Untitled Document

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

31 January 2009

Well, that was good wasn't it? Your editor was holed in freezing Northfleet today, which is why 911 has come up with the report below.

While we must not get carried away with this result, you could be forgiven for thinking that today, a major hurdle got vaulted over. Suddenly, we can win the big games. I imagine that this was how the Coldseal playoff game felt - that major psychological barrier just looked tantilisingly overcomable, but deep down you still feared the worst. Well, when I heard we went 2-0 up, I still had those little doubts. Surely we wouldn't let slip a two goal lead, would we?

The next time I discovered the score was when it was 3-1, which was just as well as being 2-1 up and by all accounts sitting back and practising defending is not a good way to spend an afternoon. Maybe the old self-doubt crept in just a little bit? Or maybe we're just simply paranoid about playing them?

So, what does this all mean? Firstly, we're in control of winning the title - it will take two bad results in a row to lose that top spot. We are due a sticky patch, and while we await that we need to start putting daylight between ourselves and the rest. We will have worse weekends than this until the end of the season, I can assure you.

Secondly, it's quite possible that the title will go a long way to be decided by this time next month. IF we somehow keep this run going, and IF the others drop points, it becomes almost too difficult to catch up. Remember that Chelmsford themselves effectively won the title when they beat us at their place last season, and that was the middle of March. Too early to start thinking like that, of course, but that's the next mental challenge for us.

Thirdly, and probably most importantly - the squad feels good. I would hope our players are buzzing tonight (without getting complacent), because they've got to want staying at the top of the pile. By that, I mean they don't take it for granted. Right now, you feel invincible, don't you? And yes, it's a great feeling. St Albans could well knock us back down to earth next week, which is where TB will really need to start earning his money. He must now keep our players focused not just for next week but the week after that. And beyond. We haven't won the league yet, but we may have taken a small but significant step towards it.

One thing that did catch my eye whilst editing the report below, the lockouts. Admittedly, this is something that may be a bit premature to do, but I think the time has now come for AFCW to look into a ticket membership scheme. And that would include the setup we had for the Wycombe game, which IMO seemed to work quite well. No, it will mean that swapping ends etc will become a thing of the past, and we wouldn't really need to use it if we're in the CS next season. But today, if you could have allowed people to buy terrace tix for a section of the ground, it would have ensured no lockout for some.

OK, the ground expansion will make life easier, and I know that up until about Friday the CCFC fans were going to be put in the WB end until the facilities were sorted out, so that couldn't be helped. But today gave a glance of what it will really be like should we play the Oxfords and Lutons and Bournemouths to name but three. Not only that, but there will be away games where our allocations will be limited. Start a ticket scheme up, with priority booking and even a "loyalty pot" (so that those who do Dorchester away in the evening aren't left out for Chelmsford at KM), and it'll make life easier. Plus, for somebody like me who doesn't have a ST and has absolutely no protection or guarantee of a ticket for a big game despite going to every game I'm available, it would be a godsend. It might be a good idea for the club to look into one even if we do find ourselves playing at Welling and Dover next season.

In the meantime, enjoy this week. Just remember the season starts again next week. Meanwhile.......

The post season euphoria from the 3rd May 2008 seemed to carry on right through to the announcements of our Fixture List in July. However, there was somewhat of a disappointment when the fixtures emerged that the away days to the seaside locations of Weston Nightmare and Bognor Royals were scheduled for deepest mid winter. We had a rather uninspiring Christmas double bill against the Fishermen, but the trip to Wales in the rain got the show on the road.

The two fixtures that really mattered were Chelmsford home and away. Much has changed since we played CCFC on 1 November 2008. After that 3-2 defeat we have added a further 27 points from our 12 fixtures compared to their 22 from 10 and now we were sparring on equal terms. The BSS this season is likely to be 2 from 3 (AFCW, CCFC and H&RFC) going up, barring a late run from the inconsistent Eastleigh. Havant and Toilet the pre season bookies favourites have evaporated. (Put your dosh on Dover winning the BSS next season – go to Betfair)

That was then, today is now There were only 3 points on offer today, but somehow it felt like 6 didn’t it? We now find ourselves 3 points clear at the top with 15 games to go. We are probably favourites now but that does not help and we are now being chased. A cursory glance down our fixture list shows that we only have two mid week evening fixtures left (both at home thankfully) with the rest Saturday – 3.00 pm Kickoffs. We seem to score more goals in day light and struggle under floodlights, although I am sure there are some stattos out there that can do an analysis on our goals scored, against minutes on pitch in daylight hours

Anyway to today – Champagne Supanova 3, Purple Rain 1 – Sounds good doesn’t it!

Before the game there was an atmosphere around the ground of expectation, particularly with the run we have been on, however, when the top two meet in any league it is always going to be a close, tense affair. There was much said on various discussion boards about a draw suiting us more than them, but in reality 3 points is a decisive blow, even with 15 games to go.

The game itself whilst not a classic was compelling - starting 10 minutes late, both teams had one outfield player wearing gloves and both sides had four players wearing long sleeved shirts. All very equal. They kicked off and promptly got in each others way for a comedy start to the game. We started nervously and reverted to long ball stuff and let them pass it around , the result being that neither keeper really had to do that much other than collecting crosses and marshalling defenders. One long punt from Pullen, de-de-de-de Danny Kedwell flick on and Mainy tucked it away (cue suspect music). Ten minutes later confusion in the Claret defence, their keeper (David Hasselhoff look alike ?) caught in no mans land and Godfrey lays on Main for number two. Half time arrived and without playing that well we were two up and on the way to 3 points.

