A Review by John Taylor

After the usual bout of almost-meaningless July friendlies, August saw the final such fixture with a rare visit of Leeds United to Saltergate.  The troubled Yorkshire outfit sent a talented bunch of youngsters rather than the better-known first team types, but still ran out with a win against the black-clad Spireites, with Mark Allott getting our goal.

Despite the modest results pre-season, the mood about Town was certainly more optimistic than last year, with new manager Roy McFarland having already developed a good rapport with the fans, unlike his predecessor. His signings of Ian Evatt and Gus Uhlenbeek looked sensible, solid additions to the squad, though the great concern was where the goals would come from.

This sentiment was echoed after the first game for real at newly promoted Wrexham, where we created several chances but failed to hit the net. After just 2 minutes, Mark Hudson set up Glynn Hurst only for the keeper to make a fine double save. Shortly afterwards, the Robins (to use their traditional nickname) hit the post with an effort from Chris Armstrong, which Kevin Dawson then cleared.

After the break, in stifling heat, we created several worthwhile openings for Allott, Brandon and Uhlenbeek (right at the death) whilst the lively and confident home side tested Carl Muggleton on a number of occasions without ever looking likely to score. So, it ended with honours even, a result that most of us would have taken before the game. The biggest surprise was the tempo of the match in ridiculously high temperatures, yet we even had the farcical scene of the referee trying to hurry up Alan O'Hare with a throw-in when all 22 players were glad of a few seconds respite. These chaps certainly know how to wind us all up with remarkable ease.

Tuesday saw us in cup action against Burnley at Saltergate in what proved to be a very exciting, if ultimately disappointing, encounter. We played some fine, flowing football against our higher-division opponents but again failed to score, whilst the clarets were also less than sharp around the box. Even an end-to-end extra time failed to produce a goal so we went to penalties without our number 1 taker, David Reeves, substituted near the end. As expected, we blew it with Chris Brandon scoring with his twice-taken effort, together with Steve Payne. Hurst ballooned high and wide whilst Hudson and Evatt produced weak shots easily saved by the Burnley keeper. Muggleton managed one fine save, but the Lancastrians went through without the need of the fifth kick at 3-2. It was hugely disappointing, but the football was encouraging. The game produced the usual early-season setback for Steve Blatherwick when he challenged Alan O'Hare for a loose ball in the air and came off with a cracked cheekbone and in considerable pain, so sustaining another layoff.

Next up was Bristol City at Saltergate for the second successive home league game against the same opponents. Danny Wilson's side were keen to avenge their damaging defeat at the end of last season and started brightly, scoring from a well-worked set piece. Soon afterwards, we equalised from a most amazing source: Alan O'Hare with his first senior goal. Not surprisingly, he went slightly mad. Both sides looked promising coming forward, but City came nearest with late efforts from Christian Roberts, but an entertaining game finished all square with both sides reasonably satisfied, given the relative expectations of the season.

Away game number 2 was in Buckinghamshire on another ridiculously hot afternoon at a venue where we have a poor record. We were hoping that the change of name to Causeway Stadium might result in a change of luck. After a few minutes, it was looking fairly unlikely as Darren Currie unleashed a superb 25-yarder into the bottom corner of our net. Our heads did not drop, however, and after several promising probes, Mark Allott's right wing cross was not cleared and the lively Chris Brandon dinked in an equaliser. The Chairboys came back strongly and following a bout of head tennis and less than stout defending, McSporran smashed in a second from close range.

Again Town swept forward with some good intricate passing and, seconds before the break, Hudson slid in our second equaliser following good work on the left by O'Hare. At half time, we were contemplating a possible away win, given the way we were attacking and early second half efforts strengthened that conviction. Mr Sanchez then decided to act, as he did last season with substitutions. Again, it worked, as Currie did his magic on the right with a great cross for the unmarked sub to head in with his first touch.  We continued to press, as did Wycombe, and we became increasingly anxious with Allott being booked for dissent, so conceding another 10 yards in a dangerous area and Uhlenbeek following suit for unnecessary obstruction with O'Hare covering. It was all looking like another bad day in Bucks.

It wasn't to be, however, as with the clock ticking down to the close, Brandon chased a long ball to the right of the Wycombe area, just kept it in play and muscled out the defender. He brought the ball back and swept in a near post cross for substitute Andy Rushbury to head powerfully home. Bizarre, but what joy, especially for young Rush who had previously looked like a goal was the last thing that he would ever achieve. Talking of achievements, that meant that we equalised as many times in 1 game as we did all last season in the league.

Unlike last season, we were playing on Bank Holiday Monday with Plymouth the visitors to Town. After we did the double last season they were certainly going to be up for the encounter and so it proved. They looked a very well organised and tough team with some considerable skill when coming forward, whilst we looked a little below par after previously sparky performances. We were lucky to keep Argyle at bay in the first half and it ended goalless.

Early in the second half, Chris Brandon scored an impudent goal, sneaking behind the orange rearguard to net from an acute angle. The elusive first win did not come, however, as Frio's header from the edge of the box soon equalised after O'Hare was beaten on the right. Despite much endeavour and some excellent goalkeeping at both ends, we ended up with our fourth successive league draw of the season, replicating the start of 1948.

After a week that saw the not unexpected departure of Jamie Burt, a very sad case indeed, we had a trip to Loftus Road to overcome. Promotion favourites Rangers were always going to be a difficult prospect and so it proved, particularly as they signed our old friend, Tony Thorpe. For once, Thorpe was not in the business of trying to referee the game and moan at every verse end. Unfortunately, he was in the business of scoring.

In the first half, we looked decidedly uneasy and this was not helped by Payne's departure with a head injury. Kevin Dawson was looking distinctly uncomfortable against the big, bustling and experienced Paul Furlong and it was he who flicked on for Thorpe to beat Dawson with ease and slide in the first goal.  We managed to hold on until half time when Mr McFarland's team talk must have had an effect on the players.

The second half saw an amazing transformation with Town pressing forward consistently and substitute Caleb Folan, in particular, looking dangerous. We created a wave of chances for Folan, Hudson, Allott, Hurst and Brandon, but could not find the net with a combination of fine keeping by Day, tentative shooting, good defence and, in Brandon's case, shirt tugging. We should also have had a penalty for a blatant handball, but the officials were unsympathetic to anything in our favour all afternoon. Tony Thorpe ended the match as a contest with his second of the game and his million and first against us in his career after a midfield slip by Hurst, whilst Furlong's awesome late strike after a free kick was touched to him gave the game an unfairly uneven look. Still, there are lessons to be learnt here: you don't win games by possession and chances; you have to take them and keep the opposition at bay.

So, we had a month of some good football with considerable encouragement, but no wins. If the heads don't drop we should do reasonably this year, given reasonable luck with injuries and decisions from officialdom. Glynn Hurst's absence of a goal is a worry and he is seemingly lacking confidence, despite much endeavour. Goalscoring will remain difficult unless we secure the services of a regular goalscorer, but finances dictate that this will be tricky. Burt's departure will give some room for manoeuvre, however, with player numbers being fixed, according to Mr Hubbard at the fractious AGM early in the month. August was always going to be difficult, given the fixtures, but September looks a little easier on paper, so let's hope for a few wins, improved crowds and a leap up the table.

 

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