[FM11] - Loading every league at once, I must be insane!

[ManUTactician247]

8/10/11 - Banbridge vs Brantwood (Northern Irish 2nd Division)

Pre-match press conference

Ricky McFall "Who are you relying on to counter the threat of Wayne Carlisle."

Me "He may be a new signing but I think Jonathan Watterson should be able to."

Squads

GK: Matthew Rice...........|GK: Gareth Buchanan

RB: Craig Kirk*..............|RCB: Neil King

RCB: Michael McMullan....|CB: Mark Stewart

LCB: Michael Fitzpatrick..|LCB: Kevin Anderson

LB: Jordan Watson.........|RM: Wayne Carlisle

RM: Gareth Green..........|RCM: Ciaran Harte

RCM: Wes Daly..............|LCM: Danny Davenport

LCM: Jamie Marks..........|LM: Jeff Brady

LM: Ryan Murray*.........|ST: Steven McArdle

ST: Jamie Douglas.........|ST: Timmy Grant¬

ST: Gerard Rooney+......|ST: Matthew McConnell

Subs

Stephen Brennan*.|A.J. Murray

Steven McQuillan*.|Alan Strain+

Ronan O'Hara*......|James Wilson

Joe Finlay............|Stephen Mason+

Derek Tyrrell.........|Gerwyn Jones

* - Makes/Could make league debut for his club

+ - Makes/Could make competitive debut

¬ - Makes/Could make 50th league appearance.

Matthew McConnell hasn't conceded in 426 minutes of football for Banbridge.

Preview: Banbridge are certainly going for the attack here, hopefully we can take advantage of a weakened defence by attacking down the wings.

4 - GOAL! Harte plays McArdle through and Rice's effort to save it isn't enough, 1-0 Banbridge.

6 - Jones is on for Carlisle.

8 - GOAL! Brantwood bounce right back, Green's low cross is finished off by Ryan Murray, his first for the club in his first Brantwood appearance.

15 - Daly hits one and it's just over the bar.

23 - Green's cross is met by a Murray header but it's well saved by Buchanan for a corner.

24 - Green's corner is headed by McMullan, straight at the keeper though.

29 - Finlay replaces Green for Brantwood.

45+2 - Half time

We've been the better side but go into half time level, it would be nice to get our first league away win of the season here and it's still a reality.

49 - GOAL! A long goal kick is flicked on and McArdle gets to it before finishing powerfully to give Banbridge the lead again.

55 - Davenport sets up Harte who curls it just over.

58 - Daly curls one from distance and it unluckily hits the bar, Murray rifles in a rebound but it misses the goal.

59 - GOAL! There's the equaliser, new signing Kirk puts in a good cross which Douglas somehow manages to head in.

65 - GOAL! Banbridge retake the lead, the ball comes to Harte and his shot goes in off the post.

67 - A goalmouth scramble in the box after Douglas' low cross somehow ends up in the keeper's arms.

76 - Brady's corner is headed over by McConnell.

78 - Kirk is booked for pulling Grant's shirt.

79 - Daly gives it to Douglas whose shot strikes the bar, Brantwood are really unlucky to be behind here.

90+2 - Full time

Another exciting away match, and another we are really unlucky to lose, we can't seem to defend away from home.

Ratings

GK: Rice (6.5)

RB: Kirk (6.9)

RCB: McMullan (6.6)

LCB: Fitzpatrick (5.7)

LB: Watson (5.7)

RM: Green (6.9) sub 29

RCM: Daly (5.6)

LCM: Marks (6.5)

LM: Murray (7.5)

ST: Douglas (7.5)

ST: Rooney (5.8)

Sub

Finlay (6.2) sub 29

Post-match press conference

Ricky McFall "Steven McArdle was our pick for man of the match, how do you think he played?"

Me "Anyone that deadly in front of goal deserves man of the match, he played well indeed."

Transfers

Andrew White comes in as a back up RB/RM. Chris Murray also comes in after parent club Carrick didn't want him, he joins on loan for the rest of the season.

[ManUTactician247]

Hope you can keep it up.

Me too, but away from home, we just can't squeeze a result, our only away win thus far was against Distillery :S. Can't expain that one.

[deltablue]

FM often throws up the unexplainable.

[ManUTactician247]

FM often throws up the unexplainable.

And that's why we love it .

[ManUTactician247]

12/10/11 - Annagh Utd vs Brantwood (Northern Irish 2nd Division)

Squads

GK: Matthew Rice...........|GK: Sean Morgan

RB: Niall Curneen*..........|RB: Johnny Magee

RCB: Michael McMullan....|RCB: Patsy Malone

LCB: Michael Fitzpatrick..|LCB: Jack Lane

LB: Jordan Watson.........|LB: David Hutchinson

RM: Lee McCaughern*....|DM: Alan Gaston

RCM: Wes Daly..............|RCM: Kevin Keegan (LOL) >

LCM: Michael McCartney.|CM: Conor Robinson+

LM: Ryan Murray...........|LCM: Ross Moran

ST: Jamie Douglas.........|AM: Conor McDonagh

ST: Joe Finlay...............|ST: Michael Doran

Subs

Stephen Brennan*.|Joe Sagar

Steven McQuillan*.|Gary Dodds+

Ronan O'Hara*......|Barry Tumilty

Gerard Rooney......|Ashley Gregg

Derek Tyrrell.........|Peter Williams

* - Makes/Could make league debut for his club

+ - Makes/Could make competitive debut

> - 2 goals to reach 25 league goals

Preview: For the first time in the season, we face a team below us in the league. We should get our first away win in the league this season.

4 - Gaston brings down McCartney, yellow card.

7 - Malone trips Douglas, another yellow.

9 - McDonagh hits one but it's well wide.

12 - Lane's long ball finds Doran who disappointingly puts it wide.

15 - A loose ball in the box falls to Murray who somehow misses, after the ball goes out, Brantwood complain after they thought Hutchinson had fouled McCaughern in the build up, nothing given.

29 - McCaughern with an ambitious effort... well wide.

44 - McDonagh goes for it, wide.

45+1 - Half time

Not much in it here, it looks like one goal could win it, lets hope it's us.

45 - Tumilty replaces Keegan at half time.

50 - Hutchinson's clearance finds Doran and he's unlucky as his shot cannons off the post.

59 - A great saving tackle by McMullan to prevent Doran from being clean through again.

63 - Dodds on for McDonagh.

63 - GOAL! Annagh Utd get a deserved lead, Tumilty hits one from 22 yards and Rice can't stop it.

66 - GOAL! That one looks to have sealed it for Annagh, Moran's cross is volleyed in for his second by Tumilty, an inspired substitution.

69 - GOAL! Brantwood are back in it, Curneen goes for the long ball from the free-kick and Murray does brilliantly to bring it down and slide it under the keeper, could they level it?

74 - Robinson finds Doran but the shot is straight at Rice.

79 - Williams replaces captain Magee.

85 - Curneen finds McCaughern and he drills one into the side-netting, it's a goal if it's on target but not this time.

90 - McCaughern trips Moran and gets a yellow card.

90+2 - Full time

It's another disappointing defeat, we just couldn't defend.

Ratings

GK: Rice (6.4)

RB: Curneen (7.4)

RCB: McMullan (6.6)

LCB: Fitzpatrick (6.1)

LB: Watson (6.7)

RM: McCaughern (6.7)

RCM: Daly (6.6)

LCM: McCartney (6.2)

LM: Murray (7.5)

ST: Douglas (6.4)

ST: Finlay (5.6)

[ManUTactician247]

15/10/11 - Brantwood vs Ards (Northern Irish Steel & Sons Cup Quarter Final)

Pre-match press conference

Ricky McFall "Your side has done well to get this far but face a much tougher challenge against Ards, can your team win?"

Me "It'll be difficult but with a good performance, we can do it!"

Squads

GK: Stephen Brennan......|GK: Matty Edwards

RB: Willie Loughran.........|RB: Matthew Neill

RCB: Michael McMullan....|RCB: Gary Spence

LCB: Derek Tyrrell..........|LCB: Kyle Downing

LB: Jonathan Watterson.|LB: Kris Pike

RM: Gareth Green..........|RM: Jamie McGovern

RCM: Matthew Weir.......|RCM: Mark Clarke

LCM: Wes Daly..............|LCM: Sam Sheridan

LM: Ryan Murray...........|LM: Aaron Harmon

ST: Eoin Boyle..............|ST: Chris Kingsberry

ST: Gerard Rooney........|ST: Stephen Doyle

Subs

Matthew Rice.......|Jordan Bradshaw

Wayne Buchanan..|Robert Brosnan

Jordan Watson.....|Blaine Burns

Joe Finlay............|Robbie Hume

Steven McQuillan..|Chris Shanks

Preview: A tough match against 1st division promotion contenders Ards, but we're at home so that pretty much doubles our chances of win. Massive changes to the squad for this one, hopefully they pay off.

2 - Doyle robs Tyrrell and is through but an incredible stop by Brennan on his debut saves Brantwood.

6 - Downing is booked for a trip on Green.

12 - Doyle injures himself after fouling Tyrrell, he gets a yellow card as well/

12 - GOAL! Ards lead and it's Doyle who taps in Harmon's cross.

14 - GOAL! Clarke plays in Kingsberry who powers it in off the post, 2-0.

21 - McGovern is booked for a foul on Daly.

34 - Doyle breaks into the box before shooting from a tight angle but Brennan catches.

37 - Boyle finds Green but he miscues the shot.