Second half followed a similar pattern with them passing it around and us working the long ball game well. 20 minutes in new boy Andy Sambrook gives away a free kick which we don’t deal with and suddenly its game on. Bet you were thinking Tonbridge, Worthing and many before. Could have gone either way from there, they had more possession but only worked Pullen twice and we always looked dangerous on the break. Hatton missed a sitter but eventually Davis tucked in a third and the bumper crowd were happy.

Plus points: Finally beating CCFC in a league match [SW19 note: at KM. Often forgotten that we beat them 3-0 at MP in the Darlogate season]. Sambrook. Winning and not playing at our best. DK/JM partnership.. Being able to revert to long ball stuff occasionally

Minus points: Conceding from another set piece. Having to turn away paying customers (whoever they support)

The referee's a...: We had him before and I expect we will have him again. Bottled two penalty claims in the second half – one was clearcut the other a dubious panel job. Booked Hussey for petulance when Davis probably deserved the card. Otherwise did a reasonable job bearing in mind the intensity of it all. To close for the lino to give “the goal “ from the headed corner – some say it was over the line but from where I was it was not. Missed a Davis handball which could have cost us. The word from the Kingston Road end was that the reason that the linesmen swapped halfs during the first half was due to coin throwing from the CCFC fans. Fair play to the ref who dealt with it well and if it turns out to be true his report will no doubt make interesting guestbook postings.

Them: Passed the ball neatly but never really tested Pullen. The Carling Opta stats would probably show they slightly edged possession but we had far more chances and could have run out much clearer winners on another day. They were the best we have entertained at KM this season apart from Eastleigh who did a job on us. Neither side played brilliantly today probably due to the significance of the result Good turnout from them – guestimates range from 400- 600 and there were some locked out

Point to ponder: Season Ticket 13 from your book today - was it meant to be lucky 13? Cos when the fixture list came out it was game 14 on the race card. Also, only 4 balls out of the ground today - most home games last season had over 10. Would seem to imply that the standard of play is improving this season (only 6 against Braintree last week)

Three's a crowd: 4690 –Full House signs up. 100 yard queue to get in the Tempest end by 2.15 and reports that gates were shut before 3.00. We don’t want to turn away customers and if we reach the dizzy heights of the BS Prem those sorts of crowds can be expected again. We need to look at the John Smiths extension quickly. Second biggest home crowd (after Chipstead) We are now averaging over 3000 for the season – those keen on stats will have noted that we have spent most of the season at number 89 in the national crowd league table (source Tony Kempster) and I expect that by the end of the season we could really push the mighty Hereford for 86th spot. Segregation seemed to work again.

Truth is stranger than fiction: (1) 6 fans taking a vantage point outside the Kingston Road end – trying to get a view of the hallowed - brings back memories of watching telly re runs of the 1950s cup matches – who’d of thought it about a BSS league game. (2) Harry Basset on the pitch with Ivor at half time – looked like the little and large show. Also at half time the blue square keepy uppy competition was embarassing – get rid

Anything else? A couple of things. Goal difference may come into it at the end of april so our current run of free scoring will help – 16 goals to the good is worth another point on CCFC. Why did both sides completely waste possession at every kick off ? Jeff King resembling the Pengiun from Batman as he waddled over the pitch ( the tempest gave him the “ Jeff King is a roundabout “ treatment - funny ! ) Haydons minder always wears the same white hooded top with the white away shirt combo and two ear pieces sticking out – is it lucky ? Great header from the portly bloke in the main stand mid way through the first half – straight out of the Goodliffe book ! Also, the speakers in the Tempest End always cutting out - makes the pre match build up sound like a rap gig

So, was it worth it? Top of the league - you work it out !

In a nutshell: Get in - ours to win now

28 January 2009

Who's walked round today with a little bit of a spring in their step?

Even if we find ourselves in second place again come 5pm on Saturday, at least we've proved to ourselves that we can claw back nine point deficits. I didn't go last night, so Greg V has stepped up to the plate (see below), but from the sounds of it, perhaps the performance one might expect with a result you daren't dream about.

This could have been nasty on so many levels, not least because I bet that many people thought at 5pm yesterday "shit, we've got a match". All the attention has been on Saturday so much that this may prove to be the biggest win of the week so far.

Yes, the pressure is on us, but it's a different pressure now and one we probably can cope with - the pressure that we are now currently the best side in the division and everyone will want to knock us off our perch. Like that's a new phenom. Suddenly, a draw on Saturday becomes a missed opportunity for Chelmsford - granted, I want three points to put a gap between us, but right now the opposition have to match our results for the rest of the season. Tall order between now and the end of April? Maybe. But at least this season we're doing it the right way so far.

Anyway, I'll let you read Greg V's thoughts on last night. I will pick on something he brings up afterwards, so keep tuned in when you get to the bottom....

It was with some trepidation that I accepted the offer from REPD to write up our mid week ‘game in hand’ as my previous 2 offerings this season were our home defeat v. Eastleigh and a rather dubious draw at welling. Last season was no better with no wins to my name.

