April 2009 - Posts
Well tonight’s the night. The first in a series of 3 (hopefully 4) massive games for us.
Boro are set to play Cambridge tonight for the play-off semi final leg 1 at home.
I am quite nervous already about the game. It means so much to win tonight. If we win it would give us a great chance in the second leg on Monday.
If we could come away with a 2-1 win like we did at home earlier on in the season, and then draw 1-1 at their place again, I would definitely take that!
I think the ground is going to be pretty packed tonight. I am sure United would have sold all their allocation, and from what I can gather there will be quite a few Boro there too. So hopefully the atmosphere will be electric!
It will be a shame that Mitchell can’t play. But I still think we will field a strong side. I reckon it could be:
Day, Laird, Roberts, Albrighton, Henry, Drury, Mendes, Mills, Bostwick, Moro and Boylan.
I wouldn’t mind having Lawrie in there as well instead of Mendes. For me though, I think Mills deserves another run in the side. Murphy seems to fade in the second half, and I think if we are going to make substitutions tonight, I would rather people like Wilson, Vincenti and Calum come on to give us an attacking option, rather than taking someone off because they are tired.
But with whatever GW decides to do, I just hope we win it!
Fingers crossed and all that.
We did it, we actually did it! Somehow Boro have ended up in the play-offs despite losing to Mansfield on the last game of the season, with ten men, and a rubbish start to the season.
It was though, a bit deflated afterwards. I was listening to the game on the radio, and I have to say my heart sank when I heard Mitch had been sent off. I was angry, and a few words were said between me and Mitchell (because he could here me through the radio you know).
I didn’t think that was it, but I knew it made it very difficult for us. When their first goal went in, the word gutted pretty much covered it. I was so angry, and so was my other half. So much so he slammed down his note pad where he had been doing work and it whacked me on my ankle. So I was gutted, annoyed, and had a sore ankle for my troubles.
When Lairdy scored, I don’t think I have ever loved a player that much. It still didn’t really change things, as Torquay were winning, Crawley were coming back against Histon, and Cambridge were out of our sights. The one game that mattered was Kiddi against Kettering. But we were on our way to getting a possible win, and I think that is why I was so relieved we had scored.
When Mansfield scored their second, I didn’t realise. We thought that we had scored, so we both got up and went absolutely mental. Dancing around the room, high fiving, hugging, the works. We sat down and heard the commentators say and now there is a pitch invasion, and we chuckled away because we thought it was the Boro fans. And then we heard those words “The Mansfield players are so excited they have taken their shirts off”. We looked stunned at each other. I couldn’t believe it.
We straight away pressed refresh (with the f5 key) on the Kidderminster game. It was still 0-0. We were somehow staying in fifth place. Then the best thing EVER happened, Wright scored for Kettering. OH HAPPY DAYS! (I think I love him too). A draw wouldn’t have been enough for Kiddi, and Kettering had scored in the 90th minute. We were there, we had done it.
It was so nervey. I couldn’t believe it. It felt a bit sour though, and especially with Mitch set to miss 3 key games for us. But the main thing is we have got to the play-offs and now we can kick on and prepare for Thursday when we have Cambridge in the semi final.
Come on the lads!!
(Breathes a sigh of relief)
So today's the day. All or nothing for Boro. We gotta win today against Mansfield. I am so nervous it is unbelievable. If we lose we have a chance if the teams around us lose as well. But ideally we want to make it easy for ourselves by winning. That way we know we have done it, and where we finish will depend on the others.
Really third would be best to enable us to have the second leg at home. But to be honest I would just take being in the play-offs. I never thought it would have been an option for us, especially with nightmare November.
I just want to take this opportunity to say well done to the lads. No one expected you to get us where we are, and win or lose, well done, you deserve it.
Come on the Boro!!
So Mr Westley, we have achieved the target of 80 points. No one could quite believe we would get that, and get over 80 points, and still be unsure on whether we have made it or not.
Mansfield is now the biggest game of the season on Sunday. If they would like to give us the points that would be fine and dandy.
