Welcome back, fledglings. We’re in Season 3, we’re trying to get out of the Conference, and we are about to get underway proper. Our preseason has gone well, our new faces have embedded (somewhat) into the #NewtonHeath way of football. Let’s get this season started!
Saturday 12th August, Conference, Salford
Our season starts with a derby – home to Salford! What better way to excite the fledglings faithful for the upcoming season!
There are decisions to make… first goalkeeper. Luke Daniels played all of our pre-season, without conceding a goal! But… The devilish side to me wants to give Henderson a run-out. This is not the 2019 Sheffield United and England version of Dean Henderson, but a younger, raw version, with less game time and (I suspect) a much lower CA/PA… He should do well at Conference level. Luke Daniels has every right to be aggrieved with my decision, but he takes it with grace.
At the back, I stick to Kieran Richardson, Luke McCullogh, Tom Thorpe and Marnick Vermijl. Andy Kellett and Ro-Shaun Williams will have to wait, for now. Matty Willock plays in the advanced left CM role, with David Fox again occupying the right. SEB’s injury means it’s an early league start for our £100k striker, Danny Rowe.
1300 tickets have been sold, and we are ready!
Danny Rowe gets us off to a perfect start, breaking his Newton Heath league duck on 12 minutes. Ten minutes later he’s got a brace and New Trafford is bouncing.
Salford reduce the deficit before halftime. The clean-sheet record lasted 36 minutes, but Henderson could do nothing about Gaffney’s opener. The crowd jeer and shout ‘Where’s Wellard’ – god I’ve missed this.
Halftime I tell the newboys to keep it up, but on 61 minutes Salford are level. NO! I retaliate with a treble substitution, changing both full-backs and bringing on Barlow for Willock.
A quickfire double on 71 and 77 from Danny Rowe sees him record his third and fourth goals of the game! What a start! We see the game out with a 4-2 win.
“OH DANNY BOY… the pints, the pints are calling” rings our around New Trafford at the final whistle. The fledglings have found a new hero to worship, and it seems are heading to the pub.
After his dream debut, Danny-boy’s right foot drills into the Newton Heath record books.
After the game, we get a boost by welcoming back our former boy wonder, Joe Rothwell.
Here’s a recap from Rothwell’s intro back in episode nine;
England Youth international Joe Rothwell started his career at Manchester United – joining aged six and signing professional terms in June 2013. Rothwell had loan spells in the Championship with Blackpool and League One with Barnsley. With no parhway to the first team, Rothwell snubbed a new MUFC deal in favour of first team football at Oxford United. Two seasons and 69 appearances for The U’s later was enough for Blackburn to pay an ‘undisclosed fee’ for him.
Since impressing for us in season 1, Joe has struggled for game time at Blackburn. He’s a welcome addition to my midfield, averaging a goal or assist every other game in our NPL bow (Apps 44(1), Goals 13, Assists 10, MoM 7, Avg Rat 7.60)!
Tuesday, 15th August, Conference, Wrexham
It’s three days between games, but the team are still fit (perks of playing so many friendlies). Rothwell replaces Fox on the right side of our midfield diamond, otherwise we’re unchanged.
It’s a rare goal for Kieran Richardson who gets us off to a flying start. Marcus Kelly equalizes before Marnick Vermijl limps off with a knock.
A halftime the team get a rocket and Ro-Shaun Williams is given a run on the right. DJ Buffonge reacts first to a Rothwell corner and we go in front. DJ then extends our lead a minute later and we wind down the clock and see the game out.
Saturday 19th August, Conference, Dag & Red
We switch the full backs around, with Vermijl injured. Kellet makes a first league start. We otherwise remain unchanged.
We suffer our first league defeat, after conceding two early goals. Danny-boy scored a consolation, but couldn’t drag us over the line for an equalizer.
Unfortunately, its bad news for Danny-boy, as he strains his thigh on the Monday after the Dagenham and Redbridge game. With SEB also out, we’ll have to rely on The Kid for our next fixture,
Wednesday, 23rd August, Conference, Port Vale
As promised, D’Mani Bughail-Mellor gets a rare start leading the line. Our midfield five remains the same for the third successive game, though I change the full backs again. Ro-Shaun Williams get a fist start at right wing-back.
DJ Buffonge gives us an early lead with his third goal of the season, though Tom Pope equalizes on the stroke of halftime.
We are on the back foot for the second half, with Dean Henderson’s goal under pressure. He palms away efforts from Jason Banton and Harry Benns. We hold on to draw 1-1.
Saturday, 26th August, Conference, Grimsby
As fatigue start to set it, I have to rotate my wing-backs again. Richardson is rested, and David Fox comes in. SEB is back to full fitness, so starts his first league game of the season, in place of D’Mani Bughail-Mellor.
DJ Buffonge scores his fourth goal in five league games in a Lampard-like move. SEB is applying pressure and a half clearance can only bobble to the on-coming left foot of DJ. The net bursts and we are 1-0 up!
On 26 minutes Tom Thorpe hobbles off, so Ro-Shaun slots into the centre of defence, and Kenny Strickland makes his first appearance of the season.
Grimsby are un-adventurous, and we comfortably see the game home.
Our Thorpedo is out for 3 weeks, so will give Ro-Shaun a run of games and a chance to stake a claim for the central defensive berth.
Monday 28th August, Conference, Barrow.
It’s our final game of this extended opening episode, and a home-tie against Barrow. SEB continues up front, with further rotation on the flanks. This time Adam Eckersley plays on the left, and Richardson on the right. Fox staying in a central role, with Possebon remaining on the bench.
It’s a dull first half, with little offered offensively from either side. I try to freshen it up with a double substitution on 50 minutes, bringing on Kellet and Strickland. It works, and SEB edges us in front on 55 minuted his first goal of the season.
Our defensive lapse in concentration haunts us again as we concede almost immediately.
We push for the win late-on but Barrow keeper Michael McGovern is equal to everything we can throw at him. It’s another draw and MoM performance from McGovern.
After six games and inconsistent form, we are well-placed in the top three, and four points off early pace-setters Warrington.
Will see you next week, fledglings. Until next time.
CM01/02 Blogs 