So personally, it was with a huge sigh of relief that it finished Park Life 0 Wonderwall 1 and the jinx was finally laid to rest.

Last night was another one of those tricky ties against a team who had hit some decent form recently. It was much like Maidenhead and Braintree all over again and I heard more than a few Dons fans in the bar before the game saying that maybe a point wouldn’t be such a bad result. Despite our 8 match unbeaten run stretching back to 2nd December and a seemingly unnatural ease in scoring at will, there seems to be a certain feeling that we mustn’t expect too much. Remember, this was supposed to be our season of consolidation as we built a young squad to prepare us for the BSP in 2 or 3 years time. But by fuck, it’s hard not to raise those expectations when you go top of the league playing some of the best football seen since our formation.

There are some supporters who believe that promotion this season would be a bad thing and that progressing too soon could have a detrimental affect on the club. But we are destined to go up, so why not this season? We have played everyone bar St All Bran and let’s be honest here; there are no teams to really fear. Yes, there are well organised outfits such as Eastleigh, H&RB and Chelmsford who have the capability to challenge for the title. But we have one advantage over these (and the rest of the BSS) and it is quite simple. We are AFCW and everyone wants to beat us. These teams have their 2 cup finals a season where they raise their game to try and claim bragging rights. What Terry and Stuart have done with this current crop of players is to instill a philosophy that we have to play 42 ‘cup finals’ if we are to be successful this season. The pre match statement from TB talked about focusing on last night’s match to ensure we didn’t undo all the recent hard work and it worked.

Last night's performance showed that we have come a long way in a short space of time. We never really got out of 2nd gear for most of the 90 minutes but we still controlled the game. Sure, Storford had a couple of good chances but we created so much more and in the game of percentages, you just knew one would go in. Inevitably it was Kedwell who got the all important winner at the 4th time of asking. Following 2 outstanding saves from their keeper and a header which flashed inches wide in the 1st half, he finally got his just rewards in the 2nd half shrugging off the last defender to fire past Nicky Eyre from close range.

This time last season we would have blown this game. The fact that we go into Saturdays clash ahead of CCFC (albeit on goal difference) instead of needing a win to close the gap may well prove to be a psychological advantage.

Another interesting point to note is that the Chelmsford fans at last nights match (yes, as expected some did turn up – all 6 of them) aren’t happy and are fearful of a drubbing on Saturday. The revolving door is still very much attached to their dressing room and it appears that there is a little unrest in the camp. Apparently 2 first team members had a difference of opinion a fortnight ago and during last week’s game v Welling, one refused to pass to the other. Very childish but long may it continue!
Anyway…..

Plus points: Ability to win a game 1-0 without breaking sweat. Little v Pullen for the No. 1 shirt. Kedwell scoring when Main doesn’t. Dwane Lee potentially looking to be TB’s shrewdest purchase. Going top.

Minus points: Haswells passing. Judge at right back. No chips at the food wagon

The referee's a...: Pretty average really. Seemed to blow the whistle at the right times and did attempt to allow the game to flow. He was hindered somewhat by his assistant, Al Murray who struggled to keep up and waved his flag for off side when 10 yards behind the play.

Them: They reminded of a bottle of alco pop – pretty to look at without any punch. With a couple of decent strikers they could climb the table. After all, they called on the services of a one Roy Essandoh so you can guess what I mean. Off the pitch their fans are a friendly enough bunch. No pro-franchise songs heard anyway. A very nice little ground within a minute of the M11 for easy access. Built 7 years ago, it had modern facilities and cover on all sides. Oh, and the playing surface was probably one of the best we’ve seen all season.

Truth is stranger than fiction: (1) It wasn’t only me but someone else spotted that the BS keeper looked like a young Glenn Roeder. On page 19 of the programme: A few minutes with Sam Higgins.

Q) What style of clothes do you wear?

A) TrendyTwat

(2) An advert in the programme for Jacqui Ison Theatre Arts offering; “A diverse range of exciting workshops on acting”. So that’s where Alan Devonshire sends his players for midweek training!

Anything else? Yes, Sam Baldock made the night complete saving an injury time penalty for the mighty Leyton Orient against those cock munching franchise faggots from Bucks. Joy and salutations!

So was it worth it? Absofuckinglutely

In a nutshell: Bring on the Clarets, there’s business to be done

I couldn't help noticing the comments of the Chelmsford fans. Now, I've been around long enough to know that there's probably a bit of kidology going on here - how many times in the past has a team been in crisis yet manage to win the next game 3-0? Make no mistake, this game could easily turn out badly for us.

Though as I type this, word reaches me that their striker Bertie Brayley has gone off in a bit of a huff and has even resorted to removing Claret fans from his Facebook friends bit, whatever that means. Maybe there are problems there after all? I don't think it'll be such an issue for the Saturday game as much as what happens if/when they have another bad run of form. Remember last season when there were Chinese whispers about dressing room discord for us? We just, just, just got away with it. At least we know how to handle expectation simply because we've had to do it for every single game played since 2002. This is a new thing for Chelmsford...

But whatever happens, Saturday won't be for the faint hearted. Just worried about the love-in between us and their fans right now, especially as it's getting to the stage where body fluids start getting exchanged. OK, it's better than snarling at each other, and you can have an intense-yet-friendly rivalry (go to a Cork City v Derry City game and you'll see what I mean). But come 5pm this Saturday, I won't mind us being a little bit unpopular............

