Injury Time

A single goal with our only attempt on target gave us a much needed win in the FA Cup at Sutton last Saturday. Pierre Joseph Dubois 5^th goal in four games set up a third qualifying round match at Dover, pretty much the toughest match we could have got at this stage. Ahead of that we have two league games at home to Havant & Waterlooville, who have just sacked their manager, on Saturday and a trip to Basingstoke on Tuesday. Tough games at any time but increasingly more so given the amount of players who are currently injured with Ali Chaaban (ribs) and Albert Jarrett (knee) joining the list last Saturday.

Current form is good though, MG has us playing well and things seem to have clicked, our defence marshalled by Moses Swaibu looks solid and if we can take more of the chances we create at the other end then hopefully we can maintain our tenth place and give Dover a decent game next week.  

Cup Fever!

A win over life threatened Truro City saw us edge up to tenth in the table, which I think is about where this team should finish the season if it does itself justice. The only downside from the game being injury to Ali Fuseini following an appalling challenge just before half time, that and the fact we may lose the three points if The White Tigers do go bust. It looks at the time of writing that he and Richard Pacquette may be injury doubts ahead of the FA Cup game at Sutton Utd on Saturday, but hopefully the squad has enough depth of talent to cover this.

The significance of the FA Cup is massive as it is every season, success gives the club a much needed financial boost and heightens the interest of the local area in BFC, whereas an early exit can herald budget cuts and disillusion among the faithful. In the three spells MG has been in charge we have reached the FA Cup First Round three times, taking over 1,500 to Gillingham and Orient while almost selling Hayes Lane out for Colchester, but awe have lso experienced knock outs at the first time of asking. Back in September 2009 the home defeat to Hornchurch virtually killed our season off and saw several players leave in the following few weeks, we simply can’t afford to do that again if we want to avoid another relegation battle this season. No pressure then lads!

I guess the smart money would be on a replay given that it is a derby match and we are in the same division, but it would be lovely to get the job done on Saturday and make progress. Early meets are planned, so at least the fans should be in good voice.   

            

Momentum

After a much needed win over Hornchurch we continued the good work with an impressive 1-0 win over Bath City at Hayes Lane, which leaves us unbeaten at home in the league after four games, a vast improvement on last season. Now it’s time to address the away form as we are yet to pick up a point on our travels so far this season and we have an opportunity to do so on Saturday at Truro City who are facing much bigger problems. 

I'm just pleased that for my friends who are making the trip on Saturday that there is a game to go to after it was in some doubt given the home teams perilous financial state it looked like the tickets and accomodation purchased in advance could be wasted. Fortunately it is game on with the White Tigers still alive for now.   

After the trip to Cornwall we then head off into Surrey for the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round to play Sutton Utd, it’s always disappointing to be drawn against a team from your own league, but at least when it’s a traditional rival then it adds a little spice to the occasion. It was another tough draw, as was Welling last season, I’d certainly be glad to take them back t Hayes Lane.   

Former Newport County striker Elliott Buchanan joined us prior to the Bath game with popular target man Hakeem Araba being released after losing his way following a summer of interest from higher placed clubs which came to nothing. Also leaving last week was Nic McDonnell whose second attempt at a comeback ended after a brief substitute appearance on the opening day of the season. Unable to recapture the magic which saw him dubbed McMessiah during his first spell with The Ravens he is now back off to run his own business in Thailand. If Buchanan can win the popularity of the fans like Nic & Hak did previously he will have done well as they are tough acts to follow.           

A Much Needed Win

A vital and long overdue first win lifted the gloom over Hayes Lane with a 4-0 defeat of an awful Hornchurch side who will struggle all season on this evidence. For once the slick passing football had an end product and once we took a 3-0 lead inside the first quarter of the game it was over as a competition. Fan unrest had began to bubble over after the previous defeat at Farnborough as we lost 2-0 to a side no better than us and once again failed to take our chances. Questions were being asked all round about the team and management prior to Hornchurch, it will now be interesting to see if the win proves to be something we can launch our season on or just another false dawn for The Ravens. Most people I spoke to would take a point from the Bath game this Saturday and then just hope that there is still a Truro City to play by the time we are due to travel there on 15^th September after The White Tigers went into administration this week with the players turning out unpaid. A timely reminder that things could be a lot worse I guess.           

