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December 14
th
Away to Bradford. Despite a well taken goal by James on 45+2’ we lost two points when a free kick on the edge of the area was hit high into
the O’s net on 90+6’. Team: 01 Jones, 09 Cuthbert, 02 Omozusi, 15 Clarke, 06 Baudry, 04 Vincelot, 08 James, 11 Odubajo, 07 Cox, 14 Batt, 25 Simpson.
Substitutes: 12 Larkins, 03 Sawyer, 09 Lisbie(Simpson 73’), 19 Lasimant, 20 Gorman, 21 Bartley(Batt 84’), 24 Wright.
Wright was recalled to Millwall due to injuries though he played no part in their next match. Ex O Colin Worrell died on Sunday after a battle with Parkinsons
and dementia.
December 21
st
Home to Crawley. Undone by ex O’s. Omozusi was out serving a one match suspension. So was Mooney serving the second of his three
match ban and Cox did not play. Flu was the rumour but wouldn’t the whole team have jabs against it? I thought Slade would bring back Sawyer, drop Odubajo
into right back and bring in Gorman, instead the did the first but Cuthbert went to right back and Lasimant came in. Things looked good after 14’ via a goal from
Odubjo but Gary Alexander headed their equaliser. Sawyer was absent to stop the cross from the left. A cross hit James’s arm but Alanders’s penalty hit the
post but was put straight back into the net from the left hand side. A poor bit of play from Baudry let in Adams and he lobbed Jones for their third. Bartley
bundled in our second but it was not enough. Team: 01 Jones, 09 Cuthbert, 03 Sawyer,15 Clarke, 06 Baudry, 04 Vincelot, 08 James, 11 Odubajo, 14 Batt, 09
Lisbie, 19 Lasimant. Substitutes: 28 Grainger, 20 Gorman, 21 Bartley(James 85’), 25 Simpson(Lasimant 45’), 16 Lee, 27 Ling, 26 Finney. Still top albeit on
goal difference with Brentford a point behind us and Wolves in third.
Jones injured his back and may be out for 2-3 months.
December 26
th
Away to Gillingham. Omozusi returned but James was suspended. We went a goal down after four minutes from a man we tried to sign years
ago, Akinfenwa who always looks dangerous despite his size. On 70’ Bartley scored after a shot from Simpson was parried. Lasimant came on for Lisbie on 86’
and scored the winner in the fifth minute of added time after the keeper came flying out and his punch missed the ball. It was cleared off the line but Lasimant
had the easiest of headers into the net. Batt went off injured four minutes from half time. Omozusi became the third player after Lisbie and Mooney to miss a
poorly placed penalty. Team: 12 Larkins, 09 Cuthbert, 02 Omozusi, 15 Clarke, 06 Baudry, 04 Vincelot, 21 Bartley, 11 Odubajo, 14 Batt, 09 Lisbie, 07 Cox.
Substitutes: 28 Grainger, 03 Sawyer(Cuthbert 71’), 20 Gorman, 25 Simpson(Batt 41’), 19 Lasimant(Lisbie 86’), 16 Lee, 27 Ling.
December 29
th
Away to Wolves. James returned but Cuthbert was suspended. The injured Batt was replaced by Simpson. Mooney was available to play but
didn’t. Again we gave away an early goal (5’). A cross by Odubajo across the face of the met by the far post for Baudry to strike to give us a point on 60’.
Vincelot got injured and replaced at half time by Sawyer. Brentford beat MK Dons and went top. If you deserve to go up you need to be in the top two is my
belief. Team: 12 Larkins, 08 James, 02 Omozusi, 15 Clarke, 06 Baudry, 04 Vincelot, 21 Bartley, 11 Odubajo, 25 Simpson, 09 Lisbie, 07 Cox. Substitutes: 28
Grainger, 03 Sawyer(Vincelot 45’), 20 Gorman, 19 Lasimant(Simpson 71’), 16 Lee, 27 Ling, 26 Finney.
Batt may miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury whilst Mooney could be out till mid January through an ankle injury. The home match against
Bristol City was postponed due to high winds damaging the lights.
And so the year ends with us in the best position since I started doing this blog, in second place behind Brentford.
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A year in the life 2014.