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Peter was disappointed in the aftermath of the Bradford defeat, but he realised that the long term picture hadn't been affected too much and he arrived at the training ground in a bullish mood. This however, didn't last as long as he had hoped, when he overheard a conversation between two of his players. Jamie Clarke and Ledley King were stood stretching outside the side entrance as he walked towards it, and he stopped to the side when he heard their voices. It was Clarke's distinctive Midlands drawl that he recognised first "...I just get annoyed when I don't play. I'm better than Lee and Mark only plays coz he's club captain" "I think that's a bit harsh Jamie. The gaffer knows what he's doing, we're flying high" A slight pause "Maybe. Premier League is a different level, think he might get found out. Luck only gets you so far" Peter smiled to himself and shook his head. He walked away to training, deciding to resolve the matter later on .. He was sat in his office thirty minutes after training, and as he heard the players coming out of the dressing room, he headed towards his door. He popped his head out and saw Jamie Clarke exiting, so he called to him "Jamie? Can I have a word?" The defender threw his bag over his shoulder and followed his manager "Sit down son" He sat in the chair Peter signalled to him, wiping his brow as he did so "Tired?" "Little bit gaffer. Felt like I ran extra today" Peter smiled "Good. Anyway, I just wanted to address your concerns" The defender raised his eyebrow "Concerns?" "About your playing time" "How did you know...?" Peter raised his hand "I heard you talking to Ledley earlier. So you don't think I know what I'm doing?" "Well, no, I didn't mean it like that. Just frustration over not playing, you know how it is boss?" Peter folded his arms "I do. However, I will not tolerate you bad mouthing me to other players. If you had concerns you should have come to me directly" Clarke looked sheepish, almost embarassed "I'm sorry..." "Fine. We'll close the matter for now. But you'll be transfer listed and if we get a suitable offer, you can leave. I won't have players jeopardising morale within the squad" -- Word had spread throughout the squad about Clarke's indiscretion, and the fact he didn't take a place on even the bench for the visit of Preston seemed to affirm that he was finished at the club. The visitors were mid table and had very little to play for, and from the first whistle, Peter saw his side dominate and control the game. It took just seven minutes to open the scoring, Wouter Kos slipping in Chris Greenacre, and the striker slotted home comfortably for his 20th goal of another prolific season. It set the tone, and when Marek Szmid doubled the advantage almost twenty minutes later, they could already have been three ahead, Greenacre and Lawrence missing two good chances to score, but Szmid slotted home from ten yards after a lovely cut back from Moukoko on the left hand side. The game remained 2-0 until the half time break, but the second half continued in the same vein, Mansfield dominating the game, and it was a four minute spell that put the game well and truly beyond doubt. Uriel scored the third, a lovely left foot finish after collecting a flick on from Greenacre, but it was the fourth goal that sent the crowd wild, as Cesar showed a world class bit of magic. He sent the ball out wide before getting it back from Lawrence. He then played a one two with Moukoko, receiving the ball back before nutmegging the defender. He made the space from doing that, before curling a beautifully placed shot into the top corner. It was a magnificent piece of skill, and it had the crowd, and his manager, up on their feet. The visitors did get a consolation, David Healy slotting home from close range, but it made no difference and it was the best way to respond to the Bradford defeat

He was sat watching the news and reading the sport headlines on his laptop when Charlotte entered. He hadn't heard her come in so jumped a little when she spoke "Peter, can we talk?" He shut his laptop screen down and muted the television "Of course. Anything wrong?" She slid into the spot beside him on the sofa "Nothing's wrong. I just want to ask you about something" He nodded, taking her hands in his "So, you know that after what happened, and everything in the hospital with my stomach?" "Yeah?" She shifted, looking a little nervous "Well, I was thinking. I can't conceive naturally, as you know. Would you be open to the possibility of adoption?" The cat jumped onto the arm of the chair at this point, watching intently. Peter had paused for a moment. He had never really thought about children, and assumed his time had passed due to his age, but he could see in his wife's eyes that it meant a lot to her "I'll be honest, I'd never really thought about it. I kind of think it's coz of my age. Is it something you have your heart set on?" She looked him in the face, tears welling in her eyes, and at that moment, he knew what he had to do "I'd love to be a mother..." He raised his hand "Say no more. We can absolutely have a look at the options. I love you, and if this is what you want, then so do I" With that she leant forward, smothering him in a big embrace and kissing him on the lips -- Peter had been doing the maths, and he had worked out that thirteen more points would be enough to send them into the Premier League. He had also worked out what he thought the recent problems had been. The players had played a lot of games, with their exploits in the cup competitions, and they had one of the smallest squads in the division, so he felt that tiredness was creeping in. However, he had noted that they had a break after their next game, so he had proposed a couple of ideas to his staff members for giving the players some rest. However, before that, they had a visit to Yorkshire to face Bradford, a team who had been on a superb run and had propelled themselves into the reckoning for an automatic promotion place, and from the first minute, it was clear their confidence was sky high. Jose Ros had to make two saves early on, from Kaviedes and Gareth Whalley, and the second one, which he pushed round the post, was what resulted in the opening goal, an inswinging corner finding the head of David Wetherall, who rose higher than everyone else and headed home into the goal. It was no more than they deserved, and they continued their dominance of the game as the half went on. Peter stood on the sidelines and, while he wasn't angry, he had to accept his side were struggling, the only opening they fashioned coming from a long range shot from Robbie Blake. It got worse just before the interval, Kaviedes breaking free and the striker firing low and hard into the bottom corner. The half time talk saw words of encouragement, and they did, in all fairness, start the second half much better, testing Gary Walsh a couple of times and hitting the post, but on 68 minutes, any hope they had of getting anything from the game vanished, as Lee Collins mistimed his tackle on Kaviedes, catching the Ecuadorian with his studs up and on his shin, and the referee immediately pulled out the red card. It was hard to argue, and the game ended 2-0 to the home side, no more than they deserved from the game

