December 2012

December didn't start too well, with a 2-0 defeat away to Grays Athletic. We had a few chances to find the back of the net, but somehow didn't manage it. Grays' Norwegian striker, the almost unpronounceable Petar Rnkovic, bagged a brace and the Man of the Match award. The following game against struggling Altrincham brought us back to winning ways, with Jake Simpson grabbing the only goal in a 1-0 win; his fifth goal of the season. We moved one place up to 7th after the victory.

We had an FA Trophy 1st round tie the next week, against Blue Square North side Nuneaton Town. Realistically, we were in with a chance of winning the competition; far stranger things have happened in football. I fielded a less-than-full-strength side, including rare starts for Alex Cairns in goal, Lee Vaughan at right back, Simon Davis at centre half and Jon Adams in centre midfield. The game also saw the return of Lewis Montrose after injury. We were 2-0 up after half an hour, thanks to goals from Richard Offiong and Denis Behan, and went into the break ahead. Despite a goal from the visitors in the second half, we held onto our lead and booked our place in the next round, in which we later learned we'd be facing Ebbsfleet.

Stevenage Borough were our next league opponents, in what turned out to be a bit of a goal-fest. Richard Offiong opened the scoring for us after 7 minutes with a close range effort. Veteran striker Paul Benson then equalised for the home side, but Offiong quickly restored our lead 5 minutes later. Two goals in 10 minutes for Stevenage then put them ahead; the first after a goalmouth scramble, and the second after a mistake by Simon Davis. However just 2 minutes later, and with 2 minutes left of normal time, Offiong completed his hat-trick and grabbed the equaliser with a curling shot from the edge of the box. The game finished, and Offiong went away with the match ball and was rightly given the Man of the Match award, after his second hat-trick of the season.

We finished 2012 with a game against mid-table Wrexham, who had won three matches in a row going into our fixture. It was the Welsh side who broke the deadlock; Lewis Codling scoring after 19 minutes. Then, on 56 minutes, Max Wragg picked up the ball on our penalty spot after a poor Wrexham corner, and lofted the ball 50 yards to where Lewis Alessandra was running. Midfielder Edward Moss missed the interception, and Alessandra was allowed to run through, cooly slotting the ball past the Wrexham 'keeper. Just 4 minutes later, we went into the lead when Jake Simpson's passed the ball into the net at the back from a Matthew Duffy cross. Our lead only lasted 8 minutes though, as Codling equalised with his second of the game. However, with 4 minutes to go, Max Wragg crossed for Netan Sansara who volleyed in for his 2nd of the season, and to seal our win.

We finished December, and the year, in 6th place; a point behind Shrewsbury in 5th. We're now into the second half of the season, and I think I'm speaking on behalf of everyone at AFC Telford when I say how impressed I am with our current league position. The transfer window re-opens next month, and there could possibly be a few new faces at New Bucks Head over the next few weeks.

I will leave you with a couple of screenshots of my profile, and history. Click on the pictures to enlarge them.

December 2012: Manager Profile

December 2012: Manager History