CASTLE IN THE AIR FC

Brilliant start to the season, dreadful middle and an encouraging end. To me that is the season in a nutshell.

The campiagn could not have started better with just one defeat in the opening seven games.

It seemed like we were going to have a good season.

However, the slump began with a 4-1 league reverse at Wicor to BSC Gosport who at that stage had yet to win a league game.

Although we won our next match againt Second Division Trafalgar in the Combination Cup, we were to subsequently lose our next three outings to AFC Whiteley (twice) and AFC Rowner.

The defeat against Rowner in the league was a difficult one to swallow though as with just ten minutes of the game remaining we were 1-0 up, but unfortunately we could not hold on to the lead, something that dogged us all season, eventually going down 3-1.

An impressive, and somewhat surprising backs against the wall victory over Glencoe Sports followed, but that win was to be our last for nearly five months.

We were to take just one point from our next eight league games and also went out of the Challenge Cup at the 1st Round.

There was to be no progression in the Brolly Cup either as Glencoe gained revenge for that league defeat by beating us 3-1 in the quarter-finals.

Everyone thought our luck had changed when we played BSC Gosport at Elson Rec at the end of March. With 90 minutes on the clock we were winning 1-0 and seemed to be heading for our first league success since November.

When the referee blew his whistle after playing two minutes of injury time, we had somehow managed to lose the match 2-1!!

Never had I seen our dressing room so quiet; the team were devaststed, even the oposition could not believe they had snatched victory at the death.

Much to everyone's releif that elusive league win did come the following week against bottom of the table BDML Connect, though a 4-2 midweek defeat to Glencoe meant we went into our final game of the season needing to beat Solent Rangers to have any chance of avoiding relegation.

We duly beat Solent 2-0 at Wicor with what was arguably our best performance of the season to virtually guarentee our First Division place next term.

Overall a difficult campaign. Performances on the whole were not bad and had we finished off the numerous chance we created we would have definatly finished in mid-table.

Finally just to say thank you to all the players who turned out for the club this season and for sticking with us despite the poor results.

Anyhow, I'm off for a well deserved rest now until pre-season training commences in July.

Cheers,
Marshall (a very tired Secretary, Treasurer, Manager, Goalkeeper and now Web Editor!))