The whole club was on a high following the semi final, everyone gearing up for the trip to Wembley, but Peter made sure that his players were fully focused on the job in hand, and with a tough game up next, a trip to West Brom, they needed to be at the very top of their game to pick up the three points and continue their promotion push. It was a full strength side that took to the field for the game, and it showed, as they absolutely silenced the home fans with a dominant first half display. Kos and Lawrence tested Russell Hoult in the opening ten minutes, before a thunderbolt from Kibebe struck the bar, so hard it was still rattling twenty seconds later. However, it was Chris Greenacre, with his 19th goal of the season, that opened the scoring, the striker latching on to a delicious through ball from Moukoko, rounding the onrushing Hoult and sliding comfortably into the open goal. Greenacre was causing all sorts of problems, the defence unable to cope with his strength and aerial ability, and it was his knock down with his head that set up the second, full back Marek Szmid latching on to it and rifling home a low shot into the bottom corner. The game continued in the same vein through the second half, and should have been wrapped up in all honesty, buit the profligacy in the second half meant that the home side got themselves back into the game, Burriku collecting a pass and firing a first time shot into the roof of the net. Peter cut a frustrated figure on the touchline, angry once again that his side had conceded a silly goal after being in total control, and while they sealed the game two minutes before the end, Moukoko meeting a terrific low cross from Szmid and tapping into the goal, he felt there were one or two things he needed his side to work on -- "I don't know Damien, it's getting a bit frustrating. We just can't seem to keep a clean sheet at the moment" His assistant looked up from his paper "We're winning though gaffer?" Peter shrugged "I know but you know me, I can always sense something isn't right. I think there's not enough time to fix it this season but we need to before the start of next season" "What is it you're worried about?" Peter sat down "We're missing lots of chances but we can fix that, it will come. Just the odd bit of sloppy defending is creeping in, and it's costing us goals" "Well we can work on some defensive stuff in training, see if it makes a difference?" Peter nodded in agreement "I think that's a good idea" Bristol City were the final opponents of the month, and they went into the game on the back of some rotten injury luck. Five players had picked up knocks in the previous three days, which meant Peter had to make some late changes to his side. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but it was one of the worst starts to a game he saw his side have. They were poasitively awful in the first half an hour, sloppy passing, mistakes uncharacteristic of his side. It was almost unbearable and Peter cut a frustrated and angry figure on the sideline. It was only thanks to Tony Warner that they remained level, the 'keeper forced into several good saves, but even he could do nothing about the opener, a brilliant curling striker from Moroccan Yacine Abdellaoui, as he cut inside from the right and beat his man, before curling a 30 yarder into the top corner. Warner had no chance, and Peter started to think about his half time team talk. However, a moment of brilliance just before the interval, something that had been lacking from his side, caused him to rethink what he was going to say. Lee Collins brought the ball out from defence, feeding it to Ardon de Waard. The Dutchman then fired a ball into the feet of Liam Lawrence. Going off pure instinct, the midfielder scooped it up and flicked it over his markers head, turning as he did so. He then knocked it through the next defenders legs to create some space, before smashing a half volley into the goal. It was a magnificent piece of skill, one which got the home crowd, and Peter, off their feet, the game taking a lively turn. The second half was an even affair, both sides pushing for the winner, and while Kos, Szmid and Cesar all had openings, Keko was guilty of missing their best chance, firing wide from 8 yards out. The visitors also had chances, Warner forced into making three good saves, the second two from a ridiculous double save from point blank range, but the spoils were shared -- February 2004 Results [Divison One unless stated otherwise] Mansfield 3-1 Sheffield Utd [Moukoko 8, Cesar 45+1, Greenacre 74 ; Smith 77] FA Cup Round Five Mansfield 3-1 Grimsby [Keko 44,84, Hoj 79 ; Bubb 31] League Cup Semi Final Second Leg Mansfield 1-1 Watford [Mansfield win 4-2 on aggregate] [Laurie 89 ; Vega 43] West Brom 1-3 Mansfield [Greenacre 21, Szmid 42, Moukoko 88 ; Burriku 60] Mansfield 1-1 Bristol City [Lawrence 45+1 ; Abdellaoui 34]

It had taken just a couple of hours, with very little negotiation, for O'Shea to agree terms, and he would join at the end of the season. It was a superb addition to the defence and one that would bring some vital Premiership experience to the ranks, something they definitely needed if they were to compete at the highest level. Peter was revelling in the success of bringing him in when his phone rang, distracting him "Peter Daish" "..." "OK. Well I understand that and of course it's your decision but this doesn't end our interest" "..." "No problem. I'll speak to you soon again, I'm sure" As he put the phone down, he couldn't help but smile to himself. Bishop Auckland had pulled out of the Dunwell deal at the last minute, citing a desire to keep their lethal marksman. Understandable really, but Peter would be looking at revisiting their deal in the summer -- The second leg of the League Cup semi final, a visit from Watford, was their next game on the calendar. While Peter ensured his players were fully focused, not allowing them to become complacent and believe the game was a foregone conclusion after their 3-1 win in the first game, he did take the opportunity to rest some of his first team players, but he was more than confident that the team he fielded would be able to get the job done. Kos, Moukoko, Greenacre, Collins, Kibebe and Jervis all sat out this one, with the replacements all getting their chance to impress. It was left back Ardon der Waard who set the tone early on, and absolutely crunching tackle through Graham Marchant, the youngster hobbling off after just five minutes, while Agustin decided to take control of the game in the midfield, using his knowledge and passing ability to keep his side firmly in command. Openings were fashioned, with Keko, Cesar and Robbie Blake all finding themselves in good positions but failing to capitalise, and it was a surprise when they went in at half time a goal behind. It was the visitors only chance of the half, a corner from the right hand side finding Ramon Vega, and the defender rose above everyone else to thunder home a header past Tony Warner. This, while not a goal that would define the game, would be a goal that angered the beast, and the second half was a dominant one, with a wave of attacks. The visitors held firm though, and they kept the ball out of their net for as long as they could, but eventually, a minute from the end, they did equalise, a lovely interchange in the midfield releasing Carl Laurie, and he broke through the defence to calmly slot the ball into the net. This secured a 4-2 aggregate win, and for the first time in their history, Mansfield would play in a major domestic cup final .. "Right lads, gather round" Peter had gathered his players round at the start of the next training session. They all took a huddle in front of him "Right. First things first, congratulations on reaching the League Cup final. It's a massive achievement for a club like this and you should all be hugely proud. However, it doesn't detract from ouir main goal this season, which is promotion. So we all need to be focused, and know what the main goal is" The players all nodded in agreement, but it was Mark Arber who spoke up "Boss, what's the situation with tickets? I know a lot of the lads would like to have family there for the game?" "It's on my list. I'll be speaking to the chairman and the ticket office to sort something out" A nod and a smile from the captain

Ooooh, a new story from EvilDave. Very good I'll be reading this one ED

Following this with interest Kenny As someone who hasn't really dabbled in international management in FM, be interested to see how you get on

