Warren Goodhind writes ...
From the Dressing Room

Well, it has certainly been an interesting four weeks since the sudden and surprising departure of a certain Mr Youngs and, as one journalist put it in a local paper, his eloquent articles over the last 8 months have been of great interest to all those who have read them, including myself. And so while one chapter closes and another begins in this column, the only question is who would Andrea find to finish the last month of the season? While there were any number of players ready to try and fill the role of Tom on the playing field (not an easy task by any means), I was delighted when asked if I could take on his journalistic duties. "Sure," I said, "I'd be delighted." After all, how hard could it be?! EXTREMELY! is the answer.

I'm glad to say, however, that those who have since been given said duties out on the pitch have certainly taken their opportunities with great determination and effectiveness, hence the run of results since Oxford which have given the club great momentum coming into the final furlong and - dare I say it - a chance to sneak in the back door to the play-offs. While people say that if the season finished tomorrow we'd be happy with how well we've done, I get the distinct vibe in the dressing room that the playing staff would see it as "good progress, should have done better!" But the season isn't over and all is still to play for.

Looking back on the games since the little fella's last article, I find the actual events a little hard to recall, most likely because I was only able to sit frustratedly and watch from the stands due to a twisted knee sustained against Kiddie, inflamed against Oxford and finished off after ten minutes at Carlisle (I hate that place!). When picking Tom's brain about his method for writing this article, he said he always found it hard to comment on any games that he hadn't participated in, even though he could recall virtually all events in a blink, so bear with me...

Carlisle away:
Perhaps the longest journey we've made this year and as usual a tough physical examination that I think we just about passed. Sometimes the need to grind out a result can be just as rewarding as playing exceptionally well and, although we had decent spells of play, a little fortune and sheer determination ensured the three points would be spending a rather jovial four and a half hours trip home with the boys from Cambridge. The fortune I speak of could also be referred to as hesitant defending by the Carlisle centre-half and his keeper, which in my opinion allowed Kits to walk onto Freddie's long bouncing bomb throw and add another to a growing collection.

The second half determination in defence throughout the whole team showed the fantastic spirit that lies within the dressing room and when Marshy made what has to be one of his best saves ever from a point blank effort nearing the end of the game, we were convinced on the bench to where I had since retired that the points were ours. No sooner had this thought passed and I was looking forward to tasting the fish and chips from this part of the world, a corner for Carlisle results in a penalty after a flailing arm is seen to connect with the ball. Fortunately for us Marshy has been primed by Brooksie and the scouting report from Carlisle's last game, and he went the right way to make a fantastic save.

The biggest talking point which made all the papers was of course their manager's sending off and the slamming into the ground of his very expensive looking cashmere coat, but the tackle on Omer which led to such controversy was right in front of our dugout and was quite simply outrageous. Having been on the end of such a tackle and come out in the worst possible situation, I think it is fair to say that but for Omer's quick thinking and reaction to move, he could have been the victim of a very bad injury. While I feel very sorry for their player missing out on such a fantastic day at the Millennium Stadium in the LDV Final as a result of his actions, he gave the ref no choice but to dismiss him.

After the lads were put through their paces by Wannie's training session on Monday morning (he's taking his UEFA B coaching badge), Sculls (he's taking his too), decided they should be left to focus on Tuesday's big game at home to Bournemouth, and this is where I apologise for any major details missed out. The memory seems to be going as I get closer to Wannie's age!

Bournemouth and Scunny in the space of 5 days represented a make or break week since both teams were above us and pushing for a top 7 finish, a perfect opportunity for us to make up ground on those two for a start. Bournemouth are definitely one of the best passing teams in the third division and we knew that their style of play would suit ours and make for an entertaining game, as indeed it did. From the angle where I sat in the stand for this game, I was fortunate to be right behind Kits when he struck his 23rd of the season and technically his best yet. We're all hoping that he makes that record.

The feeling from the dressing room was that although Bournemouth scored what was a fantastic team goal just before half-time, we were the better team and never in too much trouble, which was reflected in a good home win after a real opportunist's goal by Luke towards the end of the game. He's been a bit annoyed with himself for not scoring more this year so it was good to see him bag yet another important goal that kept the mini-run going.