So here are the fixtures that are relevant to us on Sunday:
Cambridge Utd v Altrincham
Crawley Town v Histon
Kidderminster v Kettering
Mansfield v Stevenage
Oxford Utd v Northwich
Torquay v Burton Albion
We can draw as long as Kidderminster lose. But a win is really the only way we can assume we have made it.
So fingers crossed!
What a game! We did it yayyyyyyy. We were by far the better side. Morison was like a different player. He chased all the balls down and was trying really hard. His efforts were thanked within the first 6 minutes of the game, when the ball came into the box and he tapped it in the goal.
What a start. We were 1-0 up and we looked like we really wanted to win. There was a desire, a belief, that we could do it.
Kiddi had quite a few shots, but they weren’t really doing much with the ball. We had hit the bar from a long range Drury effort (who I thought was outstanding) and both Moro and Cole had quite a few shots on target.
I was praying that we would get to half ahead, we definitely deserved to be at least 2 goals up. So it was so annoying that Kidderminster scored right before half time. Their player was able to turn in the box and he put the ball in the back of the net. I was so annoyed that we had conceded right before half time. They didn’t deserve it.
After the second half it was key we got off to a good start, and boy did we do that. After 2 minutes Lee got his richly deserved first goal. The ball came to him and I screamed at him to pass it wide, and my dad screamed at him to shoot. Let’s just say I am glad he didn’t listen to me. He struck the ball towards the right hand side of the goal. I thought the keeper was going to get it, but it was so precise that it sneaked into the bottom right hand corner of the goal. Yay, we were back in front.
Everyone went absolutely mental. The clapping and singing was so loud that my ears started to hurt. I believe we were mid song when Lee actually scored as well.
We had quite a few more chances at goal after that. Lawrie had come on for Drury and was doing well. The ref also made some of his ‘conference ref’ decisions that frustrated us and the Kiddi fans.
The third goal for me is a bit of a blur if I am honest. I was just praying we would win, and was concentrating so much on where the Kiddi players were and that we kept hold of the ball, I can’t really remember the build up. All I know is, is that the ball came into the box, and it seemed to linger there forever, and then Lee took a stab at it and got his second goal. Raptures I think just about covers it.
He nearly had his third too when Moro got hold of the ball on the left hand side, but just couldn’t get it out of his feet to pass it to Lee who was free in the box. By the time he had, the players had closed him down and cleared the ball.
It was such a deserved win. We are now back in the play-offs and if we win on Sunday we are there!
Lee was excellent for me, and I thought Laird, Drury, Henry and Morison also had great games.
The team worked so hard, and I can’t praise them enough for yesterday. Hopefully now we have the momentum to win on Sunday against Mansfield to make our league dream a reality.
Come on the Boro!
So this is it. The big one. Boro are playing Kidderminster tonight which is set to become our biggest game of the season so far.
I am quite nervous. Today’s result could determine whether we get into the play-offs or not. If we lose, we have no chance, if we draw, we have a slim chance, if we win we have a real chance.
I have butterflies thinking about it. The lads must be nervous. I just hope we get an early goal to settle the nerves.
I really don’t want that rubbish feeling you get when you haven’t succeeded. It is silly that I could feel like this, but I have had it with spurs this season, and now I am having it with Boro.
It seems weird I could only be a few posts away from writing my blog about Boro being in the league. Could you imagine!? That would be amazing.
I hope I get to fulfil it. Tonight is the first step to that post, so fingers, toes, arms, legs, and hands are crossed for a Boro win.
Come on the Boro!!!
I know I shouldn’t be, but I am quite despondent about Saturday. We still have a great shout to get in the play-offs but for some reason it has made me feel like it is over.
Both teams deserved to score on Saturday, and to be honest I think was a fair result. But now I fear that we are relying on beating Kidderminster and Mansfield. I hate the fact we may have to leave it to the last game of the season.
Tomorrow is the key now. If we don’t win, that’s it. I don’t want it to end. We deserve to be in that fifth position.
