And so a final ninety minutes of football to round of 2008 and what better way to end the calendar month than with a draw that showed just how bad we’re not and just how good we’re not at the changing of the year. The fact that we were clinging on to a draw at the end of the game shows that work is still to be done in 2009 but the way we started the game can equally show promise for the coming months.
Of course, it may be very tough to judge what 2009 will bring, with the current crop of Cobblers players not sure whether they will be playing together for much longer due to the financial cuts being made in the fallout from the NBC disaster. It’s going to be difficult to add to this squad and make it any better and if Stuart Gray can do that by January 31st he will have done an incredible job.
As it is, we must plug on and support the eleven men that turn out week in, week out and a mid-table finish looks a very safe bet after this afternoon’s game with a Bristol Rovers side who showed just as much inconsistency within the ninety minutes as we did ourselves.
It was the Cobblers who stormed out of the blocks, eager to erase the memories of the late Southend winner against them on Boxing Day. Bayo Akinfenwa, starting up front alongside Scott Mcgleish in the first game the two have played together, controlled a high ball early on with his ample chest and volleyed a controlled effort from distance against the post in an agonising near miss that could well have sparked a comfortable afternoon should it have found the net.
We continued brightly on and Danny Jackman had a deflected free kick saved well by visiting keeper Steve Phillips before the first flash point involving the officials of the afternoon came about. Jackman swung in the resulting corner and Akinfenwa rose to seemingly put us in front by powering a header into the unguarded net. The big man began to celebrate with the 5,000 or so Cobblers fans in attendance but referee Mr Hooper ruled it out for what seemed little contact on Phillips.
The ball was in Rovers’ net again a few minutes later with Scott McGleish’s effort ruled out for offside and this time it was more clear cut and the officials had a certain case.
Rovers were struggling to get a hold in the game and a shot into the side netting was the best they could conjure up until a minute before the break as Chris Lines curled over the top of Chris Dunn’s goal.
The start of the second half saw the Cobblers briefly threaten the visitors’ goal with Akinfenwa going close on a couple of occasions before Andy Todd headed over the bar from a Jackman corner but the early pressure faded and Rovers began to show their attacking mettle.
The linesman on the West Stand side of the ground wasn’t winning any friends but the pinnacle of his bizarre decisions came mid-way through the half when he awarded Rovers a free kick when Liam Davis had clearly taken the ball near the touchline. From that free kick, we were so nearly behind as a goal mouth scramble was cleared off the line. The danger wasn’t over though and Chris Dunn had to come out to deny Rickie Lambert from the following corner.
Rovers were beginning to impose themselves and so nearly took the lead with yet another scramble involving many bodies and the goal line once again saw us ride our luck more than once. It started to feel like it could yet be out day with such good fortune going our way and Liam Davis took the ball up the other end and went close to putting us in front.
It was the Cobblers’ turn to be cursing their own luck late on as Ryan Gilligan had a shot cleared at the last by a defender but the game ended all square and that was a fair result on the basis of the game and one that both managers will take after coming under pressure in different parts of the game. Both will point to big decisions going against them with Bayo’s header and Rovers’ good appeals for a spot kick for a second half handball going amiss but 2008 ended with just the solitary point for both teams.
What 2009 will bring is anyone’s guess but what is for certain is that you won’t be able to predict where we will be come May and the end of the current campaign. All eyes are now on the January transfer window as we see what is in store for our beloved club in the wake of our not so beloved council’s latest revelations.
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