FM12 Eastwood Town (2012 BSBN Champs)

[Poli]

Gardner and Ladapo are named to the Team of the Week.

Lacey's back to full health.

[Poli]

DR Montgomery returns to service only to see DC/ST Parsonage get injured in training. His twisted knee will take 4-5 weeks to heal.

[Poli]

Speaking to the media ahead of Bath's clash with Eastwood, Adie Britton appeared reluctant to comment on Eastwood head coach Rodney Polston.

When pushed by Ben Taylor from BBC Bristol however, Britton did eventually come up with a response, saying "I don't enjoy the style of soccer Rodney Polston insists on his teams playing."

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

Bath are currently lying in 23rd place in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

[Poli]

Bath: 7-4 Draw: 11-5 Eastwood: 5-4 (Fav) (Blue Square Bet Premier)

Bath City are slight underdogs in what should prove a tightly contested affair against newly-promoted Eastwood, according to Sky Bet.

Eastwood are currently lying in 4th place in the Blue Square Bet Premier. Eastwood can overtake a number of teams including Forest Green and move as high as 1st if they win their next game. Eastwood could drop out of the playoff places if they lose their next match.

Bath have now suffered three straight defeats and the relegation candidates find themselves in 23rd place in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

The referee for the match will be Darren Handley from Wigan who has shown 17 yellow cards and one red card in his six Blue Square Bet Premier games so far this season. Handley's last Eastwood Town match was Eastwood's 4 - 2 Blue Square Bet Premier victory over Stockport on Saturday 8th September.

[Poli]

15 Sep 2012

Eastwood, 5-0-2 (4th)
@
Bath, 1-0-6 (23rd)

Dry, 62 degrees


Ladapo, Falconer

Andrews, Gardner, Dyer

Daniel, Joyce, Troke, Caines, Bailey

Gilpin



Cooper, Benjamin, Lacey, ZC, Rewbury

[Poli]

Bath sports a 4-5-1. Looking to dominate the midfield and create scoring chances for the lone striker. We may adjust in the second half and move Caines or Troke to midfield if it doesn't appear we need all five defenders.

[finketr]

can we get a standings update?

[Poli]

Yup, tomorrow afternoon. House shopping and emergency service at work have kept me tied the past two days.

[Poli]

14: Bath catches our defense a little spread out and bring the attack up the middle. A surprisingly weak shot startles Gilpin. It bounds off to the left. Gilpin scrambles to recover and grabs the ball.

26: Bath with a more powerful attack this time. A cross from the left sideline is pounded right at Gilpin. Gilpin with a relatively easy save on a hard shot.

34: Bath runs up the left sideline and is forced into a corner kick. Corner kick fail...it goes out for a throw after the pass back to the corner kick man spins out of play.

36: Bailey clears a ball out to Falconer for a counter attack. Falconer takes one too many backpedal steps and finds himself hustling for the loose ball that is working it's way to the keeper. The Bath defender catches up and knocks the ball away...past the keeper and into the net. I'll take it however I can get it. 1-0

39: Bath keeps getting the ball into the box. Our defenders steer clear of fouls and kick the ball out...only to have Bath return. Finally Troke does a solid job of clearing it.

45+1: We finally move the ball to their side of the pitch...and we look pathetic trying to mount an attack. A cross is forced out for a corner. Corner easily cleared. Another cross, cleared. We return one more time and are disappointed again.

[Poli]

We're credited with one shot in the first half...right before the half when Andrews had a shot stuffed immediately. We're easily losing possession and when we had it we looked happy to give it back.

Up 1-0, thankfully, but it smells of disaster.

[Poli]

46: We start the second half with an immediate turnover. LOVE it.

58: Ladapo takes a throw in and makes a nice effort on a shot. Skims the top bar and out of play.

59: Dyer a yellow for tripping.

66: Bailey with an obvious trip. They quickly fire in the free kick. After a bound or two it gets to Andrews who fires out to a wide open Ladapo. Lad slows down at the top of the key, sets his shot and beats the keeper! 2-0

67: We sub right there. Gardner out for Lacey. Falconer off for ZC. Cooper in for Bailey. Lacey moves to forward. Troke moves to the midfield. Up two while facing just one striker...I gamble to try and create more of an attack.

77, 78: Bath changed their formation and attacked the left side. We force a corner. After clearing the kick, it's brought back down again. A shot by Bath gets past Gilpin, but the player is declared offside.

88: Caines trips up a Bath attacker and injures the man in the process. Yellow card and 50 dollar bonus to Mr. Caines.

90+1: Troke is injured during a collision. He plays through it.