It is definitely going to go to the wire with Cambridge and Burton too. In a way it was quite pleasing to see Cambridge beat Salisbury. Burton have Torquay to play on the last game of the season, so that really could play into our favour. And in a sort of roundabout way I want Cambridge to do it. Burton would be gutted and I think if we came up against them in the play-offs we would have more chance beating them then we have against United. Although it would be smashing if we beat Cambridge in the play-offs to go up.
I am worried about tomorrow. We need Moro to show up. My mum, who doesn’t really ever come to Boro, said she thought he looked a bit lost and that he wasn’t really trying hard. He has such skill and ability that you would think he would do more.
My dad got really annoyed too at him and Murphy. Both, I think were the most frustrating players for Boro.
It’s times like this, that you have got to keep your head and pull your finger out, and I think even though Moro was trying hard to get in positions, it is just not clicking for him at the moment. He needs a goal, and fast.
I hope there is a big crowd tomorrow, it will make all the difference. My mum and dad are coming again believe it or not. Want to get in some more Boro action before Wembley. So that’s the usual Boro crowd +2. Hopefully some others will think the same way because this is by far the biggest game Boro has had this season.
Come on the Boro!
Ticket: Check
Coach: Check
Shirt: Check
Scarf: Check
I am officially sorted to go to Wembley. Got me tickets yesterday - 22 of us going and possibly more which is pretty good going. As there is quite a number of us going we booked a coach like we did last time, so at least then we don't have to train it or drive.
I am quite excited now. Well I was in the first place, but now I know I am there. They've taken my money, it's official.
I just hope they win it, how good would that be! It was such a great feeling before, especially coming back from 2 goals down. I will never forget that first goal. My other half was completely demoralized so he was still finishing off his beer from half time and as a result missed the first goal. He was absolutely gutted that he missed it, but was ecstatic we had scored. Let's just say he has never been late out for the second half ever again!
It is such a great feeling to see the boys lift that cup. If we could do it again, all those players who haven't been there before would love it. It could be such a confidence booster if we were to make the play-offs. Just imagine!!
It is such a lovely day outside and so my mind has switched to football. Ok, so you may wonder how from it being sunny, I have managed to get on to football. Well here is the link: Nice sunny weather – Would be great to be out in it - Great weather at Wembley last time around & more recently so at Ebbsfleet – Then my mind goes onto Boro, and there you have it.
Saturday is a masssivvvee game for us. If we are going to get in the play-offs we really need to win all 3 games or 2 of them. We don’t want to leave it until the last day of the season against Mansfield. The pressure will be on whatever on the last day, but if we can beat the two teams that are directly above us, then you have got to say Boro are probably there.
We have Torquay on Saturday and Kiddi on Tuesday, both of which are only one point ahead of us. Their current form looks like this (last 8 games):
Torquay:
W4 D3 L1
Boro:
W5 D2 L1
Kidderminster:
W4 D4 L0
When you look at it like that, it shows how close it is, but we just edge out on top with the extra win. These games are going to be so tight, but we have an advantage. We are at home to both of them.
Kiddi have Histon away on Saturday, so some points will be dropped there. It could mean Histon are even further away from the play-offs or that Kidderminster has nearly secured a place.
The last game of the season could also work in our favour. Torquay are set to play Burton. I think it is going to go down to the wire with Burton so I really hope it comes to that last day, then Burton can do us a favour by beating Torquay.
There are so many ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’, but I really hope we do it. I don’t see why we can’t. They have come so far, and to have a 22 game unbeaten streak, deserves a reward, doesn’t it?
What a great bank holiday weekend. For me my bank holiday weekend started on Thursday night, where I headed to Great Yarmouth with a few friends for a 2 night camping trip. Randomly, we even saw a friend (who is an avid Boro supporter) from back home, whilst playing crazy golf.
We got back at about 1 on Saturday (so we wouldn’t miss Boro of course) and started to get ourselves ready for the footy. I wasn’t really worried about the Ebbsfleet game, it was more yesterday’s game against Crawley that gave me the jitters, but more about that later.
