Cox – Pressure is all on Kettering

Published Date: 02 January 2009

By Mark Duffy

EASTWOOD Town will have little fear and a fantastic run of form behind them as they go into the most exciting weekend in the club's history.

Kettering Town may not carry with them the glitz and glamour of some of the teams Eastwood could have faced, but their higher status means there is just as much expectancy and pressure on them as there would have been on Manchester United or Chelsea had they been hosting the Badgers.

And Eastwood boss Paul Cox believes that could, as in previous rounds, play into his side's hands.

"Whoever we faced we would have been underdogs as we're the lowest ranked team left in the competition, but we've revelled in that status up to now.

"Kettering have been underdogs in their games so far but now they face a different kind of challenge, and the pressure is definitely on them to beat us.

"Their fans will be expecting them to win and we have to be ready to capitalise if they're not on the ball."

For more of Cox's thoughts on the Kettering tie, click here.

The Boxing Day victory at Boston United made it 14 games unbeaten for Eastwood, and they have had a clear week to prepare for the cup tie with no match on New Year's Day.

Cox was delighted with the three points in Lincolnshire.

He said: "We started slowly and I felt we were off the pace for the first 25 minutes or so, but once we got going we made a real game of it.

"It would have been great to watch as a neutral as in the second half both sides created chances, and we missed some particularly good ones."

The introduction of Matt Rhead again made a difference, emphasising the embarassment of riches Cox has at his disposal when it comes to strikers.

"The formation and style we've been employing doesn't always suit players like Rheady, Peter Knox and Marc Smith, so they've been a bit unlucky in having to wait for their chance, but they're always effective when called upon as they add a different dimension to our game," said Cox.

"Tristram Whitman is another example of a really good quality player not being able to get a game, and in the end we've had to let him go out on loan to FC United of Manchester because he wants to play, and you can't blame him."

Boston will again be Eastwood's opponents next Tuesday when they visit in the UniBond League Challenge Cup fourth round.

With the league the main priority and the sideline of the FA Cup run, Cox is again likely to use the game as a chance to field some of his lesser used but still excellent quality players.

He said: "They did really well in the last round at Stocksbridge and deserve the chance to play against Boston.

"This kind of situation only emphasises the strength of squad we've got, which is necessary when there's the risk of injuries and suspensions.

Four-goal Eastwood Town blow United away

Published Date: 06 December 2008

UniBond League Premier Division
EASTWOOD TOWN 4
FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER 2

Eastwood Town continued their winning ways with a 4-2 home win over FC United on Saturday.

Eastwood blitzed their way to three more valuable league points with both Ian Holmes (13 minutes (penalty] and 74 minutes) and Andy Todd (20 minutes and 80 minutes)firing a brace apiece.

In front of 820, United's reply goals only came in the last five minutes through Simon Carden on 85 and Roca on 90 minutes.

Eastwood are next in action on Saturday, December 13 when they are home to Buxton in the league (3pm).

Eastwood boss pleased with four-point haul

20 November 2008

By Mark Duffy

A COMBINATION of fatigued players, big crowds and a local derby challenged Eastwood Town's squad over the last week but four points from two games left boss Paul Cox highly satisfied.

Late goals against Ilkeston Town on Saturday rescued a point from a largely disappointing performance, before a fine win at FC United of Manchester on Wednesday saw the Badgers leap to sixth place in the league table.

Cox was pleased with the points haul, particularly given the circumstances his players currently face.

He said: "When you look at these two games four points is a good tally. If we'd beaten Ilkeston and drawn on Wednesday I'd have been equally pleased, because these were both tough encounters.

"The players have had to cope with so many big games in the last few weeks and they were dead on their feet for the last 20 minutes at FC United, but they're getting the results."

Cox felt Saturday's performance against Ilkeston wasn't the best, but that was partly down to who they were playing.

"Ilkeston are a very difficult side to play against as every time they lose the ball they've suddenly got ten players behind it again," said Cox.

"We've been trying to play football recently but in the end we had to resort to bringing a big man on up front and playing over them, as we'd struggled to play through them!"

"I felt their first goal came after a foul on our keeper, and altogether I don't think they created too many chances."

The win at FC United came thanks to Ian Holmes' penalty, though Eastwood had created several good chances beforehand to have scored in open play.

Cox added: "We played some fabulous stuff in the first-half against a very good footballing side, and I don't think anybody could have complained if we'd scored four or five.

"Despite being so tired towards the end we still restricted their efforts on goal and it says so much about this team that we were able to grind out the win."

Holmes is spot-on to secure victory

Holmes is spot-on to secure victory

Published Date: 21 November 2008

By Paddy Farrell

UniBond Premier League
FC United of Manchester 0Eastwood Town 1

IAN Holmes' penalty on the stroke of half-time secured the points for Eastwood Town in Lancashire on Tuesday night.

An unchanged Eastwood line-up started promisingly on a Gigg Lane pitch which bore no resemblance to the 'cabbage patch' I recall from my only previous visit many years ago.

On a beautifully tended surface, the visiting attack created early chances and Holmes twice failed to capitalise on direct confrontations with Sam Ashton.

The Eastwood striker first lost control as Ashton challenged and then saw the ball smothered when he attempted to round the keeper.

Chris Baguley led United's riposte but Shane Redmond got squarely behind the flanker's viciously skidding shot and blocked the ball untidily but effectively out for a corner.

Lindon Meikle missed out when released by Ross Gardner and Ashton breathed again when Andy Todd ended a good solo run with a shot across and just behind his exposed goal.

Meikle simply ran away from two opponents and claimed a spectacular diving save from Ashton.

As the half threatened to end with a dominant Eastwood side frustrated, Northwich-based referee Mr Smallwood enraged the sizeable home crowd by spotting a trip and awarding Eastwood a penalty.

Significantly there was little on-field protest and Holmes confidently converted for an interval 0-1 lead.

In a fast, furious second period, Eastwood's defence was regularly extended and Redmond had, once or twice, to show his undoubted class to resist efforts from Kyle Wilson and Jerome Wright.

Around Ashton, an Eastwood attack, with Tris Whitman on for Holmes, buzzed menacingly and the newcomer's forays down the left created nervous moments for the home fans.

Vociferous appeals for a spot-kick as Mark Hume and Wilson clashed, were waved aside and Eastwood, sometimes nervously, held on, through seemingly endless added time, for a very important away win.

The value of Eastwood's strong midfield has rarely mattered more and all four from that division performed well.

Richard Dunning has absolutely no right to win his huge share of balls in the air against taller opponents but he does so and was my 'Best Badger'.