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Across 16 games, we’ve notched five wins, four draws, and seven losses, sitting 6th with 34 points from 21 games. With new signings like Martyn Tomlinson and Liam Doyle settling in, we’re proving we belong in this division.
We started October with a 3-1 loss to Hartlepool United at Forge Road on 4 October. Dion Coverley opened the scoring in the 4th minute, slotting in Juan Paredes’ low cross, but Connor Vaughan equalised in the 14th minute with a curling 20-yard strike. Ifeanyi Harrison put Hartlepool ahead in the 23rd minute, heading in a corner, and Tyler Howard’s own goal in the 55th minute, deflecting a cross into his own net, sealed our fate.
The EFL Trophy Group A clash against Manchester City Under-21s on 7 October ended in a 2-1 defeat at Forge Road. Macsen Broadley gave us the lead in the 42nd minute, nodding in Rich Marshall’s pinpoint cross, but Luigi Pace levelled in the 60th minute, tapping in Petr Houstecky’s pass. Terry Jones won it with a 67th-minute penalty after a foul by Paul Hulme.
On 11 October, we drew 2-2 with Cheltenham Town at Forge Road. Dominic Trego scored a 32nd-minute penalty for Cheltenham, but Paredes equalised a minute later, volleying in Andy Marshall’s deep cross. Federico Delli Carri put us ahead with a 45th-minute penalty after a handball, only for Louis Pritchard to snatch a 93rd-minute equaliser, heading in Adam Cooper’s delivery.
We fell 2-1 at Bolton Wanderers’ Community Stadium on 18 October. Danny Grady opened the scoring in the 38th minute, rifling in Eoin James’ cut-back. Liam Edwards levelled in the 58th minute, slotting in Liam Doyle’s through ball, but Hugo Hamre won it in the 73rd minute, tapping in Grady’s low cross.
A 0-0 draw at Welling United’s Park View Road on 22 October saw Umar Nasiru keep a clean sheet, thwarting Kenniel Lodge’s late chance.
On 25 October, we drew 1-1 with Northampton Town at Forge Road. Doyle scored in the 23rd minute, heading in Martyn Tomlinson’s long throw, but Richie Edwards equalised in the 57th minute, curling in Hugh McDonagh’s pass.
October ended with a 4-1 loss to Queens Park Rangers at Forge Road on 29 October. Shannon Fernandez struck in the 19th minute, latching onto a long punt from goalkeeper Kamali Muhammad. Peter Connolly equalised in the 43rd minute, volleying in Coverley’s cross, but Tarek Gouda put QPR ahead in the 52nd minute, heading in Fatih Ozkaya’s cross. Fernandez struck again in the 73rd minute, tapping in Ozkaya’s cut-back, and Gouda sealed it in the 79th minute, rifling in Ozkaya’s through ball.
November began with a 4-1 FA Cup First Round win over Hartlepool United at Victoria Park on 1 November. Mark Rothwell scored a 2nd-minute penalty after a foul, but Connor Vaughan levelled in the 18th minute with a low drive. Coverley restored our lead in the 40th minute, heading in Deuve Grey’s cross, and Rich Marshall struck twice late, first curling in Broadley’s pass in the 84th minute and then tapping in Delli Carri’s cut-back in the 91st minute.
On 5 November, we suffered a 7-3 thrashing at MK Dons’ Stadium MK. Charlie Solly missed a penalty in the 2nd minute, but Lee Price scored the rebound. Paul Scott struck in the 22nd minute, heading in Rees Cuggy’s cross, and Solly made it 3-0 in the 26th minute, tapping in Cuggy’s pass. Coverley pulled one back in the 29th minute, slotting in Grey’s low cross, but Scott scored again in the 30th minute, nodding in Solly’s delivery. Coverley struck in the 35th minute, rifling in Grey’s through ball, only for Solly to head in Steve George’s cross in the 43rd minute. Cuggy made it 6-2 in the 46th minute, curling in George’s pass, and Frazer Saxby added a seventh in the 82nd minute. Tomlinson scored a consolation in the 90th minute, heading in a corner.
We rebounded with a 3-0 win over FC United of Manchester at Forge Road on 8 November. Delli Carri opened the scoring in the 43rd minute, slotting in Connolly’s through ball. Clarvis doubled the lead in the 72nd minute, nodding in Rothwell’s cross, and Jesse Watts sealed it in the 94th minute, heading in Clarvis’ corner.
The EFL Trophy campaign ended on 11 November with a 7-1 loss to Burton Albion at Forge Road, where I fielded a youth side in protest at the competition’s format. Liam Humphreys scored in the 1st minute, tapping in Kieran Smith’s cross, and our debutant Nándor Oross saw red in the 7th minute for a reckless tackle. James Thomas-Davis made it 2-0 in the 31st minute, heading in Alex Cotton’s delivery. Humphreys added a penalty in stoppage time, Delli Carri replied with a 49th-minute penalty, but Cotton struck twice (50th and 52nd minutes, via Humphreys and James Parry assists), and Casey Hudson scored in the 71st and 77th minutes, both from cut-backs. I’m proud of debutants Robins, Hinnigan, Oross and Baker, but I’m glad to be done with the Trophy.
On 15 November, we beat Grimsby Town 3-1 at Forge Road. Paredes opened the scoring in the 11th minute, slotting in Hulme’s low cross. JJ Andrews equalised in the 25th minute, tapping in Jack Thompson’s pass. Tomlinson restored our lead in the 51st minute, heading in Andy Marshall’s corner, and Paredes sealed it in the 93rd minute, rifling in Tomlinson’s through ball.
We won 4-2 at Swansea City’s Liberty Stadium on 19 November. Josh Chapman scored an own goal for Swansea in the 24th minute, deflecting a cross into his net. Connolly equalised in the 30th minute, nodding in Broadley’s cross. Swansea’s Chris Warner saw red in the 31st minute for a high tackle. Doyle put us ahead in the 40th minute, tapping in a loose ball, Paredes struck in the 77th minute, volleying in Grey’s cross, and Rothwell scored an 83rd-minute penalty. Niall Adkins pulled one back for Swansea in the 94th minute.
On 22 November, we lost 2-1 at Crewe Alexandra’s Gresty Road. Ricardo Fletcher scored in the 34th minute, heading in Darren Reynolds’ cross. Darren Jones made it 2-0 in the 66th minute, curling in Stephen Hunt’s pass. Rothwell pulled one back in the 85th minute, slotting in a loose ball.
We closed November with a 3-0 win over Yeovil Town at Forge Road on 26 November. Lewis Summerfield scored in the 18th minute, heading in Doyle’s corner. Andy Marshall struck in the 65th minute, curling in Delli Carri’s pass, and Coverley sealed it in the 80th minute, tapping in Broadley’s low cross.
A 0-0 draw at Woking’s Sanju Akhtar Park in the FA Cup Second Round on 29 November kept us in the hat.
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We’re 6th with 34 points from 21 games, level with Bristol Rovers in the play-off spots, but promotion isn’t the goal we set out with. Mersham (53 points), MK Dons (40), and Burton (36) lead the promotion race, with Shrewsbury and Crewe (both 35) in the play-offs. Yeovil (16) and Walsall (9) are in the relegation zone.
