April began with sunshine and a rare visit from BradfordCity to Saltergate. After the poor showing at Colchester, Mr Mac made 4 changes to the side with Fulop, Hudson, Allison and DeBolla in for Muggleton, Davies, Logan and Folan. It turned out to be a fairly entertaining encounter with some controlled aggression, but generally played in the right spirit. Our midfield probed well, but the City rearguard, with Weatherall to the fore, was splendid. Notable on the City right was Nicky Summerbee, and to those older types in the ground, it was amazingly like watching his dad Mike. The way he moves is identical. Oddly enough, City let Summerbee go after this game despite his good contribution. Anyway, it ended goalless, which was a fair result, but a little frustrating.
Big Marton kept Windass and co at bay
Next up was the short trip to the Potteries on a cold, miserable sort of day. Again we saw team changes with N'Toya and McMaster leading the attack with Logan in on the left. Former Spireite Mark Innes was on the Vale bench, but played no part. The first half saw Town in the ascendancy, but our efforts at goal lacked real conviction and Goodlad was able to save twice from McMaster with a degree of comfort. We had many opportunities to get the ball in the box, but rarely achieved it, mainly owing to Logan's inexperience, I feel. So, despite having more of the ball, we went in at the break all square.
Jamie Mc on his knees at Vale Park
That situation lasted not long into the second half as a move on the right saw an early cross undo us for Matthews' glancing header to beat Fulop. That gave Vale a boost, particularly as they needed points to avoid the drop, and they forced several corners, which we defended reasonably well to prevent falling further behind. After the spell of Vale pressure, we looked to hit back, but again our attacking lacked any assurance and our only real opportunity fell to N'Toya who shot weakly at Goodlad when well placed. Michael Fox's shirt made an appearance in the game as Nicholson went off streaming blood and came back as Fox. A similar thing was to happen later in the month. So, back to the game, Vale couldn't add to their tally and we never looked like sticking the ball away and we lost 1-0-we've seen this game many a time over the years.
Bournemouth were our next opponents for what was certain to be a difficult match, given the Cherries' run of wins on the road. Adam Smith was drafted in for a rare start, whilst Allison and Folan returned in a bid to improve our scoring threat. Within a minute, Fletcher nearly did the business for the visitors, but we recovered well with good work by Folan in particular causing the Cherries' rearguard some difficulties. On 17, we went ahead from a set piece, with Blathers flicking on Nicholson's flag kick for Allison to head in past the short-sleeved Moss. We continued to press for most of the first period, but we failed to add to our goal and we went in 1 ahead.
The Chief put us 1-0 up
Within 2 minutes of the resumption, we'd conceded again as Fletcher netted after Fulop had touched his header onto the post. The big striker reacted quicker than our defence to thump the rebound home. Soon afterwards we lost Adam Smith (for the rest of the season) and replaced him with Carlos Logan who looked instantly confident and caused the Bournemouth defence some difficulties. They resorted to the odd foul or 2 to stop him, but we were unable to capitalise. At the other end, Stock did capitalise on a harshly awarded free kick, which he advance a few yards and whacked straight past Fulop with an impressive shot. There was a suspicion that the Hungarian might have done better with his attempted save, but that was probably harsh. A spate of bookings for both sides followed a bout of play that saw us search for an equaliser. That came on 75 as Blatherwick rose to flick in Nicholson's corner for another set piece goal. After that, both sides pressed, but it looked like a well-fought draw until injury time when substitute Connell beat Nicholson to cross for the ever-dangerous Fletcher to thump home a header for an undeserved win. The only consolation was that it dropped Wednesday out of the play-off s berths, at least for a few days.
