The first game in March was away at 17th placed Torquay and I was quietly hoping to get back on track. My hopes went up when Shane Williams slotted home to put us ahead four minutes after the break but then my team crumbled and Torquay went on to win the game. They deserved it too!
Next up, the mission impossible match at Aston Villa, the FA Cup fifth round replay. We didn’t play too well this time, we couldn’t manage to get any shots towards their net but we held out until 13 minutes from time when substitute Dindane fired home the decisive goal. I wasn’t hoping to win this game but I would have wanted to see something more in attack from my team. Anyway, it was a fine FA Cup run and I congratulated the lads for it.
Back to the league, we had to get back on track since our next game was away at bottom club Cheltenham. They had three straight defeats before that game and we made sure to add another one after Darryl Duffy scored the opener on 25 minutes and then one of their players got sent off for a professional foul. Centre back Daniel Pappoe doubled our lead after the break with a corner kick header but we had a nervy finale as Cheltenham pulled one back with a great shot from 25 yards out. We grabbed the win though, a bit scrappy but the three points were extremely important.
Back at Rivacre Park for the next game, 15th placed Wycombe were visiting. We struggled to find a breakthrough during the opening 45 minutes but experienced midfielder Peter Leven put us in front a few minutes after the break with a fine shot from 25 yards out. Unfortunately our opponents found the back of the net with their first shot on target and we found ourselves right back where we started. We had a huge chance to get back in the lead but it went to waste so we had to count yet another two dropped points…
The next game was away at struggling 23rd placed Dag & Red but I wasn’t too optimistic. Darryl Duffy broke the deadlock on 16 minutes by rounding off a fine team move but bad luck struck again and the home side made it all square four minutes before the interval. I was preparing for another frustrating match but it wasn’t the case: Oliver Nicholas and Fraser Kerr found the net from corner kicks, then Omar Koroma netted a fine goal and Duffy wrapped it up with a perfectly taken penalty kick. Finally, a convincing win!
The last game of the month was at home with 19th placed Barnet, I was counting on a second consecutive win. We got off to a great start as Duffy set up Koroma for an easy finish six minutes into the game but we really should have scored at least one more before half time. We were still pretty much in control after the interval but we were caught napping on a counter attack and Barnet made it all square just before the hour mark! It was a huge psychological blow for the team, we were unable to get it together and went on to miss another big chance before the full time whistle. Another frustrating match, another two points dropped…
As you can imagine we dropped into second spot, Southend are now top of the table and we are no less than four points behind them! I guess winning the league is not a realistic target anymore but we still have a good chance to get promoted since we’re eight points clear of 4th placed Tranmere (the top three teams get promoted).
The bad thing is that our next game is away at Tranmere so if we lose that one they would move just five points behind us! We’ll also have to meet new leaders Southend away from home, quite a tough schedule…
That’s about it folks, there are seven games left to play and we’ll have to do much better than we did in these last two months. I guess the FA Cup was an unnecessary distraction but now we have no excuses left, we just have to bring in the points one way or the other! Thanks a lot for reading and since this probably is my last post in 2010 I wish all of you and your families a fantastic 2011!
Darren Smith
30 декабря, 2010 at 18:39
Hey Johnny, that was a really tough month. Not to worry though as your still looking great for second spot. Plus Southend are only four points away so a good run of form will see you retain top. Goodluck for the end of season and a happy new year mate.
Johnny Karp
30 декабря, 2010 at 21:06
Thanks mate, have a great new year!
Laxeyman
30 декабря, 2010 at 18:41
Hi Johnny, that must have been a pretty frustrating couple of months for you, but the important thing is that you’re still going to get promoted. With the 8 point lead you have you should easily be promoted. Good luck for the end of the season and have a Happy New Year :)
Johnny Karp
30 декабря, 2010 at 21:07
Thanks Laxeyman, I feel that our promotion would pretty much depend on the direct clash with Tranmere. Have a great new year!
Kevin
30 декабря, 2010 at 19:08
Hi Johnny
Brilliant cup run and very exciting to get drawn against Aston Villa in the 5th round. A very credible performace in the worlds oldest cup competition. Too bad about your league form though i think promotion is still very much on the cards for you. Good luck and a Happy New Year to you!!
Johnny Karp
30 декабря, 2010 at 21:08
Thanks Kevin, that FA Cup run was a good thing after all since it provided some joy after the frustrating league results. Have a great new year!
Vaibhav Chandrasekhar
31 декабря, 2010 at 07:58
Hi Johnny, you didn’t do that well this month, you slipped down to second place. Your Fa Cup performance was amazing however. I’m pretty sure you can still win it, all you need is a good run of form and for Southend to have a bad run of form.
Johnny Karp
31 декабря, 2010 at 12:35
Thanks for the comment. I agree that there is still hope to win the league but it will be very difficult to pull that off since we didn’t show too much consistency lately.
hils
31 декабря, 2010 at 09:25
Hi Johnny,good month there!!!!!!!!! Unlucky you slipped to 2nd place!!!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Johnny Karp
31 декабря, 2010 at 12:32
Thanks for the comment Hils, have a happy new year!
Sears
31 декабря, 2010 at 14:55
You still have a chance of promotion which is wonderful considering your a newly promoted team. The fixture against Tranmare will be huge, though I’m sure you can overcome them! Happy New Year Johnny!
Johnny Karp
31 декабря, 2010 at 17:42
Thanks Sears, have a great new year!
Lye
1 января, 2011 at 04:30
Hi Johnny,
A bit out of form but i am not too worry about the promotion. The game against Southend will be critical, if you can win, i believe you have a good chance on the title. Good luck.
Johnny Karp
1 января, 2011 at 13:03
Thanks Lye. I hope we»d wrap up the promotion before that Southend game and then think about the title.
Ana Garcia
2 января, 2011 at 11:41
Great cup run! I bet that boosted your finances a bit!
Good luck on your promotion bid, you are so close to sealing it and the league isnt over! The top side may have a bad run and if you can keep winning then who knows!
Johnny Karp
2 января, 2011 at 14:17
Thanks Ana. The cup run surely strengthened our finances, the club never really saw that much money coming in before!