44 - So close for Brantwood, Loughran's free-kick from the edge of the box is tipped away by Edwards.

45+2 - Half time

Well, 2-0 isn't too bad against a team quite a way above us. I'm hoping for at least a goal in the 2nd half.

45 - Brosnan replaces Kingsberry at half time.

48 - GOAL! Green finds Boyle who expertly picks out the top corner to bring Brantwood back in to it!

52 - Sheridan gives it to Doyle who skies his shot.

53 - GOAL! Harmon's low cross is tapped in by McGovern for 3-1.

56 - Clarke upends Rooney and it's a yellow.

59 - Brosnan trips McMullan for yet another yellow.

61 - Hume is on for Harmon.

69 - Murray's cross is headed over by Green.

74 - Doyle plays it through to Brosnan and his shot forces a top save out of Brennan.

77 - Rooney picks up a knock and they take no risks, on comes Finlay.

84 - GOAL! Green's corner is met by a towering header from Daly and its 3-2, too little too late or not?

87 - Watson is forced to come on for an injured Weir.

89 - Substitute Watson already sees yellow for bringing down McGovern.

89 - Doyle plays it through to Brosnan but his effort is smothered by Brennan.

90+4 - Full time

We put in a valiant display against first division opponents but it ultimately wasn't enough, bye bye to another cup.

Ratings

GK: Brennan (6.3)

RB: Loughran (6.7)

RCB: McMullan (6.7)

LCB: Tyrrell (6.7)

LB: Watterson (6.2)

RM: Green (7.6)

RCM: Weir (6.5) sub 87

LCM: Daly (7.4)

LM: Murray (6.6)

ST: Boyle (7.2)

ST: Rooney (6.0) sub 77

Subs

Finlay (N/A) sub 77

Watson (N/A) sub 87

[deltablue]

Unlucky on those 2 defeats.

[ManUTactician247]

18/10/11 - Crusaders vs Brantwood (County Antrim Shield Semi Final)

Pre-match press conference

Ricky McFall "Are you confident of your sides chances of going to the final."

Me "I'd like to say yes but we need to be realistic, this will be a very tough match."

Squads

GK: Stephen Brennan......|GK: Scott Gallacher

RB: Craig Kirk................|RB: Patrick Taggart

RCB: Michael Fitzpatrick..|RCB: Darren Burke

LCB: Wayne Buchanan....|LCB: Peter Coventry

LB: Steven McQuillan......|LB: David Bell

RM: Lee McCaughern......|RM: Brian Cash

RCM: Wes Daly..............|RCM: Jimmy Rogers

LCM: Jamie Marks..........|LCM: Gareth McKeown

LM: Jordan Watson........|LM: Joe Slattery

ST: Jamie Douglas.........|ST: Caolan Lavery

ST: Joe Finlay...............|ST: Declan Bunting

Subs

Matthew Rice.......|Colin Bell

Aidan Forker........|Gary Melaugh

Ronan O'Hara.......|Michael Halliday

Mark Trainor........|Darren Cassidy

Derek Tyrrell........|Colin Stewart

Preview: We were unlucky to get the hardest possible semi-final, but knowing us, we can do it!

10 - GOAL! Crusaders lead as Cash scores from a tight angle.

21 - Crusaders knock it around in the box before Bell shoots straight at Brennan.

35 - GOAL! Watson shoots from a tight angle and Gallacher can only parry it and Daly is first to the rebound to level the scores for Brantwood!

37 - Bunting does well to get in the box but fires just wide.

39 - Lavery trips Buchanan, yellow.

41 - GOAL! The dream now looks a reality for Brantwood as McCaughern's effort is fumbled by the keeper and once again a Brantwood player gets to the rebound first, Watson the man who's done it.

45+1 - Half time

It seemed to be over when Crusaders took the lead, but we recovered fantastically and now it's in our hands, hopefully we can hold on away from home for once.

45 - Halliday for Lavery at half time.

48 - Watson's corner is headed by Fitzpatrick and it hits the bar, so unlucky...

50 - Douglas goes for it but it's wide.

57 - Bell trips Douglas, yellow card.

61 - Watson's corner is headed wide by Buchanan, he should have scored.

68 - Cassidy replaces Bell.

74 - Melaugh is now on to replace Bunting.

74 - Daly gets into the book for a push on McKeown

77 - Slattery's cross is met by a Cash header but to the relief of anyone associated with Brantwood, straight at Brennan.

85 - McKeown with a bad foul on Daly, forcing him to go off injured, a yellow card as well.

86 - O'Hara replaces the injured Daly, a standing ovation from the Brantwood crowd.

90+4 - The ref said 3 minutes of added time but the game runs over for a corner and Brennan is forced into a last ditch save to stop Halliday's effort, that may just be it...

90+4 - Full time

It is! No-one thought we could get this far or get anywhere in this competition but we head to the final with our heads held high! Whatever happens, I'm very proud of the boys.

Ratings

GK: Brennan (6.8)

RB: Kirk (6.8)

RCB: Fitzpatrick (7.1)

LCB: Buchanan (7.1)

LB: McQuillan (6.9)

RM: McCaughern (7.1)

RCM: Daly (8.7) inj 86

LCM: Marks (6.8)

LM: Watson (8.3)

ST: Douglas (6.8)

ST: Finlay (6.8)

Sub

O'Hara (N/A) sub 86

Post-match press conference

Ricky McFall "What a fantastic and unexpected victory, you must be delighted!"

Me "I really can't believe we've gone all the way and it wasn't just winning it, our performance was fantastic as well, a big well done to the boys!"

[ManUTactician247]

Unlucky on those 2 defeats.

Yeah, we can't seem to hit the same form in the league as we do in the cups, we won't get relegated though, sure of that .

[ManUTactician247]

26/10/11 - Moyola Park vs Brantwood (Northern Irish 2nd Division)

Pre-match press conference

Ricky McFall "Who are you relying on to counter the threat of Roddy Paterson."

Me "I think Steven McQuillan is capable of doing the job."

Squads

GK: Stephen Brennan*....|GK: Stephen Carroll

RB: Niall Curneen...........|RB: Ross Williams

RCB: Michael Fitzpatrick..|RCB: Kevin McGarry

LCB: Michael McMullan....|LCB: Dermot McVeigh

LB: Jordan Watson.........|LB: Daniel Day

RM: Lee McCaughern......|RM: Roddy Paterson

RCM: Wes Daly..............|RCM: Gary Beckett

LCM: Michael McCartney.|LCM: Daniel Hanna

LM: Ryan Murray...........|LM: Danny Mulholland

ST: Jamie Douglas.........|ST: George Bowerman

ST: Joe Finlay...............|ST: Chris Morton

Subs

Matthew Rice.......|Josh Wellsby

Steven McQuillan*|Stephen Dunlop+

Craig Kirk............|Gary Mulcahy

Eoin Boyle+.........|Marc Harkness

Derek Tyrrell........|Michael Hamilton+

* - Makes/Could make league debut for his club.

+ - Makes/Could make competitive debut.

Gary Beckett hasn't scored in 476 minutes of football for Moyola Park.

George Bowerman hasn't scored in 450 minutes of football for Moyola Park.

Preview: A real six-pointer here, hopefully we can pick up our first league away win of the season.

3 - GOAL! Curneen carelessly loses the ball and Mulholland plays it through to Bowerman who powers in the finish. McMullan is furious, he thinks it should have been offside.

13 - A cross is headed out as far as McCartney who hits one but it's straight at the keeper.

29 - Morton puts a free-kick from the edge of the box just wide.

45+2 - Half time

Disappointing to be behind in the league... again. At least a point would be nice here.

45 - Harkness for Morton at half-time.

68 - A deflected cross falls to Paterson but he misses.

70 - Mulholland goes for it but it's well wide.

73 - Paterson's free-kick is headed by Bowerman and it's a good stop by Brennan. Paterson then gets the ball but shoots into the keeper's arms.

77 - McCaughern's free-kick is headed well over by Fitzpatrick.

78 - Bowerman is booked for tripping Curneen.

79 - Hamilton replaces Day.

80 - Murray finds Daly who shoots first time but it's wide.

84 - Dunlop is on for Beckett.

89 - Curneen trips Mulholland and receives a yellow.

90+2 - Full time

Another disappointing away defeat in the league and for the first time in a while, we have failed to score. That defeat sends us to the relegation zones.

Ratings

GK: Brennan (6.6)

RB: Curneen (6.9)

RCB: Fitzpatrick (6.9)

LCB: McMullan (6.9)

LB: Watson (6.7)

RM: McCaughern (6.5)

RCM: Daly (6.4)

LCM: McCartney (6.7)

LM: Murray (7.0)

ST: Douglas (6.3)

ST: Finlay (6.1)

Post-match press conference

Ricky McFall "Dermot McVeigh had a great game, picking up the man of the match award, what was your opinion on his performance."

Me "Unfortunately, he had a good game, that's all I have to say."

[ManUTactician247]

29/10/11 - Brantwood vs Rosario (Northern Irish Intermediate Cup)

Squads

GK: Stephen Brennan......|GK: Robert Robinson

RB: Craig Kirk................|RB: John Annesley

RCB: Michael McMullan....|RCB: Patrick Devlin

LCB: Derek Tyrrell..........|LCB: Brendan Davidson

LB: Steven McQuillan......|LB: Chris Murnin

RM: Gareth Green..........|RM: Jim Fulton

RCM: Jamie Marks..........|RCM: Daniel Rock

LCM: Willie Loughran......|LCM: Ronan Thompson

LM: Jordan Watson........|LM: Ciaran McNally

ST: Eoin Boyle..............|ST: Alan Small

ST: Jamie Douglas.........|ST: Karl Hayes

Subs

Matthew Rice.......|Adam Binks

Aidan Forker........|Colum McCarron

Ryan Murray........|Johnny Kennedy

Mark Trainor........|Scott Nelson

Wayne Buchanan.|Conor Maguire

Preview: Should be an easy cup win, hoping for a few goals too.

