It’s been mixed season so far to say the least. Good results and bad results and a typical inconsistent season to be honest. Despite the inconsistency we are still well placed and the squad is looking more settled every week. There are a few problems with the squad and sometimes the way Graham Westley chooses his team can be baffling. Playing players out of position isn’t always the best way to go. Eddie Anaclet works hard but is not a left back and when you’ve got an out and out left back available in Scott Laird. Anaclet defensively isn’t the best but the last few games he has played well considering the circumstances.

Another player who has changed position several times this season is Michael Bostwick with Westley choosing Gary Mills ahead of John Martin and Peter Vincenti forcing his way into the Boro line up. Bozzy has been forced to play right back which is not his best position and I think he sits in the midfield so much better. Since my last post we have picked up some fantastic wins and also lost some miserable games. To be the best you need to learn to win ugly as well as winning well and we certainly have had a few occasions where we have grinded out wins notably against Grays and Mansfield. However defeats on the south coast to Torquay and Eastbourne have blotted the copy book.

Two completely different games and especially different weather conditions! Torquay was a game that could have gone either way despite the 3-0 score line. We had a couple of really good chances and Morison missed a glorious opportunity to put Boro ahead before Torquay took control of the last 25 minutes and scored the crucial 3 goals. I wasn’t expecting a win at Torquay due to the home form of the Devon side but would have settled for a point and it just wasn’t to be. 3 days later we had a tricky game against recently relegated Mansfield live on Setanta and they weren’t disappointed. It was an incredibly open game which doesn’t help our fragile defence but we still ended up grinding out a good win.

Eastbourne was for me very disappointing considering their form and the terrific weather conditions on the south coast. We took a fairly good support (most in the fancy dress!) and weren’t quite clinical enough but better at times in the defence. Wormull’s shot was unstoppable and we showed good character to get back on level terms. However our defensive frailties began to show again towards the end and we were punished by a very late goal. Bouncing back was key and we certainly did in a dull affair with Salisbury. Getting the 3 points was the main thing about that game and keeping within touching distance of the play offs. Whether you think it’s a disruption or not the FA Cup for me is my favourite time of the season because anything can happen as we showed 10 years ago and more recently Havant & Waterlooville’s antics at Anfield.

Horsham showed the passion of the FA Cup at Broadhall Way and were unlucky not to win as it took a late equaliser from Scott Laird. Horsham found themselves behind and we were waiting for the floodgates to open. Credit to Horsham, they worked hard and equalised one minute later thanks to former Boro man Jean Michel Sigere. Sigere showed really class at times along with a determined Horsham team. Horsham’s goal just before half time from striker Farrell certainly made Westley’s half time team even more difficult and in the end substitute Scott Laird scored the equaliser. After a late show in the replay Boro was drawn away to Leicester one of the biggest teams we were able to draw in the 1^st round.

In between the Horsham and Leicester game we picked up 3 valuable 3 points against rivals Woking. Vincenti’s goal for me was the best goal of the season and in wet and windy conditions Boro dealt with everything Woking threw at us very well. Leicester in the cup was a tough game and going in as underdogs suited us. If you look back at some of the chances we had with Morison shooting agonisingly wide and Mitchell Cole also just missing the target. You have to feel if Moro had scored the game could have been so different however it wasn’t to be. The support we had was a credit to the club and everyone got involved and out sung the Leicester fans completely. Plenty more to come and with a few shrewd signings in January we could still reach the playoffs and push into the football league.

Lopo