Winless August.

August ended with us in the bottom three after four games played and two points gained from them. We put up a decent fight at Chelmsford and probably deserved a point, but once the home side were awarded their obligatory penalty a minute after we’d been reduced to ten men the game was up and we lost 3-2. It was good to see Richard Pacquette scoring and looking sharper, he could prove to be a good signing as he gets a few more games under his belt.

On Bank Holiday Monday we hosted Tonbridge and really should have taken all three points, but a combination of great goalkeeping from Lee Worgan and some poor finishing saw us end up with only a point to show for our efforts. The game pretty much followed the patter on the previous draw at Hayes Lane with Staines and a number of games last season, we dominated possession, played some nice football and even created chances, but just couldn’t find the net. This was made worse by the loss of Albert Jarrett to injury who had looked in great form on his first game of the season follwoing suspension.   

According to www.kentishfootball.co.uk Jerry Dolke held a crisis meeting in the dressing room after the game on Monday to address certain issues, most notably our awful home form and alarming league position. Coach Neil Smith says the management team have the owner’s full backing, but it’s understandable that questions need to be answered given we are third bottom with the quality of the squad and size of the current budget.

A trip to Farnborough is next up quickly followed by home games with AFC Hornchurch & Bath City, the games don’t get any easier and unless we find the killer touch in front of goal, we could find ourselves losing touch at the bottom prior to the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round on 22^nd Sept, which could have massive connotations for the budget.       

Tough Start - Still No Goals.

The season began with a hard fought draw at home to a rugged Staines side that were happy to set up for a point and see if they could grab anything else. It wasn't a bad performance at all, but a lack of cutting edge in front of goal from either side meant that 0-0 was probabaly a fair result.
Prior to the game it emerged that Warren McBean would be out for six months with a ruptured achilies and man do we miss his touch in front of goal! Richard Pacquette came in to fil the gap, but as yet hasn't looked to be match sharp and to make thigs worse Nic McDonnell has now pulled his hamstring.
Then came Eastbourne Borough away, last season saw us lose 5-0 with a rookie keeper, this season it was only Joe Welch in goal that kept it down to 3-0. Two late penlaties in the first half and a cracker early in the second had the game all over before the hour mark and even when we were presented with a chance to get our first goal of the season Hakeem Araba missed his penalty. This probably wasn't helped by the fact he had to wrestle Pacquette for the ball to take it. Eastbourne were a good side with a great front three, but not as good as we made them look I'm sure.  
Now we face  a trip to Chelmsford which will be very tough before hosting Tonbridge Angels on Bank Holiday Monday. An optimist would hope for four points, but a realist would settle for two and sadly I think we may only get one!
The squad on paper looks more than capabale of staying up, but unless we find someone who can score on a regular basis and show a bit more belief we have a hard season ahead.            

New Season, Old Worries.

So here we are again. After a summer of Euro football and Olympic achievement we make our way down to Hayes Lane for the start of a new Conference South League season. The pre-season campaign doesn’t always count for a lot and lets hope this one is no exception given that we have been poor at best.    

Mark Goldberg & Neil Smith have both indicated that we are aiming for a play off spot in interviews, but the evidence on the field is that we will struggle to win games as we have no bite up front and thanks to injuries picked up in games we look vulnerable in midfield. Although there have not been that many new faces the side has looked anything but settled, familiar old faces who left under clouds previously have been given another opportunity including Nic McDonnell, Ali Chaaban, Tony Finn and Warren McBean. Sadly for Wozza his return was halted by a terrible tackle from a Cray Wanderers defender which has ruled him out for two months. Whether the appearance of Richard Pacquette last Saturday was anything other than a cameo remains to be seen, but we desperately need a proven striker to avoid the relegation battle of last season.

The bookies have had us out at 88/1 for promotion, which was shortened to 66/1 after a lot of interest, but they are rarely wrong and we may find ourselves with a tough nine months ahead.

The fine work that goes on off the field is still yet to be matched on it in recent times, I hope those behind the scenes get better rewarded this term. It all starts with the visit of Marcus Gayle's Staines Town side this Saturday, lets hope Ali Chaaban can find his goalscoring touch against his old club.