Unreal isn't it? This never ending sequence of crap weather and - so far - 12 matches postponed from around the start of November. And as if that isn't enough - more rain is forecast which could see the Wisbech game on Saturday under threat.

Remember we haven't even got to that time of the year when the weather really starts to bite at football fixtures. I was talking to Tony Cosens - Town's illustrious secretary - on Thursday and he's never known anything quite like it - and Tony's been re-arranging postponed fixtures for the best part of 40 years.

No news on players that I'm aware of - it's all very quiet. George Wakeling IS out there looking for a striker and a deal came close to fruition last week only for the player concerned to be snapped up by Slough Town who came up with a better deal. Our promotion campaign is dead in the water - so we might as well take our time in getting the right guy and have everything in place in August.

Our home form is so execrable that we might as well have a laugh at our own expense. Lowest home scorers in all three divisions that form the DM League, our last home DME goal was on October 24, 2000 and Dave Arter, who we've tried to sign on several occasions, who doesn't even play a full 90 minutes for Tonbridge these days, scored more league goals in 14 minutes at Spalding recently (3) than we've scored in the last two months (er, bugger all). I keep on about Arter because he's precisely the kind of player we need.

Yet - away from home we're scoring plenty - only four or five sides in the three divisions have scored more - and our defence isn't doing at all badly. Frustrating isn't? Someone will pay for this - big time.

Fame

Had an interesting e-mail recently. "Ghost of MG 5yp" is famous! Currently on the excellent Standupifyouhatemanu.com website is the Bladders at Broadfield article from Ghost 27 which is Standup's fanzine article of the week. And - for all you loyal Man U bashers, there is a competition on the Standup website to see which club's supporters hate them the most. Don't forget to vote.

Me? Still loyal to Crawley and Stain Leonards but not necessarily in that order.

See you Saturday - I hope........

SS

We all know why Town have made such a feeble impact on the Eastern Division promotion race - just look at the home goals for column. After as one sided an opening 45 minutes - even more one sided than the Stain Leonards game - Town supporters must've been thinking: "Here we go again".

It was all down to Duncan Roberts in the Wisbech goal who had a brilliant game - especially that opening half when he pulled off three great saves plus several others almost as good. That was after Town had started off looking a little un-aquainted with each other with a couple of opportunites being presented to Wisbech that weren't taken.

Once that was over and done with, Town started to play some decent football and were so on top that it was unbelievable that the scores were still level at half time. You can thank Roberts for that - Messrs Simmonds, McArthur, Yates and Jones all denied (Simmo twice plus a goal line clearance).

The second half was always going to be an anti climax after that - but at least the opening goal came on 52 minutes thanks to Macca's well placed free kick from the corner of the area. Town's first home league goal in 340 minutes - you veteran supporters might just recall Tony Burt's effort against Langney on 24/10/2000............

Town didn't create many opportunities in the second half but still completely dominated the game. It took a great individual effort from Jonesie to seal the three points on 82 minutes - he broke away from just inside the half way line, held off three defenders and beat Roberts for as good a goal as you'll see on the box.

This game gave home supporters their first real opportunity to look at David James who had a good game in midfield and looks well worth hanging onto. But - more importantly - we saw goals at last. The attendance wasn't bad given, that as is so often the case in this division - the away side brought hardly any, if any at all, support.

SS

League Cup triumph @ league leaders!

Yates 11, Myall 17, Ball 47, Honey 57, Simmonds 66, P.Jones 82

Att:- 158

Yeah, we won 6-1 at table topping Chelmsford....... So what. As said in an earlier blurb on this site, or was it in the fanzine, the early stages of the DM (Dreary & Meaningless) Cup are all about who gives a shit more and it was clear that it wasn't City or their supporters - or ours come to that. Count me amongst the uninterested - I wasn't going to chuck in a 12 hour night shift for a game that you knew the home side wasn't going to take seriously, anyway. I certainly wouldn't blame City for that - their aim is promotion.

Chelmsford fielded virtually a reserve side and the attendance speaks for itself. They had nearly 600 on Saturday for their 3-1 win over Ashford. What was interesting about this game was that Chris Honey - at long last - broke his duck and got his first goal for the first team which was at full strength. Will it, as hopefully predicted, be the first of many? Fingers crossed. Town's goals came from Messrs Yates, Myall, Ball, Honey, Simmonds and Jones - and we even scored for City via Paul Ruddy.

I presume we fielded a full strength side because this competition is the only one we still have any interest in - and look where we go in the next round - our good friends from West Sussex - Crawley.

Back to Chelmsford - could be a slightly different line up in their colours when points are at stake at the Pilot Field on the 20th??

SS

McArthur 53, James 85

Att:- 162

The return leg of the 314 mile round trip in what is laughingly a regionalised division of the Southern League went that much quicker after Town's thoroughly deserved win in shivering Lincolnshire at 6th placed Stamford. Town started the better side and never relinquished control on a cramped uneven pitch.

0-0 at half time with just the couple of serious efforts on goal. Paul Jones should have done better in the 15th minute when after picking up a rebound from his failed attempt at lobbing Steve Corry in the Stamford goal, he, with unerring accuracy, blasted his second attempt straight at the fullback who cleared the shot off the line. 5 minutes later and there was hurried activity in the Town area when the defence struggled to clear a free kick - but that was just about it so far as Tony Kessell's part in the first half was concerned.

21 minutes gone - and a McArthur free kick from the corner of the box was tipped over by Corry as Town continued to dominate. Jonesie did well to control a downward header from Danny Simmonds late in the half but then his control let him down as he was about to shoot from inside the 6 yard box.