Let's have a quick show of hands before I continue. Who here before the game predicted a tight victory, a draw or even a gut-wrenching loss? Go on, don't be shy...

Many of you? Thought as much. I certainly did anyway. Which makes Trouser Press 5 Iron 1 all the more gobsmacking.

Unlike last week, where we really did ride our luck, today we didn't. Now, being from the school of pessimism, I would prefer three lots of 1-0 wins from today until this time next week rather than a guaranteed 5-1. And at some point our striking will dry up (as long as it doesn't happen at the worst possible time...). But thinking about it some more - is this a surprise? Is this really a blip or just a good run of form?

If this is merely just a purple patch, then enjoy it while it lasts. Yes, it's a great feeling to return from another game with so many goals. But at some point it's going to be a sharp return to earth. It could be next Saturday, it may even be at BS on Tuesday. And when it happens, it will hurt and hurt bad. Especially if the Champions Elect pull away again.

But on the flip side, this could be the "norm". We've had mutterings about how shit the BSS defences are, not too loud lest we were being arrogant and/or leading us up to a fall. But if we really are that standard above, then it's scary. It could be the biggest injustice going if we don't go up. Perhaps that mettle has been proven already, the way we came back from a rather lucky draw at Dorchester and a pretty so-so 4-0 win last week (and yes, that is an accurate description)? See, in the past our great runs have been a lot of treading water - they certainly were in the Ryman, where at various points in the games then were some real pant-soiling moments. Right now, I don't feel that. I'm naturally expecting the mother of all fuckups at some point, but I don't have that impending sense of doom either.

Can we keep this going? Perhaps the more important question should be, can we bounce back when this run comes to an end? Can we pick ourselves up after a loss and go on another swashbuckling run? There's a belief, and a strong one as well. Once the much maligned Sam Hatton struck another 30 yarder free kick to open, it just wasn't in doubt after that was it? I'd even got to the stage of not bothering to write down that we need a second because it was coming anyway.

What I think did it today wasn't those three goals before half time, it was the way we controlled the game after Hockton scored. It's all very well scoring shitloads of goals, but one day we won't be so proficient. If you look at any side that wins the league, or finishes second, you'll note that when it comes to it, they can overcome playing badly and conceding a goal. We did it against Dorchester, and this side last year would have ended up drawing 3-3.

Because I've got to say, when they pulled it back to 3-1, there was that slight niggle in the back of my mind. And I bet you had it too. Be honest. So going 4-1 up about a minute after the restart was pretty much a relief, and even we couldn't mess it up from there.

As much as I want to get carried away with this result, I daren't let myself. The next two games really could decide our season, which is why I'll be glad when next Saturday is over. Go top at 10pm on Tuesday, then win on Saturday and it's in our hands. But slip up twice in a week, and the hard work we've put in recently to claw back a nine-point deficit will be lost. And no matter how good you are, it takes a while to recover......

Plus points: We won. Convincingly. Jon Main. Never looked troubled. Continued pushing forward. Looked pretty solid at the back. Dwayne Lee's first ever goal for us.

The referee's a....: Lazy bastard. Well, that's the only explanation I can think of for him not sending off their player(s) for Kennedy getting crocked. All that paperwork could put him off his hobby of collecting used tissues.

Them: Crap, basically. Except for Hockton, who once turned us down because Bromley offered him more money, and always has a habit of scoring against us. When I say they were crap, I mean it in the H&W manner - you expect to stuff Bognor and Fisher, but last week plenty were gushing about how Braintree battered Eastleigh and how many of us reasonably thought today could even be a loss. And people wonder why some of us are starting to get a little bit disappointed by the BSS.

Point to ponder: Why are Chelmsford fans claiming they're going to pop down to BS on Tuesday as neutrals? Are they really going to applaud us if we get a 97th minute penalty to win the game, and congratuate both teams on a thrilling contest? Let's be honest, they'll be borrowing a couple of BS scarves and pretending to know the home team's songs. Sure we'll recognise them by the cheering should DK or JM get stretchered off....

Meet the manager: Finally managed to sort out clickable streaming of an MP3 player (thanks to Beano of Ashford Town (Mx) for the tip). And here it is:

Just make sure you've got any Ad-Block software unblocked, and your Flash is up to date etc. Sorry about the slight muffling, that's either me forgetting how to use the software or TB eating a pizza. Anyway, he seems pretty confident, though he is a bit worried about what will happen if either DK or Main end up crocked (and was it me or did he sound like he's pissed off with Belal?). Maybe we're about to see another Luis Cumbers/Ramone Rose loanee come if/when necessary? For all the trouble we had last season with the amount of temporary playing staff, and as much as I believe our season has been helped by a settled squad, I wouldn't be surprised if we get a little bit of news down the line...

Three's a crowd: 3229. Considering there must have been less than 50 visiting fans (we didn't need to segregate) that is pretty bloody impressive. Success breeds success, after all. Could next week be the biggest BSS level crowd since Weymouth's 5022 against St Albans (give or take 30k obviously) three years ago?