1 - A loose ball falls to Marks but he fires wide.

3 - Rock trips Watson and is booked.

7 - Loughran pushes Rock and gets a yellow.

9 - McNally trips Green, yellow again.

16 - Loughran goes for it from long range but over it flies.

21 - Douglas trips Annesley and gets a yellow card.

28 - Douglas shoots from outside the box but it's wide.

31 - Small trips McQuillan and gets a yellow card.

32 - Marks tries one but it rolls wide.

35 - GOAL! Rosario take a shock lead, Futton's cross is flicked on by Hayes and Brennan somehow lets it in.

39 - GOAL! Brantwood are level, Douglas gives it to Boyle who turns before picking out the top corner.

43 - McMullan trips Hayes and sees yellow.

43 - RED CARD! Douglas picks up his 2nd yellow card for tripping up Annesley, this makes things harder for Brantwood now.

45+2 - Half time

Down to ten men and drawing, not how I had planned out this match, hopefully we can snatch a goal in the second half.

45 - Maguire replaces Rock at half-time.

50 - Loughran finds Boyle but he fires wide.

54 - Murray replaces McQuillan.

60 - Marks shoots from a free-kick but it's well over the bar.

61 - Nelson comes on for McNally.

63 - Trainor comes on for Boyle who's picked up a slight knock.

65 - GOAL! Brantwood take the lead but Rosario's manager will wonder how it happened, Davidson's poor back pass is picked up by substitute Trainor who scores just a couple of minutes into his debut.

68 - Kennedy replaces Small.

69 - Trainor shoots from 30 yards but it was never going in.

81 - Green's free-kick is headed by Trainor but it deflects out for a corner.

85 - GOAL! That must seal Brantwood's victory, a goalmouth scramble sees the ball bounce off pretty much everyone but Trainor gets the telling touch to get his second.

89 - GOAL! Brennan's free-kick is headed forward and Nelson is through and he executes a perfect lob to give Rosario an extremely slim chance of a leveller.

90+4 - Murnin picks up an injury but all of their subs are used up so for the last minutes it'll be 10 vs 10.

90+6 - Watson slides in on Fulton and gets a yellow card.

90+6 - Full time

We won the match with ten men and goal difference doesn't count so I guess I'm happy with this result.

Ratings

GK: Brennan (6.7)

RB: Kirk (7.0)

RCB: McMullan (6.8)

LCB: Tyrrell (6.8)

LB: McQuillan (6.5) sub 54

RM: Green (7.5)

RCM: Marks (6.8)

LCM: Loughran (6.8)

LM: Watson (6.8)

ST: Boyle (7.2) sub 63

ST: Douglas (6.8) red 44

Subs

Murray (6.8) sub 54

Trainor (8.6) sub 63

[abulezz]

Big victory there!

[deltablue]

Excellent, pity the league form's not been so good still.

[ManUTactician247]

Big victory there!

Yes, I thought we might lose when we were reduced to ten but one substitution and 2 more goals, glad to still be in it.

Excellent, pity the league form's not been so good still.

It is concerning but the league schedule was pretty evil, giving us 3 away games in a row. I'm confident we can recover though.

[ManUTactician247]

October 2011 Review

Brantwood 2-1 Killymoon (NI2D)

For us: Finlay (41), Douglas (45+1)

For them: Forsythe (53)

Banbridge 3-2 Brantwood (NI2D)

For us: Murray (9), Douglas (60)

For them: McArdle (5, 50), Harte (66)

Annagh Utd 2-1 Brantwood (NI2D)

For us: Murray (70)

For them: Tumilty (64, 67)

Brantwood 2-3 Ards (S&SC Quarter Final)

For us: Boyle (49), Daly (85)

For them: Doyle (13), Kingsberry (15), McGovern (54)

Crusaders 1-2 Brantwood (CAS Semi Final)

For us: Daly (36), Watson (42)

For them: Cash (11)

Moyola Park 1-0 Brantwood (NI2D)

For them: Bowerman (4)

Brantwood 3-2 Rosario (IC 1st Round)

For us: Boyle (40), Trainor (66, 86), Douglas (44)

For them: Hayes (36), Nelson (90)

Summary: Our league form needs a big improvement but we did play a lot of away games so that's probably why, in the cups though we're going well, we may have lost to Ards but that was a difficult fixture and we were close. We got a hard fought victory over Rosario after we went down to ten men but what I'm most pleased about was our victory against Crusaders, we showed great character after going behind and put in a much better performance on the day, Brennan's performances in goal have also been encouraging. In November, we have a cup final and more league games to come, stay tuned!

[ManUTactician247]

5/11/11 - Brantwood vs Wakehurst (Northern Irish Second Division)

Pre-match press conference

Ricky McFall "Wakehurst have been playing above expectations this season and will be confident of a result here, what do you think of that."

Me "It'll be tough but if we play well, we can certainly win."

Squads

GK: Stephen Brennan......|GK: Paul Whitfield

RB: Craig Kirk................|RB: George Moore

RCB: Michael McMullan....|RCB: Martin Smith

LCB: Derek Tyrrell..........|LCB: Mark Liggett

LB: Steven McQuillan*....|LB: Joe McKee*

RM: Gareth Green..........|RM: Stephen Kidd

RCM: Wes Daly.............|RCM: Owen Gregg

LCM: Jamie Marks..........|LCM: Steven McIlroy

LM: Ryan Murray...........|LM: Jamie Cook

ST: Eoin Boyle+............|ST: David Hutchinson

ST: Joe Finlay..............|ST: Jaimes McKee

Subs

Matthew Rice.......|John Steele

Wayne Buchanan..|Ryan Hill

Jordan Watson.....|David Paul

Mark Trainor*......|Connor Warren

Michael Fitzpatrick|Darren Penfold

* - Makes/Could make league debut for his club.

+ - Makes/Could make competitive debut.

Joe Finlay hasn't scored in 393 minutes of football for Brantwood.

3 - GOAL! A poor control by Hutchinson in the box somehow hits the inside of the post and there is a mad scramble with Tyrrell eventually putting it into his own net.

4 - Boyle with a poor effort, weak and well wide.

8 - GOAL! Cook's corner is headed in by Kidd, not a great day for Brantwood.

12 - Cook turns in the box before shooting over the bar.

13 - McQuillan loses the ball in a poor position but Wakehurst don't capitalise as Hutchinson shoots straight at the keeper.

14 - Murray has a powerful effort which is only narrowly over the bar.

17 - Wakehurst go on a counter-attack and Hutchinson shoots from a tight angle but it hits the side-netting.

35 - Cook hits a free-kick just wide.

40 - McKee trips Green and is booked.

42 - Green does the same to McKee and is also booked.

43 - Finlay with a poor effort from just over 20 yards.

45+1 - Half time

It's been a poor half, we really aren't playing well in the league, we need a really good 2nd half performance to turn this one around.

45 - Paul is on for Hutchinson at half time.

47 - An ambitious effort by McKee which Brennan wasn't expecting and it's almost in, just over.

55 - Finlay picks up what looks like a pulled hamstring, Trainor replaces him.

61 - Warren on for Liggett.

62 - McQuillan trips Kidd and gets a yellow card.

65 - Murray trips Moore, yellow.

75 - Cook brings down McMullan and we see another yellow.

77 - Kidd trips Murray for yet another yellow card.

80 - Brantwood unlucky not to get one back, Green with a great ball to Trainor whose effort is tipped onto the post by the keeper.

87 - Daly gives it to Trainor who turns and shoots... tipped over the bar, he's certainly been lively so far.

90+2 - Full time

A disappointing performance, we only started trying towards the end, performances like this WILL get us relegated, time to wake up.

Ratings

GK: Brennan (6.6)

RB: Kirk (6.8)

RCB: McMullan (6.7)

LCB: Tyrrell (6.6)

LB: McQuillan (5.9)

RM: Green (6.6)

RCM: Daly (6.5)

LCM: Marks (6.0)

LM: Murray (6.0)

ST: Boyle (6.0)

ST: Finlay (6.5) sub 55

Sub

Trainor (6.6) sub 55

[deltablue]

How close are you to trouble?

[ManUTactician247]

8/11/11 - Glentoran vs Brantwood (County Antrim Shield Final)

Pre-match press conference

Ricky McFall "Some are suggesting your side have what it takes to upset Glentoran, is it possible?"

Me "Ignoring the hype from the media, I would definitely consider us long shots, but you never know."

Squads

GK: Stephen Brennan......|GK: Elliott Morris

RB: Willie Loughran.........|RB: Gareth McConaghie

RCB: Michael Fitzpatrick..|RCB: Aaron Callaghan

LCB: Wayne Buchanan....|LCB: Andy Parry

LB: Jordan Watson.........|LB: Stuart Duff

RM: Lee McCaughern......|RM: Patrick Otte

RCM: Wes Daly.............|RCM: Jimmy Callacher

LCM: Michael McCartney.|LCM: Richard Clarke

LM: Ryan Murray...........|LM: Grant Gardiner

ST: Jamie Douglas.........|ST: Nigel Wells

ST: Mark Trainor...........|ST: Richard Gibson

Subs

Matthew Rice.......|Gregory Hartley

Derek Tyrrell........|Neale McLarnon

Ronan O'Hara.......|Jim Agnew

Mark Dane...........|Mark McCabe

Michael McMullan..|Steven Hazley

Preview: The crowd is packed at Windsor Park today to see 24 time winners of this competition Glentoran to face the little team that could, Brantwood, after playing poorly in our last match, the defence has been completely reshuffled, Douglas makes a timely return from suspension and Trainor gets a start after impressing in his last two games, here we go. Can we do it one more time?

