February 2014

An away trip to Ebbsfleet was first up in February, a game in which we recorded a somewhat overdue win. It was goalless for 89 minutes, with neither side really dominating the game. Substitute Richard Offiong, on at half-time, received the ball from Ryan Charles on the edge of the penalty box and hit a powerful shot into the top corner to seal a late victory, and the three points.

The next game, at home to Southport, was without doubt the most frustrating game I'd been part of in my career. The stats showed we dominated, but the game finished 1-0 to them thanks to a very flukey goal; they got a free kick on the right hand side and Luke Chapman stepped up to take it left footed. He hit the ball, it went over everyone and ended up nestled in the far corner of the goal. At the time, I thought we'd be fine and get back into the game, but it wasn't to be it seems. Our next game against Macclesfield was arguably equally as frustrating as the previous one. They got an early goal after just 8 minutes, and we couldn't equalise nevermind take all 3 points, and for the second game in a row, we lost 1-0. It wasn't as if we were playing poorly; far from it in fact; we'd dominated both games in terms of shots and possession, and had several clear cut chances in each, but we just failed to find the back of the net.

The next game against Worcester called for a reshuffle of our striking partnership. Ryan Charles and Richard Offiong were replaced by Lewis Alessandra and Denis Behan, and the rest of the team was kept the same; after all, we we'd created lots of chances, it was just the finishing we couldn't do. However despite the change in attack, it was one of our defenders who opened the scoring for us. Tom Parkes received the ball from a Jake Simpson throw-in on the left hand side, took two touches to bring the ball inside and hit a right footed shot from 30-yards that whistled past several defenders and ultimately past the stranded Worcester 'keeper James Dormand, for his first goal for the club. Just 3 minutes later Lewis Alessandra doubled our lead with a low shot from Lewis Montrose's through ball. Then on 71 minutes, Jake Simpson, who incidentally was brilliant all match, crossed for Denis Behan who headed in at the far post. The change in strike partnership certainly worked as both strikers found their names on the scoresheet. We held on despite a late consolation from Worcester, to win 3-1.

The win meant we climbed up to 10th in the table, still only 4 points from Macclesfield in 5th place; it was still very tight, with only 10 points separating 5th and 17th place.

February 2013

After the disappointing month we had in January, February started brightly with a win against 9th placed Barnet. The starting line-up included 20-year-old right winger William Mellors-Blair who had joined the club on loan from Walsall a few days earlier, and whose named sounded like it should be preceded with 'Lord' or 'Duke'. After only 50 seconds of the game, Ryan Charles headed in off a Netan Sansara cross for the opener and his 12th goal of the season. Barnet then levelled things up shortly after half time, but Denis Behan won it for us with 11 minutes of normal time to go.

An away fixture against Woking was next. They were 18th in the league, but were on a relatively good run of form. After two impressive substitute performances, Mark Arber started his first game for us at centre back, alongside Adrian Nevins. It looked as though we had the game under control when Netan Sansara scored after half time. However, the home side cancelled our goal out 20 minutes later, and that was the way it finished. At least we didn't lose anyway.

We did lose our next match at home to Gateshead, who were dwindling around in mid-table, and not really doing much in terms of pushing for promotion, so it was a bit of a disappointing result. We had a fair few shots (13) so on paper it looks as though we should've scored at least one, but I guess that's football for you!

We did manage to find the back of the net in the final game of the month against our old enemies Ebbsfleet, three times in fact. It was our fourth game against them this season, after we played them twice in the FA Trophy last month, and we hadn't managed to get the better of them on any occasion. However, this time was different; Richard Offiong ended his goal drought with a 25-yard finish on 11 minutes, and William Mellors-Blair got his first goal for the club just before half-time with a tap in at the back post. Denis Behan converted a penalty in the final few minutes to make the final score 3-0 to us.

We finished February in 8th place, 9 points off Shrewsbury who were occupying 5th place, the last play-off spot. I think the play-offs are still achievable, especially since we'll be graced with Jake Simpson's presence in March, after his return from injury. Hopefully we'll get a few wins together and put pressure on the teams above us, but we'll see.

