By John Taylor
Following the excitement of a new management team, some interesting signings and a few different, if inconclusive, friendlies, we began in earnest on the English Riviera, where we traditionally don't prosper. Torquay, on their return to the league were going to be buoyant, not making our task any easier. Spireite debutants were looking unlikely, until an injury to Tommy Lee meant Mark Crossley played in goal and new loan signing Donal McDermott was included. Last season's non-player, Rob Page was in the side having been rehabilitated by Mr Sheridan and similarly places were found for Phil Picken and Darren Currie, though Harsley only made the bench. After a bright start, we fell behind on the quarter hour as Rendell converted following good work by Stevens. Despite much possession and considerable endeavour, we were finally seen off when the Gulls hit the second from Mansell with 20 minutes left. It was a disappointing start to the season after the optimism following the summer changes.
Darren Currie scored from the spot at Scunny
Next up was the short trip to Scunthorpe for the Coca-Cola Cup first round tie-not a prospect to be savoured given our recent record at the venue. Six team changes saw a first start for Jordan Bowery and a game for Paul Harsley against his former club. Again, we started brightly, but after 12 minutes we were behind as Scunny hit us on the break from our corner and Sparrow finished off a swift counter-attack with aplomb. The second half was similar and the Iron scored within 9 minutes of the resumption with Hayes netting expertly after Lee had saved well from O'Connor. With 20 minutes to go, Talbot caused the home defence all sorts of problems and was upended in the box. Currie scored from the spot with a confident finish, but despite some determined probing, we were unable to fashion an equaliser and fell at the first hurdle again.
Our eagerly-awaited first home game soon followed with the visit of Northampton Town to the Rec. Lester returned following his ban and the team in total saw 5 changes from the game at Glanford Park. The Cobblers started well but Talbot appeared to have given us the lead after 7 minutes, but the referee disallowed it for a foul by Talbot-a very harsh decision. Lowry and McDermott then proceeded to torment the visitors' rearguard and the young Irishman opened his account with a fine 20-yarder just after the half hour following a brilliant cross-field ball from Lester. We didn't add to our tally before the break despite several near misses, whilst the Cobblers' robust tackling earned them a couple of bookings as they lost some composure. After the break, Northampton found more resolve and looked more threatening, but other than Marshall's 72nd minute effort which struck the outside of the post, we always looked likely to keep the clean sheet. Further goals were not to come and we ran out worthy 1-0 winners.
Donal's shot goal bound against the Cobblers
Midweek had Notts County in town, sporting their new badge and, on the back of sizeable investment funds their new Director of Football, Sven-Göran Eriksson. His visit caused much interest and it was amusing to note that the VK girls were even in the directors' box during at least one part of the proceedings. The game itself was likely to be tough given the Pies' start to the season with goals flying in from all quarters. We were in no mood to allow County chances to add to their goal, tally, however, as the game began with both sides intent on playing attacking football. Town soon gained the upper hand but Talbot and Lester spurned excellent chances and half time came with the game surprisingly goalless.
Up up and away Jamie gets two against Svens men
Town continued to press and the Pies were making little impression until the introduction of Karl Hawley after 56 minutes, replacing the strangely anonymous Luke Rodgers. Hawley quickly established himself as a threat and twice went close, though we still looked the side most likely to score. With 76 minutes gone, the action began in earnest as Lester jinked his way into the Pies' box and was upended. Hesitation by the ref was overcome by decisiveness from the linesman who instantly indicated penalty. Surprisingly, Jamie Lowry stepped up to take it, much to everyone's amazement and the young Cornishman buried his kick in the bottom corner like a seasoned penalty taker. Two minutes later, he was to repeat the trick after Hunt stupidly upended Talbot in the box.
The two goal cushion was not to last long as County pulled one back from a well-delivered free-kick, knocked in at the back post, though there was more than a suspicion of pushing as the ball came in. Last season we would have wilted at this point, but this time we were resolute in defence and restricted the visitors to tentative long range efforts and hopeful crosses easily dealt with. So we held out for a well-deserved win in front of a crowd of over 6,000-good stuff indeed.
Shropshire was next on the agenda as we took on a Shrewsbury side shorn of its two big successes of last season: Ben Davies and Grant Holt. Despite this, the home side were on top for much of the first half and Tommy Lee and Rob Page were particularly handy in keeping them out until Leslie headed the Shrews in front on the half hour as Austin was beaten on our left. We still trailed at the break and looked none-too-menacing until mid way through the second half when Jamie Lowry took McDermott's pass wide right, cut inside and lashed a left footed shot across the defence and keeper into the corner of the net. We looked much the better side after this, though Robinson hit Lee's post with 10 minutes left and the keeper did well to smother the rebound. Despite our sustained pressure, we didn't manage to nick a winner and the game ended all square-probably a fair reflection of the game.
Jamie celebrating again at the Prostar
The final action of the month saw struggling Morecambe in town, but Sammy McIlroy's side always seem to make life difficult for us and this time was no exception. We were unchanged for the fourth game running, so new signing Wade Small had to make do with a place on the bench. The first half highlights were few, but Breckin's rash challenge on Panther brought him a booking which seemed to affect the skipper who had a poor game unlike all his others so far. Barry Roche saved well from Allott's 20-yard strike and Picken did well to block Wilson's effort, but it was generally a forgettable first 45.
Jack deflected home against the Shrimps
The second half began slightly better, but to pep things up, Niven and McDermott were replaced by Small and Harsley. The debutant did very well on 72 minutes, setting up Talbot who smashed in a shot which cannoned off Lester for the Sheffielder's first goal of the campaign. Talbot was probably a bit miffed not to have been credited with the strike. Parity was restored 3 minutes later with Jevons scoring from the spot after Breckin was harshly penalised for hand ball in the area. It should not have got to that as Kevin Austin should have shepherded the ball out for a throw, but allowed the Shrimp-head's winger past him to keep the ball in and advance into the area. It was probably the big man's only error of the day, but it did cost us, unfortunately, as we couldn't find a winner and the game finished level.
So, a satisfactory month drew to a close, playing-wise with 4 games unbeaten and some good football tempered by some periods of ineffective play. The team has not really bedded into a fully-convincing unit, but there are signs of self-assurance in the players, desperately lacking under the previous management. Page looks like the player we expected him to be last season whilst Allott and Breckin look excellent signings, though we had a certain inkling of what they were about. Young McDermott started very brightly but faded a little, whilst Small showed in his brief outing some decided promise-he looks strong and pacy. We still lack a big man up front and Martin Gritton does not appear to be high on the list of likely attackers in the team. Like last season, this failing could harm our chances, though in other areas we do look better equipped to mount a challenge.
Off the field, work began on the new ground on the former Dema site and plans for the End-of-an-Era thing continued with all sorts of good stuff on offer at the end of the season. The new stadium's name was also revealed: the B2Net Stadium which brings us firmly into the 21st Century and is encouraging that we got this wrapped up well in advance of the stadium's construction.
Sue will be missed RIP
The month ended on a very sad note when the club announced the death of the popular Sue Green, a familiar face to many in the club office and always a cheery presence around the club and at the games. She'll be much missed.
To end on a more upbeat note, the highlight of the month needs sorting and, as usual, it's not easy. McDermott's exquisite goal against Northampton has to be up there as does Phil Picken's stonking block against Morecambe, but my favourite bit of the month was Jamie Lowry's goal at Shrewsbury-well worked and splendidly taken. It's good to see Jamie playing well again and exhibiting the confidence that seemed to elude him last season.