I knew we could beat Ebbsfleet, and we had done already this season. The game meant a great deal to them, as it did with us. We needed to win otherwise the play-offs would be a distant dream. And we did! Mitchell popped up and got us the goal we needed and deserved.
The game was a bit scrappy, but I always felt Boro were in control. I thought Wilson had a cracking game and Martin put in another great performance. Cole and Laird both did well and I thought Albrighton did well at the back.
Morison had another one of his frustrating days, where he managed to air kick the ball twice. At least he could laugh about it afterwards. Although I am becoming increasingly concerned about him. I don’t know whether his confidence has dipped or whether his head is somewhere else, but he looks a little lost.
Since the bank holiday, he has also lost his crown as top scorer, so I am hoping against Torquay he will be back on that top spot.
Now onto Crawley. I was unable to go to the game, (which I am even more annoyed about now, as we won 2-0), but I was following it online at home with the good old Sky Sports Live Table, whilst watching (frustratingly so) Burton throw a lead away to Kiddi.
It is quite good that Live Table application. At one point all the results were going our way and we were fourth with Kiddi losing. Happy Days. Sadly for us Kiddi came back and won their game. But the main thing was for us to get 3 points, and we did just that with goals from Bostwick and Willock.
It was such an important win, and now with only 3 games left we are back in a play-off spot and only 1 point behind Kiddi and Torquay. If we beat both those teams and win our remaining game against Mansfield we would have done it. I can’t wait until Saturday, the excitement just gets to me. Two massive games now. First up Torquay and then Kiddi. Thank God we are at home for both those games.
But first up, is me purchasing my Wembley ticket… yay!!
What a result! I am still exhausted from last night’s match against Cambridge.
It was such a great start by Boro as we scored early on. Boylan got the ball on the half way line, and it looked like he should have just run at goal, so I was a bit disappointed when he passed it out wide to Mendes. My disappointment was very short lived as Mendes took the ball down the right hand side and into the box, he shot at the goal and it went in.
From where I was standing it didn’t look like it had gone in. It was only when Cole put his hands up to celebrate that everyone around me celebrated. What a cracking start.
It was going to be one of those games where it was end to end, and it was. They had a few chances, but I was most worried when they were just running with the ball. Some of their crosses went right into the box, and we had to rely on the back four and Day to keep us in it.
It wasn’t long before Cambridge scored. Their player was completely free on the right hand side. Whether he crossed it or ran into the box, they would have scored, just because of the sheer space that they had.
It was really disappointing to see the ball go in the back of the net. It sent the Cambridge fans into raptures which was very annoying.
We still sang though, and the players were working really hard. (In fact the atmosphere was electric the whole game – and was by far my favourite this season).
Then Boylan stepped up again to make it 2-1 to Boro. It all started with Cambridge on the break and Laird managed to cut out a pass and get the ball to Mitchell. Scott then legged it down the line for Cole to switch the ball back to him. Laird got into the area and got pass the defence and put in a great cross for Boylan to slot it home, right in front of his ex club’s fans. J
We managed to hold out to the second half which was vital to calm the team down.
The second half was a bit eventful. There were challenges flying all over the place and Roberts was sent off. It was not like him at all. Wilson challenged for the ball and it was considered a foul by the ref. Roberts who had already been booked for foul, that didn’t really warrant a yellow card, booted the ball as it came to him. The ref gave him a second yellow and he was off.
I couldn’t believe this was happening again. We were leading, like Saturday, and I was so worried it was going to go pear-shaped. Every time the ball came into the box I just prayed we would clear it. This went on for 30 minutes. I have no voice this morning. I am exhausted and my hands hurt from all the clapping last night, but it was totally worth it!!
We got the 3 points, and I thought the lads were excellent. I was so happy to see Martin again, and he put in (as Westley would say) a sterling performance.
Him and Mills worked very hard in the centre of the park and they battled for everything.
Ashton, I found a bit frustrating, as after he did the hard bit of winning the ball, he would quite often just lump it forward rather than looking for the pass. But having said that, he and Albrighton pulled it off as they amount of defending they had to do to keep us in it required a great deal of patience.