February 2012

We had won three on the bounce going into our first match of the month against Corby, who were sitting comfortably in 12th place, two places below us. Goalkeeper Alex Cairnes was injured towards the end of the previous game against King's Lynn, so Ryan Young stepped in to replace him, in what was the only change. Ryan Charles played in Lewis Alessandra on 12 minutes for the striker's 8th goal of the season, and then in the second half, Charles himself got on the scoresheet to double our lead, and seal the victory.

A hard-fought 1-0 victory against Blyth Spartans followed, with Alessandra once again grabbing a goal; this time an 87th minute near post header off Netan Sansara's cross. Stafford Rangers provided us with a much tougher test in our next game. They were 3rd in the league, although they were in a bit of a poor patch of form. Nevertheless, we weren't going to be too complacent, despite our brilliant form. Stafford opened the scoring on 5 minutes, but a Matthew Duffy free-kick levelled things up mid-way through the first half. Two Ryan Charles goals either side of half-time completed the comeback and the win. The second was Charles' 5th goal of the season, and he was rightly given the Man of the Match.

A week later, we hosted Gainsborough, who were struggling in the league, and luckily for us, had a few key players missing, including striker Luke Beckett. Ryan Young's record of conceding only one goal in three appearances meant he started his fourth game in a row, even though Alex Cairnes was back to full fitness. Lewis Alessandra scored his 10th of the season, and in fact, the only goal of the game, in a 1-0 victory. We had now won seven on the trot, four of which were 1-0 victories.

Needless to say, I once again won the Manager of the Month award. We're now 6th in the league, 12 places above where we were when I started, and level on points with Redditch in 5th. Since I took over, we've played 14 games, won 11, drew twice and lost just the once. Quite a good record if I do say so myself. Let's just hope it continues.

February 2010

No sooner had we won 3-0 against Corby, we were on the wrong end of the same result against Alfreton, a team who we really should've beaten. Sonny Cobbs was brought off after half an hour after he fractured his ribs, an injury which ruled him out for two months. After going into the break goalless, Alfreton managed three second half goals to earn them the win.

We travelled north to Cheshire three days later, to face play-off contenders Vauxhall Motors. A goal after only two minutes gave them the lead, and despite being a man up for over 85 minutes of the game (Vauxhall's James Holden was sent off after four minutes for a two-footed lunge on Simon Heslop), we failed to make them pay, and disappointingly, lost the game to that solitary goal.

It's fair to say that at this point morale was pretty low. It wasn't the same as earlier in the season when we'd been playing pretty well, but losing; no, we were actually playing quite bad and then getting the results to prove this. However a trip to AFC Telford, who at the time were sitting in 20th place, had the potential to raise our spirits if a victory was achieved. We went into the game without Nic McDonnell, who twisted his ankle against Vauxhall, meaning Luke Dean started up front on his own. The game, as the commentator described it, ended in a goalless "bore draw".

Gainsborough were our next opponents, and more injuries came our way. Luke Dean, once again playing ahead of the ankle-twisted McDonnell, ironically twisted his own ankle, ruling him out for a month, Simon Heslop gashed his leg, and Danny Rowe fractured his arm. Unfortunately I had to send Rowe back to Stockport, as he wasn't able to see a Harrogate specialist due to the fact he was on loan. To add insult to the literal injury, the game once again ended in a feeble 0-0 draw.

As if things weren't going bad enough for us, our next game was against Gloucester City, leaders of the Blue Square Conference North. Brilliant, eh? However, we battled until half time and managed to keep the scores goalless. It looked as though we'd handed the victory to our opponents on 57 minutes, when Leon Scott was adjudged to have held back a Gloucester attacker, and a penalty was awarded. However Neil Mustoe's penalty was saved by Gareth Stewart, and we still had a chance in the game. Ten minutes later, we were given our own penalty when Lawrie Dudfield was brought down. Alex Smith stepped up, and slotted the ball away for his first goal in Harrogate colours. Our celebrations were short-lived though; they equalised five minutes later, and ten minutes after that, grabbed the winner from a free-kick.

Overall, February was a poor month, as we only managed 2 points from a possible 15. It still leaves us in 15th place though, but we're slowly but surely slipping away from a possible top-half finish. I believe we can still do it, it's just whether the players do. It's a bad time to have an injury crisis, I'll tell you that for free.