2 - Duff upends Douglas and we see the game's first yellow.

4 - Gardiner's corner is headed just over by Parry.

10 - Trainor upends Callaghan and is the next in the book.

14 - Callaghan trips Trainor in a reciprocal of the above foul resulting in another yellow.

10 - Gibson gets a shot in but Brennan makes a great stop at his near post.

17 - Brennan's free-kick is headed forward and Wells is through but he puts it wide of the post.

19 - GOAL! Otte's cross falls to Gardner who places it into the corner to give Glentoran the lead.

33 - Clarke shoots from distance but it's well over.

34 - Another Brennan kick is headed back and Gibson goes for a lob but it's over the bar.

37 - Loughran trips Gardiner and gets a yellow card.

40 - Loughran does well to head Parry's header off the line.

45+1 - Half time

Being honest, we're lucky it's only 1-0, an interesting fact, this is the first time in the competition that we are not winning at half-time, hopefully we can put on a 2nd half show to sign out in a good way or maybe snatch something?

49 - Callaghan picks up an injury, forcing Hazley on.

54 - Agnew replaces Wells.

55 - Gardiner's corner is headed by Gibson and it hits the bar, could have been two.

56 - Hazley brings down Watson and gets a yellow card.

63 - The scorer Gardiner also comes off injured, McCabe his replacement.

64 - McCaughern upends Agnew and sees yellow.

77 - Agnew trips Buchanan and is the next in the ref's book.

81 - Glentoran go on the counter and McCabe's cross is headed just wide by Agnew, a bad miss.

83 - Buchanan trips Agnew... yellow.

83 - McConaghie's free-kick is well saved by Brennan.

87 - GOAL! McCabe's cross finds Gibson who fires it in and that must surely seal it, a sad end to a terrific campaign for Brantwood.

89 - Otte's cross is fired at goal by Agnew, another great save though.

90 - McCabe's cross is headed by Gibson but it's straight at the keeper.

90+3 - Full time

A deserved win for Glentoran as our cup dream comes to a saddening end, we'll take heart from the fact that we beat 3 Premier League teams out of the four we faced and conceded only 3 goals, proud of the boys for getting this far and here's to another go next year!

Ratings

GK: Brennan (6.4)

RB: Loughran (6.3)

RCB: Fitzpatrick (6.5)

LCB: Buchanan (6.5)

LB: Watson (6.9)

RM: McCaughern (5.7)

RCM: Daly (6.6)

LCM: McCartney (6.1)

LM: Murray (6.2)

ST: Douglas (6.6)

ST: Trainor (6.6)

[ManUTactician247]

How close are you to trouble?

Close to trouble? We're in trouble, we're 15th in the league, it ain't looking good. Hopefully some new faces should change that.

[deltablue]

Yeah, we can't seem to hit the same form in the league as we do in the cups, we won't get relegated though, sure of that .

I asked because I remembered this and assumed you had plenty of breathing space.

[cerud]

How many are in the league?

[ManUTactician247]

How many are in the league?

16.

I asked because I remembered this and assumed you had plenty of breathing space.

Well I was wrong, sorry for misleading you

[ManUTactician247]

12/11/11 - Brantwood vs Dundela (Northern Irish 2nd Division)

Pre-match press conference

Ricky McFall "Dundela are currently 7th in the league, is there any way you can avoid defeat?"

Me "Being realistic, this will be a tough match on our current form."

Squads

GK: Stephen Brennan......|GK: Peter Donnelly

RB: Niall Curneen...........|RB: Ryan Suttie

RCB: Michael McMullan....|RCB: Liam Manning

LCB: Derek Tyrrell..........|LCB: Marc Whitford

LB: Steven McQuillan......|LB: Martin Deady

RM: Gareth Green..........|RM: Danny Hart (£)

RCM: Wes Daly.............|RCM: Lee Lenaghan

LCM: Craig Kirk.............|LCM: Ross Dedman

LM: Jordan Watson........|LM: Richard Vauls

ST: Jamie Douglas.........|ST: Isaac Vassell

ST: Gerard Rooney........|ST: Glen Upton

Subs

Matthew Rice.......|Dean McInnes

Michael Fitzpatrick|Craig McCracken

Ronan O'Hara*.....|Roman Gogulev

Mark Trainor........|Kevin Davison

Robbie Budden*...|Lee Kilday

* - Makes/Could make league debut for his club.

£ - Makes/Could make 25th league appearance for his club.

Jamie Douglas hasn't scored in 434 minutes of football for Brantwood.

Gerard Rooney hasn't scored in 377 minutes of football for Brantwood.

Glen Upton hasn't scored in 449 minutes for Dundela.

Preview: A match I hope to get something out of, just to end this run.

0 - A good tackle by Douglas somehow falls to Upton in the box but his shot aimed for the far corner rolls wide.

9 - Upton hits one but it's wide.

17 - Hart shoots from a tight angle but hits it over.

30 - RED CARD! Dundela are reduced to ten men after McQuillan's long ball over the top would have sent Douglas through but Whitford fouls him and as the last man, gets his marching orders. Dundela are absolutely furious here!

31 - Douglas goes for the free-kick himself but it's well wide.

40 - Lenaghan hits a menacing effort from distance which somehow Brennan forces over the bar.

44 - Watson gets into the box and has a go, but it's wide.

45+2 - Half time

With our opponents down to ten, this is a good opportunity to pick up at least a point here, we haven't played that well so far but hopefully the second half will see that change.

45 - Gogulev and Kilday replace Lenaghan and Vassell at half-time.

53 - McCracken for Upton.

57 - GOAL! An incredible strike gives Brantwood the lead, Kirk gives it to Daly who SIDE-FOOTS it first time from 25 yards and finds the bottom corner, a goal worthy of winning the match but that doesn't mean it will.

61 - Douglas gives it to Rooney who powers one but it glides just wide of the post.

62 - O'Hara comes on for Green.

63 - A loose ball falls to O'Hara in the box and his effort is well saved by Donnelly, could have been an instant impact.

90+4 - Douglas robs Deady in the box and fires a shot wide of the far post.

90+6 - Full time

Very pleased with the three points, and the screamer by Daly was certainly the highlight of the game. An important victory which takes us out of the relegation zones and puts us into double digits for the season (in points).

Ratings

GK: Brennan (6.7)

RB: Curneen (7.4)

RCB: McMullan (7.3)

LCB: Tyrrell (7.0)

LB: McQuillan (7.2)

RM: Green (6.8) sub 62

RCM: Daly (8.3)

LCM: Kirk (6.9)

LM: Watson (6.8)

ST: Douglas (6.8)

ST: Rooney (6.8)

Sub

O'Hara (6.8) sub 62

Post-match press conference

Ricky McFall "Wes Daly was our man of the match today, what did you think of his performance?"

Me "His incredible goal was a summary of his match today, a great performance, he really bossed the midfield."

Transfers

I have put in offers for a lot of players but only 1 was completed before this match. RB/CB Robbie Budden comes in after fellow 2nd Division side Queens University let him go free.

[deltablue]

Vital win there.

[ManUTactician247]

Vital win there.

It certainly was, especially after losing 3 in a row in all competitions.

[ManUTactician247]

19/11/11 - Clough Rangers vs Brantwood (Northern Irish Intermediate Cup 2nd Round)

Squads

GK: Stephen Brennan......|GK: Paul Reid

RB: Craig Kirk................|RB: Seamus Boyd

RCB: Michael McMullan....|RCB: Matt Rice

LCB: Derek Tyrrell..........|LCB: Ciaran Steenson

LB: Steven McQuillan......|LB: Nigel Boyd

RM: Gareth Green..........|RM: Paul Browne

RCM: Wes Daly.............|RCM: Brian McLaughlin

LCM: James Quigley.......|LCM: Aaron Moran

LM: Ryan Murray...........|LM: Gary Colville

ST: Jamie Douglas.........|ST: Stephen McFall

ST: Gerard Rooney........|ST: Richard Reid

Subs

Matthew Rice.......|Jim Fox

Michael Fitzpatrick|Tony McAllister

Jordan Watson.....|Gary Rouse

Gary Keane..........|Andy Haveron

Robbie Budden.....|Aaron Murphy

Jamie Douglas hasn't scored in 524 minutes of football for Brantwood.

Gerard Rooney hasn't scored in 467 minutes of football for Brantwood.

James Quigley becomes Brantwood's oldest player by 192 days.

Preview: For once, even the media think we'll win this game so we should prove them right.

16 - GOAL! Poor play by Clough Rangers gives Brantwood the lead, Seamus Boyd's pass is poor and Douglas charges down Weir's clearance and finishes into an empty net, 1-0.

18 - Reid turns and shoots but hits the side-netting.

25 - Rice fails to deal with a long ball and Rooney pounces but Weir does well to block the shot.

26 - GOAL! Anyone who says Daly's goal in Brantwood's last match was a fluke has been proven wrong, Murray plays it to him 25 yards from goal and he powers it in first time.

