Hello my friends and thanks for dropping by as I bring you the latest update from Life on the Riviera.
The first game of the month was away to Hereford which allowed Omar Koroma to finally get a start up front after joining us on loan from Portsmouth. It didn’t take long to get himself on the scoresheet pouncing on a deflected shot by fellow loanee Victor Palsson after just 8 minutes. We had to wait until the sesond half to extend our lead when Hofbauer pressured the Hereford defence forcing and own goal from a Benyon cross. Mark Ellis (DC) who came up from the reserve team headed in the third to seal the victory. Koroma was unfortunate to pick up a knock during the game and will be out for 4 weeks.
With Benyon getting injured in training I now had two of my four strikers injured so I secured month long loans for Andreas Weimann from Aston Villa and Alex Nimely-Tchuimeni from Man City.
The following game was at home to Port Vale which I anticipated to be a difficult match and it turned out to be just that. Our front line had a furstrating time in penetrating a well organized Port Vale defence but in the end Mark Ellis was the hero of the hour heading in two goals from corner kicks which will now may justify a regular first team spot in the back four.
We travelled north to Rotherham for our next match and they were in second place again and looking for revenge following our 6-1 thrashing of them back in November. We got off to a cracking start with club captain Nicky Wroe smashing the ball into the roof of the net from a cleared corner after 12 minutes. From that moment on Rotherham owned the game with wave after wave of attacks forcing corner after corner but we held firm and keeper Scott Bevan produced some miraculous saves. Eventually they pulled one back in the second half but as the match drew to a close we were finishing stronger and from a rare attack Mark Ellis headed in from a corner kick deep into injury time to give us all three points to the delight of our travelling fans.
We stayed on the road for our next game which was just three days later at Cheltenham. Andreas Weimann got us off to a terrific start finishing a lovely through ball by Falkingham after only 6 minutes but the home side who were in a far more attacking mood than us hit an equalizer form 30 yards just before half time. Our lack lustre effort continued after the interval and Cheltenham deservedly got the winning goal 20 minutes from time.
The fianl game of the month signalled a return home to the Plainmoor Stadium and a match against Accrington. This time I remebered to give my team the correct instructions in so much as shorter passing and this paid off quickly with Mark Ellis heading in after only 3 minutes. Barrowman added from the spot 10 minutes later when Weimann was hauled down and the young Austrian who was causing the visitors all kinds of trouble set up Barrowman again to give us a 3-0 lead by the half. The second period we were less adventurous though Accrington never gave us any real problems. Barrowman completed his hat-trick from the spot for a comprehensive victory.
League Table
With 12 games remaining we have an unbelievable 31 point lead so I think it’s safe to say that the title should be ours by the end of March.
Here’s Mark Ellis who has featured so much this past month
March Fixtures
Only 4 games on the card for next month though two of them are against teams looking for a play off spot so that may cause us some difficulties.
Thanks for reading and have a great weekend.
I’m on what we call in Canada a «Staycation» next week which means I’m off work but going nowhere other than my back yard and of course the room where my PC is located :)
Darren Smith
13 августа, 2010 at 11:39
Hey Kevin, your still winning I see. The title is definatly yours and has been for a while now…well done! The League One preperations will be starting soon I assume. Enjoy your weekend and a week of football manager!! Sounds like the perfect vacation!!!!
Laxeyman
13 августа, 2010 at 12:07
Hi Kevin, the league title is now yours, well done, you deserve it after completely dominating League 2. Will that be the earliest league win ever? That staycation holiday sounds good, be able to play FM for 1 week! Have a good time and hopefully you can be celebrating your league win in March.
Kevin
13 августа, 2010 at 12:39
Hi Darren
Thanks for the congratulations. I do have one eye on next season and I’ll have to spend some time going through my shortlist as there are quite a few players there. Biggest concern — Goalkeeper and central defender.
@ Laxyeman
This is in fact my best performance ever with any team and any version of CM or as it became FM. Definitely the earliest I’ve ever won a title.I’m not sure if the wife will allow me to play FM for a week but I’ll give it my best shot. LOL!
Johnny Karp
13 августа, 2010 at 13:12
Congratulations Kevin, this was a great season! I bet you’ll have a lot more than 100 points at the end of it, fantastic! Enjoy your «Staycation»!
Kevin
13 августа, 2010 at 13:15
Hi Johhny
Thanks for the congrats. This is my best season ever, though I have to put it down to a slight modification of your tactics and all those tips you shared with us in your guide.
Lye
13 августа, 2010 at 16:33
Hi Kevin, i am delighted for you. I will be eager for you to end this season early as the title is just there for you to collect. Well done. I hope your wife don’t complain about you playing a lot as i am facing the same problem if i stuck with my PC all the times :)
Sears
13 августа, 2010 at 16:56
Hello Kevin,
wow, 31 points clear. I guess your going to overtake my record points tally which was 129 points with Ledds Uuinted in League 1… I also won the title with 12 games spare ha.
I’m sure you can do the same mate :-)
Have a nice week off!
Kevin
13 августа, 2010 at 17:06
Hello Lye
Thabks very much. I hope to complete the season over the weekend and start pre-season on Monday…if the wife lets me. :)
@ Sears
I’m not sure if I can emulate your magnificent achievement though breaking the 100 barrier would be nice.
Plobdork
13 августа, 2010 at 21:48
well done mate i see torquay in the champions league already :)
Kevin Mayo
14 августа, 2010 at 10:59
Hi Plodork
Greetings from Canada and thanks for your comment. I’m not sure if I’m that good to guide a team to Europe :)
dami
15 августа, 2010 at 12:43
you’ve done a really good job with Torquay…hopefully you can continue it when you get promoted…
I think you should sign Alex Nimely-Tchuimeni permanently(if man city allow) as he becomes very good…