One of the most popular coaches at our Club was Peter Carey, who assisted Jeff and Fred Saxton in our renaissance period in the 1980s and 1990s. He used to break up a season into thirds and review progress, or lack of it, at those stages. I have taken to writing reviews on the same basis and wrote the first third review based on results to 8 November last year. Now, with 38 games played out of at least 58 (depending on progress in the Robert Dyas League Cup), how have things gone more recently?

The first stage of the season saw the management change, a lot of new players and 24 games played bringing 11 wins, five draws and eight defeats, with 38 goals scored and 31 conceded.
The results from the 14 games since then have produced six wins, eight defeats and no draws, with 22 goals for and 22.

In the League, we are in 13th position compared to 10th in early November, although we have between one and four games in hand of the four teams immediately above and below us.
Between 12 November and 9 December, we had a run of six games, with a win, loss, win, loss, win, loss sequence. The wins, all at home, all against Essex opposition, were against Tilbury in the 1st Round of the Robert Dyas League Cup and League wins against Billericay and Witham.
Away from home we began to look rather brittle. A very disappointing display at Tonbridge saw our exit from the F.A. Trophy (0-2). At Margate, we succumbed with some poor defending, although the 3-0 scoreline did rather flatter our wealthy high-flying title contenders. The third defeat was a cruel one. Over 90 minutes we had matched Conference South, Concord Rangers and drew level in added-on time, to take the tie to penalties. Concord scored from their five, but Freddie Ladapo’s effort was saved and they moved on to a quarter-final tie at Dagenham.

With four matches remaining in 2014, we were still in touch with a play-off position. Then we lost at Leatherhead (1-3) and Wingate & Finchley (0-1) and lost manager Jody Brown after the game when it wasannounced that he had accepted the Manager’s job at Conference side, Welling. This came as a big surprise after less than six months in the job. His record of 14 wins, five draws and 13 defeats had left us in 15th position, closer to relegation than the play- offs.

Andy Swallow took caretaker-charge for the next three games, announcing that a new managerial appointment would be made in the New Year once our ground relocation plans became clearer. He started with a Robert Dyas League Cup 2nd Round win at Ilford against Barkingside (1-0), but there was disappointment to follow with a 1-3 home derby defeat against East Thurrock. Worse was to come with a poor display and a New Year’s Day 2-0 defeat at Hornchurch. Andy handed the reins over to experienced player, Mark Bentley and he kicked off with an excellent 3-1 win at home to Kingstonian, who had boasted the best away record in the League up to that point. This was fol- lowed up with a pulsating 5-2 away win at Peacehaven, who were fresh from a good run, including the Macron ‘Team Perform- ance of the Month’ victory at Margate. Before the game, the news had come through that the planning enquiry had gone against the developer for the Aveley Sports and Social Club site, so the possible move to the grounds of Treetops School in Grays, was put in severe doubt.

Back to the football and Benno’s honey- moon period came to an abrupt end at home to Lewes who stole a very winnable game with a most flattering 3-1 scoreline. After going a goal down to former talisman, Leroy Griffiths, we fought our way back into the game. Unfortunately, some poor officiating failed to see the ball cross the Lewes line and a push on Joao Carlos in the box went unpunished to leave us a goal down at half- time. We drew level with an excellent cross from Jey Siva and a lovely turn and strike by Dumebi GB-Dumaka. Second half pressure was unrelenting on the Lewes goal, but as so often happens in games like this, two shots produced two goals, although our defending left much to be desired and we came away empty-handed. We had also lost three key players – Glen Little and Joseph Zerafa to Welling and Freddie Ladapo to Margate, but we welcomed new, less experienced, recruits including the loan signings of Rod Young and Joel Nouble, who returned after he impressed towards the end of last season on loan from Dagenham & Redbridge.

We have another 19 League games and a twice-postponed (so far!), Robert Dyas League Cup tie to play with every chance to consolidate our position in the Ryman Premier. It will be a test for our squad, many of whom are inexperienced at this level, but I am sure it will keep us all interested until 25 April. Without wishing to cause alarm, our five games planned for April include three against teams currently occupying positions in the top five of the table. Of course, that is balanced by four games against sides currently in the relega- tion slots, so it’s still all to play for!
I will write my review of the ‘third third’ of the season for our last programme of the season, scheduled for Saturday 18 April against play-off chasing Hendon. Let’s hope I am able to report on some good news, on and off the pitch.