Truth is stranger than fiction: (1) The Sky Sports darts music after the goals today. Top chav marks for anyone who went "Oi Oi Oi" (2) The WB sung a chant which I hadn't heard in ages - the one that has the lyrics "somebody kick his fucking head in". Question is, to whom was this act of violence directed at? Somebody who caused us great strife in the past? Although that would be a long list (3) Hate to say it, but who was the minute silence for? Impeccably observed, needless to say. One aside though - the poor BBC Radio Essex bloke next to me kept getting feeds from his studio during it asking for updates. And you thought a phone ringing during a silence was bad...

Anything else? Yeah. Wasn't there something a little bit nostalgic about these pictures this week? They were the same school that we hosted today as well. I think that whatever else happens in the AFCW era, we must never, ever lose that accessibility. OK, TB and the players there wouldn't have been able to do it if they were part time (and going properly full time is going to take a LOT of planning), but when WFC got it right over that sort of thing, it paid dividends. Christ, Dave Beasant used to take lessons at the school opposite SW19 Towers when I was growing up, and more of that will get more kids interested in AFCW (which is why we must keep making it affordable as well). From little acorns, and all that.

After Maidenhead 0 Motorhead 4, I was wondering if I could get away with putting down my actual thoughts during the match. Namely, it was one of the worst 4-0 victories I can remember for some time, and how Maidenhead should have been 4-3 down by the hour mark.

Seriously, I think I must be underestimating ourselves right now. I didn't realise that Maidenhead were so high up (as in, legit playoff contenders), and was the sort of testy game that really does make or break a season. OK, you expect us to piss all over teams like Fisher and Bognor. But Maidenhead on their own patch? A potential Heybridge Swifts type game awaited, certainly...

Funny thing is, unlike many others I didn't think we were that special. Which either says one of two things : either I have such a negative view of life that I cannot comprehend any sort of decent performance, or our potential is so frightening that our ordinary is most teams best. Bit of both, if truth be told. For a lot of the first half, certainly, it was like the Dorchester game (and yes, I know I didn't write a report. I couldn't be arsed) Were we hitting a rough patch when we pulled ourselves back into the Champions Elect slipstream? Of course, the much maligned Sam Hatton delivered a wonderstrike of a free kick from outside the box and the rest is history...

Well, I'd like to portray it as us going up a gear and dismantling the opposition to the point of humiliation. Thing is, today we gave our defence a nice test. And to be fair, we had a clean sheet and learnt how to throw ourselves at the ball. But really - if it wasn't for the fact that we have that sharpness up front that I honestly believe no team in the CS has, this could have been Dorchester again. Or worse. And my ticker and underpants would be putting in official letters of complaint to TB's office.

If, if, IF..... we go up at the end of the season (preferably as champions), it will be down to our forward line. We probably had about two or three opportunities in the first half, yet probably put the game out of reach. Is that the sign of a team going up? We'll find out by May. But as Dorchester proved, split up the Main/Kedwell partnership and we don't nearly look so potent. Belal really looked Ryman Prem level on Tuesday, and Dean Mason and Chris Sullivan have gone AWOL. Maybe we ought to persuade Nic McDonnel to join us again, just in case? Bromley have released him, and he does at least know the ropes at AFCW. Just wonder if he'll be happy to sit on the bench...

Back to today. I think what happened today is par for the course this season - slow start, then we get a foothold into the game and turn the screw. Sometimes it pays off immediately, other times we have to keep plugging away. The games I've seen us lose this season were where we never got going from the off. That's not a crime - well, it is if you're pushing for the title - and it's going to be nigh on impossible to win every single week from now until May.

But games like the Maidenheads are the ones you do have to win to be up there. Winning 4-0 as well is a bit of a statement of intent as well : at the last home game, TB said that he wants us to put real pressure onto those who hold the top spot this season. Do that and anything can happen. Not only that, but we're now just three points off the top spot. If we slip back, it's not insurmountable, because it's a gap that just needs a good weekend to put it in contention should we fuck up the week before. It's still waaaay too early to call this season, bar a run of wins/defeats and Chelmsford doing the opposite, and this should go down to the wire. I said should....

It does seem that the momentum we lost at Dorchester started to regain itself the longer this game went on. And with the weather unlikely to cause much havoc from now until May (famous last words) and skillfully manoevering ourselves out of pesky little tournaments of the FAC and FAT to avoid a backlog, we should have a clear run. One thing is certain now - it's fast approaching the business end of the season. Time to put up or shut up - and perhaps maybe, just maybe, we're not planning on being silenced just yet.

Plus points: We won. Away. Clean sheet. Jon Main. Danny Kedwell. Kept going without actually playing that special. Defence got some much needed practice and learnt how to kick the ball away. Dwayne Lee.

The referee's a....: There were many similarities between him and Steven Cook as it goes. Firstly, they're both young. Secondly, er, their first name had a vowel in it...... Gave Maidenhead too many free kicks for my liking. Anyone would have thought he felt sorry for them.

Them: Actually, the ref isn't the only one who could feel a twang of sympathy for them. Seriously, if you were a neutral, you would say they deserved at least one goal. Then again, if you get that many chances but contrive to miss every single one of them (bar Pullen's top draw save, although we were 3-0 up by then), don't come running to me for sympathy. Sadly didn't treat us to two of their players falling out with each other on the field this season, although apparently their #9 was in tears afterwards. Off the pitch, although their ground is showing its age it is fast becoming a favourite venue for us. £9 entrance fee is certainly welcome, and they even gave out ticket stubs. Which might stop the usual whinging which too many of our fans always come out with after every single fucking away game...

