**with apologies to Chairman Mao and Alf Garnett
New Reserve team manager Lionel Meade has provided an insight to his opening games with the Blues

Every newly appointed manager, from Sunday mornings to the Premiership will tell you that the first few weeks are normally a baptism of fire. Well since taking on my new role, any mini revival of hair growth on my head has been well and truly quashed. Having witnessed the home defeat against Ilford (2-3) on 14/10/2003, I took charge along with my assistant Bert Hoyte against Braintree the following Saturday in the Combination Cup. On witnessing the defeat, I asked for a more disciplined team performance. This is exactly what we got against a team several places higher in the same division.. Anyone who watched the match will tell you that after 90 Mins, a score line of 6-2 to the blues would have been a fair reflection of the game.

The chances that befell our forwards will probably haunt them for a long time to come. They certainly have not left my memory as yet! The first period of extra time saw us give away two early goals and some supporters opted to head for the bar thinking its all over, but with a few minutes left of extra time we pulled a goal back and then threw everything at Braintree, but unfortunately time ran out. As disappointing as the eventual result was, the team performance was vastly improved from the Ilford game and offered some light at the end of the tunnel.

Therefore we went to Bowers on 25/10/2003 in the Fred Budden Cup with reasonable confidence and included several new signings. A disastrous start saw us 1-0 down within five Minutes and once again considerable frustration on the bench as very reasonable goal chances were squandered. A second goal for Braintree just before the half time break looked to have killed the game, but fought back to level at 2-2 with several minutes of normal time left. The frustration continued as we squandered opportunities to win the game, so for the second match running we entered extra time. With no further scoring, we entered the penalty shoot-out. Without any bias, I have to say that the five penalties that we took (all placed) were of an exceptional standard and with Bowers having missed their first penalty, we were through to the next round.

On Saturday, we entertained Thamesmead Town in the London Intermediate Cup. Training on the previous Thursday evening had turned into a nightmare as we discovered that we were to be without four of the squad from the Bowers game owing to illness, injury, work commitments and ineligibility. On Friday evening it got worse when I learned that another player had to cry off due to work commitments. The spine of our Team had been ripped out and arriving at the ground on Saturday afternoon, I had no clue of the team or team-shape. Whilst in the dressing room, Trevor Duberry (Coach) delivered another bombshell that we had lost another Central midfielder for the afternoon. At this stage, I want to say a big thank you to Dennis Elliott who provided two players, warm up tops and additional balls. There are not many Managers who are willing to assist the Reserve team of their clubs. 

Thamesmead town as I understand, were the reigning holders of the trophy and on visiting their website, I had noted their phenomenal goal scoring record which averaged 3-4 goals per game with virtually no defeats. I kept this information to myself and my assistant Bert Hoyte fearing a psychological affect on the team. With the first team not having a game, the attendance for the Reserve match was bigger than normal and those present witnessed a match so intensely fought and typical of cup ties. Its amazing how league games cannot match cup ties for intensity, commitment and drama. Without any shadow of doubt, Thamesmead dominated the first 45 mins, but due to outstanding defending from the Blues defence, could not carve out any clear cut chances until 30 seconds from half time. Our defence failed to push up and a magnificent 40 yard lob from their centre forward opened the scoring. Bert, Trevor and Myself rallied the players and with better movement in Midfield, obtained and deserved an equaliser. The match then generated into a smashing cup tie with chances at both ends, saves and goal line clearances.

or the third week running, the reserves entered extra time, but by now, Thamesmead were dominating the match and the Blues defence were outstanding in repelling attack after attack. For the second time in the match and with a matter of seconds to go, an attempted clearance in our penalty box which was on its way to the half way line struck an opposition player in the back and rebounded into our net. Twenty seconds later the final whistle went and you could see the disappointment on our players faces. Make no mistake, Thamesmead are an exceptionally good side with tremendous movement and it will be no surprise to me if they retain the trophy.

Taking the last three weeks into context, it is Trevor, Bert's and Myself to remind the players that they have made considerable progress in the last three weeks. In 270 minutes of football, they have not been beaten, and no one three weeks ago would have predicted extra time in the fixtures against Braintree and Thamesmead.

There is a lot of hard work ahead and hopefully more new faces to bring in to improve the squad but so far