Welcome back dear friends. I hope you are as excited as I am to read the report of the first month. The game is now picking up pace, I am very much in love with this Clapton FC save so I am pushing on through. How did The Tons fare in August 2015?
Well, this is a first. My opening match of the FM15 2015/2016 season in the Isthmian First Division North was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. I went straight to the chairman to see if it could be relayed and was given a comprehensive no. Great stuff, nice to see that my opinion counts for something. We finally got the season under way four days later with a home match against Potters Bar. Hopefully the result is a good indication of how we will do this season, as we ran out 3-0 winners and played some brilliant football. Just look at the first goal we scored, here. Watch how Nade picks the ball up in his own half, starts the move then sprints forward to finish it off several passes later. Clinical counter attacking, wonderful passing. Equally pleasing was the performance of the ‘keeper, Heath, on debut, three very good stops at crucial moments.
The next game was a Saturday trip to Great Wakering. Gilfedder opened his account for the season, scoring twice in the first half as we sped into a 5-0 lead at half-time. The only blotch on a perfect 45 minute landscape was a red card for Ebsworth for a poor tackle from behind. The ten men remained solid in the second period and the score remained 5-0. What was really pleasing in this match was a second clean sheet in a row despite having to rearrange the back four midway through the game.
The games continued to come thick and fast, we were back in action on the Tuesday. Hanwell were the visitors to The Old Spotted Dog and I decided that Junior Pulford would switch over to left back to replace the suspended Ebsworth. Having started the midweek game in place of Cooper who was rested, Pulworth was far from in peak physical condition. Battipiedi was also back for his first game since missing the FA Vase Final through suspension, a suspension that I still suspect cost us that silverware. The first 21 minutes of this match were by far our best in my time at Clapton, we were untouchable as we went 6-0 up, Gilfedder netting a hatty and setting up another two. The game slowed by half-time, Ronnie Green came off the bench after an hour to make it 7 (seven) and sadly the clean sheet run ended as they got the ultimate consolation goal in injury time. Three wins from the opening three games with a goal difference of plus 14 saw us sit top of the table.
Bottom of the table Billericay came to the Dog on the Saturday. Heathy had a sprained wrist from the Hanwell game, so Coote returned in goal. Tiredness, due to the hectic schedule, meant I rested Nade and played Green in the Treq position. Axten was also rested and I handed a debut to youth team player Emmanuel Hassan. Despite going a goal down, we recovered and a great midfield display by Daryn Hennessy with three assists and a goal saw us score five again. Gilfedder scored his 50th and 51st for the club and Ronnie Green notched. Possession again came in at high 50’s at 59% and pass completion registered at 75% – dominant. The win kept us top and only us and Dereham had a 100% record after the first four games.
August ended with a trip to Romford, a proper Essex side. Axten and Nade returned to the starting eleven, and I resisted the urge to bring back Moloney ahead of Osborne. Gilfedder and Cooper scored the goals that saw us safely navigate a tough match and give us a maximum fifteen points from the first five games. It came at a cost though, Lee Barney fractured his ribs and will be out for the next two months. A tiny gap opened as Dereham drew, meaning we ended the first month two points clear at the top of Isthmian D1N.
I’ll be back tomorrow to update you on September 2015, as ever it would be great to hear from some of you in the form of questions, comments or even follows!
Chris
Follow me on Twitter: @comeontheoviedo
FM15 Blog: www.comeontheoviedo.wordpress.com
Author of the “Johnny Cooper, Championship Manager” series available on Amazon here
Read the first chapter of “The Second Season Syndrome” at www.chrisdarwen.com
comeontheoviedo.wordpress.com 