The FA Cup had been kind for the fifth round, with Grimsby drawn as their opponents, and Peter took it as an opportunity to give a much needed rest to several of his key players. This meant a chance for the likes of Jacob Hoj, Ardon de Waard, Keko, Cesar and Carl Laurie, and to be fair to them all, they took their chance as Peter saw his side cruise into the quarter finals with a simple 3-1 win. Mind you, despite starting well, testing the visiting 'keeper on several occasions, they did find themselves behind, just after the half hour mark, Byron Bubb finding himself free after beating the defensive line, before calmly slotting past Tony Warner. This seemed to gee both the crowd and the players, and a minute before half time, Keko levelled things, Cesar sliding the ball through for his compatriot and the striker finishing with a lethal touch, belting it past the 'keeper and bringing them level. This was how the scores remained through to half time, and when the second half started, their was only one team looking like winning the game, and that was Peter's side. Wave of attacks followed, with chances falling to Cesar, Kos, Kibebe and Keko, but they were kept at bay until the 79th minute, when finally the Grimsby resistance was broken. It was Jacob Hoj who scored the goal, but all the credit went to Benjamin Kibebe, who played a magnificent pass from his own half, launching it over the top and into the midfielders path, and the Dane took it on his chest, allowing it to drop at his feet and sliding it beautifully past the 'keeper. This sent the visitors heads down, and the game was sealed six minutes from the end, Keko receiving the ball from Cesar on the edge of the box, and curling a delicious shot into the corner to send them through .. "Mikey, welcome to Mansfield" Michael Jack had been the subject of a £70,000 bid, and Carlisle had quickly accepted, mainly because they needed the money. Jack was a skilful midfielder with two good feet, and Peter felt such a nominal fee was worth a gamble. The player had agreed terms within 24 hours, and had made his way to Mansfield to seal his move "Thanks gaffer. Glad to be here, things were heading downhill at Carlisle" Peter clapped him on the shoulder "Well don't you worry about that now son, just focus on performing for us" He smiled back at him "I'll do my best boss" The player headed off to complete his medical, while Peter got ready for his meetings later on, as he tried to recruit more possible players next season. The first of these was with Manchester United defender John O'Shea. The young Irishman wasn't getting much first team action at Old Trafford, and with his team juggernauting their way to title after title, it seemed unlikely that he would any time soon. Peter knew this and had a bid of a million pounds accepted, and was scheduled to meet with the defender and his agent that afternoon. He also had a meeting with the Bishop Auckland manager, with a view to signing their striker Michael Dunwell. He had been truly prolific over the last two and a half seasons, scoring 78 goals in 84 games, aswell as 56 assists, and for the small fee they would have to pay, it seemed like a no brainer to get the deal done. It was almsot three hours later when O'Shea walked through the door "John, delighted you're here. Good journey?" The Irishman nodded "Perfect thanks Mr Daish" "Please, call me Peter. And you must be John's father?" He turned to the older man, his hand extended "Aye. Patrick" "Pleasure to meet you. Now, let's go and make ourselves comfortable" They headed into the boardroom, where some pastries and coffee had been set up ready, and after fifteen minutes of niceties, they got down to business "OK John. I won't beat about the bush. We're looking like we're getting promoted this season, and I need a Premiership level defender. You fit the bill perfectly. You've got a calm head, you're good on the ball, and your experience at that level can help our other lads" The defender nodded "Sir Alex has spoken highly of you, and he said he endorsed the move. I just want to play regularly" "I can promise you regular game time. You'll be a main starter in defence, playing the majority of games" Both men nodded. Peter slid over the pre prepared contract for them to have a look at "This is what we've drawn up. There are some clauses in there, and as you will no doubt know, we can't pay the wages that United can pay you" Another nod. It was his father that spoke "Let us have a look Mr Daish and we will discuss further after some lunch?" Peter held out his hand "Perfect"

Having made a decision on his mum's house, he phoned the solicitor to instruct him to begin proceedings on selling it. He had decided he couldn't possibly live there. It would hold too many memories and it would always be his mum's house, it wouldn't sit right with him. Once that was in place, he could concentrate on finishing the season as well as possible, achieving everything they wanted to, if not more. That said, he felt the need to start to look at strengthening the squad for the next season. Promotion or not, they needed add options to the squad. The fact remained that they had one of the smallest squads in the division, and while they had avoided serious injury losses thus far, Peter knew it would only take two or three long term absentees to send things on a dangerous path The first game of February was a visit from Sheffield United. Coincidentally, it was also his 150th game in charge of the club. While this was an occasion that was brought to the attention of everyone around him, Peter played it down, telling his players that a win was the only celebration he needed. It was as strong a team as he could have fielded, Liam Lawrence the only absentee from the previous game, replaced by Cesar in the midfield, while Greenacre retained his place upfront following his four goal haul. He was delighted with the start his side made, testing Steve Croudsen twice in the opening six minutes, but it was in the eighth minute that they took the lead, Greenacre flicking a header into the path of Cesar, who slipped it across the box into the path of Moukoko, and the Cameroon midfielder slotted into the net, the Sheffield United 'keeper stranded. More chances came, Moukoko, Cesar and Lee Collins all wasting good opportunities, and they paid for this when the visitors levelled things, Jamie Smith breaking the offside trap set by Mansfield, and he raced through to slot home and equalise. Peter was livid with his side, letting them no in no uncertain terms that they needed to step things up. They did just this, forcing Croudsen into three saves before the interval, but they did manage to regain the lead right on half time, Cesar collecting a pass from Wouter Kos, wriggling away from his man and curling a low shot into the bottom corner. The second half was all one way traffic, Peter seeing his side dominate the ball, keeping it and passing it around, and with the tired legs of their opponents telling as the half went on, the third and killer goal came on 74 minutes, Greenacre meeting a deep cross from Agustin at the back post and heading home. .. "No fanfare for the 150th game gaffer?" Damien Matthew had sat down for the Monday debrief "Doesn't bother me Damien. It's just a number" "Not many managers make that milestone boss. It's a big thing" Peter shrugged "Maybe 300 but not 150. Not for me anyway" Claus Estevaag walked in at that moment, waving a piece of paper "Got the list you asked for gaffer. Plenty of talent on there, definitely worth a look" "Thanks Claus. Can you start training for me? Set Pieces and Pattern Play to start, I'll be down in half an hour or so" His staff headed out to the training ground, while he picked up his phone to call the estate agent in charge of selling his mum's house -- "Hey. Good day?" He leant across the breakfast bar and kissed Charlotte on top of the head "Yeah not too bad. Spoke to the estate agents, there's already offers on mum's house" Her eyes widened "Already? That was quick?" "I know. I'd rather get it done and dusted with though, save the long drawn out process" "True. What do you fancy for tea? Lamb chops?" Peter smiled "Sounds good to me. I'll just have a shower and freshen up before we eat"

January had seemed like a long drawn out month, and the seventh and final game saw the trip to Stockport. They were sitting just inside the top half, having struggled in recent weeks, not having won a game since mid November, so their confidence was low. Peter urged his side to finish the month with a bang and this was just what they did, running riot and smashing six past the helpless hosts. By the time Chris Greenacre headed them ahead in the 29th minute, they could probably have been two up already, Moukoko and Cesar both missing good chances. Greenacre didn't miss though, guiding his header past the 'keeper. The lead didn't last long though, all of 34 seconds, Karim Fradin slipping in young striker Carl McMahon, who finished really well, defying his age with the finish of a striker who'd been playing for ten years rather than ten games. It was an undeserved leveller, but Greenacre had something to say about it and made sure they went in at the break ahead, as he collected Kibebe's pass, jinked inside his defender and hit a rasping drive instinctively into the bottom corner. The second half was utter domination, as a wave of yellow shirts came forward in attack after attack, and when Cesar curled home inside the first minute of the restart, from an absolutely outrageous assist from Agustin, flicking the ball up and backheeling it into his path, it was only ever going one way. Greenacre completed his hat trick on 53 minutes, but in the fourteen minute spell between that and his fourth goal, Cesar, Kos and Kibebe could all have scored. As it was, they were all thwarted by the 'keeper. Greenacre tapped in after Moukoko saw his shot parried into the strikers path, before the Cameroon international got in on the act himself, finishing the rout with a deft little finish. The home side had absolutely no answer in the second half, and Peter was delighted with the showing his side had put on, the best, at least in his eyes, of the entire month -- January 2004 Results [Division One unless stated otherwise] FA Cup Round Three Mansfield 3-2 Portsmouth [Samba 11, Lawrence 43, Jensen 72 ; Bango 15, McQuilken 32] Mansfield 1-0 Crystal Palace [Szmid 25] QPR 2-1 Mansfield [Jensen 34 ; McCann 35, Pacquette 90+2] Mansfield 4-2 Port Vale [Keko 5, Kibebe 33,90+2, Moukoko 84 ; Kuffour 28, Dodd 65] FA Cup Round Four West Brom 0-2 Mansfield [Samba 34,90+1] League Cup Semi Final First Leg Watford 1-3 Mansfield [Samba 29,83, Lawrence 56 ; Williams 73] Stockport 1-6 Mansfield [Greenacre 29,40,53,67, Cesar 46, Moukoko 71 ; McMahon 30]

