Dorchester Town Story — February 2011

Hello folks, a fresh episode of the Dorchester Town story is ready to meet the world, I hope you’ll enjoy it. We didn’t have the best of runs in January but we were still top of the table in Blue Square Premier and even managed to increase the gap to 12 points thanks to a poor run from second placed York. Now we had to do our best and keep that 12-point cushion, let’s see how it went in February.

The first game of the month was at home with 5th placed Kidderminster, not an easy opponent at all. We got off to a very good start though, our passing was going on well and we struck 14 minutes into the game when a through ball from Juanje found Dabu inside the box and the striker coolly fired it home. Playmaker Juanje had a great evening as he managed to double our lead five minutes before half time with a placed finish. That two-goal lead made the players a bit complacent after the break though, we had a rather poor second half and our opponents clawed one back eventually. My players woke up and kept things under control after that goal, we could even have scored a late one but a cynical foul stopped my striker who was clean through. The referee took out the red card but it didn’t matter anymore, the three points were ours.

We had another tough match coming up, away at 6th placed Mansfield. We started the game well and could have taken the lead in the 20th minute but Marius Dabu‘s splendid volley hit the post. A few minutes later I had quite a few reasons to be worried as our best player, left back Lee Molyneux had to leave the pitch on a stretcher. The team continued to play pretty well though, Mansfield were under heavy pressure but we just couldn’t break through. We kept on pouring forward after half time but the score was still level, it was getting frustrating. Fortunately captain Ryan Carolan stepped up again and netted a corner kick header, we were in the lead and the game appeared to be under control. In fact, the game was fairly quiet after the goal but Mansfield got lucky five minutes from time, a long cross into our box was headed past the keeper… It was a bit frustrating but that’s football. The thing that upset me more than the result was that Lee Molyneux was going to be sidelined for two months, that really was a big blow.

The next game was away at 21st placed Grays, I was expecting a win but the first five minutes of the game surprised me. Grays came out with great determination and we were lucky to survive those first five minutes as they hit the post three times with long range shots! I was relieved to see backup striker Alexandru Almani finishing off a counter attack in the 10th minute, we were back on track. Our first half display was fairly poor though, my players were unable to develop our usual possession game. Things got a bit better after half time, we kept things under control and our opponents were forced to chase the ball around the pitch.

The most important game of the month was coming up, away at second placed York. They were 12 points behind us and they were surely hoping to win the game and get back in the race for the top spot. We got off to s flying start though, a corner kick saw Carolan heading the ball off the crossbar, it bounced, hit the goalkeeper in the back and then went in! I couldn’t have wished for a better start! The game was fairly even after that own goal but York managed to get back level in the 20th minute with a good header from inside our penalty area. Then we took control of the game but we failed to create any clear chances until half time. I would have been happy with a draw before the game but I felt that we could do more than that and my players agreed. They played much better after half time, we were pushing forward very well but unfortunately the finishing was rather wasteful. Two minutes from time, we were still trying to score the winning goal but something totally different happened. York scored and it was quite a bizarre goal: my defenders literally stopped and contemplated York‘s striker as he went by, entered our penalty area and squeezed the ball past our keeper. The defenders didn’t stop to play the offside trap because there was no pass forward, the striker just took the ball 30 yards out and went through. That’s something I’ve never seen before, maybe my centre backs were good friends with that striker and he asked them for help, I can’t explain it otherwise. Anyway, it was an important win for York and they were only 9 points behind us.

We took a break from the league for the next game, the FA Trophy quarter final against Majk‘s Basingstoke! They were one league behind us but they were doing pretty well in Blue Square South as they were sitting third. My players seemed to take things lightly and Basingstoke punished us on a quick counter attack right away, only three minutes into the game! Things were getting serious and we started to push forward to get back into the game. We were lacking creativity though and our opponents came pretty close to doubling the lead on a counter attack just before half time! The second half showed a similar scenario, we were trying to attack but our moves were too predictable to create any danger. Luckily we managed to score a late equalizer, striker Sergiu Jivan took care of it a few seconds before the final whistle! That was a pretty close shave, we had to do better in the replay. Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.

Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.

That replay was scheduled four days later and this time we managed to take the lead thanks to a superb volley from left winger Alexandru Gheba. Basingstoke didn’t give up though and they managed to make it all square just a few minutes later with a fine shot from the edge of the area, I have to admit that it was a beautiful goal. We were unable to react until half time and it looked like we were going to have another tough game. My players came out with a much more positive attitude from the dressing room, we were piling on the pressure and the reward finally came. Substitute left winger Valentin Fritea gave us the lead with a great shot from 25 yards out, straight into the top corner. We continued to push forward but the finishing was poor. Captain Ryan Carolan had to step up again and he sealed our win four minutes from time with a corner kick header. I was pleased with the second half display but we should have scored a few more. Anyway, we were through to the semi final!

The last league game of the month was at home against 16th placed AFC Wimbledon, I was hoping to end the month with a win. The team was playing pretty well and veteran striker Leonardo Biagini scored a fine double to please our fans. Our opponents didn’t give up though and their reaction was very good. A good team move allowed them to claw one back in the 64th minute and they even had a good chance to equalize but a good shot from distance hit the woodwork. We found ourselves under pressure but managed to lift the siege during the last 10 minutes and Marius Dabu settled the game with a good header seven minutes from time. Unfortunately striker Sergiu Jivan picked up a knock and will be out for three weeks.

We were still top of the table, the gap was still at 12 points but York had a game in hand. We will have to be careful because a couple of defeats could make the title race wide open.

The player that impressed me this month is midfield playmaker Juanje, a Spanish 24-year old that I brought in on a free transfer last summer. He scored two goals and made eight assists so far and his hard work was always essential in our midfield. He came out through the youth ranks at Atletico Madrid but never had the chance to break into the first team, he was always sent to the «B» or even «C» team. I hope that he’ll manage to make some progress and improve his stamina and long shots, with better attributes there he could become a much better player. He is already monitored by a few League Two clubs, I hope he’ll want to stay at Dorchester and grow along with the club.

We’ll be extremely busy in March, we’ll have two legs to play in the FA Trophy semi final and also six league games. Two of those games will be really tough, against 5th placed Luton and 3rd placed Ebbsfleet, so I guess the title race is not closed yet.

That’s how February was my friends, I’m satisfied overall but also a bit sad about the injury to Lee Molyneux. He is an essential player for us because of his great defending skills and set piece taking talent. I’m looking forward to the FA Trophy clash, we have to make it to the final and give poor Lee the chance to play at Wembley! Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed the post.