But Carl Fletcher had the last laugh for the Cherries
Our next game also had a seaside flavour with a trip to Blackpool who expected about 50 Town fans apparently and couldn't cope with the actual numbers that turned up. Why they were caught on the hop, I don't know - they even ran out of programmes early on. Anyway, we started brightly and the home keeper Jones saved well from Allison and was then beaten by Folan who rounded him, but blasted the ball onto the bar when it looked easier to score. We were punished moments later when Grayson slid in a shot from the edge of the box after Bailey had blocked an effort from Southern. Both sides then attacked in turn and had bookings in turn in what was proving to be not a typical end of season affair. The Tangerines should have extended their lead just before the break and we were thankful for Murphy's poor finish that it remained 1-0.
Caleb scoundered one of many chances created
The second half saw the home side with the early advantage but Town coming stronger at the end. We had bookings for Allott for throwing the ball away, Evatt for mouthing at the ref after Blackpool's niggly approach had wound him up a little too much, and finally Fulop for fouling the opposing keeper as he went up for our last corner of the game. We didn't equalise, of course, despite much of the play. It was very frustrating, just like at Vale, but we looked like we had no belief in the final third of the pitch. The approach play was always tentative, the crossing lacked conviction and the shooting was hurried and frequently scuffed.
Our final fixture of the month and our last home game of the season brought Oldham to Town, needing a win to ensure survival from the drop. Given our poor recent form and general lack of confidence, Oldham would have done well to arrive quietly, do the business and wander back to Lancashire with 3 points. As it was, it seems that Manager Ronnie Moore was slagging us off pre-match about lacking playing quality and former Town favourite, Luke Beckett, followed suit, as he did with Stockport earlier in the season.
All this served to do was make Roy McFarland's pre-match talk superfluous as it proved a marvellous motivational tool for our team. We played this game with more grit and application than we'd done for some time, though the Latics had the better of the early exchanges. Beckett missed an absolute sitter on 8 minutes, ballooning the ball over the bar from about 5 yards out. There was little sympathy for him amongst the home contingent. On 16 minutes, Oldham and, in particular, Guy Branston, were complaining about the use of the elbow by Evatt as Stam went down to be stretchered off. What they omitted to notice, however, was that Evatt's head was streaming blood, so off he went to be patched up. He returned a few minutes later in the guise of Kevin Dawson. A little later, Mark Allott was scandalously booked for a hard challenge on substitute Tierney, when both players had clearly made solid contact with just the ball simultaneously. Clearly, however, Branston was in charge of the game at this point and what he asked for he seemed to get. Efforts by both Evatt and Beckett were chalked off for offside and Branston's header hit the bar just before the break. It had been an entertaining and eventful first half.
Evo bundles the ball home to leave Oldham facing a nervy Saturday
Yes a win at last and mathematically safe
The second period saw Tcham back in form at last, causing the Latics defence untold difficulties, though Oldham were still dangerous on the counter-attack. The game's key moment was in the 69th minute when former Oldham anti-hero Mark Allott launched in a long throw which Blatherwick flicked on to Evatt. The skipper got in a shot at the far post but Pogliacomi saved, only for the ball to rebound to the man in Dawson's shirt to score. Despite much effort from Oldham, their finishing was poor, especially from Johnson, who was substituted and Town ran out winners for only the second time since November at home. Oldham go into their last game needing points or others to fail to stop up. We've been there chaps. Our win meant that this was the sixth season on the trot that we'd won our final home game and the decent crowd of 5241 gave us our best home average for 24 years-encouraging stuff indeed.
Player oft he Year thanks the fans post Oldham
Off the field, Shane Nicholson won the player of the year thing and Mark Allott's superb effort at EdgeleyPark won goal of the season under stiff competition from Niven, Hudson and Clingan. We again got some unexpected publicity with Sky's Soccer AM highlighting our new sky blue away shirt, modelled by a young lady called Charlene. She's never from Town with a name like that! Next season's prices were announced and talk turned to who will, or won't, be with us next season on the playing front. The last game of the season at Swindon looks totally insignificant with neither side having much at stake, so I expect we'll undertake a few experiments on the tactical front: Gaz Davies as the new striker perhaps?
