Hello dear friends, a new chapter of the Dorchester Town FM 2010 story is ready for you, I hope you’ll enjoy it. We managed to stay unbeaten in November but due to a few dropped points Coventry closed in on our leadership of the table, we had no more points over them but only a slightly better goal difference. We were still top of the table though and I was hoping to preserve that status through December.
The first game of the month was at home with mid-table side Bradford, I was hoping to take advantage of the home ground and get the three points. We had a decent first half but we were not nearly incisive enough to do some damage in the opposition box. Things changed dramatically after the interval and I had it was all thanks to loanee striker Craig Carlisle, he netted a hat-trick in less than half an hour to hand us the victory. He also played an assist for Aleksandar Mladenov while our last goal was scored by Matt Richards with a great 20 yard free kick shot. Bradford scored a late consolation goal with a long shot but that couldn’t ruin our celebration, the team enjoyed an outstanding second half.
We had another home game coming up and it was supposed to be an easy one since the opponents were bottom of the table team Carlisle. We were all over them right from the first second of the game and it didn’t take us more than 13 minutes to score the opening goal, Omar Koroma sent the ball in with a perfectly placed finish from inside the penalty area. Carlisle were defending in numbers despite being one goal down and things got even worse when one of their midfielders was sent off just before the break. Young centre back Stefan O’Brien doubled our lead after the interval with a corner kick header and we could have scored a few more. Carlisle netted a late consolation goal and it was a beautiful one too but the three points were ours.
Our only away game of the month was coming up next, 15th placed Southend were going to test their skills against us. The first half was painfully boring, no shots on target at all and no entertainment for the crowd. I was hoping for a better second half but things got complicated for us on 58 minutes when midfielder Al Bangura made a reckless late tackle and was deservedly sent off. I would have taken him out myself if the referee wouldn’t have sent him for an early bath! Things got worse only two minutes later, just when I was thinking about how to approach the rest of the game Southend made the most out of a corner kick and took the lead. The one man disadvantage proved to be too much to overcome but the team produced a decent reaction and we could have gotten the equalizer through Revy Rosalia but his good shot hit the post a few minutes from time. It was our first league defeat of the season, our unbeaten run was over. We also lost the top of the table spot to Coventry, they were one point ahead of us after that game.
We had two back to back games against Brighton coming up next, the first one in the Johnstone’s Trophy South semi final. We took the lead on 14 minutes when some poor marking allowed midfielder Mimoun el Kadi to head in a corner kick cross, his first goal of the season. We were safely in control of the game but Brighton scored one against the run of play with a thunderous 20 yard drive. We were unable to get past their well organized defense so I thought that some fresh ambition would do well: I sent in Jonathan Obika to replace Omar Koroma on 65 minutes. Obika had been out of contention for more than four months and he was not yet fully fit but I hoped that his determination would make a difference. And it did, he rounded off a team move with a powerful finish from close range, I was extremely happy for him.
Brighton came back to the Avenue Stadium three days later for the League One game, they were having a disappointing first half of the season and were down in 19th place. The game was completely in our hands but we only managed to score once through Peter Singh who capped a good team move with a powerful finish. We could have scored at least one more but it was a well deserved win that took us back on top of the table because Coventry drew 1-1 at home with Plymouth!
Blackpool were the next team to visit our Avenue Stadium, they were sitting 14th before the game. I guess many of you watched Blackpool‘s thrashing at the Emirates Stadium yesterday, it’s quite curious how they ended up in League One in my game. By the way, nobody got that score right in our predictions contest :) Back to the game, we took the lead five minutes before half time when Omar Koroma sent one in to wrap up a solid team move but Blackpool got an injury time equalizer when their striker beat the offside trap an slid it past our keeper. We started piling on the pressure after the interval and hit the woodwork twice before Tiberiu Paduraru headed in a great cross from Fabio Daprela. Blackpool were still on their back foot but a quick counter attack brought them another equalizer! I should have pulled back after the second goal, now we had to push forward to get the win. We resumed the siege on Blackpool‘s penalty area and the reward came just a few seconds before the final whistle, captain Ryan Carolan banged in another corner kick header just when we needed that the most! Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.
Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.
Laxeyman
22 августа, 2010 at 15:04
Hi Johnny, that’s another good month despite losing your unbeaten record. Your side looks nailed on for promotion now, that 10 point lead is too big for you to slip up. It will be an interesting title race though, as ever, good luck!
