A Review By John Taylor

The hectic month began with the visit of Bristol City to Town. Minus old boy, Danny Wilson, the Ashton Gate outfit had experienced a less than impressive start to the campaign, but were going to be serious opponents, nonetheless. The game was fairly even and bright for the first half hour and we took the lead shortly afterwards as new loan signing Mark Stallard was upended by keeper Phillips in the box as he latched onto Allott's pass. Nicholson netted from the spot. The Robins keeper was only yellow carded, despite being the last line of defence. Ten minutes later, his teammate, Jamie Smith was less fortunate when his 2-footed lunge at N'Toya resulted in his dismissal.

With a goal lead and the opposition at 10 men, it looked rather good for Town, but at half time we seemed to have left our heads in the dressing room. City equalised almost on the restart as Nicholson allowed Murray to waltz past him to score in impressive style. Soon afterwards we were behind as we failed to react to a corner and Coyles netted from close range. We upped our effort after this and had a goal chalked off and Stallard went very close, but we calved out little in the way of clear-cut opportunities. Just when it looked like our unbeaten spell at home would end, up stepped Alex Bailey to smash in his first league goal from 25 yards to earn us a deserved point.

Next up was an unusual Sunday fixture: our first at the newish KC stadium, where we were postponed a day not because of the England v Wales fixture, but because of the annual Hull fair-bizarre reason or what?

Our side included Adam Smith for his full debut and the on-loan Ulsterman Sammy Clingan from Wolves, attracting all the obvious Star Trek references. From early on, we looked full of confidence and stroked the ball about admirably, with Smith causing the Tigers' rearguard no end of problems. He didn't endear himself to the Hull faithful either when he had the audacity to go to ground when fouled, so attracting boos for the rest of the afternoon. The home fans thought he'd dived apparently.

Anyway, just before the break we should have gone ahead when Gareth Davies burst through after a flowing move with only keeper Boaz Myhill to beat. Naturally, he placed his shot just wide. The feeling amongst the Town following was that this was going to be one of those days, as always in Hull, since Peter Taylor's charges could not be as poor after the break. Amazingly, however, they were and we continued to carve out openings but our finishing was absolutely woeful. Evatt and Stallard missed the best of the openings and Hull got their inevitable winner 2 minutes after being reduced to 10 men after captain Ashby was dismissed for a foul on Smith. Though defeat was hard to take after being totally dominant, it was solely through our own failings that we lost, having gone to sleep to concede the goal and shooting like absolute prats. To make matters worse there was no power on the away end so refreshment facilities were negligible. Additionally, the police marched us all the way around the ground just so that we would be last on the busses for the park & ride-what a grim day out!

Stall thought he'd scored at the KC

Worse was to come the following weekend when we visited the north east to take on Hartlepool. After 3 minutes we were behind following Nicholson's mistake and 5 minutes later it was 2 following more shambolic defending. At this point we were being killed in the manner of Plymouth last season and our central defenders were reduced to shouting at each other as the Monkeyhangers missed after another defensive howler. The torture was not to continue though as a rare attack brought a penalty with the Chief going down in the box in rounding the Pool keeper Provett. Personally, I thought it neither penalty nor dive, but was mightily relieved when Nicholson netted from the spot. The setback seemed to get to the home side and they were on the back foot for much of the remainder of the half as we gained the upper hand without creating too much by way of real chances.

Shinner's goal the the fight back at Hartlepool

Shortly after the resumption, however, we were level as Stallard swept in his first goal for us after Allison headed down Campbell-Ryce's centre. We were really looking up for it now with our best spell of the games, but Jamal was more content to showboat than deliver telling crosses, so we created little of substance. Midway through the half came the vital moment as Neale Cooper brought off the ineffective Gavin Strachan and brought on Steve Turnbull. After that we rarely had a kick and just could not keep hold of the ball. The home side bombarded our goal and Muggleton did well on several occasions to keep Pool at bay. Wasteful finishing also helped, but with 7 minutes to go, we blew it as we only half cleared a corner to the edge of the box and were slow to close down the onrushing Turnbull. His fierce shot was superbly saved by Muggs, but the defence had dematerialised and Sweeney had the simple task of netting for his hat-trick. We appealed in vain for offside, and I certainly thought that the officials got it right. So, we lost our 5^th successive road game by the odd goal.

