Hello dear friends, welcome to a fresh episode of the Dorchester Town Football Manager 2010 story! My team was not very convincing last month, we got knocked out of the FA Cup and also recorder a defeat and a home draw in Blue Square Premier. We were still top of the table though but the second placed team narrowed the gap to only 5 points. Let’s see how December went.
The first game of the month was at home with 11th placed Rushden, we surely needed a win. The team played pretty well during the first half but the finishing was rather poor. We finally broke the deadlock a few minutes before half time thanks to a corner kick header from centre back Bosko Visatovici, the ball went in off the crossbar. The second half was very quiet, Rushden were unable to attack because they rarely had the ball but we lacked creativity and determination upfront. Striker Sergiu Jivan did score our second goal eventually, he fired one straight into the top corner from inside the box.
Next up, the FA Trophy game against fellow Blue Square Premier side Ebbsfleet. We had a particular reason to play well and win because Ebbsfleet defeated us 2-1 last month in the league, we had to get revenge. We got off to a fabulous start, two minutes into the game veteran Argentinian striker Leonardo Biagini played a great header lob from the edge of the area to give us the lead. The ball came straight from our keeper, a long clearance up the pitch found Biagini who headed it past the opposition keeper who was preparing to rush out and intercept the ball. Our joy lasted only three minutes though, Ebbsfleet found the equalizer with a great shot from the edge of the area. But it was Biagini‘s day, he gave us the lead again in the 12th minute with a good close range header. Then we had some defending to do but Biagini earned his hat-trick with a placed finish a few minutes before the break. The Argentinian striker was tired so I had to replace him with Jivan at half time. Segiu Jivan probably took Biagini‘s boots though, he scored four minutes into the second half with a placed finish. Ebbsfleet clawed one back around the hour mark by taking advantage of an error in our defense but we continued to attack and play well. It was a good display and we surely got our well deserved revenge. Unfortunately my first choice right back, 32-year old Dutch player Kevin Mensah, got injured and was going to be out for six weeks.
Back to the league for the next match, away at 21st placed Fleetwood. My lads failed to live up to the expectations during the first half, we played rather poorly and Fleetwood could have taken the lead but they missed a huge chance on a counter attack. Things got even worse after the break, the referee noticed some pushing going on in our penalty area and pointed to the spot. Luckily goalkeeper Catalano saved the penalty kick! That was the game’s turning point, we were still playing quite badly but Marius Dabu found a perfect through ball for Sergiu Jivan and his placed finish gave us the lead. Four minutes later captain Ryan Carolan settled our nerves with a corner kick header but Fleetwood didn’t give up and I reckon we were lucky to escape with a clean sheet. We even scored one more seven minutes from time when winger Domondi headed in a free kick cross.
The last game of the month and also the last encounter in 2010 was at home against 23rd placed Telford, I was hoping to give our fans a nice Christmas present. We got off to a dream start, a quickfire double from left winger Alexandru Gheba placed us two goals in front right from the start. Striker Marius Dabu made it 3-0 in the 13th minute but Telford clawed one back right away with a beautiful shot that went in off the crossbar. Our victory was beyond doubt and the goal fest continued with an own goal and then another goal from Marius Dabu. I guess it’s a pretty good ending to a happy year. Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.
Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.
Sears
30 июня, 2010 at 12:24
Thats a good dialogue you wrote there Johnny! I’m not quite sure why Shamrock Rovers let that youth player go… He seems to be a promising player! Now you have an Irish centre back line!… You surly have wrapped up the title now, and nice to see you got revenge on Ebblesfleet. Well done!
James
30 июня, 2010 at 12:37
hi johnny really enjoy the posts,
trying to make my own so check it out.
thanks :)
http://profootymanager.blogspot.com/
Callum
30 июня, 2010 at 14:23
Good month again Johnny. I am pretty amazed Shamrock did let Stefan go he looks great he will surely be a great player for you. Noticed Jivan has slight concerns keep your best striker happy ;) Think you are pretty much certain to be promoted now unless you get an injury crisis.
Johnny Karp
30 июня, 2010 at 15:06
@Sears
Thanks mate, I hope that the two Irishmen will be like a wall in front of our keeper. They should get along together well too :)
@James
Thanks and good luck with your blog, I’ll keep an eye on it ;)
@Callum
Thanks. I was pretty surprised to see that guy on a free transfer. Jivan is concerned about the media attention that he’s getting, he feels a bit under pressure. He had the same problem last season but recovered after a month or two.
Callum
30 июня, 2010 at 15:33
He might go a couple of games without goals because of the hype.
Zinedine Zaiddin
30 июня, 2010 at 16:40
Quite good progress, and I think the part about Christmast Gift for your fans is the best part for this entry. Keep it up mate!
Mo
30 июня, 2010 at 17:15
Excellent dialougue, i enjoyed that!
I hope to see you in League 2 next season!
And that player looks pretty good!
dami
30 июня, 2010 at 17:27
Another good month,the new signing looks really good…hopefully your team will gain promotion soon…
Laxeyman
30 июня, 2010 at 18:22
Well done Johnny, that’s a pretty good month. I think you’re almost certain to get promoted now, what a great job you’re doing! Stefan O’Brien looks like a decent player, hopefully he’ll develop well and be a rock at the back for you in the coming years.
Rob
30 июня, 2010 at 18:56
Hi Johnny good month again I was just wondering if you could please tell me your best starting 11 thanks a lot.
Rob :).
Johnny Karp
30 июня, 2010 at 19:10
@Zinedine
Thanks a lot for your comment.
@Mo
Thanks, I’m happy that you enjoyed that little piece of fantasy.
@Dami
Thanks, I hope to get promoted with a few games to spare but we have to keep the good form into the next couple of months.
@Laxeyman
Thanks mate, I hope to keep O’Brien up to the Premier League :)
@Rob
Thanks for the comment. The best starting eleven would be like this: Maximiliano Catalano between the sticks, Mensah on the right in defense, Molyneux on the left, Carolan and Visatovici in the middle, then in midfield Mycoe on the right and Gheba on the left, el Kadi and Juanje in midfield, Jivan and Dabu upfront. Usually I have to replace both wingers and one of the central midfielders in the second half because they always get quite tired.
Kevin Mayo
30 июня, 2010 at 23:00
Hi Johnny
Excellent find from the Republic of Ireland which should really enhance your defence even further.You certainly ended 2010 with a bang in that 5-1 hammering of poor old Telford. Great stuff!!
Majk
1 июля, 2010 at 09:36
Excellent as usual! I enjoyed the transfer-story in the end and he does certainly look like a promising young centreback, that could at this point get lots of playing time already which would only help him develop his stats.
Johnny Karp
1 июля, 2010 at 10:04
@Kevin and Majk
Thanks, I have high hopes for that Irish youngster. He will be a first team regular right away and I hope he’ll have the ambition to develop his skills.