Johnny Karp
22 августа, 2010 at 18:04
Thanks Laxeyman, I hope to keep that 10 point lead at the end of January and then I guess it would be almost impossible to lose the promotion.
Sears
22 августа, 2010 at 15:15
Hello Johnny,
that was a impressive month. With a ten point lead over 3rd place, and with your »first class» managerial skills, I can’t see how you won’t gain promotion this season. Hopefuuly you can win the title though! Goodluck man.
Johnny Karp
22 августа, 2010 at 18:05
Thanks Sears but who knows, maybe the players will sabotage me! :)
Lye
22 августа, 2010 at 15:48
Hi mate, 10 points over third place team is a comfortable lead and I think it is hard for you to lose that advantage. I am confident that you will be in Championship next season. The title will be a two horse race between you and Coventry. Hopefully you can nick it. Good luck.
Johnny Karp
22 августа, 2010 at 18:06
Thanks for the confidence Lye, I’m looking forward to the match against Coventry which will probably be in February or March. That game could decide the title if we don’t slip up by then.
Darren Smith
22 августа, 2010 at 18:48
Hi Johnny, well done on another great month. Carolan has been immense…what a great servant to the club. You’re top of the league and looking good for promotion. You have done a fantastic job mate, keep up the good work.
Johnny Karp
22 августа, 2010 at 20:23
Thanks for your king words Darren. I’m running out of words to praise Carolan, he’s a legend.
Kevin Mayo
22 августа, 2010 at 18:54
Hello Johnny
Great way to end the year sitting on top of the table. I’m pretty sure you won’t give up that points lead over third place Rotherham. Good luck in selling those players next month. By the way is it just me as it seems playing at Southend is always hard? I’ve experienced the same results previous games.
Well done though.
Johnny Karp
22 августа, 2010 at 20:25
Thanks Kevin. We made that Southend game difficult or Al Bangura made it with that sending off. I’m sure that we wouldn’t have lost the game with 11 men on the pitch but it was difficult indeed during the first half.
ravenie
22 августа, 2010 at 20:26
Another good month Johnny, the defeat at Southend was a small disappointment but it doesn’t seem to have fazed your team.
Johnny Karp
23 августа, 2010 at 06:49
Thanks Ravenie. You are right, the team bounced back from that defeat very well, the players didn’t seem to be affected by it.
Java
23 августа, 2010 at 02:09
Don’t let that Nicolau get off Johnny, he would be a great goalkeeper in the future. Well, you show us a determination from a experienced FM player. Maybe if in the real world you were a football manager, Mourinho’s mouth isn’t as big as the reality when heis team face yours. :D I believe you’ll play in the Championship next SEASON, hahahah… good luck sir.
Johnny Karp
23 августа, 2010 at 06:51
Thanks for the comment Java. I will not sell Nicolau, I just extended his contract until 2017! And I admit that I would love to beat that arrogant Portuguese manager :)
Mat
23 августа, 2010 at 10:05
Good month Johnny,
Ryan Carolan certainly has been one of you best pickups across your FM career. I think that promotion is looking more and more likely with every passing game. Best of luck for the rest of the season
Johnny Karp
23 августа, 2010 at 14:26
Thanks for the good wishes Mat. Carolan surely has a special place in my career so far, I always felt that we had 10% more chances to win a game if he was on the pitch.
Ana Garcia
23 августа, 2010 at 15:37
Great month Johnny and as always you are making this look too easy!! :)
You may want to keep Nicolau but if a million pound offer comes in the board may step in and accept it, how are you finances at the moment??
Johnny Karp
23 августа, 2010 at 18:08
Hi Ana, nice to hear from you! :) The finances are OK, the club has around 200K in the bank so I hope the board won’t force any transfer decisions. I would be quite upset if they did.
Cal
23 августа, 2010 at 17:54
You shouldnt sell your player because he will become even better!!
Carolan has been really good for your team so you should keep him
Its amazing that you have such a big lead hope you get promoted!!!
Johnny Karp
23 августа, 2010 at 18:05
Thanks Cal, I don’t want to sell either of them.
Jean Paul Borg
23 августа, 2010 at 19:36
Hey mate,
Too bad your undefeated run came to an end but you still maintain the top of the table and that is best. What cups are you in?
Johnny Karp
23 августа, 2010 at 19:44
Hi Jean Paul. We’re out of the FA Cup and League Cup but we’re still in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy with a good chance of reaching the final.