44 - Rice impedes Rooney and gets a yellow.

45+1 - Half time

A good first half performance sees us 2-0 up, difficult to imagine us not winning this match.

45 - Murphy replaces McLaughlin at half-time.

46 - Seamus Boyd hits one but it's easily wide.

53 - Daly puts Rooney through on goal but he somehow mishits the ball and it's wide.

55 - GOAL! Brantwood break down the right through Green and his cross is just about reached by Rooney who adds his name to the scoresheet, his first for the club.

58 - McMullan loses it cheaply to Reid who puts it wide of the post, should have been in.

61 - Murphy goes for it and it hits the outside of the post.

64 - McAllister replaces Moran.

64 - Nigel Boyd's free-kick is met by a Browne header which Brennan tips over the bar.

65 - Haveron is on for Nigel Boyd.

72 - Kirk pulls Colville's shirt and sees yellow.

75 - Brown's cross is headed wide by Colville.

90+1 - Full time

A comfortable win for us although we did let them back into it after goal 3, we still head for the 3rd round though.

Ratings

GK: Brennan (6.8)

RB: Kirk (8.2)

RCB: McMullan (7.6)

LCB: Tyrrell (7.4)

LB: McQuillan (7.5)

RM: Green (7.2)

RCM: Daly (7.9)

LCM: Quigley (6.8)

LM: Murray (7.3)

ST: Douglas (7.8)

ST: Rooney (7.8)

Transfers

A few youngsters with potential arrive at the club. Young RM/CM Matthew Brown has huge potential after being released by Portadown, he spent last season on loan with rivals Killymoon. Striker Gary Keane is also one to look out for, he was released by fellow 2nd division side Ballymoney Utd. Elsewhere, 35 year old CM James Quigley joins, the oldest player ever to play for us, I hope his mental stats rub off onto the others. The Premier League veteran was released by Institute. RB/RM Liam Kearney was also released by Ballymoney and back up CB Marc Fegan was let go by relegation rivals Lurgan Celtic. Finally ex-Linfield CM Grant Dunlop, who was released by Bangor also joins us.

[deltablue]

Do you think there are too many cups early on? Scotland took some getting used to and that was just 2 of the 3 at the start, the scottish cup starting a while later.

[ManUTactician247]

Do you think there are too many cups early on? Scotland took some getting used to and that was just 2 of the 3 at the start, the scottish cup starting a while later.

A lot of cups yes, but the more cups we enter, the chance is high that you'll go far in one of them. Fixture congestion is not a problem for me as I have the players in the squad to compensate.

[ManUTactician247]

23/11/11 - Oxford Utd Stars vs Brantwood (Northern Irish 2nd Division)

Pre-match press conference

Ricky McFall "Oxford Utd Stars have been doing well this season and are 3rd, how do you rate your chances?"

Me "Discussing our confidence won't win us the match, preparing for it will"

Squads

GK: Stephen Brennan......|GK: Eamonn Gallagher

RB: Craig Kirk................|RB: David Murie

RCB: Michael McMullan....|RCB: Alexander Smith

LCB: Michael Fitzpatrick..|LCB: Martin Hamilton

LB: Jordan Watson.........|LB: James Maguire*

RM: Lee McCaughern......|RM: Matthew Clark

RCM: Wes Daly..............|RCM: Seán Cleary

LCM: Grant Dunlop*.......|LCM: Liam Irwin

LM: Ryan Murray...........|LM: Ally Beck

ST: Jamie Douglas.........|ST: Lee Feeney

ST: Gerard Rooney........|ST: Rory McDaid

Subs

Matthew Rice.......|Nathan White+

Derek Tyrrell........|Adam Clarke

Ronan O'Hara.......|Simon Robb

Gary Keane*........|Kevin Gall

Steven McQuillan¬|David Marshall

* - Makes/Could make league debut for his club.

¬ - Makes/Could make 50th league appearance

+ - Makes/Could make competitive debut

Rory McDaid hasn't scored in 579 minutes of football for Oxford Utd Stars.

Stephen Brennan hasn't conceded in 182 minutes of football for Brantwood.

Preview: We face a tough away match against an on form team, anything we can get from here would be great.

1 - Douglas attempts a free-kick but it goes over.

17 - GOAL! Beck's corner is volleyed in by Smith, poor marking by Brantwood.

30 - McMullan makes a vital challenge to stop McDaid from being clean through on goal.

38 - Daly finds Murray who shoots and Gallagher does well to save.

45+1 - Murie's free-kick on the edge of the box is just wide.

45+2 - Half time

We haven't actually played too badly, just slack marking from a corner that separates the two sides, we'll be pushing for a leveller in the 2nd half.

46 - Dunlop hits one from distance but it's well wide.

53 - Douglas is forced off by an injury and O'Hara comes on.

56 - O'Hara's evening doesn't last long as he picks up a slight knock, Keane comes on for his debut.

58 - Robb on for Irwin.

59 - Keane turns well around his marker but Gallagher saves his centred effort.

64 - GOAL! A long throw is headed out by Watson and it falls to Cleáry who hits a beauty into the top corner, it looks like game over.

78 - Clarke and Gall for Beck and Feeney.

84 - Fitzpatrick trips McDaid and gets a yellow card.

90+3 - Full time

I was pleased with our performance despite losing but it's points that matter not performances, hopefully we can recover. This result leaves us one place above the relegation zones with the two sides in them able to go above us with their game in hand.

Ratings

GK: Brennan (6.6)

RB: Kirk (6.3)

RCB: McMullan (6.7)

LCB: Fitzpatrick (6.0)

LB: Watson (6.8)

RM: McCaughern (6.0)

RCM: Daly (6.7)

LCM: Dunlop (6.6)

LM: Murray (6.1)

ST: Douglas (6.4) sub 53

ST: Rooney (6.7)

Subs

O'Hara sub 53 (N/A) sub 56

Keane (6.2) sub 56

Post-match press conference

Ricky McFall "Alexander Smith had a great game, claiming the man of the match award, what was your opinion of his performance?"

Me "Unfortunately for us he had a good game, his opening goal was vital in our defeat.

[deltablue]

Still struggling?

[ManUTactician247]

Still struggling?

*Nods reluctantly*

[ManUTactician247]

26/11/11 - Fivemiletown vs Brantwood (Northern Irish Cup 2nd Division)

Squads

GK: Stephen Brennan......|GK: Karl Elder

RB: Niall Curneen............|RB: Martynas Kubeckis

RCB: Michael McMullan....|RCB: Mark Baxter

LCB: Derek Tyrrell..........|LCB: Gordon Mackay

LB: Steven McQuillan......|LB: Mark McFarland

RM: Gareth Green...........|RM: Anthony Breslin

RCM: Wes Daly..............|RCM: Sean Ferry

LCM: Matthew Brown.....|LCM: Glenn McAreavey

LM: Ryan Murray...........|LM: Jeff McCarron

ST: Eoin Boyle..............|ST: Gary Rafferty

ST: Mark Trainor...........|ST: Dale Noble

Subs

Matthew Rice.......|Niall Forsythe

Aidan Forker........|Neal Smyth

Jordan Watson.....|Lee McKinley

Gary Keane..........|John Paul Murray

Robbie Budden......|David Millar

Preview: Expecting a win here as we face non league opposition, maybe 5-0 to match the opponents .

3 - McFarland trips Green and gets a yellow card.

3 - Boyle sets up Daly who strikes from distance, Elder does well to parry for a corner.

11 - Ferry finds McCarron who hits it just wide.

23 - Breslin comes off injured, on comes Smyth.

24 - Rafferty finds Noble who is through one on one but hits a dreadful effort wide of the post.

30 - McQuillan hits one from distance, nowhere near the goal.

31 - Taylor's goal kick is headed forward by Tyrrell and Trainor is through but he hits it wide when he had team-mates in much better positions.

35 - Brown trips Ferry and gets a yellow card.

35 - Rafferty from the edge of the box, wide.

43 - Fivemiletown think they've taken the lead when Baxter heads in McCarron's free-kick but the flag is up for offside, the home side are furious but after seeing it again, it looked like the right decision.

45+2 - Half time

A disappointing half in my eyes, we haven't created much and probably should be behind, hopefully the lads will show their worth in the 2nd 45.

49 - Millar replaces Rafferty.

50 - McAreavey hits one but it goes wide.

52 - Green trips McCarron, receiving yellow.

56 - Boyle goes for it but it's wide, he had Green in a great position down the right, he should have passed.

64 - Trainor upends Mackay... yellow.

69 - Brown hits one from range... over.

70 - McAreavey trips Trainor for another yellow.

74 - Smyth trips Daly, yellow card.

77 - McKinley for McCarron.

78 - McQuillan holds back Ferry and gets a yellow card.

87 - Boyle upends Mackay, receiving yet another yellow.

90+1 - McMullan's long ball over the top picks out Trainor but Elder keeps calm and blocks the shot, what a chance for Brantwood.

90+3 - Full time of normal time

We played slightly better in the second half but this is still disappointing, really hopeful this doesn't go to penalties but I'd rather do that than lose.

93 - Noble's free-kick from the edge of the box is over.

95 - Murray trips Ferry and gets a yellow.

97 - GOAL! And it's that man Daly again, his goals never cease to amaze the Brantwood faithful, Curneen gives it to him and he gets too much time to turn and then pick out the corner from 25 yards, incredible effort, one that might win it for Brantwood.

98 - McKinley upends Curneen, another yellow card.

101 - Baxter upends Trainor, its a yellow card.