Point to ponder: I think we've had enough games now to make this observation without being BBB - is it me or are BSS defences shit? Seriously, we've had a helluva lot of games where we've scored over three in ninety minutes - a quick glance at the OS suggests that we've got three goals in no less than eleven games. And of those games where we won but got just one or two goals, a lot of them were down to us simply not finishing the job up front (think Basingstoke away). I know I shouldn't say it, because it does unfairly detract from our general goalscoring prowess and is a bit presumptuous, but I have been quite disappointed with the standard of the BSS. Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed the six months we've been here so far, a lot, lot more than three years in Turdeyland. But we really shouldn't be winning games like today 4-0. Not that I'm complaining.

Three's a crowd: 1296. Although it did seem a bit bigger in the second half for some reason.

Truth is stranger than fiction: (1) PA playing Dukes of Hazard theme tune for some reason. Mind you, it also played Tom Hark - the original version, not the Piranhas version you all know. (2) Isn't Maidenhead town centre shit? It doesn't have the charm of Dorchester, yet isn't big enough to have little nooks and crannies. They had the cheek to label Wimbledon as Britain's biggest clone town last week (though to be fair I hardly pop into SW19 itself, because if we're being honest - Wimbledon town centre is pretty wank), yet places like Maidenhead get away with it...

Anything else? Yeah. A couple of decent articles in WUP with regards the current financial shit of clubs including some decent research that you really don't get anywhere else. Sort of stuff that newspapers should be doing, let alone fanzines. That said, I do think the cartoons generally are shit - obscurity kills humour unless you're in on it. The one on the back cover was a waste of somebody's valuabIe time. Also, is it me or are the fans-getting-pushed-around type articles like the FCUM one smug and self-congratulatory? One shouldn't be too harsh I guess, because I know the very hard way what it's like to fill space when you're feeling as creative as a photocopier. Who knows, I may even do a rare article for the next one..

You can thank the referee at the postponed Aldershot v Notts County game for this report. There I was at the Recreation Ground at 1.15pm, ready to do a days work and all of a sudden - "the game's off". And I just paid to park at the pay-and-display next door. Bastards. Cue one hastily reprogrammed sat nav, and your humble/esteemed editor thankful that he wasn't sent to Barnet instead.

And after Rock 1 Roll 5, it's another step forward. Maybe I'm right when I said on Thursday that we're capable of winning the league? We certainly didn't do ourselves any harm yesterday, and I've always liked Newport County....

Long term readers will sense there's a "but..." coming, and sure enough there is one. Yesterday and Thursday were the first steps of what will be an intense battle for the top spot. I won't say too much about Chelmsford, lest some of their more unhinged supporters on their messageboard and elsewhere accuse us of being obsessed about them. Unlike last season, they're having to rely a lot more on luck, and by the sounds of it that ran out yesterday. It may be indicative of the relative strength of the BSS that the two promoted teams from the same division are turning it into a two-horse race again, but this doesn't feel like last season.

But.... Let's not get too carried away here. Both Bognor and Fisher were crap, and I mean, Ryman One level crap. If truth be told, we didn't really get out of second gear because we didn't need to. Our upcoming games will be far harder, or at least they should be, and this vital January period has already gotten just that little bit more important.

A cursory glance at the upcoming fixtures shows how much we're going to need this upcoming Saturday off. Check them out yourself - this probably explains why Andy Little and Pullen have been rotating recently, why Belal and Jack Stafford have been getting runs out, and probably even explains why we haven't been going at full pelt since Xmas. At times yesterday, I think we were going slightly above the motions, and it wasn't the cold either.

Actually, yesterday was job done. It was nice to go to, not the unfriendliest people in the world, and scoring five goals away is always nice. Though did anyone have bowel churning movements when DK headed onto the bar and it bounced out? You know the sort of thing, the flashbacks to games in Ryman Premier past, where a promising opening spell was shattered by an opposition goal and all of a sudden we looked as helpless as a building maintenance officer in Gaza City.

Thinking about it, this is what TB needs to do this week with these days spare. No, not join the Israeli army, but something similar. Dig out those old Nuts TV episodes, and show the players the games like Heybridge away, or Folkestone away, or Harlow at KM, or that one around Easter 2008 when we let in two goals in the last two minutes, to leave us stunned and angry in a way I've never felt before or since. An aide memoir for those there last season, an induction course for those who weren't.

Brief description of the game : we came out early doors and bossed it without actually managing to boss it. IYSWIM. DK headed onto the bar, cue much rolled eyes and a feeling of deja vu all over again. Then Kennedy did score. Then we got an own goal through their #4. Cue that circus music singing. Then it was half time. Then we went up the other end. DK once again popped up with a cool enough finish. Game over. Or was it? Doing our usual in defence. They get a goal back. Eye rolling time again, complete with nervous glance at watch. Dare they? Dare they? Thankfully Jake Leberl answered that one soon afterwards, and I claim credit for DK's second and our fifth. Well, I did yell "go on, take a shot" just before he, er, shot it. I'm wasting my motivational talents...

