The Unemployment Challenge

I didn't realise just how bad our current situation really is. We are in the relegation zone and relegation would be an absolute disaster in my first job as a manager. Having a look at our recent fixtures, I see that the team has been in a really poor run of form in the league as we have lost our last 5 games in the Blue Square South. Obviously my first job at Chelmsford City should be to improve our league form. Cup competitions are not important to me at this moment in time as we desperately need to stay up this season. My first game in charge will be against Basingstoke Town who are also struggling in the league. This game is perfect because it will allow me to see just how good my players are compared to some of this league's lesser teams.

Basingstoke Town 0-3 Chelmsford City

Blue Square South

Attendance - 305

Jamie Slabber (58)

Colin Miles booked (89)

Anthony Cook - 9.1 rating

Absolutely delighted with the result but even more so with the performance. We were expected to lose the match heavily before the game but we proved that we certainly have the ability to win games in this division. All three goalscorers were fantastic and the players seem to have mastered my new tactics already in the way they were passing the ball. We need to keep our feet on the ground of course but I can't have expected a better start to my managerial career than that.

Oxford City 0-1 Chelmsford City

FA Trophy 1st Rnd

Attendance - 148

Jamie Slabber (72)

Aiden Palmer booked (21)

Andrew Gunn (79)

Mark Haines - 8.1 rating

I did say earlier that cup competitions aren't important to me this season but the FA Trophy is our only realistic chance of silverware and so I'm willing to make an exception for this competition. We started very slowly and it took us around 30 minutes to get going. When we did get going however, we looked superb and deservedly won the game.

[spoiler=Dover board to consider Sandmann's position][/spoiler]

Chelmsford City 3-2 Farnborough

Blue Square South

Attendance - 552

Mark Haines (30)

Ömer Riza (54)

Jamie Slabber (63)

Reece Connolly (64, 89)

Marien Ifura booked (84)

Reece Connolly booked (86)

Jamie Slabber booked (88)

Ollie Treacher - 9.0 rating

An excellent game to watch and we thoroughly deserved this win. Farnborough were 7th in the league going into this game, whereas we were 19th. Despite the contrasting league positions, we dominated the game from the start and soon found ourselves 3-0 up. However, Farnborough staged a late fightback with two goals of the highest quality from Reece Connolly. We held on though and we very nearly snatched a fourth goal.

[spoiler=Norwich sack Hughton][/spoiler]

Salisbury City 2-2 Chelmsford City

Blue Square South

The Raymond McEnhill Stadium

Attendance - 586

Jordan Agbaje (3)

Stuart Sinclair (10)

Jamie Slabber (19)

Mark Haines (90)

Jamie Slabber booked (27)

Aiden Palmer booked (45)

Justin Miller booked (46)

Max Cornhill booked (53)

Jonathan O'Donnell - 8.3 rating

Salisbury were 4th in the league going into this match and we were miles behind in 18th. We started appallingly and found ourselves 2-0 down after 9 minutes. We soon pulled one back though and then seemed to play with a confidence that simply wasn't there before. I told my players at half-time that they were unlucky to be behind and they responded by creating chance after chance in the second half and with better finishing we would have been out of sight. However the end of the game drew nearer and nearer and I was convinced I would taste defeat for the first time as a manager until Mark Haines climbed above his marker to head in a very late equaliser.

[spoiler=Slabber is cream of the crop for Chelmsford][/spoiler]

Chelmsford City 3-0 Dorchester Town

Blue Square South

Attendance - 546

Jamie Slabber (5, 81)

Blaine Hudson (29)

Harrison Bell booked (15)

Mark Haines booked (72)

Jamie Slabber - 9.0 rating

This was a very one-sided game of football and we comfortably won the game. Dorchester never looked like winning this one and I was surprised at just how easy this game was. Our next game is at Grimsby in the FA Trophy and anything other than a defeat will be a huge upset as Grimsby are doing well in the Blue Square Bet Premier. Fitness levels are beginning to become a bit of a worry now but I will try to play my strongest team possible.

[spoiler=Unbeatable Chelmsford set new record][/spoiler]

Grimsby Town 1-0 Chelmsford City

FA Trophy 2nd Rnd

Blundell Park

Attendance - 2,207

Liam Hearn (79)

Danny Parslow - 8.7 rating

We were very good in this game despite the defeat. Grimsby looked average at best and we were desperately unlucky to lose. This is my first defeat as a manager and we have now been knocked out of the FA Trophy but despite much stronger opposition I thought we played well and I'm extremely proud of my players.