04/05 Season Review: Second Team

 

The second team began the season with great aspirations having gained much confidence from a good preseason and several new players to boost the squad. Things didn’t go to plan, however, and the team started the season with a disappointing 5-1 defeat away to Usk Town. Not only were the 2nds facing a competent Usk team, but the squad was decimated due to absentees and first team call-ups.In the teams second game it proved a similar story with players missing, the team lost 7-1 to local rival’s PILCS – a bitter pill to swallow but understandable given the side we could field.

The following month saw an upturn in forunes. It was no coincidence that as players returned and the team settled, results drastically improved. Sebastopol would remain unbeaten winning one and drawing three of the next four games, the pick of these being the 0-0 draw away to Race where the team put in thei best performance of the season and should have taken all three points. Defeat soon returned as Sebastopol lost to 1st division Goytre in the cup.

Returning to the league, the side would continue to climb the table and acquire points. Two of the next four games would be won, the pick of which being a fine away at rivals New Inn. Recording a fine 3-1 victory with Ian Mruk scoring all three goals.
Returning to cup competition, Sebastopol played Race and with a patched up team with no subs available Sebastopol lost 6-0. This was difficult to take having matched them only a few weeks earlier in the league, but this defeat would have crushing consequences. Discontent among the side saw manager Rob Whittington resign the job of second team manager due to pending work commitments but remained as a player when available.

With the team now managerless, the committee met and put Gareth Richards and Mike White in temporary charge until a manager could be appointed. Their stint at the helm of the second team would last a meagre 2 games – with one win (a 4-3 win at struggling Pontypool Town) and another defeat. It was then that an appointment would be made and ex-player and club favourite Gary Davies was handed the role as second team manager.

Gary would not be helped in the coming months with players not turning up every week and the 1st team suffering from many injures to the squad. This filtered down and often left the team struggling to gain enough players for a starting XI let alone offer any substitutes. With his hands tied it was clear that the mid-season madness and player shortage would hamper the team in the coming months.
A horrible run of results would ensue and in nine games the second team would record nine defeats. Despite the run, the players should be applauded for sticking together through this bad patch of the season and Gary to for keeping them together. Following defeat at Pandy. As if the team hadn’t been though enough turmoil already, a new manager had to be found, but with the aim of providing some stability the committee decided that John Betts would take charge of the 2nd team until the end of the season, when they club would actively seek a new manager without other distractions.

Sebastopol’s next game was away to run-away leaders Prescoed. Due to Mr Betts being unavailable for this game, Gareth Richards was put in charge of the team and even though the team lost 6-0 the performance was a big improvement on recent games. Many a team had gone to Prescoed and been beating comfortably in double figures – the scoreline and performance simply testament to a new resolve and a sign perhaps of an upturn in fortunes. John Betts would take charge of the next two games and sure enough performances did improve but still ended in two defeats. Again though as Sebastopol were starting to get players back from injury things began to click into place in their last few matches of the season.

The penultiamte league match was at Mardy. The team now much stronger than in previous weeks put in a superb performance to record a fine 2-1 victory. Admirable performances were aplenty and the team ended the league campaign on a high. Before the team could conclude the league season a cup double header would be played in the Press series cup.
The first match at Pontypool Town would see John Maddox would take charge of the team in John Betts absence. The team went on to record a fine 5-3 win with James Jackson scoring 4 and Rob Whittington 1.

Finally, Sebastopol travelled to New Inn and John Maddox rested some players after already playing two games in four days not including this game.
New Inn could only field ten players for this game but put in a great performance to lead 3-1 with 20 minutes to go. It was at this time that John threw on his subs who had a great effect on pulling this game around. Rob Whittington started the fight back scoring a superb 25 yard half volley then super-sub Craig Williams beat the off side trap to score the equaliser with 10 minutes remaining. The game looked like it was heading for a draw until Matt James scored the winning goal 5 minutes from the end with the help of a deflection from 20 yards. An undeserved yet welcome three points to see the league season off.

Next up was the 2nd leg of the press series cup against Pontypool Town, the first half was very close but at half time Sebastopol lead 1-0. In the second half Pontypool came back strongly and were given a lucky penalty to pull it back to 1-1 and ten minutes later produced another goal to lead 2-1. Sebastopol unleashed the cavalry including <b>that</b> super sub Craig Williams, who again responded by grabbing the equaliser and the game finished 2-2 . Sebastopol progressed 7-5 on aggregate and would play Fairfield at home in the Quarter finals.

Fairfield would up with a very strong squad, but Sebastopol would go on to give arguably their best performance of the season.
After 90 minutes the teams were drawing 2-2, and the two goals Sebastopol had scored were both superb strikes. Mike Gallivan scored a great individual goal and Stephen Sheppard dispatched a tremendous 20 yard volley to pu the team on the brink of victory, but it wasn’t to be. In extra time Sebastopol could not find the winner their performance deserved on the day and the game went to penalties. Sebastopol eventually lost 4-2 which greatly upset the players who found it difficult to console themselves in the knowledge that the team had gone out on a high.

Over the season Sebastopol would be disappointed with some of the performances and results, but the form shown in their last six games proved with a full squad that they can be a force next season.
Gareth Richards as captain led the team well all season; I would also praise Lewis Payne who showed what a good player he is when he wants to be and I would also add it was nice to see Scott Smith playing so well after a quiet start to the season.
One of the best performers over the season was Goalkeeper Ian Doughty who was very consistent; add to that the young talent of Sam Davies, Alex Hughes and Jamie Surtees and Sebastopol have a bright future that’s for sure.
The second team lacked a consistent goal scorer over the season and this is where they were let down in many matches. Like the 1st team they must improve on their fitness (which can only be achieved through commitment to training). I look forward to seeing all the players back for pre-season training and believe with some hard work the 2nd team can have a much better season next year.

Your Sincerely
J.L.Maddox
(1ST Team Manager)

Season Stats

To see more statistics and information from the 2004/2005 season, follow this link