[ Tue 5th Feb ] v Buckingham Town KO 7:45pm UCL1 HOME

[TwinkleToesTomlin]

Personally, I don't think providing the radio coverage will impact our attendances but its a great service to provide to those who cant make it for whatever reason.

Back to game, its was like it usually is job done and three points. Positives for me was bringing in King from the start, he's going to be a massive player for us in the running and exactly what we was missing before hand. We've got great strength in depth now, especially with Dev and Els back (Dent is definately not a left winger though!), Gillys improving each week, and its always pleasing to see Lance stretch tired legs. We've finally got a full squad that can challenge. What a player McBride is turning into, I wasnt sure at the start but hes definately won me over, same with Sam Brown.. excellent.

Theres still a lot to improve on..

We really need to work on ensuring we're all on the same wavelength and general teamwork. King and Gearing are almost struggling on being too good, if that makes sense. King in particular makes cracking intelligent forward runs, which the majority of our players dont spot. When hes the provider, he slots balls through which Jake and Alf need to be anticipating.

Jake and Alfie are quality strikers at this level, but just lately their decision making has been poor. They're partnership has seen some signs of improvement, and I admire theyre confidence but for me its asif they're trying too hard and almost in competition with each other. Confidence isnt a bad thing but theres a fine line between confidence and greediness. Once or twice of Saturday Jake shot from tight angles when theres players queing up for a tap in, and last night Alfie should of squared it on a couple of occasions. I think they could both learn alot from Deven, on bringing others into play.

[TwinkleToesTomlin]

Radio Diamonds listeners peak at around 30, so it doesn't make much difference at all.

It's early days for them, they are all new to the technology and if they can get broadcasting at away games then that will probably bump up their listening numbers.

30 is pretty impressive when you consider how few listeners the original Radio Diamonds would get in the final couple of seasons of R&DFC. I've still got the record for the first game of the 2010-11, and there were 16 listeners for 45 minutes or more - 14 from the UK, one from Dublin and one from Kazanlak in Bulgaria.

That must have been BulgarianDiamond. Is he still a fan?

His names Hristo Margaritov

[Trek]

His names Hristo Margaritov

He's currently in second place in the Fantasy Premier League - AFC R&D Supporters League. ;)

[AFCRD_Dan]

Very pleased with the three points, thought we dominated for the whole game, can't have been easy playing in those conditions.

If only we'd taken our chances again, although I do think we would have scored a few more had Jake not gone off early on.

[FOOTYMAN]

With the current squad, it was evident, the team can play at a higher level than we are at. When Jake went off (hope he recovers fully) we still had enough controlled play and created at least 8 clear cut goal-scoring opportunities. More relaxed control in front of goal and we would have repeated the 9-0 win. The team has shown that whoever is in the starting 11 can do the job comfortably and the substitutes come off the bench and slot in effortlessly.Not so long back, we looked at the table and wondered if we would be scrambling for a 3rd or 4th spot. We are now in with a great chance, 4 points off top, with 2 big games to probably determine the outcome of the league (Sileby away, Oadby at home). We were outzipped at Oadby and we will beat them if we continue playing the way we are, regardless of who starts.More wins will come before the Sileby game and they are now feeling the pressure of the points gap closing up.
Well done all and nice to see Ralph having a say on here too.

COYD

[BartonRaz]

Sileby are 3-1 up against Wootton midway through the second half. Their new signing Byrne from Desborough has got a hatty.

[Formic]

Sileby are 3-1 up against Wootton midway through the second half. Their new signing Byrne from Desborough has got a hatty.

I hear that one of his goals was due to a goalkeeping error that was worse than the Wootton keeper made for the Elliot Dent shot. Byrne has also missed a penalty. Finished 5-2.

[Diamond_ Wolf]

Sileby are 3-1 up against Wootton midway through the second half. Their new signing Byrne from Desborough has got a hatty.

Michael Byrne is class, he will guarantee 30+ goals in the UCL prem. He could and should of played at a higher level. Hopefully we can keep him under wraps. Oh and I did play in the same school team as him 8-)

[FOOTYMAN]

The fact that Wootton have scored 2 against Sileby is a good sign. They had 1 half-an -effort against us. If Sileby are unable to shut out teams with very little fire power up front, we should be in with a good chance. More clean sheets and at least a goal a game.

Diamonds are forever...........................

[Bobos]

I would like to echo the comments on how hard the volunteers worked to get the match on. I was down here when Bob and Jon ward came down to fork the pitch, they started the ball rolling, and well done to all the other guys later on.

Bob was marking the pitch out in the really bad snow fall we had, so well done to him. He must have been freezing!!

Well done to you.

Cheers Haydn and thanks for keeping me topped up with coffee 8-)

At the end of the day all that hard work was worth the result (I may claim thoses three points for myself :lol: ) I ache like an aching thing for Sore Town, in Achingshire :lol: Still worth all that effort.
A big thank you to the other volunteers who help out before the game, thanks to you all, you know who you are.

As for the attendance, it was no more than I expected with the conditions etc, and the fact that we will play more home games on a tuesday night than we will on a saturday, which if I was a cynical person would say that the league had organised it that way, but I'm sure that is not the case :oops: :oops: :oops: