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Speaking of Saturday, an extraordinary snippet that my Dad's just heard. Apparently the ref is now claiming that he sent off Lane for falling to the floor rather than handball. Presumably, this means the ref knows he got the handball decision wrong and is now inventing another explanation.

If it's true that that's what the ref is saying, that's one of the most ludicrous things I've ever heard.

Can anyone think of the last comparable away following at Moss Lane? I don't think I can ever have seen more than about 500.

Who do you think I am, Marconi?

I seem to remember from one of the Fans' Forums that Graham had pleaded guilty to the FA charge relating to the Torquay incident, but I don't recall any report of the punishment.

It occurred to me at Woking that, what with the new regulations this season about what happens to managers when they're sent from the dug-out, Graham might have elected to watch from the stand, as at least that way he could guarantee seeing the full ninety minutes...

Congratulations to the players and the management team on a great start to the season. Within ten minutes, I was thinking to myself 'this is quite simply a different team to last year' and the first half display overall was very good. And the celebrations of the opening goal were tremendous.
We dropped off markedly in the second half but and a draw would have been a fair result - but then a moment of class from a class player won it.

A few things stood out for me, such as the fact that all eleven players starting for us were playing in their best position. No-one was 'filling in' or 'doing a job' out of position. And then all the subs came on like-for-like, so we didn't change to a more defensive formation, even when we were under the cosh a bit, and had two strikers and two wingers for the full ninety minutes. A very heartening change of tactics, I'd say.

Johnson looks like a tremendous signing and all the other debutants played well too but I still think Colin Little is going to be the main man again this season. And I think when he's developed a full understanding with Johnson, Elam, Denham, Meechan etc., he could cause havoc.

Overall, a superb day. When was our last away win on the opening day of a season?

It doesn't say a lot for the 'southern days out' that Woking is one of the best of them.

Still, it's not Ebbsfleet I suppose, so I take your point.

See you all there.

Tinson...?

However I do find it a little exciting that Alty have signed a "name". Not that it makes it a better signing it's just that I can't remember the last time Alty signed a non-league face??

I'm sure someone can put me straight on this!

I think that for most of last season, I would have agreed with this assessment. But looking at the final table, what strikes me is how badly we did against the higher-placed teams. In the 22 games we played against the teams that finished 1st to 11th (which includes Grays incidentally), we only got 6 points.

I think we did show mid-table teams too much respect. But of more urgency is the need to improve on that terrible return against the top 11, if we want to finish above the relegation places next season.