90+6: While Dyer and Troke force corners and defend against them. Lacey picks up a tick-tack yellow. Garbage!

[Poli]

Eastwood goals from the match against Bath.

[Poli]

Standings:

1. Crewe, 21 pts
2. Fleetwood, 19
3. Forest Green, 19
4. York, 18
5. Eastwood, 18
6. Mansfield, 16
7. Gateshead, 13
8. Luton, 13
9. Newport Co, 13
10. Hayes & Yeading, 12
11. Lincoln, 12
12. Chelmsford, 11
13. Cambridge, 10
14. Ebbsfleet, 10
15. Salisbury, 10
16. Stockport, 9
17. Accrington, 9
18. Altrincham, 9
19. Tamworth, 8
20. Braintree, 7
21. Kidderminster, 7
22. Kettering, 7
23. Bath, 3
24. Barrow, 3

[Poli]

The Bath game was very quiet. Outside of the breakaway by Ladapo and the potential goal by Falconer, there were not that many serious shots on goal. Bath kept the ball away from us, but passing in to that one striker against the 5 man defense was nearly fruitless.

I'll take the win, but I was hoping for a better result.

Next up is Tamworth.

[Poli]

Ladapo 7.4, Falconer 6.8

Andrews 6.9, Gardner 6.8, Dyer 6.8

Daniel 7, Joyce 6.9, Troke 7, Caines 7.4, Bailey 7.3

Gilpin 6.9



Cooper 6.7, Benjamin, Lacey 6.4, ZC 6.4, Rewbury

[Poli]

Troke suffered a bruised rib. He's out for 11 days to 2 weeks.

Benjamin suffered a bruised noggin during a collision in the reserves match. He's out about two weeks as well.

Sissy.

[Poli]

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

Newly-promoted Eastwood's home advantage gives them the edge in what should be a close encounter against Tamworth, according to Sky Bet.

Eastwood have been playing above all expectations so far this season and find themselves in 4th place in the Blue Square Bet Premier. Eastwood can overtake a number of teams including Forest Green and move as high as 1st if they win their next game. Eastwood could drop out of the playoff places if they lose their next match.

Tamworth are currently lying in 19th place in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

The referee for the match will be Richard Wigglesworth from Rotherham who has shown 7 yellow cards and no red cards in his three Blue Square Bet Premier games so far this season.

[Poli]

22 Sep 2012

Tamworth 2-2-4 (19th)
@
Eastwood 6-0-2 (5th)

Dry, 64 degrees


Ladapo, Falconer

Andrews, Cooper, Dyer

Daniel, Joyce, Caines, Rewbury, Bailey

Gilpin


Gardner, Montgomery, ZC, Lacey, Ashton

[Poli]

Keeper James Gilpin will make his 50th career league appearance.

Defender Aiden Ashton will make his debut if he enters.

[Poli]

2: Tamworth kicked it off, but we're on the attack early. Andrews finds Ladapo cutting through the center of the defense and feeds him the ball. Quick shot deflected by the keeper, but Ladapo was called offsides anyhow.

11: Dyer takes possession away from Tamworth and finds Ladapo. Ladapo turns upfield and forces the defense to focus on him. Pass to Falconer who is finding open space behind the central defenders. Falconer takes the pass and beats the keeper. 1-0

12: Tamworth with a decent effort, moving the ball from sideline to sideline. A shot's taken from way off on the left side and it's easily gathered in by Gilpin.

24: Ladapo with a weak shot easily gathered.

26: Falconer with a shot that bangs off the left post and back into play. No one available for the rebound. The ball is cleared by the defense.

32: Gilpin with another save from a shot at an odd angle on the left sideline.

33: Andrews with the foul that sets up a free kick. That kick turns into a header that goes over the goal.

36: Cooper with a shot from 30 yards out that you'll have to see to believe. What a hook! 2-0

44: Dyer with a weak shot that floats way over the goal.

[Poli]

We're definitely in command. Tamworth hasn't had a decent shot outside of the header...and they're not communicating well on the defensive line. The Falconer goal should never have happened. His second shot nearly went in and again, that shot probably never happens with a better front.

Cooper's blast was incredible. I'm happy for him.

[Poli]

54: Falconer with a shot that's way wide right.

64: Rewbury a yellow for tripping.

66: ZC for Falconer, Lacey in for Cooper. Similar setup as to last match. Lacey and ZC as strikers. Caines to the middle this time.

70: Tamworth gets past the defense and it's 1 on 1 with Gilpin! He fends off the shot and Rewbury helped clear it!

72: When another Tamworth player's injured, they're forced to play shorthanded.

