It's getting to be a regular occurrence this season that I seem to preview a game only for it to be called off but as we're playing at Buckley Barracks this week there is a very good chance our game vs in form Hullavington will be on.
I'd like to welcome regular number one John Witts back this week and would like to thank Fewie for standing in between the sticks for the past 2 games and thought he did an outstanding job. The fact he wants to play out on pitch regular shows the commitment i like from players and what a coincedence he's actually injured this week but as much as it's a massive loss to the team in a selfish way it helps me out. The starting 11 this week is ....
Witts, Porter, Woodgate, Hissy, O'keeffe, Manley, Gapper, M Nolan, Mclaughlin, Yeo, D Nolan, which leaves Shipway, Smith and Legg-bagg on the bench along with Few if he wants to.
I'm still in the process of trying to add to the squad but things are complicated at the moment so there is no quick solution to this but will update when I know more.
Come on lads let's give it our best shot this sunday
COYPD
THREE CROWNS UNITED
This weekend sees us return to league duty for the first time in around a month and it's an eagerly awaited clash with local rivals 3 crowns. The game at Hullavington will see us clash for the first time and with both teams in good form so far this season it should be a good game. I don't normally single out opposing players but we all know the threat Marcus Young and Paul Maddox can give us so it'll be up to the players to make sure these players see as less of the ball as possible.
We have a fully fit squad to choose from this week and there will be some big decisions to make and I hope the lads understand it's only decisions best for the team and it's nothing personal but we will go out with an attacking team and 1 which i think can win us the game.
I'm still searching for a new no 1 to replace Jack Forester but believe I will have 1 in place for our next fixture.
With some good team work and good attacking football and awesome team spirit let's hope we return sunday with 2 more points.
COYPD
BIDDESTONE WHITEHORSE
Welcome to another week and it seems as though the lads are back on track after 2 poor results. At least now we can start to look on the positive side of things again. This weekend we welcome Biddestone white horse to stanley park for what should be another tough game. We welcome John Witts back for his first start in a while and thank him for his help. We are missing 2 this week, James Hiscox and Stu Field, who did score a hatrick in the last fixure against these opponents!
The cup win vs Colerne was pleasing in more ways than the result. The football we played was how we know we can play and the passing for some of the goals was brilliant. Their manager said we've got a great team and expects to play us in division 1 next season. This is what we're looking to achieve but can only do so by keeping our football to a good standard.
It's back to league duty for a few weeks before our next cup adventure vs Gladstone Rovers who may be in division 4 but we must treat them in high respect otherwise we'll shoot ourselves in the foot, same as the other cup which we'll welcome FC Boroughs of division 4 to Stanley park. These draws are good for avoiding the 'big guns' but it's a game we can't win, if we beat them it's expected if we lose it's an upset. we win these games and the season still has a lot to offer
I'd like to be able to update you further on the new keeper situation but I can tell you I've made 3 enquiries for keepers who are mulling over a move to us and hopefully we'll have one in place for our trip to the 3 crowns next sunday.
Let's hope for another 2 points in the league this sunday.
Squad for sunday. Witts, Shipway, Meaton, Hearsey, Legg-Bagg, Manley, Mclaughlin, Gapper, Few, Yeo, D Nolan, Smith, O'keeffe, Moore, Simpkins and possibly M Nolan and T Porter if they recover from injury
This week sees the lads in cup action again and we welcome first division Colerne to stanley park. This should be a tough fixture for us but again it's a welcome one as hopefully it will lift the team up and we can see how far we've come this season. We have a near full squad this week with Kieren the only noticable absentee.
This week has not been a good one with Jack Forester surprising us by returning to the pheasant. It was something completely out of the blue and the search is on for a new keeper with Jonh Witts only available from time to time. I'm hoping to have some news on this in the next week. May we just take this opportunity to wish Jack all the best.
Last weeks cup game was poor by our standards. We started off brightly and faded more as the game went on. Injuries I know played a part but some of the football we're capable of playing disappeared and so with it was our chances of progressing in the wilts cup.
I will look to make some changes this week and try new things as it's not the end of the world if a cup run ends. Let's all be positive and get back to playing how we know we can and hopefully results improve. It's the first time in over a year we've lost 2 on the trot and let's not make it 3.
