March 2008 - Posts
Boro lost again on Thursday night to Salisbury. The game was live on Setanta and once again we lost. The likelyhood of us winning away was slim so to bring Setanta back into the occasion just annoyed me.
The game was not enjoyable to watch and frankly was just frustrating to see. We had a chance to get some points under our bag, and with the results today (Sat) it really could have made a difference if we won. (Cambridge lost, Torquay drew)
We didn't even get a point. Julian kept us in the game for most of the match, but after a Westwood miss the ball ended up in the back of the net for Salisbury in the 92nd minute.
The performance didn't exactly fill me with joy, and now to top it all off Setanta have now decided to screen our game against Burton on as well now.
I don't like to be negative, but things really aren't looking pretty at the moment. We have a set of difficult fixtures coming up and we don't seem to play well at all away from home.
I am just watching Man Utd play, and I know they are in the Premiership and they get paid millions but the movement is amazing. Why can't we do that? There is no self belief in our team which worries me the most. If they don't think they can win away from home. They won't.
I just hope Boro shape up and we don't miss our chance to get promoted once again.
Boro are playing Salisbury away tonight. It is live on Setanta for those fans who can't make the game etc.
I am not quite sure of how the game will go. All I know is that it is a must win for us now. We have quite a few players out, which is never good at this stage of the season. Grant, McMahon, Moore, Willock, Allen and possibly Morison are all out with injuries or illness.
It looks like Rankin and Cole are the likely 2 to start up front. So I would imagine that Berry and Anderson could be included in the squad due to lack of numbers.
I really hope Boro can come out the blocks tonight. Our away form isn't exactly brilliant, and we have big games coming up in April. When you look at the fixtures and we still have to play Torquay, Burton and Exeter, you would like to think Boro can go out and beat Salisbury, as it is not going to be an easy April. We need to make this game and our next game against York count.
Come on the Boro!
It was a busy weekend for Boro over Easter. We played on Good Friday against Ebbsfleet and played really well. It was a horrible evening, rain, sleet, snow, everything you could imagine. But Boro managed to get a great result and win 3-1. We played with passion and belief again. I really thought that we were getting somewhere. The team knew their place and it worked really well.
I was quite surprised to see Grant left out of the team but I thought Peter may have been saving him until Monday.
However, come Monday Grant was still out of the team- whether it was to injury I am not sure. Wilson was also dropped and Anderson was brought in to partner Morison.
Clearly the team couldn't gel again. Oxford managed to score before half time, sending us into some sort of depression. We did manage to get a goal back in the second half, so there was some hope that we would get a point. And there were even glimpses of us getting a second. But true to style Oxford went up the other end and scored their second goal a few minutes later.
It spelled game over for us and now we have slipped to fifth. I don't know really what to make of it all. We seemed to be on the up, but our away form is just not good enough. Next up we have Salisbury so hopefully we can get a win and put ourselves right back in the mix again.
The Setanta curse has finally been lifted. Boro managed to beat Kidderminster last night in what was an entertaining game.
I was really hoping for Boro to do the business last night. We had the chance to go second, so it was really important, especially as teams like Torquay are dropping points.
It was a funny game. Some parts we completely dominated the game, and other parts we were very frustrating to watch. When we were dominating their was a real spark among the side, and we had numerous shots on goal. Quite a few chances fell to Gavin Grant, who just couldn't put the ball in the back of the net.
To score first was the crucial thing for us. Their defence looked dodgy at the back, and it wasn't long before Morison capitalised on this and managed to get a run through on goal and put the ball into the back of the net. Great goal.
In one of Boro's more frustrating parts of the game, we conceded somehow. We didn't deserve to be a goal down, but you just sensed they were going to score. Julian managed to make a save but the ball still ended up in net after a few scrambles in the goal mouth.
There was a period in the second half where we were dominate for a good ten minutes. We just piled the pressure on, and eventually Gavin Grant pulled a shot off on goal and it deflected in.
It was another great goal. The pressure was really paying off, and we managed to get some more shots on goal after that. We also had the return of Willock in that time, which was a great boost for us.
From the 85th minute on, it seemed like Kidderminster were permanently in our half. There were so many scrambles away, and near chances for them, that I just thought can we hold on any longer? 3 minutes were added on and in that time they hit the post, and had shots cleared off the line, and we had to make a crucial tackle in the area. Somehow we managed to keep them out, and apart from a couple of jittery moments, we fully deserved the 3 points.