105+1 - Half time of extra time.

Very pleased to have taken the lead, Wes Daly has been in incredible form this season and that goal is another vital one, we should be able to hang on now.

113 - Kubeckis brings down Trainor and is punished with a yellow card, the 12th yellow of the match.

113 - Brown loses the ball poorly to Noble who has a chance, but squanders it wide.

116 - RED CARD! A blow for Brantwood but Tyrrell felt it necessary to bring down Millar as he was through and he gets sent off, this could be a nervy couple of minutes for the away team. Trainor is angry with the referee about that decision.

120 - Trainor plays it to Daly but he hits it well wide, twice in a match is a bit too much to ask.

120+1 - Full time

That's it, we made it difficult for ourselves with the red card but we're through!

Ratings

GK: Brennan (6.7)

RB: Curneen (7.4)

RCB: McMullan (7.8)

LCB: Tyrrell (7.4) red 117

LB: McQuillan (7.1)

RM: Green (6.8)

RCM: Daly (7.5)

LCM: Brown (6.8)

LM: Murray (6.8)

ST: Boyle (6.6)

ST: Trainor (6.8)

Post-match press conference

Ricky McFall "What a close match? You must be delighted to finally win that one!"

Me "I wanted to wrap it up earlier, but a win is a win."

[cerud]

Close call congrats on the Cup progression.

[ManUTactician247]

Close call congrats on the Cup progression.

Thanks . It really should have been a much more comfortable win but Wes Daly saves the day with another long-ranger.

[ManUTactician247]

November 2011 Review

Brantwood 0-2 Wakehurst (NI2D)

For them: Tyrrell OG (4), Kidd (8)

Glentoran 2-0 Brantwood (CAS Final)

For them: Gardiner (20), Gibson (88)

Brantwood 1-0 Dundela

For us: Daly (58)

For them: Whitford (31)

Clough Rangers 0-3 Brantwood (IC 2nd Round)

For us: Douglas (17), Daly (27), Rooney (56)

Oxford Utd Stars 2-0 Brantwood (NI2D)

For them: Smith (18), Cleary (65)

Fivemiletown 0-1 e Brantwood (NIC 2nd Round)

For us: Daly (98), Tyrrell (117)

Summary: We kicked off the month in disappointing fashion, a rare home defeat against Wakehurst, next up was probably the biggest match in Brantwood's history, the CAS final against Glentoran, unfortunately we finally met our match having beaten Distillery, Linfield and Crusaders on the path to the final. A heartbreaking defeat but to get that far was an incredible achievement in itself. Fortunately, we recovered in time to face Dundela at home where their red card was the boost we needed to secure a vital three points, Daly the hero from long range.We then secured a comfortable victory away at Clough Rangers in the Intermediate Cup. We then faced a tough match away to 3rd place Oxford Utd Stars and despite a decent performance, couldn't find the cutting edge. Our final match of the month saw us take on Fivemiletown who made the match difficult for us but Daly proved our saviour again from long range to give us the win. Defensively I think we're improving but we're hanging on and almost any point we get is considered a bonus. Without Daly in the team I'm not sure what we'd do.

[ManUTactician247]

3/12/11 - Brantwood vs P.S.N.I. (Northern Irish 2nd Division)

Pre-match press conference

Ricky McFall "How do you intend to approach this game?"

Me "I'm going to make sure we're tight defensively first."

Squads

GK: Stephen Brennan......|GK: Scott Tynan

RB: Craig Kirk................|RB: Raymond Harpur*

RCB: Michael McMullan....|RCB: Liam Smith£"

LCB: Ryan Murray..........|LCB: Graeme Philson

LB: Steven McQuillan¬....|LB: Philip May

RM: Gareth Green...........|RM: Callum Dunne

RCM: Wes Daly..............|RCM: Lukasz Adamczyk

LCM: James Quigley*.....|LCM: Ross Clarke

LM: Eddie Williamson*....|LM: Kris Hunter

ST: Jamie Douglas.........|ST: Chris Shimmon

ST: Gerard Rooney........|ST: Daniel Subuola

Subs

Matthew Rice.......|Oliver Richardson

Robbie Budden*....|Sam Marshall

Jordan Watson.....|Peter Mackle

Vincent Sweeney*|Graeme Arthur

Michael Fitzpatrick|Mark Drake

¬ - Makes/Could make 50th league appearance.

* - Makes/Could make league debut for his club.

£ - Makes/Could make 25th league appearance for his club.

" - Makes/Could make 25th league appearance.

Daniel Subuola hasn't scored in 383 minutes of football for P.S.N.I.

If P.S.N.I. avoid defeat, they'll have gone 9 games unbeaten, beating their previous record.

Preview: We know we can beat P.S.N.I., as we proved in the Steel & Sons Cup, it won't be easy as they are 2nd but we're at home so there is a chance!

9 - Williamson takes the ball and shoots but Tynan catches.

18 - Daly trips Clarke, yellow card.

18 - May plays the free-kick to Adamczyk who goes for it but it's wide.

30 - Kirk pulls Hunter's shirt and gets a yellow card.

31 - Shimmon attempts a lob and it's just over the bar.

39 - Daly gives it to Douglas who shoots and his shot is saved well by Tynan.

45+1 - Half time

Not the most exciting half, but we've played pretty well and a draw is probably fair.

45 - Mackle and Arthur on at half-time for Dunne and Shimmon.

54 - Daly curls one from distance and it's just wide, when he's in that position you expect him to score!

56 - Drake replaces Hunter.

57 - GOAL! Drake curls one into the top corner to give the away side the lead.

59 - Arthur goes for it, but puts it wide.

62 - Clarke plays it through to Adamczyk and his shot is tipped round the post by Brennan.

90+4 - Full time

Really fuming at this defeat, a crash dump prevented me from winning this one. Those 3 points could have been vital, 2 wrongs don't make a right though so I'll take this result. We are now bottom of the table ¬_¬.

Ratings

GK: Brennan (6.8)

RB: Kirk (6.8)

RCB: McMullan (7.5)

LCB: Murray (7.0)

LB: McQuillan (6.2)

RM: Green (6.5)

RCM: Daly (6.7)

LCM: Quigley (6.6)

LM: Williamson (6.3)

ST: Douglas (6.0)

ST: Rooney (6.6)

Transfers

3 new faces arrive at the club, Matt Boyd who Ballymena released can play up front or out on the wing provides good competition, ex Bangor player Eddie Williamson provides competition on both wings. Vincent Sweeney also comes in to challenge for a place upfront.

[ManUTactician247]

10/12/11 - Brantwood vs Lurgan Celtic (Northern Irish Cup 3rd Round)

Squads

GK: Stephen Brennan......|GK: Jordan Higgins

RB: Niall Curneen............|RB: Marty Greene

RCB: Michael McMullan....|RCB: Daniel Devine

LCB: Michael Fitzpatrick..|LCB: Gary Murphy

LB: Jordan Watson.........|LB: Aaron Lemon

RM: Matthew Brown.......|RM: Paul Lazenby

RCM: Wes Daly..............|RCM: Kelvin McIntosh

LCM: Grant Dunlop.........|LCM: Laurie Wilson

LM: Ryan Murray...........|LM: Michael Blackwood

ST: Jamie Douglas.........|ST: Conor Higham

ST: Gerard Rooney........|ST: Ryan Doyle

Subs

Matthew Rice.......|Adam Hamill

Steven McQuillan..|Niall McParland

Adrian McCaffrey..|Adam Hylands

Vincent Sweeney..|Michael Marshall

Derek Tyrrell........|Raymond Fitzpatrick

Conor Higham hasn't scored in 566 minutes of football for Lurgan Celtic.

Preview: I fancy my chances at home to Lurgan Celtic, hopefully we can manage a win here.

2 - It's a quick end to McMullan's day, he comes off with an injury, on comes Tyrrell.

8 - GOAL! Rooney's corner is slid in by Fitzpatrick to give Brantwood the opener.

11 - Daly shoots from the edge of the box but it's over the bar.

13 - A cross is cleared as far as Daly but he half-volleys it well wide.

15 - Rooney hits one from distance and it's almost in.

19 - Brown skies an effort from inside the box, should be doing better there.

24 - GOAL! Daly puts Rooney through on goal and he drills it past the keeper to double Brantwood's lead.

33 - Doyle shoots but it's weak and wide.

37 - Higham hits one from distance but that's not troubling Brennan.

39 - Doyle holds onto Tyrrell's shirt and gets a yellow card.

40 - The referee spots a dive by Murray and he gets a yellow card.

44 - Daly upends Wilson, getting a yellow.

45+1 - Wilson's free-kick from the edge of the box is just wide, let off for Brantwood.

45+2 - Half time

A great first half performance gives us a 2 goal advantage at half-time, I'd be very surprised if that isn't enough to go through.

45 - McParland for Higham at half-time. Fitzpatrick also comes on for Doyle.

49 - Brown comes off injured, Sweeney comes on for Brantwood.

54 - GOAL! Douglas' corner is headed in by Fitzpatrick for his second and Brantwood are cruising.

59 - Murphy's long ball finds Fitzpatrick but it really is an excellent save by Brennan, tipping it round the post.

60 - Confusion in the box from Lemon's corner eventually sees McParland head straight at Brennan.

62 - A collision between the Fitzpatrick's sees Raymond get a yellow card.

70 - Hylands replaces Blackwood.

70 - Douglas' corner is headed wide by Fitzpatrick, could easily have been his hat-trick.