Mind you, you wouldn’t really have known we had ten men in the second half. Cambridge didn’t seem to have many clear cut chances, and Day didn’t have to make that many saves. It was just an all round great Boro performance.
Just one more thing (sorry it has been such a long post), that i thought was worth a mention. I came out of the game last night and where the home and away fans meet, there was not one policeman. Is this not asking for trouble? It wouldn’t have taken much to put one person there, just in case something was to happen.
Although from what I have heard this morning, they were probably all inside, as the Cambridge fans have reportedly ripped up seats and the bins in the away end. I know it is a derby match, but treat grounds with a bit of respect people.
Yayyy!! One of my fave players has come back to Boro today. John Martin has been recalled for tonight's game against Cambridge as we have a lack of midfielders and injury woes.
I am chuffed to bits, now all we need is Stuart Lewis! And then Iwill have my two favourite players back.
I don't know how long it will be before Martin is loaned out again, but one thing is for sure he will give 110% at all times, so whether he plays or not, you can guarantee that when he does, he will pull his weight and do his best for the club.
Tonight is massive for us, so hopefully we can get the three points to keep the pressure on the teams around us in the play-off spots. It isnt going to be easy, but we have got to have faith.
The crowd is going to be huge. Cambridge are going to bring loads, half of them will probably sneek their way in.
I really really really hope we win. Pleaseeeeeeeeeeee.
Hopefully I will be writing a happy post tomorrow. (6-0 would be ideal).
Gutted. I think that is the only way I can describe it.
Boro played Kidderminster on Saturday and I thought we were definitely going to win. We were 2-0 up and flying within the first 20 odd minutes into the game. Happy Days.
But then it all changed. Henry was stretchered off and Murphy got himself sent off for an apparent two footed challenge. I say apparent because I haven’t seen it, and therefore cannot judge. Westley has said he thought it was one footed, whereas other people have said it was two.
The game seemed to turn on its head. We had ten men and became under the cosh. They scored two goals in relative quick succession and if I am honest I couldn’t see us coming back from it. I just prayed that we wouldn’t concede the third. At least then we would have got a point.
My prayers were not answered as Kiddi went on to score another two goals.
I really thought we were going to win. I am gutted, absolutely gutted. It is not over to the Fat Lady sings but that has definitely put a downer on our play-off hopes. I still have faith that the lads can do it. Starting with an emphatic win over Cambridge tomorrow.
I fear we will have to win all our games now and hope the teams around us lose, and lose badly. Luckily the results were not too bad on Saturday so we are not completely out of it.
I feel so sorry for the lads. I am worried about Ronnie and his injury and the psychological blow to the boys after losing our unbeaten run and to a team that are competing for OUR final place in the play-offs.
The emphasis on tomorrow’s game is now huge. We just have to hope and believe they can do it.
Up the Boro!
Boro pushed their way back into the play-off positions last night after beating York away 2-0.
First of all it was great to see Morison back on the score-sheet in the league. He always had faith in himself that he could do it, and he has definitely silenced the critics now.
I am really pleased for him. Even I have to admit that I started to doubt him. But he was still top scorer in the league, and that tells you something. We all knew we could score, but chances were not falling to him, and that must have affected his confidence.
Hopefully that one goal will see him back to his best and putting away 2 goals a game.
It was also great to see Lee on the score-sheet again. He gives 100% every game and I think he deserves his share of the goals.
Mills came into the midfield yesterday and stepped up. Westley even said after the game that Mills gave the type of performance we all have been waiting for.
The main thing now is that we are back in that play-off spot. I don’t know how long it will last for though as Kidderminster have Woking tonight. Woking did play well the other night, and it was a shame to see them lose to Cambridge. It was a bit harsh. So hopefully, Woking can beat Kiddi tonight (I never thought I would be saying that).
If Kiddi draw we will still be in a play-off spot, but they still will have a game in hand over us. The importance on our two games against them now is huge. If we can do the double over them, I think we have a real good chance of making the play-offs.
Fingers crossed!