Midweek had Stockport in town for the new Wednesday night show at 7.30 to encourage the youngsters. Apparently, former hero, Luke Beckett had been spouting off pre-match about how useless we were and how we would finish bottom of the table. What that was about, I don't know, but all it did was earn him a chorus of boos every time he went near the ball in what turned out to be a miserable evening for him. Early on we took the lead with a rasping 20-yarder from Clingan, who celebrated with a run to the wing stand where his mother was sitting having just arrived from Ireland. Not long after it was 2 as Nicholson's free kick was superbly headed home by N'Toya. Despite some enterprising attacking, the Hatters managed to keep us out for the rest of the half.

The situation soon changed after the turnaround as Nicholson's delivery set up another goal, this time with Evatt winning the header for Blatherwick to nut in from 5 yards. Not until 84 minutes did we add to this with a brisk Allott strike after Nicholson crossed again. Substitute Mark De Bolla seemed to have added to this 3 minutes later, but his effort was mysteriously chalked off for offside. The kop appeared to be willing him to score, but shortly afterwards another scorching effort went just the wrong side of the post. What an encouraging performance this was with some perky, entertaining football, though Stockport could hardly be said to be worthy opponents on the night. Still, you can only beat what's out there on the pitch to be beaten and we did that with room to spare.

Saturday brought resurgent Donny Rovers to Town after a break of almost 10 years. Dave Penney's side proved to be tough opponents, as expected, and worked phenomenally hard for each other. They allowed us little room in midfield to create much, though Tcham N'Toya had a fine overhead attempt and a close header in the first half. Muggleton had to be on his toes to deny Rovers twice and the first half ended goalless.

The second period saw us get stronger as it progressed, though Rovers looked dangerous in attack. Blatherwick always appeared in command, however in the Town rearguard and Rovers best efforts came to naught. At the other end, many thought that we'd snatched victory at the death when a defensive header went over Warrington, but the Donny custodian (to use old 60's Derbyshire Times parlance) grasped the ball before it had fully crossed the line. It was a hard fought game with a good level of entertainment for Saltergate's best crowd of the season and the goalless draw was a fair outcome with both sides taking something positive from the game.

The eagerly awaited Hillsborough clash came next and this started in strange fashion with Wednesday taking an early lead from Proudlock's deflected effort after an error by Evatt. Blathers headed us level within no time, but no sooner had we calmed down after the goal than we were behind again. Bailey was adjudged to have handled Steve MacLean's header, but the referee didn't even book the defender. MacLean himself took the spot-kick and scored and the Owls were looking very positive against a disorganised Town defence at this point.

Half time came as something of a relief to allow us to regroup and the second half certainly saw a change in the men in white. We attacked from the off and within 9 minutes we were level. Campbell-Ryce's corner was almost converted by Allison, but Stallard actually stopped the header on the Wednesday line. The Owls half cleared the ball and it fell to Clingan, 25 yards from goal and he unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner of Tidman's net.

The large away following certainly celebrated that and the next 20 minutes saw wave after wave of Spireite attack with Tidman foiling Davies and Allott being expertly denied from the rebound by an impressive block by Whelan. Allison hit the bar with a header as we tried to claim a winner and Muggleton made a fine save at the other end as a rare home attack made inroads into our defence. The final whistle brought more relief to the Owls fans, but we were pleased to have stopped the rot away from home.

Shortly after the final whistle we learnt that we'd drawn Scunthorpe away in the FA Cup-it could have been a worse draw and we can be confident of doing the business for once in this miserable tournament. The month then ended with the CFSS AGM where several initiatives were put forward and the future was painted as a little better than the recent past. Cautious optimism seems reasonable at this stage of the game. Other off-field activity saw Campbell-Ryce's loan spell extended and Aaron Downes offered a new contract as well as being chosen for a young Australian tour. Rumours of a 2-year deal for the management team surfaced and this was confirmed in early November, though it's yet to be signed.

So, October was a month of mixed fortunes, with only 1 win but some encouraging football, though offset by some rubbish, especially on the road. All in all, it was satisfactory and we still seem to be moving in the right direction. Sammy Clingan looks a great loan signing and Campbell-Ryce continues to excite and frustrate in equal measure. He's never boring, though. Stallard has given us more options up front and his experience should help our young forwards, especially De Bolla, who desperately needs a goal to boost his confidence in the box. Maybe he'll get a hat-trick at Scunny.