The mood around the camp was positive going into the next game, as they travelled to Watford for the first leg of their League Cup semi final. The players, and the fans, knew they were on the verge of something special, and a trip to Wembley for a domestic cup final would be the biggest day in the clubs history. Peter however, knew that things weren't that simple, and they had to be focused on the semi final before they even thought about that. He hadn't had to think too much about the selection of his team, and he went as strong as he could for the game. He gave his players words of encouragement, telling them just to go out there and do their thing. They started well, creating a couple of early chances, but it wasn't until just before the half hour mark that they opened the scoring, Liam Lawrence and Marek Szmid combining down the right hand side, the full back whipping a cross into the heart of the box, which Cherno Samba rose highest to head home past the despairing dive of the Watford 'keeper. The rest of the half sauntered along really, Peter seeing his side control the passing but they didn't really create an opportunity to extend the lead. Half time came and went, and eleven minutes into the second period, Lawrence doubled his side's advantage, collecting a pass from Kos and beating a couple of men, before curling a beautiful little finish into the bottom corner. This should have been enough to see them through, but they had a slight lapse for a few minutes, and this resulted in the home side getting back into the game, Darren Williams poking home from six yards out after a scramble in the box. This woke them up from the slumber, and Cherno Samba eased the nerves by slotting home a simple finish seven minutes from the end to settle the game, giving them a good advantage for the second leg .. "So what are you going to do about your mum's house?" He had avoided discussing it, not really wanting to bring it up, but it was Charlotte who eventually did "I don't know. I mean I don't want to live in it, that's always going to be mum's house. And we don't need the money from the sale really" She cocked her head "I know but you can't just leave it sitting there empty" The cat jumped onto her lap at this point "I know. I think selling it would be best. We can save the money then for anything in the future" She looked him in the eyes "What have you got in mind?" "Nothing. But I could get sacked or lose my job any time. It's perilous being a football manager you know?" He laughed as he saw the look of disbelief on her face "Don't be silly. After what you've done for this club, why would they sack you?"

Despite all the off field things going on, there was still business to attend to, and FA Cup action saw a visit to the Midlands to play West Brom. Both sides had made changes, but it turned out to be a pretty simple and uneventful game for both sides. Andy Johnson missed a penalty in the 16th minute, failing to hit the target after Derek McInnes was brought down by Ardon de Waard, but it was Cherno Samba who opened the scoring, linking well with Lawrence and Lilley, the full back lifting the ball into the strikers path, his touch enough to take him past the defender, and he lashed a shot across the goalkeeper that nestled into the bottom corner. Cesar and Szmid both came on at half time, and it was the Spaniard who took control of the game, using his experience and know how to just slow the game down, allowing his side to keep the ball and make the home side chase the game. This worked a treat, as they struggled to create anything, mainly because they couldn't get the ball, and Peter saw his side book their place in the fifth round, Cesar feeding a lovely pass through to Samba, who sealed the game with his second, dinking over the onrushing 'keeper in injury time for a solid and comfortable win .. "Peter, do you have five minutes?" The chairman has collared him in the corridor, before leading him to his office "What can I do for you Keith?" "Just wanted to check how you were holding up?" "I'm fine. We're both holding it together. I've got a job to focus on" Haslam cocked his head "You know you only need to ask for time off?" "I'm fine Keith, honestly. Fully focused" That seemed to satisfy Haslam "OK. Well, onto other things. If we make it to the final of the League Cup, we'll be putting travel on for the fans" Peter nodded "I agree, that's a fantastic idea. I'll be doing my best to get us there though, mark my words" -- He was sat on his laptop that evening, having a look through his emails and the upcoming free agents, when he heard the door open. He was about to shout and say hey, when he heard a noise he didn't expect. As he got up, he heard a miaow again, and when he got to the hallway, he saw Charlotte holding a small black cat with green eyes. He cocked his head as he caught the cats eye, and before he could speak, Charlotte looked at him while stroking the animal "Isn't she adorable?" Peter had to agree "She is. How has she ended up here?" "Well I was driving past the shelter and popped in. She caught my eye and miaowed at me. I couldn't resist" Both Charlotte and the cat gave him the puppy dog eye look, and he couldn't help but smile "Fair enough. How can I say no? Does she have a name?" "Ember. I think with her being a black cat, it suits her well" Peter nodded in agreement. Charlotte leant forward and kissed him, the cat still positioned in her arms

The funeral had gone without a problem, a simple affair that celebrated everything good about his mums life, just as he, and she, would have wanted, and he returned to training as normal on the Friday morning. It was as he was getting ready to leave that his phone rang, a number he didn't recognise on the screen. However, as a football manager, this happened on a regualr basis. He looked at the screen and pressed the green button "Peter Daish" He was greeted by a Liverpool accent from the other end of the phone "Mr Daish? Good morning, my name is Michael Crofton-Sheridan. I represent the solicitors of Crofton-Sheridan and Fowler. I was the solicitor who dealt with the will of your late mother Marie" Peter was shocked "A will? She didn't have anything really" "Well that's not strictly true. If it's to your convenience, I'd like to meet with you to discuss matters?" "OK. Well how about tomorrow? I can get to Liverpool..." "No need. I can come to you. Your mother told me you're a busy man and have a hectic job so she insisted I come to you" "OK. Well do you know the Marriott Hotel in Nottingham? We could meet there for lunch?" "I'm not familiar but I'll find it. I'll see you tomorrow Mr Daish" -- Peter had not expected that, and left the ground a little shell shocked. He headed home and told Charlotte about the conversation he'd had with the solicitor, and she was supportive, insistant she was coming with him. He was pleased about that as he knew she had the support of her in everything. The next morning, they left for the hotel, arriving there almost 20 minutes before midday. They had just sat down and ordered their drinks when the waitress came over "Excuse me, Mr Daish? There's a gentleman here who says he has a meeting with you?" "Yes that's fine, send him over please love" He looked over to see a smartly dressed man in his 30's. He was tall, well over six feet, and clearly dressed well, his suit not being off the peg. His hair was styled well and he walked with an authority. Peter hadn't been sure what to expect, but it hadn't been this. The man approached and held his hand out "Mr Daish? Michael Crofton-Sheridan" Peter shook his hand firmly "Pleased to meet you. Call me Peter, by the way. And this is my wife, Charlotte" They shook hands and exchanged pleasantries, before sitting down and ordering their food. It wasn't until after the meal that they got to the will. It was the solicitor that spoke first "I won't keep you long Peter, as I know you're a busy man. In a nutshell, your mother has left all of her possessions to you. This includes her house, all of her bank accounts and her jewellery. She was insistent that the jewellery should go to your wife" "OK. I didn't think the mortgage on the house was paid?" "Well there's still £6,000 outstanding, but you can either pay that and then the house would be yours, or you can sell the house, and then the money would come out of the sale price" Peter nodded "OK. Well myself and my wife would need to discuss things first, obviously. Can I give you a ring in a few days?" He slid a card across the table "Of course. That is my card with my mobile and office number, feel free to ring me when you have made a decision"