Enough of all that. As the last few games have hinted at, I think our attitude is better this season, which is why TB hasn't felt the need to bring in zillions of players. Yet. We just seem a happier unit right now than the collection of individuals we were last season. I don't doubt there'll be some loanees coming in, especially if we do find ourselves in the playoffs come May. I certainly wouldn't be surprised to see us spend a little bit of money just to get in one or two players of the caliber of DK, or JM, or even Dwayne Lee (who I will guess has done enough to earn himself a contract with us now).

All this of course pre-supposes that we don't fuck up between now and the 31st. This is AFCW, anything can happen. And usually does.

Plus points: We won. Quite comfortably. Never really needing to get out of second gear. DK's finishing. Ability to snap out of our slumber when it went 3-1.

The referee's a...: Another game without the official doing anything majorly wrong? Be worried, especially if you take the old fireman motto that the longer you go without a big fire, the bigger the inferno you'll eventually have to deal with...

Them: Wonder which one of their staff shagged a witch over the summer? We all remember their clubhouse getting burnt down, they really looked ragged at times yesterday, and it got so bad their two managers resigned after the game. Curse of the Wombles. You do wonder if it's just gravity finally getting hold of these sort of clubs - after all, if we talk about the likes of Dover coming up, somebody's got to replace them. You can tell how down on their luck they are when they could only muster up two subs. And one of them was Duncan Jupp.

Point to ponder: I know I'm obsessed with our defence being shit, but did anyone else yesterday get the feeling that a better side than BRT would have given us far more problems? Their goal had a sense of inevitability about it, and that's what I think will ensure we'll be ultimately shitting ourselves over the playoffs this season (note: I said we're capable of winning the title). Maybe it's just a case of us switching off at 3-0 up? Although that in itself causes problems...

Three's a crowd: As BBB as we always are, 1603 isn't anything to be sniffed at. Especially on such a cold day. What I think must have helped was knowing the game was on that morning. Compare that to my Aldershot game (complete with Notts County fan on phone in car park saying "fucking cunts" about 120 times a minute - I know how he felt) where they kept enticing people to go on the premise that it might be on. Or the poor Grimsby fans who found their game at Barnet called off 30 minutes before kickoff. Perhaps the ultimate pisstake though has to be H&Y versus Worcester, where a pitch inspection was due at 10am, the referee decided to turn up a couple of hours late and call it off......

Truth is stranger than fiction: (1) Chelmsford not scoring any goals in the 99th minute. The FA and Conference are seeking an emergency meeting to rectify this situation. (2) The Bognor PA apparently playing a Pink song with a few utterances of the word "fuck". Damn the obscenity laws. BTW, he did seem to like his mashups... (3) The guy called Roger who won the £100 in their raffle and subsequently donated it back to BRT. Can you imagine any of us doing that? (4) Your editor doing something he hasn't done probably ever - eat in a Little Chef. Actually, it wasn't too bad, no worse than Clackett Lane or anything you get on the M4/M40. Got to be soul destroying working in one though, especially an empty one on a Saturday evening. Anyway, did you know your editor had a lifetime ban from Happy Eaters? I was too miserable to be in one, apparently.

Anything else? Yesterday was FAC third round day, where the usual cliches about the butcher, baker and McDonalds milkshake maker come out. Anyway, leaving SW19 Towers for ~~work~~ BRT yesterday, I saw a dad with his two lads in Chelski clobber, presumably off to watch them surrender a last minute goal to Southend. Chortle.. The youngest kid was proudly waving his Abramovich-issued flag (you know, the free ones). What struck me was this : how often does that little group get to go to the Bridge? I suspect they managed to get in yesterday because it was "only" the FAC, and "only" against Southend, and therefore clearly too lowbrow and uninteresting for the ~~parasite~~ nouveau football fan that infest places like Chelski and Arsenal.

So, if they can't get in to their local Prem ground, people such as the dad with his lads should "support their local non league side", right? Trouble is, it doesn't quite work like that in the real world. If I supported an AFCW side in the Championship and couldn't get in due to an empty wallet, I don't turn around and start supporting Slutton or T&M. Likewise, the kid I saw waving his Chelski flag isn't going to start coming down to KM. Chelski is in his family's blood.

And the flip side of this is what we've seen in the last week first hand with Fisher and yesterday at BRT. We often talk about the money side of things when these clubs are in trouble, but I honestly don't think the interest is there for many non-league clubs. Or at least, a big enough interest to substain themselves any higher than Ryman Prem level. Yesterday, I saw a couple of Brighton fans, plus a couple of Spurz and Aldershot, but they were only a handful. The bulk of it was us, there was about 2-300 BRT and precious few "big club" fans. And the non-league clubs that are likely to withstand the upcoming financial shit are the ones who for one reason or another have substained a sizeable and legit fanbase.

I honestly believe that non-league attendances are only as high as they are now because of the stupid pricing of Prem/Championship clubs. Should they see sense and reduce them, that could really finish a lot of non-league clubs off. Suddenly, spending beyond your means doesn't seem such a good idea after all.

Well, you can't really say a lot about that, can you? Big Mac 3 Filet-O-Fish 0, and finally it does seem that we've at least sussed out how to win these sort of matches. Though I'm sure Bognor will end up ruining our weekend...

Comfortable? Yes. Nervy? Not majorly. Welcome? Oh, for sure. This is the kind of performance that I do expect from us against a side near as dammit to the bottom. It's good for the goal difference, and I always enjoy a win, but you can't gain much kudos from these sort of fixtures. Secure the victory, and people roll their eyes and say "that was expected". Draw or even lose and you can guess the reaction.