78: Bailey completes a throw to ZC, who sends it back to Bailey. As planned, Bailey zips it to Andrews for a quick goal! 3-0

Bailey subs out afterward for Montgomery.

84: Andrews is dinged with a collision and leaves the field.

[Poli]

Nice effort by our side. Just 4 shots on our goal. Can't complain about just about anything in this one.

[Poli]

Ladapo 7.3, Falconer 7.4

Andrews 7.8, Cooper 8.3, Dyer 6.9

Daniel 7.1, Joyce 7.3, Caines 7, Rewbury 7.3, Bailey 7.7

Gilpin 7.2


Gardner, Montgomery --, ZC 6.8, Lacey 6.8, Ashton


Cooper's MoM. 1,445 at the stadium.

[Poli]

Goals from the last match. Pop it to HD and full screen for the best resolution. Not sure why it looks so awful compared to how it looks on my screen in the game.

Suggestions on improving the video are welcome.

[Poli]

We have only a few days before playing 21st Kettering.

Cooper and Gilpin are named to the Team of the Week.

[Poli]

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

Penniless Kettering Town are slight underdogs in what should prove a tightly contested affair against newly-promoted Eastwood, according to Sky Bet.

Eastwood have been playing above all expectations so far this season and find themselves in 3rd place in the Blue Square Bet Premier. Eastwood can overtake a number of teams including Forest Green and move as high as 1st if they win their next game.

Kettering are currently lying in 21st place in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

The referee for the match will be Stephen Ross from Boston who has shown 2 yellow cards and no red cards in his six Blue Square Bet Premier games so far this season.

[Poli]

25 Sep 2012

Eastwood 7-0-2 (3rd)
@
Tamworth 2-2-5 (23rd)

Dry, 53 degrees


Ladapo, Falconer

Elliott, Dyer, Gardner

Daniel, Joyce, Caines, Rewbury, Bailey

Gilpin


Barrett, Cooper, Lacey, ZC, Montgomery

[Poli]

James Gilpin hasn't allowed a goal in 266 minutes of play.
Gavin Caines is making his 50th appearance for Eastwood.
Gavin Falconer needs 3 goals to make it to 25 career goals.

[Poli]

5: Dyer pitches to Elliott who tries a chip shot from outside the penalty area. He lofts it over the goal.

9: Elliott finds Ladapo open when Lad breaks from left to right to free himself of a mark. The pass is timed perfectly. Laddy quickly pops it past the keeper! 1-0

24, 25: Dyer with a terrific chance in front of the net. Unfortunately, he spins it wide left. A minute later he shoots for the top left corner from nearly the same spot and bangs it off the post.

[Poli]

Fairly quiet first half after 25 minutes. It's 1-0, but I feel we have the game in hand. They have managed one shot that was well wide. I'd like to have another goal out of Dyer. I'm a tad disappointed he couldn't connect on either chance.

[Poli]

51: Defense is screwing up. They let the ball get just a few yards in front of the keeper nearly untouched or challenged. The shot clangs off Gilpin and fortunately gets cleared.

54: Falconer leaves to injury. In comes ZC.

67: Elliott replaced by Cooper.

86: Defensive lapse again. Another cannon shot at Gilpin that bounds off the poor guy. Cleared by the defense.

90: Rewbury trips a man inside the penalty area. They make the kick. 1-1

I sub out Daniel for Lacey. I move Caines and Bailey up to try and generate offense in the last 6 minutes. It didn't work.

[Poli]

Extremely disappointing and I let the team know. They look fired up. They should be kicking themselves for letting that one get away.

I let the d-line hear more from me on the subject.

[Poli]

Ladapo 7.2, Falconer 6.8

Elliott 6.9, Dyer 6.6, Gardner 6.6

Daniel 7.2, Joyce 6.2, Caines 6.8, Rewbury 6.7, Bailey 7.4

Gilpin 6.7


Barrett, Cooper 6.4, Lacey --, ZC 6.1, Montgomery


Bailey garners MoM.

[Poli]

Ladapo's goal.

[Poli]

Falconer is out about 3 months with a torn groin muscle. My heart goes out to you, Gavin.

[Poli]

Luton fires their coach. That's nice, considering we play them next and in just 4 days or so.

[Poli]

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

Newly-promoted Eastwood are up against it in their home encounter against beaten FA Trophy finalists Luton, according to Sky Bet.

Eastwood have been playing above all expectations so far this season and find themselves in 3rd place in the Blue Square Bet Premier. By winning the upcoming match, Eastwood can move up to 2nd in the standings and will hope to leapfrog Forest Green. Eastwood could drop out of the playoff places if they lose their next match.

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

The referee for the match will be John Hopkins from Southend-on-Sea who has shown 25 yellow cards and one red card in his seven Blue Square Bet Premier games so far this season.