Sorry to hear this will be on hold WLKRAS Hope all is well mate and things take a turn for the better soon 👍

Charlotte had spent the days after the funeral cleaning and keeping herself busy, as it had hit her hard, as hard as it had hit Peter, but she obviously handled it differently. Eventually they did sit down together, eating dinner while having a talk, something they hadn't really done in recent days "You OK?" Peter looked at her from across the table "Yeah. Just about getting there. I wish I could have handled it as well as you though" He took her hand "Hey, we all do things a little differently. Do you want to do something to feel better?" She paused for a while "I'm not sure. Let me think about it. Anyway, when's the cup final?" "We've got to get through the semi final yet. Two legs. But it's in April, I know that" She cocked her head "Think you'll make it there?" He interlocked his fingers "We've got a great chance, with avoiding the big boys. But we can't get complacent" -- Port Vale were the next visitors to Field Mill, and it was a much changed side that met them. This was mainly due to fitness issues, but Peter also decided to make some changes following the defeat in the previous outing, so seven different starters took to the field for the game, with only Collins, Moukoko, Rusk and Jervis the survivors. It was a good start from his team, and within the first five minutes, his side were ahead, as Keko used his power to wrestle away his marker from a corner and thump a header into the back of the net. The Spaniard was well up for it, and he saw a potential second goal chalked off a few minutes later, adjudged to have been offside as he broke free and slotted the ball home. It was a tight call and probably too tight to judge, but even after that, he could have scored again. That said, they paid for these missed opportunities, the visitors levelling the scores just before the half hour, Arsenal loanee Joe Kuffour firing home from a lovely pass into him. Peter urged his side to take control of the game and take it by the scruff of the neck, and they did this, with Benjamin Kibebe stepping up to the mark, and it was the midfielder who regained the lead, as he met a lay off on the edge of the box and smacked home a low drive that left the 'keeper with no chance. They remained ahead at the interval, but the visitors started the second half the better of the two sides, and they deservedly got back into the game on 65 minutes, Jamie Dodd charging into the box to meet a perfectly placed cross and guide it past Warner. It was an even game from that point, both sides trying to win the game, but it wasn't until the final six minutes that Peter saw his side win the game, as first Moukoko, with a delicate left foot finish, and then Kibebe's second of the game, a beautiful side footed finish from an Agustin cross, settled things and secured the points

The funeral had been arranged for the following Thursday, which he had scheduled as a day off for everyone, but before that could happen, they had a trip to London to play promotion rivals QPR. They were unbeaten in their last eleven games going into the match, which had propelled them into third place, and with their confidence sky high, Peter knew his side would be in for a relatively tough game. What he could not have predicted however, was to watch the most frustrating and infuriating game of football he had seen in his tenure as manager, as he watched his side dominate from start to finish, creating 26 opportunities on the home side's goal, 15 of them on target, but they were met by a brick wall by the name of Fraser Digby, who produced the performance of his life to propel his side to the win. In all fairness, Peter saw his side take the lead on 34 minutes, Claus Jensen curling home after a beautiful little backheel to him from the returning Moukoko, but it could have been four by that point, as Moukoko, Greenacre and Kos all missed good chances. The problem though, was that within a minute, they were back level, Neil McCann somehow escaping everybody and then appearing at the back post to nod home past Ros. It was a blow, but they continued to dominate the game, through the interval and into the secomnd half, and it was Fraser Digby earning himself man of the match, quite comfortably. The host of missed chances looked like a point would be what both sides came away with, but the home side, namely Richard Pacquette, had other ideas, and a long ball from Terrell Forbes, surprising everyone, found the marauding forward, and he slotted home past Ros to steal an unlikely win for his side "Now that was frustrating. How did we lose that game?" Peter had sat down with his coaches when they returned to training, frustration evident after the loss to QPR "We didn't take our chances Damien, simple as that" "You're not worried gaffer?" Peter shrugged his shoulders "I'd be more concerned if we weren't creating the chances. And you lads have always told me to stop being so pessimistic!" A laugh from his coaches "True. We still have the lead at the top as well. Biggest problem now is the League Cup" A look of bewilderment from Peter "How do you mean?" "Well, do we go all out for it?" Peter nodded "I think we have to. We're in the semi final, we can't not go for it"

Charlotte had arrived back half an hour later, and they had spent the night grieving together. As expected, she had taken it harder than him, and although he was hurting, he knew his Mum was right and he couldn't afford to not live his life to the full. They had both discussed it and decided they needed to carry on as normal, although they would both arrange the funeral. His mum had expressed a wish to be buried alongside his dad, a plot of land they had purchased some years earlier, so he set about arranging that the next morning, arriving at work while still on the phone He had overseen training that morning, and with a visit from Crystal Palace in their next league game the next day, he had decisions to make regarding team selection. Greenacre and Lawrence were not fully fit, while Moukoko, having returned from international duty having played a full 270 minutes across the three games, was in no condition to play a part in the game. He pondered over the next 24 hours, eventually deciding on his team the next afternoon. Marek Szmid came in at right back, while Cesar, Keko and Uriel all came in to the starting line up too. Peter had tried his best to act normal, and if he had been a little off, neither his staff or players had mentioned it, if they noticed at all. The pre game ritual was as normal, his team talk before the game was simple, and his side went out and, in all fairness, did their jobs. Keko had a couple of early chances, firing over after turning with the ball, before heading straight at the 'keeper, but it was his fellow countryman Uriel that set up the goal, as it happened the only one of the game. He received the ball from Szmid, who carried his run on. Uriel lofted the ball over the top, returning it to the full back, and he took it down on his chest, before drilling a low right foot drive into the bottom corner. It was the finish of a seasoned striker, not a young full back, and he was delighted with it. Peter though, grew ever more frustrated as the game went on, watching his side create several opportunities but fail to capitalise on those opportunities. Chances came and went, and while they held on for the win, Peter cut a frustrated figure at the end of the game, haing seen his side waste several glorious chances -- He usually stayed after the game, but on this occasion he made his excuses and left just after the game to head straight home. With all that had happened in recent days, he didn't feel in the mood to stay, and this did turn a few heads, as everybody expected him to stay. He had been home a matter of minutes when he heard a knock at the door. He headed to open it and was surprised to see his assistant stood there "Damien? What are you doing here?" Matthew had cocked his head to answer the question "I saw you leave early, and knowing that isn't like you, I followed you back. Wanted to see what was up" "Nothing's up..." He held his hand up to stop him "Gaffer, I know you too well" Peter sighed "You're right. Come on in and I'll explain everything" Over the next hour, he spent the time explaining to Damien Matthew about his mum, her death, and the way it had affected him. Credit to his assistant, he never interrupted, he sat and listened, and once he was sure Peter had finished, he spoke up "Gaffer, I'm so sorry. Why don't you take a bit of time off?" Peter shook his head "I don't think that would help anybody. Me, Charlotte or the club. Besides, I'd go insane sat in the house" Matthew nodded his head "I can see that. So, what can I do to help?" "Well I'd appreciate if you don't tell anyone else at the club. I'll be taking a day off for the funeral but I'll arrange a day off for everyone to coincide" "Course. Anything else?" A slight smile "Help me get us into the Premier League" Both men chuckled at that, and embraced before Matthew left