The fact that people like Main and Kedwell are starting to look like the duo we paid £40m plus combined for can only be good. Which makes it triple disappointing that DK has now picked up a calf strain. That news is as welcome as finding out you're in an Israeli embassy and the cleaner standing near you is a Hamas operative. So for now, it's up to Main to keep scoring and indeed for the likes of Finn, Godfrey and Belal to step up to the plate and show us their early season form.

And it will require those sort of players to prove themselves (not JM, but a couple of others). To quote an old trailer from MTV's The Real World, this is what happens when people stop acting polite and start acting real. In other words, now is the time to stop fucking about and prove that we mean business. There's no FAC, or FAT to distract us. We have a minimal fixture pileup, weather permitting. Our fringe players should keep themselves sharp by the Slurrey Senior, and there is no excuse why we can't put this sort of performance on week in, week out. Though if we win 3-0 every time as well...

Needless to say, Chelmsford won again in the last minute against Furruk and it's all a bit of a pisser. That's twice in the same week. Yes, it's annoying. Yes, they're fucking bastards. Yes, I know that they had a fifth official who was the bloke in that parrot outfit. Yes, we should never announce it as read over the PA system. And yes, I know we were doing the same early on in the season, but that's different.....

You'll hear TB's post match interview later, but I'm sure there's something you'll pick up on. Namely that no matter what anyone else does, it's up to us and us alone to finish top. Twas ever thus, and all that. At some point, Chelmsford will come undone by their habit of late goals - happened to us this season, which took a good month or two to rectify, and contrary to popular belief teams who win titles don't do it every week.

And I'm now going to make a bold statement for this new year. I mean it absolutely sincerely, and I'm prepared to run the risk of ridicule come May.

Yes, I really do mean it. There will be many ifs, buts and more than a few maybes, but unlike last season the team (and squad) feels more capable of getting there. Whether we will win the title is another matter, of course. It's still January, and we've still to have our usual fuckup. It may even come on Saturday at Bognor. But there's something a bit different this time round full stop. Last year, we would have drawn or even lost this game. Today, we were able to go up that gear, to remain patient knowing with full confidence that we would finally get something. And the funny thing is, we put in this performance and result, and most people don't bat an eyelid.

It's quite possible that we've got too much ground to catch up on even at this stage, that Chelmsford are destined to win the title this season. If that is the case, we're certainly good enough to finish second and by some considerable distance. While we don't want to go through the playoffs this time around, we are capable of getting through those two games without the massive slice of luck we got against Coldseal and Staines.

There's another reason why I think we're capable of winning the title this season, despite currently being nine points behind (albeit with two games in hand). You'll find out what I'm getting at later on...

But for now, our most important game is on the south coast this Saturday. That won't be a foregone conclusion either, they drew 2-2 at H&W today. And it wasn't even their cup final. Win that, and then an evening trip to Dorset becomes that much more important....

Plus points: We won. Comfortably. At home. Clean sheet. JM. Danny Kedwell. Potential banana skin avoided. Not really having too much to do defence-wise

The referee's a....: Was he the same one as the one on Boxing Day? If so, refer to previous report.

Them: By the sounds of it, they were better today than last week. Which admittedly isn't saying much. In fact, they had an air of a club (let alone a side) that knows it's on its way out. Apart from their player messing up his one-on-one (and it was bloody offside anyway), I honestly can't remember anything they did of note. They didn't even resort to fouling people. Incidentally, their transfer embargo was lifted this week due to Fish being able to pay a player who they didn't. No prizes for guessing what game funded that. A lot has been written about them going bellyup, and they may well do. But we got the six points we needed off them, so all else is irrelevant...

Point to ponder: Today's crowd was 3190 (of which, 3180 was ourselves). Wonder how many it would have been if it been a game with a legit local following? One can only hope the fixture next year will be Woking...

Meet the manager: Don't do too many of these nowadays, but here's his latest musings (WAV format). Apologies for the muffled sound at the beginning, our manager was stuffing his gob with what appeared to be some sort of pizza...

Truth is stranger than fiction: (1) Where's the TV gantry on the JS side gone? Don't tell me the cameramen finally got fed up of the smell of piss from the regulars that side? (2) The reaction from other certain quarters to our reaction at the final whistle about results elsewhere is a tad odd, I have to say. Why is it considered bad form to be pissed off by it? It just shows our ambition and our competitive nature. Oh, sorry, I forgot - this is non-league we're talking about...

Anything else? Yeah. Remember what I said about why there's another reason why we're capable of winning the league? Were you paying attention? Anyway, it's this : I've come to the conclusion that this division is quite, well, ordinary. Seriously - has anyone jumped out at you and made you believe they would run away with it? Even the defeat at Melbourne Park was mostly down to us playing arseholey in defence, and by the sound of it the game there today was on the crap side for a large part of it.

With the right attitude, it's possible to put on a decent run in this division. I'm starting to believe it's not significantly better than the Ryman. Granted, the games generally in the BSS are nicer to watch (your editor went to Tooting v Horsham last Saturday, and it was pretty unreconstructed in parts), but is it any co-incidence that the top two are both promoted sides, and that other promoted sides have done the running in the past years?

So, was it worth it? Yeah, guess so. Until Fisher get kicked out the league, that is.