Much the same story in the second 45 as Town took control to the frustration of the home supporters who started getting onto their players. Town made their domination count at last in the 53rd minute thanks to Macca's free kick - again an effort from the corner of the box - that crept inside the near post. The keeper was at fault for that one as it seemed to go underneath him - and the 20 odd Town supporters behind his goal duly acknowledged his part in the goal.

Town coped well with everything Stamford tried - I don't think they even had one corner in the game. The defence was on top form. All done and dusted on 85 minutes - Jonesie back to his elusive best when a run to the by line resulted in the ball being laid off for David James to knock in his first goal for Town - and Town's second.

Up three places to 9th - but our virtually extinguished hopes of promotion remain, er - virtually extinguished, as the top three won as well. But, well played boys and hopefully this run of results will see an end to the Wakeling slagging off which isn't achieving anything.

SS

Literally losing count now. I think the Sittingbourne postponement is the 13th of the season, the League Cup game at Crawley on the 23rd is also off cos they've got a Sussex Senior Cup game that should've been played on the 16th and that takes precedence over the DM Cup - blah blah blah. I have NEVER known a season be so disrupted by the weather. March and April are going to be interesting as clubs play three games a week to try and catch up. All that can be said about that is it's the same for everyone. Not that it's any comfort to clubs who are after promotion or trying to avoid relegation.

Chelmsford are due in Hastings on Saturday the 20th - I'm knocking this up on Friday afternoon and it has to be said - it looks unlikely that game'll be on if the temperature remains this low. The Pilot Field was concrete like at midday when I ventured out on to the hallowed turf.

So - rain has done it's best - now it's ice - what next - that long dormant volcano in Elphinstone Road that nobody knows about, blowing it's top and submerging The Pilot Field in molten lava?

SS

Myall 43, 86

Att:- 277

An exceptional performance by Town on what looked a thoroughly difficult surface - as their exceptional away form was rewarded with another 3 points that keep us on the outskirts of the promotion race - just. Town were well worth their 1-0 interval lead - and really should've had more to show for their complete domination of the opening 45 on an appalling surface. Some exceptional football resulted when the boys could've been forgiven for playing hoof'n run. Banbury were taken to pieces down their right flank where Messrs Yates, Simmonds, Jones and James linked up superbly all afternoon. No Duncan McArthur who was out with flu - his place was taken by Tommy Osborne who doesn't let the side down wherever he plays.

The first chance came on 8 minutes when a good cross from Yatesie [best game for weeks, Steve] found unmarked Tommy O's effort being smothered by the keeper - one of those crosses that you could see Tommy had to decide which was the best option - head or boot. From the resulting freekick, Banbury broke upfield and Tony Kessell had to come out of goal and won his one on one confrontation as he pushed the ball out for a corner. That was to be Banbury's only serious effort of the first half as Town then took over proceedings. Few clear cut chances were created - Simmo lost out in a one on one, Paul Jones fired wide from a tight angle, Stuart Myall fired a long range effort straight at the keeper - but, just as we were resigning ourselves to a 0-0 half time score, there was Mylie getting on the end of a Simmo free kick to volley Town ahead from close in.

Town continued to look by far the better side in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. Mylie was denied by a fine last ditch tackle as he broke clear and a Yates cross flew across the goal mouth with nobody there to knock it in. The end Town were attacking was in far worse condition and it was a credit to them that they played so much decent football on it. But - Banbury weren't going top give up and haf two spells of pressure which might've brought some reward. They had a decent shout for a penalty turned down on 62 minutes [bit of luck for us after all the spot kicks we've conceded this season] and for a while Town were under the cosh but weathered the storm in front of a noisy well packed terrace of home supporters. Great work down the left by Jonesie saw him beat three defenders but - as is so often the case - nobody on hand to pick up his lay off.

70 minutes - and Town's great escape act - quick break, hands up for off side - not given - and the ball broke nicely in Kess's area - he was left facing two United strikers but the ball flew wide when it seemed easier to score. That saw Banbury really giving it a go for the next 10 minutes or so - but the Town defence with Stuart Playford in great form coped well and came through it again.

The Simmonds-Myall combination sealed it for Town - another free kick fired in and there was Mylie nipping in to head emphatically past Simon Tricker for his and Town's second in the 86th minute. Banbury's heads went down visibly after that sucker punch as Town comfortably played out time.

SS

Advice has been received today - Sunday 28/1 - that admission at Longmead on Saturday for our game against Tonbridge will be £7 adult, £4 kids/oaps. Apparently it's all about raising money for ground improvements. Tonbridge supporters - and it's one who notified us of this price hike - are expected to be up in arms about what has to be the highest admission in both regional divisions of the DM League.

Well - whether this backfires on those who've sanctioned this increase or not - I'll certainly be at the game because an extra couple of quid won't stop me following Town. And like you other Town supporters - I want revenge for what happened at The Pilot Field! But - £7 to see an Eastern Division game is something else and I suspect there'll be a lot of pissed off people there on Saturday.

Thanks to whoever alerted us - please pass it on!

SS

Check out the excellent Flying with the Angels website (via our links page), and their message board for more information.

Tonight Dean White brings his Brighton & Hove reserves to the Pilot Field for a friendly match. Starts at 7:45, phone the club to confirm. Postponed (surprise surprise) due to weather.

There is a new Baldock Town website at: http://www.baldock-town.co.uk/