AUGUST- ANOTHER CURATES EGG
By John Taylor
After the usual pre-season friendlies, planning permission for the new ground, several new signings and a new kit supplier, the season kicked off at Barnet's Underhill in driving rain-unheard of for the first day of the season. Like the previous season, we started with 5 new signings making debuts: Lee, Page,
Jack off the mark at Underhill
He didn't help his cause after 18 minutes when he misjudged Carew's 50 yard punt which caught the wind and hit the back of the net for a bizarre season's opener for the Bees. Misses for Ward and bookings for Goodall, Page and Lester, all rather harshly left us very frustrated at the break, not helped by being soaked in what was amusingly termed the away stand, but which was more like an awning at a country fair. The half-time Bovril, also previously unheard of in August, warmed the spirits, which were further assisted by clinical strikes from Lester (twice) and Ward to round off a reasonably comfortable win, though we did have to thank Tommy Lee for two cracking saves when the defence dozed off on a couple of occasions. The excellent debut from Harsley was also a great source of encouragement.
Carling Cup action 3 days later took us to Deepdale for the difficult fixture against Championship Preston. The competition now allows a huge 7 substitutes on the bench and we managed to find sufficient numbers to fill the spaces-including Mr Currie. We acquitted ourselves well on the night, but finished badly. Tommy Lee had a good game, but was beaten on 37 by Mellor following up to knock in a rebound and by the same player again in the 3rd minute of second half added time. No lucrative cup run again this year then.
The first home game of the season brought Alan Knill's Bury side to Saltergate and they wandered away with an easy 3 points as Town were dreadful from the off, lacking in any energy or co-ordination. Ben Futcher hooked in a slightly flukey first after 3 minutes from a left wing free kick and that set the tone for the afternoon. Jack Lester limped out of the match after 16 minutes to play no further part in the month, Efe Sodje waltzed through the defence to hit a second and Andy Morrell stroked in a third just before the break to leave the half-time mood very grim. Lloyd Kerry's excellent 53rd minute goal did little to dispel the Saltergate gloom and the anti-Richardson crew became vocal again which added to an already miserable atmosphere. The final whistle was a relief as 3-1 was reasonably respectable under the circumstances.
We needed to bounce back a week later at Grimsby and this we did after several team changes. Aaron Downes came in for his first start at right back, Derek Niven came into midfield in place of Jack Lester and Trevor Carson (Sunderland loanee) came in for the unfortunate Tommy Lee in goal. All this gave a more solid look, particularly in defence, where we functioned as a unit, aided by a very confident display from the Irish youngster between the posts. The final score of 1-0, courtesy of an exquisite 40th minute Jamie Ward goal from a peach of a pass by Currie, was flattering to the hosts, who were very poor. The Mariners had plenty of possession, but rarely threatened our well-organised rearguard, ably assisted by an energetic midfield. Even the loathsome North, coming on as a late substitute failed to gain his customary penalty as Grimsby made it 3 league games without a goal.
The month's final fixture was the visit of Peter Taylor's Wycombe side to North Derbyshire, so we knew what to expect. Town started minus skipper Page and in came Danny Hall for his debut. Within 4 minutes we'd gone to sleep just as against Bury and the visitors scored from Williamson's back post, unmarked header from a free-kick. From then on we were up against it as Wycombe sat deep, efficiently and professionally marshalled by the effective, if not admirable, Tommy Doherty.
Despite much possession and some good football, our first meaningful effort on goal came right at the end of the first half when Ward tested Shearer who palmed the shot for a corner. The second half was much in the same pattern with our attacks being repelled by the Chairboys' rearguard. Jordan Bowery's league baptism after 53 minutes pepped the thing up, but it would have taken a far more experienced and wily campaigner to breach the Buckinghamshire side's defences on the day. The 1-0 defeat still rankled as we deserved something from the game, but our lack of forward options does stifle our offensive possibilities, especially at home.
Mr Richardson is clearly aware of the shortcomings, but his search for an experienced big man has proved too much and the window appears to have closed without a recruit. The loan option needs to be pursued, assuming it's still available,to sort this out and quickly or we risk another season of frustration. Focus at the back is also required at Saltergate if we are not to continue to be a soft touch at home like last season. We had several things going right in the month with Harsley's excellent contributions in the middle of the park, competition for the goalkeeping spot and some good, energetic performances from Jamie Lowry and Lloyd Kerry. Darren Currie is also starting to do the business after a slow start against the Shakers.
Off the field, the popular, or even legendary, Alan Stevenson returned to spearhead the end of an era project as we come toward the end of Saltergate's lifetime, so that should see that project run in a thoroughly professional manner. All that is left to conclude this month is to pick out the month's highlight. We've had a few with some good goals away from the Rec', a magnificent pass by Darren Currie to set up Wardy at Blundell Park and a couple of stunning saves from Tommy Lee at Barnet, but my highlight is Jack Lester's exquisite chip for the second goal at Underhill-absolute class.