COYPD
AFC MELKSHAM Well the unbeaten run has come to a somewhat controversial end. I know we were missing a few players but the team we sent out was still strong enough to match them. I do take a share of the blame as I never changed things aroung quick enough and went for a battling pairing in the middle of the pitch and perhaps in hindsight I should've put Mark in there to start so I'll accept responsibility for that, the manner in which we lost the game however i will not accept.
I will start by saying very well played to AFC Melksham who never stopped battling for the entire game, they closed us down and played a very physical game which we had to try and match. The performance of 1 man made this game much harder for us as we already had a hard game to start with. I was absolutely livid and we've made our feelings known in a letter to the FA so I won't comment any further.
This sunday sees New Century WMC visit stanley park from Swindon for a Wilts cup clash. We don't know a lot about our opponents so it could be an interesting game, the press have stated we're underdogs which is the way we like it. We are only missing Sam Legg-bagg and James Meaton this week so I may rotate the squad again so who ever plays will have to be on form as the bench has plenty who can come on and make a difference.
Let's get back to winning ways this week
COYPD
AFC CALNE Welcome to another week in the life of the Audley. We carried on the good league form with another good victory last weekend against a team who didn't make things easy for us and we came away with another 2 points to keep up our exceptional form since January. I'd like to single out some praise this week to 2 players, firstly Ozzie, even though our top scorer never got on the score sheet last week I thought his work rate and contribution by setting up 3 of the 5 goals was good and also to Craig Manley who worked his socks off last week in an unfamiliar role of left wing back. Even if he's not scoring he's helping the team out. Another good perfomance was from the back 3 as it's a formation we don't normally played but it paid off. I'd like to also say sorry but a big thanks to all the lads that never managed to get a game last week. It was good that everyone understood. It was an absolute knightmare.
This week we return to cup action with the visit of AFC Calne. They are a team we've not played too often but we've only managed one victory in the previos 4 encounters but I think there is one that will live longer with us than any other and the players that day will know what i'm talking about. This is by no means a revenge mission, we will be treating this as another game. I may mix the team around this sunday to give some other lads a start.
I'd like to welcome James Meaton back to the club after a couple of years away. Hopefully it won't take him too long to settle in again.
There could also be some amazing breaking news in the next week or 2. I can't say too much at the moment but it could be leading to a bigger and brighter future.
PIG & WHISTLE Here we go it's another big game this sunday when we travel to Awdry avenue in melksham to face local rivals pig and whistle who we've had some very close encounters with and until last season had struggled to get a result at this venue. It's a game where we will have to take no notice of the league table as they will have to pick up a win sooner or later and if we play to our potential then i hope we won't be their first victims.
James Mclaughlin is still unavailable this week as he's running in another sponsored half marathon and best wishes to him in doing so and hope he raises all the money for his chosen charity. Also unavailable this week is Simon Moore who is a big hit in the changing rooms, but Tom Porter is back after missing the cup victory over Pack horse due to him missing his girlfriend!
The line up will be a strong one agaon this week and we'll take nothing for granted but if we can start off strongly again which has been a big factor so far then here's hoping we can bring another 2 points back to Chippenham to stay in touch with leaders Hullavington
PACK HORSE Firstly this week i'd like to apologise for not writing up last week. The game vs Bradford Renegades was very pleasing in more than just the result. The football we played that day was brilliant, we took an early lead again, which brings the players confidence up, and from that point we literally got stuck in. Adam O'keeffe played arguably the best he's ever played in the audley shirt and also Mark Nolan's performances are getting better by the week!!
The pack horse game in the cup was as tricky as predicted but only because we made it hard work. I think they only had 6 shots all game but it showed we can react to going behind in a game. I did tinker with the team which perhaps I shouldn't have but wanted to give others a run out. Mark Nolan again had an outstanding game as did Craig Manley.
This weekend our attentions turn to the wiltshire cup, a competition we've not entered for a while. We were lucky to be drawn against a team we played recently which is good as we know the standard of opposition and hopefully with a strong performance from everyone we can make it 5 wins this season.
As far as i'm aware Adam O'Keeffe, James Mclaughlin and Craig Manley are unavailable but hopefully Mike Few will win his fitness battle to return to centre midfield.