He sat by his Mum's bedside that morning, a strange sense of relaxation coming over him. She was sat up, drinking a lemon tea, but she looked frail and not herself. She took a sip and looked him dead in the eyes "Where's Charlotte?" Peter looked back at her "She's at the supermarket. She shouldn't be long" "Actually, it's better she's not here..." She leant forward, taking his hand in hers, and while she was frail, her grip was surprisingly tight "...I don't think she'd manage as well as you" Peter looked at her "What do you mean?" "I just want you to know how proud of you I am. Everything you achieved, everything you're going to achieve. You're the most wonderful person and I just want to tell you that..." With those words, Peter knew. He just knew what was about to happen "Mum..." She shook her head, releasing his hand and sitting back, while putting her hand on his cheek "Don't Peter. We both knew what was going to happen, and it was always going to be sooner rather than later. Just make me a promise?" "Anything you like" She looked him dead in the eyes once more "Make sure you make the most of your life. You've got a wonderful wife, a good job and one day you'll reach the very top. Just promise me you'll have no regrets" Tears started to well in his eyes as he looked back at her. He croaked out a reply, a lump forming in his throat "I promise. Nothing will come between me and Charlotte" She smiled one final smile, stroked his cheek again and lay back. She closed her eyes peacefully and with that, Peter knew she was gone

His mum had been gradually getting worse since the wedding, and on that particular day, she had spent most of the day in bed. He knew, and it pained him to say it, but he know it was only a matter of time. He had mentally been preparing for this moment, but he knew Charlotte would take it hard, if not harder then he would. He was sat at the coffee table with his laptop on, but he wasn't really doing much, when he was distracted by Charlotte's voice "Hey you" She leant down to kiss him "Hey. Good day?" "Yeah. Loads to do today, but I don't mind that. How's your mum?" He shook his head sadly "Terrible today. She's been in bed all day. Felt awful from this morning" She sat beside him and gave him a big hug "I'm sorry. I know it's hard" He turned to face her, taking both her hands in his "It is, but I'm prepared for the worst to happen. I know it's a matter of weeks, if not days" "Don't say that..." He shook his head "I have to be realistic. Mum knows it aswell. I want you to know that when it happens, I'll be here for you, to support you and guide you through when it happens. I want you to know that" She looked him in the eyes, cupping her hands around his face "You, Peter Daish, are a wonderful human being. And I'll always be here for you" With that she kissed him on the lips, before embracing him in an extended hug -- FA Cup action started 2004 off, and with Portsmouth the visitors, it was a tough draw to begin their campaign. There was a packed house for the game, a rare January sun beating down, and the game started off at a hectic pace, both sides testing the opposition 'keepers in the early minutes, but it was the 11th minute that saw the opening goal, Cherno Samba breaking the offside trap and bombing forward, rounding Kawaguchi and sliding into the unguarded goal. It was a good start, but the visitors were level within four minutes, a defensive error from Agustin, dropping his backpass short and allowing Ibrahim Bango in, and the forward finished instinctively, curling the ball home from the edge of the box. This saw the visitors take control of the game, and Tony Warner was forced into making a few good saves. He couldn't however, do anything about the second goal, an absolute howitzer from Jamie McQuilken. The midfielder picked the ball up in the centre circle, before beating two players and smashing a left foot shot past the outstretched Warner into the top corner. It was a magnificent goal and looked like it was enough to send them in at the break ahead, but Liam Lawrence, who hadn't had his best season in terms of goal scoring, thought differently and he levelled things just before the break, jinking in from the right hand side and firing a low shot into the bottom corner. The second half continued in the same vein, but this pulsating game only saw one more goal, and fortunately for Peter it came from his side, Claus Jensen arriving late in the box to meet Samba's pull back, and the midfielder side footed home firmly to send them through to the next round

The year would draw to a close with an away trip to Grimsby. A couple of injuries in training saw Rusk and Greenacre both missing from the squad, while Agustin and Keko took their place. Szmid earnt a start at right back too, while the policy of rotating 'keepers saw Warner start ahead of Ros. The game itself was, to be blunt, awful. Grimsby were a physical and organised side, and they made it very difficult for Peter's side to play their usual game. Alan Pouton was putting himself about in the midfield, and he was probably lucky to only get a yellow for a ridiculously late tackle on Jensen, the midfielder forced to limp off for treatment on his ankle briefly. The players seemed to struggle with the way the home side played, and this showed towards the end of the half, centre forward Steve Livingstone using his power and strength to muscle through and poke the ball home, sending his side in at the break ahead. Peter gave his players encouragement, and they did respond to that, performing much better and creating chances, and it was just 8 minutes into the restart that they levelled things up, Samba nodding down for the advancing Kos, the Dutchman collecting the knock on and finding the bottom corner. They had chances to take the lead, and despite being helped by a red card to Menno Willems, after a silly tackle, and then arguing with the referee earnt him two yellow cards, they couldn't find the winner and they had to settle for a share of the spoils -- December 2003 Results [Division One unless stated] Southampton 1-1 Mansfield [Greenacre 64 ; Bridge 90+1] League Cup Quarter Final Mansfield 2-0 Liverpool [Keko 45+1, Kos 49] Charlton 2-5 Mansfield [Greenacre 4,11,59, Blake 13, Kos 67 ; Bartlett 53,56] Mansfield 2-2 Coventry [Moukoko 24,46 ; Baker 29, Kennedy 64] Mansfield 2-1 Bradford [Blake 1, Moukoko 5 ; Kaviedes 64] Mansfield 3-2 West Ham [Greenacre 40,61, Jensen 63 ; Carruthers 14, Defoe 26] Grimsby 1-1 Mansfield [Kos 53 ; Livingstone 39, Willems s/o 73]