Scunny were another tough, physical, and well organised problem to break down but we were also well groomed in the knowledge from our game earlier in the season that they could play a bit as well, especially when they got the experienced and very tricky Peter Beagrie into the match. However, with confidence high and a good performance on Tuesday fresh in the minds, the lads started in the ascendancy and with one of his trademark runs Omer burst into the Scunny box, cut to the byline and - enticing the keeper off his line - delayed his pass long enough to give Kits an unselfish goal scoring opportunity which he duly took.

It would be fair to say that we felt this was a game we should have won but a half chance effort was well taken by Scunthorpe in the second half. A definite positive was the adaptation of Chilli in his new role behind the front two, and I'm sure that he will go on to do a very good job in this position given the time and run of games he's been waiting so patiently for.

No midweek game for the first time in... I can't remember when, and the Gaffer gave us the Monday off to go and play golf together. We couldn't have picked a better day since the sun was out and so were the short sleeves, these days are a great way for recharging batteries and even those who don't really like golf were encouraged to hire a buggy and come for the ride, which turned out to be more of a laugh than perhaps it sounds.

After a very competitive week in training, we set off on what felt like a roller coaster ride with our driver Dave, who had surely chosen the most round-the-houses route to sunny Macclesfield. It is no exaggeration to let you know that a good three quarters of the team got off the coach feeling a bit green around the gills. Certainly it took a good twenty minutes before anyone even contemplated tucking into the pre-match meal at what was one of the nicest looking hotels we've been to this year.

Watching from the bench is never the same as being in the thick of the action but it looked as though we never got our fluent game going for long periods, partly due to the workrate of our opposition and a pitch, which was watered before kick-off but dried out almost immediately and created a very bobbly surface. The only way we felt that Macclesfield would score would be through our own doing or something extraordinary, and so it proved when a nothing ball up field fell invitingly for a scorching 25 yarder which Marshy could do nothing about . We kept plugging away and although Kits had been given little protection by the ref from two bruising centrehalves, he managed to produce a great through ball for Omer to latch onto and round the advancing keeper with ease before slotting home from close range. Probably a fair result, but with two points on paper dropped, a win against Exeter was very much a necessity.

All seemed set for a crucial 3 pointer, but Freddie had been suffering from a virus in the last couple of days and for the second time in the space of a few weeks I was covering an area not so familiar, one that I'd sooner forget! After a terrible start against an Exeter team desperate to avoid relegation, the lads showed great spirit to come from behind with a cool as you like penalty from the skip (he'd been practicing the day before) and of course the last minute headline stealer from a certain John Turner.

The emergence of a number of young players in the reserves and first team in recent weeks is certainly a welcome sight. Many of those coming through are forcing people to take notice and that will make sure that those currently in the first team squad will have to stay on their toes, a situation I'm sure the management will be delighted with. Also a welcome sight on the training ground in recent weeks has been the appearance of both Duncs and Tudes, their gradual return to fitness is visible for all to see and under the watchful eye of physio Ant Coole I'm sure they will be raring to go when the time is right.

The Gaffer's Easter dinner saw yet another late surge from the dressing room. This time a syndicate of players entered into the bidding for an England shirt signed by Tony Adams, Alan Shearer and David Beckham (the last 3 England captains) at the last minute and eventually came away triumphant with the possible idea of this shirt hanging in the home dressing room next year, who knows?

Unfortunately a trip to Bristol saw the week end on a very disappointing low. After struggling to adapt to the conditions better than a fired up Rovers, our promotion hopes took a severe dent when, although having created a number of decent scoring opportunities, poor defending and an inability to play any decent flowing football resulted in a 3-1 defeat.

Another goal nearer to David Crown's record was the only consolation when Kits netted a penalty with the last kick of the game, but although thoughts of the season ending on an anticlimax are perhaps creeping in, the boys want to finish with another mini-run of results, starting tonight at home to a Lincoln side who will be bringing their own style of football to the Abbey. Where are the tin hats?!

Warren Goodhind