Non-League To Big League: Part 3

Hello everyone and welcome back to Non-League To Big League, your regular slice of action as we aim to go from the grassroots game all the way to the upper echelons of football management. If you missed part two then you can catch up here.

Instalment number three begins with us welcoming Dunston UTS to The FDC for a midweek league clash. For large parts of the game we're the better of the two sides and are good value for our 1-0 lead which comes through Callum Lovett just shy of the half-hour mark (especially after we'd had a goal disallowed for offside). Sadly, our advantage evaporates not even ten minutes later when the visitors make the most of their only shot on target by equalising. Despite going on to have plenty of shots on goal in the remainder of the first half and for the majority of the second, we're only able to muster another two shots on target and fail to create any other chances which leaves us with only a point to show for our efforts. 

After our exit from the FA Cup at the hands of local rivals Cleethorpes, I'm keen for us to embark on a bit of a cup run in the FA Trophy as we travel to Merseyside to face Bootle who hail from the same division as us, just in the Western side of the NPLD1. Somewhat infuriatingly we're completely outplayed and exit the competition at the first hurdle without even a hint of a whimper. Bootle dispose of us relatively easily as they run out 2-0 winners. The worst part is that we're unable to come up with a shot on goal, let alone one on target. The players receive something of a hairdryer treatment from me at the end of the game as I express my fury at the lack of performance. 

After our trophy defeat, we have a daunting task on our hands as we host promotion chasing Ashington in another midweek game. In an entertaining contest, we're somewhat unlucky to be 2-0 down at half time and thankfully, we show a bit of fight in the second half as we begin to defy the visitors' league position and pull one back through substitute Tom Hipwell. After laying siege to the Ashington goal, the dam finally breaks in stoppage time and we net a deserved equaliser. Once again, the hand of fate decides otherwise for us and no sooner have the celebrations died down before Ashington steam up the other end and tap home what proves to be the winning goal. Bugger. 

Without a win in our last four in all competitions, we're desperate to arrest our sliding form as we welcome newly-promoted Garforth Town. Once again we struggle to get out of the blocks and we're punished for our sluggish firs half showing by going behind with nine minutes of the first period remaining (just two minutes after the visitors have a penalty saved by Liam Higton), despite equalising in the second half, it seems somewhat inevitable that Garforth will end up taking all three points, which they ultimately do with what proves to be the winning goal twelve minutes after the interval. What's more frustrating is that we offer very little in response and once again the game degenerates into something of a damp squib. 

We're in need of some goals, we're in need of a win or two. All in all we're just in need of some luck. 

See you in the next one.