The next couple of days, their first Christmas as a married couple, were lovely. Having her parents and his mum there was nice, and they enjoyed their dinner too. As he woke up on Boxing Day morning, he knew things were how he wanted. He had everything he wanted in his life. A wonderful wife, a secure and settled job, and a house that was a working project. What more could he want? He got ready to leave, and it was as he was leaving that he felt a hand grab his own. He turned round to see Charlotte, wearing a loose fitting jumper and her tracksuit bottoms "Hey. Wanted to see you off before you left" He leant down and kissed the top of her head "I thought you'd still be asleep?" She shook her head "I said I'd take mum and dad back home later on so I got up early" "Fair enough. I should be back by 8 tonight, so we can have a takeout if you like?" She smiled up at him and gave him a kiss "Sounds good to me. See you later on" -- West Ham provided their Boxing Day opponents, and they were a side that had suffered inconsistency through the season, particularly over the last couple of months, but they had dangerous players and would always provide a threat, so Peter wasn't taking it lightly and fielded his strongest possible side from the get go. However, whether something was in the air ior they just didn't get into the groove early, he couldn't quite put his finger on, but his side were sluggish and as a result, found themselves two behind after 26 minutes. Chris Carruthers scored the first, linking up with Christian Dailly, collecting the ball from the Scottish defender and rifling a first time low shot into the corner, that Ros just couldn't get his hands to. The winger was causing all sorts of problems for David Lilley down his side, and it was his assist for the league's top scorer, Jermain Defoe, that saw the second, as he burst past Lilley, slid the ball back for the striker and he finished it nicely, side footing past Ros. The ground was shocked, as they weren't used to seeing their side start so poorly, but they stayed loud and behind the team, and they got their reward five minutes before the break, Claus Jensen threading a delicious pass through to Chris Greenacre, and the striker letting the ball run across him before smashing it into the roof of the net. It was probably undeserved on balance of play, but it changed the whole dynamic of the game, and in the second half they were much better, creating chances and playing much better football. It was down to a two minute spell just after the hour mark that changed the game, and the score. Greenacre grabbed his second, a terrific turn getting him free of his marker, and he met Lawrence's cross smack on the full and left the 'keeper no chance, but he didn't have any part in the third goal, as a long ball from substitute Marek Szmid found Wouter Kos, who slid the ball across for his midfield partner Jensen, and he calmly slotted it past the onrushing goalkeeper. It was three points, and a good win in the end, but if anything, it brought things into perspective that every game can't be won, and they wouldn't play well every week - they sometimes had to grind things out - but needless to say, three more points were in the bag .. "I don't know, something just doesn't seem right to me" He received looks from both Estevaag and Matthew "Gaffer, we're 12 points clear. What could be wrong?" Peter leant back, clasping his hands behind his head "Just things like the first half against West Ham, a couple of iffy performances here and there..." Damien Matthew chuckled "Boss, it's a higher level for a lot of these lads. Many of them were with us in Division Three. They're doing fine, honestly. You need to relax a bit more" Peter smiled. He knew his coach was probably right "I know Damien. I just can't help it, maybe I'm just too much of a perfectionist and want more than we can give?" His assistant fired back "That's not a bad thing gaffer" Peter sat in his office later that day, reflecting on the past two and a half years. Going into 2004, if someone had told him three years ago that he would be a successful manager, with a side on the verge of being a Premiership level team, married to an amazing woman, and with a group of staff and players he had forged good relationships with, he'd have told them they were mad, but as it is, this is the reality he faced. And he had to admit, it felt bloody good. Although he looked in the mirror and saw a few more grey hairs creeping in, he put that down to getting older and managing a football club. But, on reflection, it was a small price to pay

Keith had tried to get him to take some time off, but Peter insisted he was present for the game against Bradford. While he had other things on his mind, with the wedding the next day and his mum's condition, he tried to focus fully on the task at hand. He had sat down with his team the day before the game, explaining the situation and why his head may have been in a different place in recent days. Immediately, he got the support of his players, captain Mark Arber and vice captain Liam Lawrence both consoling him after the announcement. Whether they had spoken privately to the rest of the team, he didn't know, but they started like an absolute train, racing into a two goal lead inside the opening five minutes. Robbie Blake scored the first, combining well with Lawrence and Kos, the Dutchman laying it off for Blake to side foot the ball home really nicely. Blake turned provider for the second, dinking the ball over the top for Moukoko, who rounded the 'keeper and slotted into the empty net. The Cameroonian immediately turned, removing his Mansfield shirt as he did so to reveal a t-shirt underneath. On that t-shirt were five simple words We're all with you gaffer Much as had happened when the players had saluted after Charlotte had been rushed to hospital. This message was all the more special, this time the goalscorer, instead of saluting, ran over and grabbed his manager in a hug. As he ran away, Peter saw his players pointing at Moukoko's shirt, and combined with the applause from the supporters in the stadium, it brought a lump to his throat. The game became pretty much irrelevant after that, and despite starting so well, they failed to capitalise and couldn't score any more goals. That said, they only conceded one, a brilliant finish from Ivan Kaviedes, but they held on and secured the points, extending their lead at the top to 11 points -- "Ready gaffer?" Damien Matthew had agreed to be his best man, and he walked in to the room as Peter was knotting his tie "As I'll ever be Damien. Thanks for agreeing to do this by the way" His assistant clapped him on his shoulder "No problem. It's a big day and I want to support you" Both men smiled, and they headed out to the garden -- Peter stood at the makeshift altar waiting for Charlotte. He was nervous inside, naturally, but when he saw her being walked down the aisle by her father, those nerves went away. She looked beautiful in a simple white dress, and he realised just how lucky he was. She smiled at him as she got to the altar, before they both moved on with the ceremony. It didn't take long, and both read their vows, before they were implored by the priest to kiss the bride. He did so, to an applause from everyone involved. He was almost on the verge of tears, and seeing his mum sat there, despite looking frail and not herself, to see him marry the woman who made him happy, was something he could only have dreamed of. Charlotte noticed his face, and she leaned in to whisper in his ear The next morning, he headed downstairs to get a drink. He was met in the kitchen by Charlotte not long after. She smiled, wearing one of his t-shirts "Morning" He smiled back at her "Morning Mrs Daish" She giggled "I don't know how long it will take to get used to being called that. I like it though" She kissed him on the lips "Since its Christmas eve, we best get ready for dinner tomorrow hadn't we? He nodded "Well Keith has told me not to come back till boxing day so I'm all yours for the next couple of days" Her eyes lit up at that

The end of year financial meeting had been good, progress on the field meant that things were going well financially and as long as the board were happy, then Peter was happy. That said, his mood changed as he was driving home, and he saw Charlotte's name flash on his phone. He pulled off to the side of the road and answered the call "Hey, You OK?" He knew immediately by the tone of her voice that something was wrong "Hey. It's your mum. She's taken a turn for the worst, I've taken her to the hospital..." "I'll be there in ten minutes!" He raced to the the hospital, making the ten minute journey in just over half that time. Charlotte was waiting for him at the entrance "What happened?" "She woke up complaining of a headache. She had a coffee, went back to bed and when I went up to check on her she was convulsing. Phoned 999 straight away" He kissed her on the top of her head "Thankyou for being there. I dread to think what would have happened if you weren't there" Just at that moment, the doctor came out to greet them "Mr Daish?" "Yes, doctor. How is she?" He looked sombre "I won't lie to you, it's not looking good. The tumour has increased in size rapidly. There's nothing we can do to delay it, and it has shortened her expected time significantly" Peter wiped a tear from his eyes "How long are we looking at doc?" The doctor placed his hand on Peter's shoulder "I'm sorry to tell you this, but a month is probably the maximum. We'll keep her in overnight, but you can collect her tomorrow" They left the hospital, Peter making phonecalls to Damien Matthew and Keith Haslam to let them know the situation. He then turned to Charlotte, a serious look on his face "We best do the wedding as soon as possible then hadn't we?" She nodded "Looks that way. How are we going to do it?" "I'll have to speak with Keith and arrange it" Peter was true to his word, and by the end of the next day, with his mum back and sleeping at the house, he had arranged to have a simple ceremony. Keith Haslam knew a pastor who would oversee the ceremony, which would be held at his house. It would be a simple, vow exchanging ceremony, that would see him and Charlotte become officially married, and allow his mum to see it. Which was, they both agreed, the main thing. It was also noted that with it being so close to the Christmas period, so arrangements were made for Charlotte's parents to come up earlier than planned, so they were present for the ceremony