71 - RED CARD! This day goes from bad to worse for Lurgan Celtic, Fitzpatrick heads forward Higgins' goal kick which sends Rooney through but Murphy holds him back and as the last man, has to go. Lurgan Celtic disagree with that decision and Devine sees a yellow card for his protests.

73 - Daly finds Sweeney who shoots and it's inches wide of the far post, Brantwood starting to take full control.

84 - GOAL! Murray with a great low cross from the left and Douglas has a simple tap in, 4-0!

90 - McParland chops down Curneen giving himself a yellow.

90+2 - Full time

A performance that was very pleasing to the eye, why can't we do that in the league? Great performance by everyone today!

Ratings

GK: Brennan (7.3)

RB: Curneen (7.9)

RCB: McMullan (N/A) sub 2

LCB: Fitzpatrick (9.3)

LB: Watson (7.6)

RM: Brown (6.8) sub 49

RCM: Daly (8.1)

LCM: Dunlop (6.9)

LM: Murray (7.7)

ST: Douglas (8.4)

ST: Rooney (8.1)

Subs

Tyrrell (7.8) sub 2

Sweeney (6.0) sub 49

Post-match press conference

Jeff Duff "Michael Fitzpatrick was our man of the match today, what did you think about that performance?"

Me "He scored twice today and was instrumental as we kept a clean sheet, he's been out of the side for a bit but that performance might have persuaded me to play him more often."

[deltablue]

Fantastic win, perhaps you can turn a corner in the league soon.

[ManUTactician247]

Fantastic win, perhaps you can turn a corner in the league soon.

I certainly hope so, we have a real six pointer coming up!

[ManUTactician247]

17/12/11 - Brantwood vs Knockbreda (Northern Irish 2nd Division)

Pre-match press conference

Ricky McFall "Knockbreda have been disappointing this season, 8th in the league, is there chance of you losing here?"

Me "If we work hard, we'll come out on top of this one, especially on the back of a huge win in the cup."

Squads

GK: Stephen Brennan......|GK: Laurence McCormick

RB: Niall Curneen............|RB: Mark Haughey

RCB: Michael Fitzpatrick..|RCB: Paul Johnson

LCB: Derek Tyrrell..........|LCB: Andy Neill*

LB: Jordan Watson.........|LB: Adam Scorfield

RM: Matthew Brown*.....|RM: John Martin

RCM: Wes Daly!............|RCM: John McGrath

LCM: Grant Dunlop.........|LCM: William Ferguson

LM: Ryan Murray...........|LM: Eddie McIntyre

ST: Jamie Douglas.........|ST: Matthew Selfridge

ST: Gerard Rooney........|ST: Ryan Murphy

Subs

Matthew Rice.......|Gavin Carlin

Robbie Budden*...|Calvin Mooney

Adrian McCaffrey..|Robbie-Lee Crawford

Gary Keane..........|Michael McGinlay

Steven McQuillan..|Gary Murphy

* - Makes/Could make league debut for his club.

! - Makes/Could make 225th league appearance

Preview: McMullan misses this match with a gashed leg so this may be a tough one but sticking with the squad that convincingly took out Lurgan Celtic should work. A win takes us out of the relegation zones.

1 - Dunlop finds Daly on the edge of the box and his fierce shot is tipped over the cross bar, good start for the home side.

3 - Johnson upends Rooney in a dangerous position, yellow card.

3 - Douglas' free-kick from the edge of the box is just wide.

16 - Selfridge's shot is deflected and eventually rolls out for a corner.

31 - Douglas shoots from the edge of the box but the keeper has a comfortable catch.

35 - McIntyre powers it from a tight angle and indeed, the angle was too tight.

41 - A golden opportunity for Brantwood to take the lead, Brown's corner is volleyed by an unmarked Fitzpatrick but McCormick makes an incredible save.

45 - Martin's corner is met by a Selfridge header which crashes against the cross-bar!

45+1 - Half time

I had my heart in my mouth when the corner came in but we got away. In truth, we could be in front but we could be behind, hopefully we can find the goal to get us three points here.

45 - Gary Murphy replaces McIntyre at half time.

47 - Ryan Murphy hits one but it's not worth worrying about.

51 - A dreadful effort by Ryan Murphy, well wide of the goal from a good position.

55 - Daly finds Rooney but he hits it wide.

58 - Mooney on for Martin.

64 - Knockbreda replace Selfridge with Crawford.

68 - Gary Murphy from distance, it's over the bar.

73 - Haughey trips Murray and gets a yellow.

79 - Douglas upends Johnson and sees the yellow.

85 - Yellow card for Rooney as he trips Johnson.

90+3 - Full time

Would have liked a win at home but at least it's a point and a clean sheet for us to take home. We could still come out of the relegation zones with a game in hand to play.

Brantwood 0-0 Knockbreda

Ratings

GK: Brennan (6.7)

RB: Curneen (7.1)

RCB: Fitzpatrick (7.0)

LCB: Tyrrell (6.9)

LB: Watson (7.2)

RM: Brown (6.2)

RCM: Daly (6.7)

LCM: Dunlop (6.5)

LM: Murray (6.7)

ST: Douglas (5.8)

ST: Rooney (6.4)

Post-match press conference

Ricky McFall "Rumours are circulating that you are on the lookout for a new player, is that true?"

Me "At the moment, there are no players in my mind."

Other news

CB Kieran Cunningham has announced his retirement from football having played a grand total of 1 match (which he scored in). Best of luck with his career, whether he becomes an assistant, coach, manager or scout (he's very versatile!).

[deltablue]

Could have done with a win there.

[ManUTactician247]

Could have done with a win there.

Yes, any three points are helpful at this stage, but I was particularly confident of this one on the back of the 4-0, hopefully we can win our next match .

[ManUTactician247]

21/12/11 - Chimney Corner vs Brantwood (Northern Irish Intermediate Cup 3rd Round)

Pre-match press conference

Ricky McFall "People have suggested that you will play defensively to avoid defeat, is there any truth in that?"

Me "We'll be looking at the right balance between attack and defence."

Squads

GK: Stephen Brennan......|GK: John Perkins

RB: Craig Kirk................|RB: Kevin McGonigle

RCB: Michael Fitzpatrick..|RCB: Simon Gibson

LCB: Ryan Murray..........|LCB: Gary Dodds

LB: Steven McQuillan......|LB: Robert Halliday

RM: Gareth Green...........|DM: Mark Butler

RCM: Wes Daly..............|RCM: Johnny McClurg

LCM: James Quigley.......|LCM: Ross Oulton

LM: Adrian McCaffrey.....|RAM: Niall Devlin

ST: Vincent Sweeney....|LAM: Stephen O'Neill

ST: Gerard Rooney........|ST: Gary Brown

Subs

Matthew Rice.......|Kyle Agnew

Robbie Budden.....|Mark Tweedie

Eddie Williamson...|Stephen Lyons

Matt Boyd...........|Stuart Reid

Derek Tyrrell........|Mark Kelly

Stephen Brennan hasn't conceded in 212 minutes of football for Brantwood.

Preview: This should be an interesting encounter as Chimney Corner were bottom of our league last year so this should be a match which sees where we are, although I have rotated a lot for this one, I still expect a win.

12 - Devlin finds Oulton but his shot is straight at Brennan who punches it clear.

23 - Oulton finds McClurg but he puts it wide.

31 - A poor effort by Green goes well wide.

45+1 - Half time

Not a half to write home about, it's been very boring and we haven't looked too impressive.

45 - Lyons replaces O'Neill at half-time.

50 - Brennan picks up a knock and Brantwood make a change in goal, on comes Rice.

62 - Brown hits it well wide, a poor effort.

63 - Tweedie on for Devlin.

65 - McQuillan trips Brown and gets a yellow card.

70 - Green shoots from a tight angle but it is straight at the goalkeeper.

73 - McClurg fires wide from 18 yards out.

77 - GOAL! McClurg plays it through to Brown who makes no mistake with the finish to give Chimney Corner the lead.

79 - Reid replaces the goalscorer Brown.

85 - Halliday's free-kick is headed over by Lyons.

90+4 - Full time

A very disappointing defeat and performance by us today as we bow out of the Intermediate Cup, leaving just the Northern Irish Cup left in terms of cup competitions.

Ratings

GK: Brennan (6.7) sub 50

RB: Kirk (7.1)

RCB: Fitzpatrick (6.7)

LCB: Murray (6.6)

LB: McQuillan (6.9)

RM: Green (6.6)

RCM: Daly (6.5)

LCM: Quigley (6.5)

LM: McCaffrey (6.3)

ST: Sweeney (6.4)

ST: Rooney (5.8)

Sub

Rice (6.6) sub 50

Other News

Well, this was out of the blue, the supporters want to take over, does anyone know what happens when a supporters trust takes over?

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[ManUTactician247]

28/12/11 - Armagh vs Brantwood (Northern Irish 2nd Division)

Squads

GK: Stephen Brennan......|GK: Patrick Appleton

RB: Niall Curneen...........|RB: Howard Beverland

RCB: Michael Fitzpatrick..|RCB: Mitch Kelly

LCB: Derek Tyrrell..........|LCB: Sean Young

LB: Jordan Watson.........|LB: Adam Dodd

RM: Matthew Brown.......|RM: Stuart Hendrie

RCM: Wes Daly..............|RCM: Gerard Moore

LCM: Grant Dunlop.........|LCM: Tony Heagney

LM: Ryan Murray...........|LM: Leigh Smith

ST: Jamie Douglas.........|ST: Shea Campbell

ST: Gerard Rooney........|ST: Thomas Gregg Lopes da Silva (o_O)

Subs

Matthew Rice.......|Scott Traveller

Robbie Budden*...|Jake Gillingwater

Adrian McCaffrey..|Jamie Savage

Gary Keane..........|Peadar Toal

Steven McQuillan..|Adam Rodgers

* - Makes/Could make league debut for his club

Stuart Hendrie hasn't scored in 420 minutes of football for Armagh.

