October - From Grim to Historic
October kicked off with a trip to Morecambe in absolutely dismal weather to do battle with Barry Roche's new outfit who are struggling to make an impression this term. After a bright start we gave away the almost obligatory early goal as we spurned about half a dozen chances to clear and Drummond punished us with a neat shot from the edge of the box. Our response was swift, however, though from an unlikely source with Gregor Robertson side-footing in right footed from an excellent cross from Darren Currie on 16 minutes. Soon afterwards good work by Lester won a penalty which the returning Ward converted.
We did well up to half time, but seemed to leave our resolve in the dressing room after the break. The home side totally dominated the second half and after numerous substitutions scrambled a late and deserved equaliser with Howe netting 5 minutes from time. Even so, we recovered to fashion 2 late chances for Lester, but the normally sharp striker was off colour and missed the target on both occasions. The crowd of a mere 1734 were glad to get out of the wind and rain, though the players served up reasonable fare, given the conditions.
Next up were Chester City and again our side saw several team changes. It didn't change trends, however, as yet again we conceded early as Chester scored with their first serious attack, Linwood heading in from a set piece. We salvaged a point with a splendid Ward equaliser on 59 minutes, shortly after the introduction of Robertson and Winter to rejig the midfield. Despite some serious pressing, however, we were unable to fashion a winner and the visitors escaped with a combination of comic book time-wasting antics and tenacious defending.
This all served to feed the anti-Richardson crew who had become rather vociferous of late. The mood was not good post-match, though the supposed dead pigeon in the centre stand was, in fact, 2 pigeons which were stuck, but which managed to free themselves, so the afternoon wasn't all gloom.
Gloom was all-pervading a week later as we went to Sincil Bank to face another old boy, Janos Kovacs. After a scrappy start we lasted 17 minutes this time before conceding another poor goal from a free-kick. Heads seemed to drop after this and the Imps looked very dangerous, hitting the bar soon afterwards and extending the lead 12 minutes later after tentative defending and poor goalkeeping allowed Patulea in to score. Calls for the manager's head were pretty evident at the break and said manager was so displeased with the referee that his comments to the man in black meant banishment to the stand for the second half. Two minutes into the second period, we had a potential way back as Hone was dismissed for dragging back Lester, clean through on the edge of the box. We failed to capitalise and 8 minutes later failed to defend a corner which should never have been and Kovacs netted at the back post. His lack of celebration was hugely appreciated by the Spireite faithful and was in stark contrast to his reaction in the corresponding fixture last season.
The mood towards the team and manager got even more ugly after the Kovacs goal and Lester's fine strike to reduce the arrears did little to lighten the atmosphere. The game petered out to a 2-goal defeat that somehow felt worse. In truth this game was an embarrassment and the manager appeared to have lost the players. Mr Hubbard's public comments in the wake of this match were a tad unusual as there appeared to be a lack of support for the beleaguered Mr Richardson rather than the more normal vote of confidence. Maybe this was a master-stroke by the Chairman as fortunes turned rapidly in midweek with the visit of Aldershot Town to Saltergate.
Again the side was changed with 4 alterations this time, the most surprising being the introduction of young Dan Gray at right back for his first team debut. The game started in lively fashion with both sides intent on attacking football and both keepers being tested. It was probably a surprise that it took 24 minutes before the deadlock was broken but a typical piece of Lester poaching did the trick after excellent approach play down the left by Ward. The former Gull added to the lead 5 minutes before the break as Shots' keeper Bull upended him in the box to concede a penalty which the diminutive striker duly despatched.
The second period started in dramatic fashion as Goodall conceded a penalty which Davies duly dragged wide. Relief was momentary, however, as our defence went to sleep just seconds later and Hudson side footed home. The visitors now attacked with some purpose and the Spireite rearguard had to be resolute to repel them, whilst the home support was becoming understandably edgy. Relief was at hand though as Ward netted again on 52 minutes after good work by Lowry. Aldershot were not deterred by this and continued to attack, encouraged by their small band of chirpy and vocal followers. They were not silenced even when further goals from substitute Derek Niven and Jamie Ward, to complete his hat-trick, gave us our first win in 7 games. Gregor Robertson's injury time miss of the month didn't even dampen the spirits on a memorable night.
Saturday saw an unchanged side for the visit of Notts County, unbeaten in 12 games, though mainly draws. This looked a tough challenge, but like Aldershot, the Pies came to Saltergate to play football and this does tend to make life a little easier for our boys. A lively and committed first half ended with Town a goal to the good after the in-form Ward took Lester's astute pass to beat the offside trap and round Hoult to score with aplomb. The lead was preserved mainly owing to impressive defending from the commanding Downes and Page, now beginning to look like the on-field leader we expected.
Alan Goodall extended the lead on 57 from his new midfield berth, but the Pies pulled one back 3 minutes later as Facey headed in from 2 yards after Weston's left wing cross looped up off Gray to deceive Austin and Carson. Despite much pressure, however, the Town rearguard kept the visitors in check and they rarely threatened Carson's goal. We looked more composed as the game wore on and it was little surprise when substitute Harsley scored at the death following good work by Niven and an excellent save by Hoult. This was a very satisfying victory on the back of the Aldershot result, but it did not prepare us for what was to come at Exeter in midweek.
The only change to the side was that Kevin Austin started in place of the injured Gregor Robertson who he replaced against Notts County. With a fairly even, if uneventful, start to the game, the real action started on 37 minutes when Winter hit his first goal for the club, smacking in a beauty from 25 yards after Ward's effort came back off a defender. It got better just before the break as Goodall scored his third of the season, beating Jones with a deflected effort. The Grecians hit back shortly after the resumption as Stewart set up Stansfield to reduce the arrears. Buoyed by the goal, the Devonians searched for an equaliser, but Town's more confident defence held firm. Confidence was not the order of the day in the Exeter defence, however, as Lowry broke it down on 62 minutes and Lester scored to ease the tension in the small band of travelling Town fans. It then started to get silly as Lester, Ward and substitute Currie all added to the tally, punishing schoolboy defending, to record the club's highest ever away victory.
So, after massive negativity, we won 3 games in a week, scoring 14 goals and conceding just 3. This was some turnaround and put us within striking distance of the play-off zone. It's not obvious what's brought this about, but the confidence of being able to play a passing game against teams that play football rather than bully and bruise has been evident and the central defensive form of Page and Downes has been hugely influential. Gray's calm play in his first 3 games has been a revelation whilst the midfield has started to gel with healthy competition for places. As for the strikers, Ward has hit the heights of late whilst Lester has now become match fit and is looking close to his best. Mr Richardson must be feeling rather happier than a few days ago and hoping that the form of the last 3 games can be carried forward into November.
Off-field activity has involved an innovative mail order catalogue and an expanded club shop linked to Alan Stevenson's end-of era initiative whilst the FA Cup draw has paired us with our dear neighbours Mansfield Town. Given our recent home record against non-league opposition, it's a good job that the local derby factor comes into play, meaning we have half a chance of progressing; that would certainly raise Mr Richardson's standing considerably. Luke Boden's loan spell came to a low-key end as he returned to Hillsborough, having made little impression, except for wearing a blank shirt in the second half at Morecambe.
The highlight of the month, other than wearing blue in every game, is a little difficult this time with the historic away triumph at St James' Park, Ward's hat-trick against Aldershot and 3 players scoring their first goal for the club. After serious consideration, it has to be Darren Currie's goal at Exeter to make him the first Town player to score a sixth goal since September 1980 in the 6-2 win at Brunton Park.
By John Taylor
