, because he said "And that penalty scored by Jon Main. It hasn't quite got the same ring this year has it?". Bless him.

Then it sort of went into pre-season friendly mode, although they did hit the post late on in the first half. All right, in the second half we did another (semi) mass change, though Main did net his hat-trick by this stage, when their goalie let it bounce loose. No idea what the PA man said, but I think they had to hide any nearby rope.

And that was that really. Nobody ever goes in 100% in these sort of games anyway, which explains why Main got to last the 90 minutes ;) Maybe Tonbridge didn't get the full payment if he got crocked in this game? Perhaps the only real disappointment was Bocande. A comment was made in the first half that "does anyone want to pass to him?". Yes, he's got power but he was as bad today as he was good against Slutton. He may have just had a bad game, but if he's a player who plays well one week and shit the next, we should keep Paul Strank's cash in our pocket.

Allegedly, after the game TB was talking about getting in one or two strikers (as proper first teamers, not ones for the future). Ideally, I would have preferred this sort of news in May rather than the first week in August. As welcome as it is I can't help remembering how awkward JM fitted into our team initially. OK, he's now our most invaluable player, but unless we arrange a quick friendly this week against somebody like Ashford Town we'll be putting a new striker in at the really deep end. Though of course, that can work both ways - not every player takes a long time to settle in.

Still, a win is a win, and a comfortable one at that. I guess we're just waiting for next Saturday to come around. I think the fans are ready, and quite possibly the team is a bit more ready as well too. Bet this week goes really slowly now...

Plus points: We won. Away. Without conceding a goal. No injuries. Jon Main looking sharp. Midfield looks all right. Starting to look more and more of a unit rather than a collection of 11 players.

Minus points: Bocande

The referee's a....: The lino missed a couple of TA fouls, but other than that.....

Them: I cover a lot of what I want to say in "Point to Ponder", but they had somebody who really put the effort in and made everyone sit up and take notice. Sadly for them he was in the tannoy box.....

Point to ponder: Just how important was THAT last 10 minute spell in our last competitive fixture? It struck me today most of all that we don't have to come here next season. OK, we may get an FAT/FAC visit, but this is where us going into the CS really hits home. Also, and perhaps more importantly, we've now played two RP sides in a week, one of which will be a big spending one, and both times they've been quite ordinary. OK, we've clicked together better this week than we have before, and they are friendlies, but seriously - how the fuck did we struggle as much as we did last season?

I'm not going to suggest that we try this by the way, but I wonder what would happen if this particular group of players play in the RP this season? Glad we won't need to find out. Incidentally, the SLP had an interview with Jamie Pullen this weekend. Bearing in mind he has CS experience, he said he absolutely hated the Ryman because some of the tactics used were "barbaric". And no, he didn't mean us.

Truth is stranger than fiction: (1) Going to Tonbridge, going 2-0 up and not drawing 2-2 at the end of it. Mind you, we did have a goalkeeper today. (2) Couple of people I know kept thinking today was the start of the season. It's been quite odd, because we start a week earlier these days and all of a sudden our next game is the big kickoff. Just think, this time last year we were looking forward to our friendly against Ks....

Anything else? Not really. Made the now traditional homage to Clacket Lane services, which were utterly packed out. Incidentally, they have free wireless internet now, so cue comments that I now have no excuse on getting SW19 up before 7pm.

So, was it worth it? Well, you could be watching the cricket.

In a nutshell: The hard work starts now.