Thomas Gregg Lopes da Silva hasn't scored in 371 minutes of football for Armagh.

Stephen Brennan hasn't conceded in 262 minutes of football for Brantwood.

Preview: Against Armagh, we should be getting at least a point here if we want to survive, Armagh only recently switched managers so I'm hoping we can capitalise.

2 - Brown sets up Rooney who almost finds the top corner.

4 - Daly's game ends very early with McCaffrey on to replace them.

10 - GOAL! With Daly off the pitch, someone else has to take long shot duty, and after Dunlop set him up 25 yards out, Ryan Murray rose to the challenge sending Brantwood in front.

19 - Douglas shoots from a tight angle after Curneen finds him from a free-kick but he shoots wide.

25 - GOAL! Brennan is caught out of position as he punches Hendrie's cross away and Moore finds an empty net to level it for Armagh.

26 - Rooney goes for it and it's just over the bar.

32 - Murray finds Rooney who hits one, but it's over.

34 - Fitzpatrick trips Campbell and gets a yellow card, meaning he misses Brantwood's next match.

38 - Heagney hits one from long range but it's wide.

39 - Smith's free-kick from the edge of the box is just wide.

45+2 - Half time

We've dominated the first half and I'm a bit disappointed to be level at half-time, hopefully we can maintain our first half performance.

50 - Brantwood hit Armagh on the break and Rooney runs half the length of the pitch but skies it over the bar.

51 - Gillingwater replaces Campbell.

57 - Murray hits one from range again but it's wide this time.

63 - GOAL! And it's come from long range again, Grant Dunlop smashes a free-kick into the top corner from 35 yards out, a monstrous strike and Brantwood lead again! Not a bad way to score your first for the club.

64 - A sad and embarrassing day for Gillingwater, his game lasts 13 minutes before Toal comes on.

66 - A cross is deflected out to Murray who aims to pick out the top corner but the keeper makes a good save, conceding a corner.

67 - McCaffrey's corner is headed over by Fitzpatrick.

69 - Rodgers comes on for Kelly.

70 - Hendrie plays it to Smith but the shot is straight at Brennan.

73 - Hendrie's low cross finds Smith but he can only pick out the side-netting.

83 - Moore goes for it but it's well wide.

84 - What a chance for Armagh to level it! Brennan's goal kick is headed back by Toal and Lopes da Silva is through, all he needs to do is tap it in but he powers it over the bar.

90+2 - Moore trips Rooney and sees a yellow card.

90+3 - Full time

We survive a late onslaught by Armagh to secure a vital (and away!) three points, we won it with two shots from long range but it doesn't matter, for a club of our stature any win counts. Out of the relegation zones are us .

Ratings

GK: Brennan (6.7)

RB: Curneen (7.1)

RCB: Fitzpatrick (6.8)

LCB: Tyrrell (6.9)

LB: Watson (7.0)

RM: Brown (6.8)

RCM: Daly (N/A)

LCM: Dunlop (8.2)

LM: Murray (8.3)

ST: Douglas (6.9)

ST: Rooney (5.7)

Sub

McCaffrey (6.9) sub 4

Post-match press conference

Robert Cooley "Ryan Murray was the man of the match, your opinion of his performance?"

Me "The incredible goal aside, he was reliable after coming into the middle when Daly came off, I was pleased with his performance."

[deltablue]

Yay, a win.

[ManUTactician247]

December 2011 Review

Brantwood 0-1 P.S.N.I. (NI2D)

For them: Drake (58)

Brantwood 4-0 Lurgan Celtic (NIC 3rd Round)

For us: Fitzpatrick (9, 55), Rooney (25), Douglas (85)

For them: Murphy (72)

Brantwood 0-0 Knockbreda (NI2D)

Chimney Corner 1-0 Brantwood (IC 3rd Round)

For them: Brown (78)

Armagh 1-2 Brantwood (NI2D)

For us: Murray (11), Dunlop (64)

For them: Moore (26)

Summary: We kicked off the month with a narrow defeat to P.S.N.I., a frustrating defeat after a crash dump occured during the game when I was winning 1-0, defeat was hard to take. We bounced back terrifically though, bagging a convincing win against fellow 2nd division side Lurgan Celtic. I was looking for that win to take us to victory against Knockbreda but we could only manage a draw. Chimney Corner knocked us out of the Intermediate Cup in a very poor display by us but we recovered to get a vital away three points against Armagh to take us out of the relegation zones and get our first point (and 2 more) away from home since our first away match of the season. Great to be out of the relegation zones heading into the new year but we won't take this position for granted.

[ManUTactician247]

Yay, a win.

Not just any win.... a league win!

[deltablue]

I know, I was only counting the league as cup wins won't do you much good in fighting relegation.

[ManUTactician247]

I know, I was only counting the league as cup wins won't do you much good in fighting relegation.

I know too, I was sharing with you my amazement

[ManUTactician247]

7/1/12 - Ballymoney Utd vs Brantwood (Northern Irish 2nd Division)

Pre-match press conference

Ricky McFall "Pundits believe your side should be playing defensively to get the best result, how will your team be playing."

Me "We'll be trying to find the right balance for this match."

Squads

GK: Stephen Brennan......|GK: Matthew McGraw

RB: Niall Curneen...........|RB: Kynan Issac

RCB: Michael McMullan....|RCB: Michael McQuitty

LCB: Derek Tyrrell..........|LCB: Gareth Hill

LB: Jordan Watson.........|LB: John Burns

RM: Matthew Brown.......|RM: Karl Byrne

RCM: Wes Daly..............|RCM: Gary Grant

LCM: Grant Dunlop.........|LCM: Darren Kelly

LM: Ryan Murray...........|LM: Gerard Gillan

ST: Jamie Douglas.........|ST: Nicholas Rushton

ST: Gerard Rooney........|ST: Randal Reid

Subs

Matthew Rice.......|Chris Stewart

Robbie Budden*....|Graur Andrei

Adrian McCaffrey..|Conor McKenna

Gary Keane..........|Sam McWilliams

Steven McQuillan..|Gareth McLaughlin

* - Makes/Could make league debut for his club.

Preview: It'll be pretty amazing if we can get anything away from home against the league leaders, so no pressure on us for a result.

12 - Douglas plays it across to the edge of the box where Murray hits it over.

13 - Reid hits one from range but it's easily wide.

16 - GOAL! Byrne's corner is headed in by Kelly, Ballymoney take the lead.

23 - McQuillan on for Watson.

29 - McCaffrey comes on to replace Dunlop.

35 - Douglas is forced off with injury and on comes Keane.

38 - Gillan finds Byrne clean through on goal but Brennan gets down to make a fantastic stop.

38 - Keane then robs the defender as Brantwood counter but instead of passing to Rooney, curls it wide of the goal, that was a chance.

41 - A good counter by Ballymoney sees Reid fire just wide.

45+3 - Half time

We haven't played too badly against a side expected to hammer us, if we can score in the 2nd half, who knows?

45 - McLaughlin replaces Rushton at half time.

47 - GOAL! Brantwood waste no time in getting level, McCaffrey is forced wide but still gets a good cross in which Rooney slides in past the keeper who perhaps could have done better there.

49 - Keane takes the ball from Hill straight after kick-off and runs towards goal but Hill trips him and gets a yellow.

49 - Rooney shoots from the free-kick but it's wide of the post.

64 - Daly's shot is deflected behind for a corner.

66 - McKenna replaces Gillan.

70 - Rooney's shot is deflected which changes the direction of the ball and McGraw does well to save it.

72 - Reid hits it over from the edge of the box.

81 - Tyrrell poorly loses the ball to McLaughlin but fortunately for Brantwood, Brennan makes a great stop, turning it round the post.

87 - GOAL! A heartbreaker for Brantwood, Reid plays it through to McLaughlin who places it into the corner.

90+3 - Full time

A disappointing defeat to take as we were level and probably deserved to win it but a performance to be proud of, bar the defence. Fortunately, we stay out of the relegation zones despite the defeat. Terrible news for us is that Jamie Douglas will miss the rest of the season after tearing his calf muscle.

Ratings

GK: Brennan (6.8)

RB: Curneen (6.5)

RCB: McMullan (6.7)

LCB: Tyrrell (5.8)

LB: Watson (6.5) sub 23

RM: Brown (6.0)

RCM: Daly (6.5)

LCM: Dunlop (6.6) sub 29

LM: Murray (6.6)

ST: Douglas (6.7) sub 35

ST: Rooney (7.2)

Subs

McQuillan (5.4) sub 23

McCaffrey (6.9) sub 29

Keane (6.8) sub 35

Post-match press conference

Ricky McFall "Darren Kelly had a great game, and was chosen as man of the match, what did you think of his performance."

Me "Besides from scoring the goal, he was solid at the back, so good performance."

Other News

Another player announces his retirement, Jamie Marks is hanging his boots at the end of the season. Marks spent a well decorated career in the Premier Division before joining us and is likely to become a scout when he retires, however the careers of coach, assistant manager and manager also are options. He's played 7 matches for us so far and hasn't proven popular with the fans, probably a factor in his decision.