Managers Update - 3rd December 2007
With the first team squad up to an impressive 18 players now, the job of team selection is now giving me and Huddy a different type of headache, but now it's a pleasing kind. What you want as a first team coach is competition for places and we have now reached that situation. Over the past few weeks we have been working tirelessly in the bootroom to generate stability in our ranks as well as strengthen our squad so we can mount a more decisive and determined push for promotion. We have been and are absolutely delighted with the performances and attitude of all the players all season, but feel that the additions of Wayne Pulford, Donald Grub and Adam Vallance gives us a few more options and allows us to select a more balanced side. I also felt too many players were being asked to play in positions they were not too familiar in, and I feel that we now have cover in all departments, giving us the opportunity to change shape and systems of play without disruption. Plenty of work is still to be done, however I am confident along with Huddy that we are moving in the right direction as our present position in the table is showing. The attitude and committment of all of the players is fantastic and this is beginning to show in the results on the park as well as the growing confidence and spirit in the dressing room.

Coventry Alliance Division 3 - Dunlop 1: Brinklow 2
1st December 2007

Report from Martin Pulford:-
From the coaches perspective, this was a truly all round squad performance. The players were fantastic in this game showing that they possess all of the qualities required to move up a level and out of this division. We proved that we have the ability and mental strength to mix it with anyone, playing some brilliant football, digging in when it mattered, defending confidently and above all putting away the chances when we were very much in the ascendency. A really impressive performance from everyone involved.Three more points in the bag and we are now proving to all that we are real title contenders, sitting in an extremely positive position in the league.

Report from Paul Huddlestone:-
On a typically blustery autumn afternoon both side’s intentions were to secure the points to mount a strong league campaign and gain promotion from the “notoriously difficult to get out of” Coventry Alliance division three. And first half goals by strikers Donald Grubb and Wayne Pulford were enough to give Brinklow all three points in this keenly contested encounter.

With the wind slightly behind us in the first half Brinklow were able to force the pace with the impressive Scott Vallance and Mark Bird winning the battle in the middle of the park. Slick moves down the Brinklow left brought joy for Simon Bullock to feed the front men on several occasions but last ditch defending prevented the opener. As Brinklow forced more pressure on the Dunlop back line Andy Mayne was released down the right to break the offside trap. The home defence looked despairingly at their linesman but Mayney didn’t hesitate, sending in a pinpoint cross for Grubby to control and slot past the Dunlop keeper. A deserved opener, with the second coming within minutes against our then very disorganised opposition. Excellent work from Dave Anderson at left back released Birdy down the middle who in turn slotted through for the very busy Pulfs to race through and finish magnificently past the out rushing keeper. We knew that Dunlop had nothing to loose in the second half and with the increasing wind in our faces Brinklow had to dig deep from the re-start. Our hosts managed to see a little more ball all over the park with their pressure causing a mix up in the Brinklow defence. As the ball was played down the Dunlop left James A’Barrow stood firm at right back giving the winger no option other than the long ball into the Brinklow box. The long high ball sailed over the heads of the Brinklow defenders but a positioning misjudgement by keeper Dale Huddlestone failed to see it bounce all the way through to him. He in turn was beaten to the ball by the Dunlop striker who toed agonisingly slowly into an empty net.

That was the wake up call Brinklow needed forcing us to work much harder in every position with us again creating chances through substitutes Lee Trainer and Andy Sorrell. As the game progressed into the final minutes Huddlestone made up for his earlier mistake with two smart saves on his near post and excellent work from Mark Woodward, Birdy, and Man of the Match Scott Vallance kept the home side at bay for the remaining minutes.