[Poli]

29 Sep 2012

Luton 3-5-2 (12th)
@
Eastwood 7-1-2 (3rd)

Dry, 59 degrees


Ladapo, ZC

West, Andrews, Dyer

Daniel, Joyce, Caines, Troke, Montgomery

Gilpin


Elliott, Lacey, Bailey, Barrett, Ashton

[Poli]

Not forgotten, just need...time.

[Poli]

It's about time for an update. I'm out of town over the weekend in Knoxville. I'll get Luton done tonight!

[Poli]

3: Luton kicks off and one of their strikers works himself into a position to score. He knocks it in but he's ruled offside. Good call.

6: Troke sends a corner in to Caines but it's headed over.

8: A low cross to the far post by a Luton striker is fended off by Gilpin. It's subsequently cleared out by Caines.

12: A Luton corner is cleared by ZC to Ladapo. Laddie takes to their left corner before we're forced to take our own corner chance. We flub on that chance.

16: Following a shot on goal by ZC, Luton counters and gains a corner. Andrews clears it.

36: Andrews finds Ladapo open down the left side and tosses the ball out for him. A clear shot from the top left corner of the penalty area...Lad sends it into the left side of the netting.

39: West fires in a pass to a close range Ladapo but the ball pushed out for a corner. The corner is caught by the keeper.

44: After a series of in and out passes, Montgomery finds Ladapo about 20 yards out. Lad turns and fires it in! 1-0

[Poli]

I wasn't thrilled with our play early on. Luton's attack seemed to confuse the defense. We put some pressure on late. I hope we can keep it up.

[Poli]

46: All kinds of craziness as we start off the second half. Ladapo ends up streaking to the ball down the left side and fires in a pass that the keeper pokes away. West heads a pass to ZC off the rebound but Luton clears it for a corner.

47: Luton clears and launches a counter and nearly get it. Wide right.

55: West with a volley but it's just wide. Would have been sweet!

69: Another corner chance for Troke to Caines. Again over the bar.

72: West with a yellow for tripping.

76: Luton has a player pick up a second yellow. He's out. I celebrate.

78: I bring in three believing this game to be won. Elliott for West, Bailey for Dyer, Ashton for Joyce.

81: Shows how much I know. We force a corner and ZC does a great job clearing it. Montgomery eventually feeds it back to ZC down the sideline and he's off to the races. He fires a cross to Ladapo near the goal but it's intercepted and cleared. Bailey finds the ball and sends a weak effort wide left.

84: ZC sends a cross in again, this time to Elliott who sends the header home! 2-0

[Poli]

The second half clearly belonged to us. I'm more than pleased.

[Poli]

Ladapo 7.6, ZC 7.3

West 5.9, Andrews 6.8, Dyer 6.8

Daniel 7.3, Joyce 6.9, Caines 7, Troke 7.2, Montgomery 7.4

Gilpin 6.9


Elliott 7.4, Lacey, Bailey --, Barrett, Ashton --


Ladapo takes home MoM.

2,074 at the match.

[Poli]

Eastwood player scoops Player of the Month for September

Eastwood Town's young striker Freddie Ladapo has wowed his home fans at Coronation Park this month with his impressive performances and has duly won the Blue Square Bet Premier Player of the Month.

The 19 year old young striker has been excellent, scoring an impressive five goals in seven appearances.

There was nothing to choose between the top three and the award could easily have gone to either Gateshead's Jon Shaw or Matthew Pearson from Fleetwood, on loan from Blackburn, who came second and third respectively.

[Poli]

Board Confidence Update

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

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

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

The club made a profit of $26.03K last month.

Monthly Turnover: $133K
Previous Month: $59.94K
Main Income: Gate Receipts $95.71K

Monthly Expenditure: $107K
Previous Month: $66.55K
Main Expenditure: Player Salaries - $20.07K

[Poli]

The club is currently 10.24k negative in funds.

[Poli]

Eastwood face Ebbsfleet in Blue Square Bet Premier clash

Ebbsfleet: 5-4 (Fav) Draw: 11-5 Eastwood: 7-4 (Blue Square Bet Premier)

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

Eastwood have been playing above all expectations so far this season and find themselves in 3rd place in the Blue Square Bet Premier. Eastwood can overtake a number of teams including Crewe and move as high as 1st if they win their next game. Eastwood could drop out of the playoff places if they lose their next match.

Ebbsfleet are currently lying in 16th place in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

The referee for the match will be Mark Bull from Chelmsford who has shown 7 yellow cards and no red cards in his three Blue Square Bet Premier games so far this season.