The table now stands at:
1 Aldershot 35 29 80
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2 Stevenage 36 30 67
3 Cambridge Utd 35 23 67
4 Torquay 34 23 66
5 Burton Albion 35 22 62
We are in a good position again, but the points between 2nd and 5th are really close. If only we had beaten Weymouth, we would have had 3 points over Cambridge which could prove crucial at the end of the season.
Next up we have Ebbsfleet at home on Good Friday, so hopefully we can get some points there and consolate our position once again.
Onwards and Upwards!
I don't know what happened this weekend. During the week we were on top form, then we go and lose to Weymouth who are fourth from bottom in the league? How does that work?
Boro's consistency is very worrying, and we really need to beat teams like Weymouth if we are serious about promotion. We had hardly any chances on goal and we didn't seem to have the desire that we had before.
I thought after beating Histon, they could be a new sign for Boro. A better one. We had played really well in that game, and now all that hope that I thought there was for a change for the better seems to have gone again.
I don't really know what to do with Boro anymore. Whatever it is they are doing isn't working at all. They need to sort it out, and quickly.
Every game now is a cup game for Boro. We need wins, and fast.
I was trying to think of a title all day for my blog that had the word history in it. You know like Histon... get it? I couldn't get it in so instead I have gone for 'Emphatic Win For Boro'. I think it sums it up well. If anyone has any better ideas let me know, I might just change it!
So, Boro played Histon away yesterday. I was really nervous at the start because Histon are a good side and have been playing well lately. My fears were realised as they scored right before half time. I was absolutely gutted. It was a great time for them to score. Obviously I was praying that we would somehow get one back before half time. We had had more possession than them, so I wasn't worried that we weren't playing well.
My prayers were answered as the same person who scored the goal for Histon (Mat Mitchel-King), gave away a penalty 2 minutes later for Boro.
Morison stepped up and scored. What a feeling, we were back in it.
In the second half, Boro dominated. Morison was excellent and was rewarded with another goal around the 70th minute. These types of performances will be great for his confidence. And the team, finally seems to gel.
We scored two late goals through Grant and Laird. I am really pleased for both of them. Laird hasn't been able to get into the team of late, so it is always good to see a sub come on and score, not to mention that it was a thirty-yearder!
Grant has been really impressive for us. Another goal for him will definately see him in the team again for our next match.
It is so great to see Boro back to their best. We are still in fourth position but are right behind Torquay and Cambridge. This playoff fight will go right to the end I think.
We have Weymouth at the weekend, so hopefully we can continue this spree of goals and wins to get another 3 points in the bag.
Boing Boing Boro!
Boro play Histon tonight. This is a big game for us. Not only are we rivals but we really need the points. Torquay lost in the final minutes last night to Aldershot, so it would be great to close the gap on them.
I was going to go to the game, but what with car troubles, I am unable to make it.
I hope a few fans go tonight. Boro need a big crowd behind them. You should have heard the Aldershot fans at Torquay yesterday... great support.
We need to get behind our team now, and forget everything that has gone on, and look to the future.
Hopefully another win for us, and it will boost everyone's confidence, not just the players.
Come on Boro!
I thought about writing a "Next Up: Crawley" post, but I decided against it. I keep finding myself analysing everything. I knew we needed a win so i left it at that. I didn't want to know how many points we were behind the leaders or how close other teams were to us. I just focused on the win.
It seems my prayers were answered. Boro won 3-1 on Saturday against Crawley. It was great for us. Matters were helped by the fact their keeper was sent off after 5 mins and then there was a later sending off further into the game.
The match was entertaining, and it was great to see the lads play with some confidence again.
I was particularly pleased to see Morison score the final goal. To score a volley, in itself gives you confidence, but with the way he has been playing lately, I am sure it will give him the confidence he desperately needs.
They all worked hard, and we deserved the win. Grant and Martin didn't stop running. They all battled hard, and Vincenti's and Grant's goals were really good.
Next up we have Histon. They will be a difficult game, but now we have a win behind us, they know they can get the points they deserve.
The table now looks like this as Burton and Torquay dropped points.
1 Aldershot 33 26 74
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2 Torquay 32 25 66
3 Cambridge Utd 33 23 64
4 Stevenage 33 27 61
5 Exeter 33 21 61
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6 Burton Albion 32 19 57
Hopefully this win will spur us on to win at Histon, and we can be back to our better selves.
I also did player of the month again on Saturday. My boyfriend says I should do it everyweek as last time i did it we beat Droylsden. Maybe I bring good luck? Or maybe it's all in our head? Eitherway we won, so yay!