Coventry were the visitors for the next league action, and having spent over four million in the summer, they had been expected to challenge for promotion, but a series of inconsistent results and performances had left them languishing just outside the top six, so they needed to pick up points to confirm their credentials. Peter also wanted to see his side push on with their recent good form and pick up another three points. Marek Szmid came in at right back, while Arber partnered Collins at centre half. Moukoko was in the team, with just this and another game before he left for international duty, while Cherno Samba replaced Greenacre, who was in need of a rest. It was a fast paced game, both sides showing their attacking intent, and both 'keepers were forced into making good saves. It was Moukoko who opened the scoring though, with a brilliant free kick. It was Kibebe who won it, being tripped just about 25 yards from goal, and the Cameroon midfielder stepped up to curl the ball beautifully into the top corner. It was a delicious way to start the scoring, but within five minutes, the visitors were level, Steven Baker rising highest to meet a corner and thundering a header home into the goal. Samba had the best chance of the half to restore the lead, racing through and dragging his shot just wide off the post, but they nearly found themselves behind going into the break, Lee Hughes smacking a low shot against the post, but it stayed level. That was at least until 34 seconds into the restart, a ball over the top from Szmid finding Moukoko, and he finished really well, deftly sliding the ball underneathe the onrushing Hedman and restoring their lead. They had three great chances to extend the lead and seal the points, but they couldn't take them, and they paid the price for this when Mark Kennedy levelled things up, the Irish winger cutting inside from the right hand side and firing a low shot into the bottom corner, beating the despairing dive of Warner and sealing his side a point .. "Morning gentlemen. Thankyou all for your attendance today" The men nodded "So, as 2003 draws to a close, we end in a very good position financially. Almost two million in profit for the year, and to top that off, we are performing very well on the field too" Keith Haslam nodded towards his manager at this point. Peter spoke up for the first time "The lads have been superb, we can't deny that. However, there's still work to be done" A nod from the chairman "I agree, but if we were to secure a promotion to the Premier League, it would be far beyond our wildest dreams. It would probably set the club up for the next ten years. The run in the League Cup has also brought in some serious income too. However, a trip to Wembley would be a nice thing for our fans. If we do, we will fund their travel to the game" Peter smiled, nodding as he did so "Well now we're at the semi final stage, and with the draw having been kind to us, avoiding Chelsea and Leeds, we have a chance of doing just that. However, the league has to be priority number one" Murmurs of agreement "Oh that goes without saying. The money we would receive for promotion would be huge for a club this size. It would however, be prudent to look at a possible stadium expansion. Ideas are in the early stages but we can always progress further if things are going well"

"Hey. Got some good news for you!" He had walked in to see Charlotte and his mum giggling around the kitchen table. Charlotte walked over and kissed him as he entered "What's that?" "Keith said we're all set for having the wedding at his house. He'll arrange the priest, sort out the ceremony. All he needs is a date" She embraced him in a massive hug "When do you want to do it?" "Whenever you want. Pick a date and we can sort everything out" She nodded "I'll check and see when we can fit it in" It was his mum that spoke next "Who are you inviting?" "It will only be a small ceremony. Charlotte's parents, you, Keith and some staff from the club. And any friends we want to invite" She cocked her head "No stag doo?" Peter laughed "What, at my age? No chance. A pint in the pub will do me!" -- Charlotte had busied herself with planning the wedding, something that Peter had been happy to let her continue to do. He had however, had to face a couple of injury problems in the next few days. Ledley King had pulled a calf muscle, meaning he would be out for at least 2-3 weeks, while David Lilley had come down with a virus, so he had been instructed to remain at home. Moukoko had also been recalled to the Cameroon squad, meaning he would miss three games, including the FA Cup third round game. There was also more off field ideas to consider, as he and Charlotte had invited her parents around for Christmas dinner. Once again they had a home game on boxing day, meaning things were easy to manage in that sense "Got a minute gaffer" John Waldron had popped his head round the door, waving a brown file as he did so "Come in John. What news?" "There's a few players coming up to the end of their deals you might want to look at. I know you don't like talk like this but there's a good chance we're going up..." Peter held his hand up to stop him "None of that son. You know the rules" He was smiling as he said it "OK boss. Anyway, I'll leave the file with you. Have a flick through when you can" "Cheers John"

"Hey. You OK?" He had met Charlotte for lunch the following afternoon. He kissed her on the cheek as she sat down "I'm fine. Good win for you yesterday though?" He smiled "Yeah the lads were brilliant. They deserve all the credit. Oh, I've spoken to Keith" She raised her eyebrows "Oh?" "Well, he said, if we're in agreement, he can host the wedding at his house. I've seen his house, it's like Mansfield Town Hall!" "Oh really? That's wonderful. When did he say we could do it?" "That's what I need to figure out. It depends a lot on mum, but we'll work it out" They both smiled at each other -- With the players - and the board - still buoyant from their win over Liverpool, the trip to Charlton was not good news for the home side. They were not on the best form, and this showed as the game progressed, Peter watching his side race into an early 3-0 lead after less than a quarter of an hour. Chris Greenacre started the scoring, finding the ball fed into his feet from Jensen, and he took it really well, before sliding the ball past Dean Kiely with ease. It wasn't long before he doubled his tally either, meeting Moukoko's deep cross at the back post and nodding the ball into the goal, Kiely nowhere to be seen. It was less than two minutes later that the third goal came, sealing the game with it. Kos sent Lawrence away down the right hand side. The winger cut inside, before laying the ball off for Robbie Blake, who opened his body up and slotted the ball into the bottom corner. The home side were shocked, almost battered into submission, and the stadium fell silent, apart from the noise from the travelling fans. They could easily have scored more in the remainder of the half too, but Kiely managed to keep things reasonable, at least to some extent. The second half saw another four goals, but credit to the home side, they managed to make a fight of it at least, bringing the score back to 3-2, thanks to a quickfire double from Shaun Bartlett, but this only angered Peter and his side, and they scored two of their own in response. Greenacre completed his hat trick just before the hour mark, taking a long ball from Lee Collins on his chest, before letting it drop and smashing it home, before Wouter Kos followed up on a Moukoko shot, slamming home the rebound to make it 5-2. This was how the score remained, despite more chances falling their way, they couldn't convert them and had to settle for the five goals