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Former Everton Centre Forward Duncan Ferguson steps into management.....

TRANSFER NEWS

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Dollingstown vs Ards
11th September 2038


=Ards result.png

Paul Dunne's loss will be felt by the club for the rest of the season but it was a chance for new signing Patrick Anderson to show what the club was missing. Johnny McGurgan was starting life in Wales with Bangor and was a surprise transfer this window. Tommy Smyth was back from international duty with Northern Ireland U21's were we got the chance to play against Spain and Republic of Ireland. Caolan Wells got his home debut playing in front of Smyth. Wells came close to his first goal on six minutes when he got up at the far post to head Quinn's corner just over the bar. Anderson was looking composed and was getting stuck in inside the first 20 minutes. Ards were pushing forward and Dollingstown done well to hold their nerve but Porter's clearance could only fall to Thomas Harvey and his bobbling shot beat Whelan on 35 minutes. Dollingstown were hoping for a better start as they came out for the second half but a minute in and Craigan's free-kick found the head of Mackle at the post and he put the away team up 2-0. Henderson made changes to go more attacking in the last 20 minutes. Jimmy Boyd and Mark Maguire came on for Tommy Smyth and Ciaran Marshall but with 13 minutes to go Brian Smith got his 2nd of the season when he was unmarked inside the area and only had Whelan to beat. Dollingstown employed long balls forward, Wells helped it on to Quinn who caught the fingertips of the keeper from the right. Henderson was straight off at the whistle looking extremely disappointed. It was an easy afternoon for Ards and questions will begin again of Henderson and his tactics.

EH: The fans are disappointed and rightly so, I had a chat with a few of them and they want to know what we are going to do about it. We just have to keep going, train hard and give it all on the day of the match. Lee Johnson the Nottingham Forest manager was here today checking on Tommy Smyth. I spoke to him but I don't want my players distracted.

PLAYER RATINGS

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Institute vs Dollingstown
14th September 2038


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After being comfortably beaten by Ards a few days earlier, Institute were looking to pile on the misery for Dollingstown. The newly promoted side made a decent start picking up 7 points from 7 games but it was Dollingstown desperate for the points. Andrew Mulholland came back into the team alongside Kyle McNally and David Kee started in midfield with Ciaran Marshall. Dollingstown could have no complaints and they done well to hang on for 40 minutes until Institute's McIlroy drilled home the first goal to make it 1-0. Tommy Smyth brought the ball out of defence and played it wide to Morgan, Nelson overlapped and took the ball forward passing inside to Morgan who got it over to Quinn and he lashed it into the top corner! Kurtis Kane came on for David Kee for the last 20 minutes. Mark Maguire was on for Smyth and made an instant impact hassling the full back and winning his team a late corner. Quinn aimed for Wells but he was beaten by Coleman. Dempster came forward on the attack and Marshall caught up with him and committed the foul. Jake Whelan kept Dollingstown in the game in stoppage time when he tipped over Dempster's cross and then clutched the ball gracefully from the head of Barry with the last chance of the game. The point keeps Dollingstown off the bottom but only by a point as Portadown claimed a draw at Ards.

PLAYER RATINGS

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Linfield vs Dollingstown
18th September 2038


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Points were needed for Dollingstown with only a point separating them and Portadown at the bottom. Henderson stated to fans they would not suffer another difficult season and that he has built a team to improve on last season, firmly putting himself in the firing line if it all goes wrong. It was an early goal to get things moving and it came from the home side as the ball came into the box under no challenge to Joe Foster to claim his third of the season. Linfield sat on their lead and made the game frustrating for Dollingstown trying to win cynical fouls and waste time. Morgan took the ball down the left and slotted a nice through ball for Wells who was having an awful game so far, he held off the defender inside the box and hit the ball low on his left foot getting it under the keepers arm and making it 1-1 on 86 minutes! Wells gets his first goal for The Dollybirds! With a minute to go, Quinn gets the ball wide to Maguire who uses his pace to cut inside and hit a shot that was just wide of the post. Wells was screaming for it inside the box. Mulholland heads the ball away from danger, Kane picked it up and got it wide to Marshall who hit it first time to Maguire down the right, he crossed into the box and the ball struck Conlon, handball! was the shout from the away supporters but the referee waved it away. Ther game is over and it's another point for Dollingstown but they were the better team in the second half.

EH: I felt we were unlucky today. After we equalised we had our noses up, it was late on but we could have had another when Maguire broke into the box. I'll take the point away from home and keep on building on it.

PLAYER RATINGS

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[/SPOILER]​
LEAGUE TABLE

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LIAM KELLY SACKED BY POTTER!

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Liam Kelly had a successful season under new owner Dale Potter last season finishing 6th and losing out in the play-offs. This season after 11 games, Fylde are just one point above the drop zone with only two wins. More to follow with news of a new managerial appointment.
Ruthless. I think we'll be showing the same ruthlessness with Henderson soon.

Not good enough.
 
Dollingstown vs Dungannon Swifts
25th September 2038


=Dungannon result.webp

An unchanged team took to the field to take on 2nd place Dungannon who had only lost twice so far this season. Gary Lecky was on ten goals so far in the league leading the scoring charts in the Premier Division. Kee passed to Marshall who played in Quinn and his curling shot was an inch wide of the post on 8 minutes. Another chance came for Dollingstown, Quinn took the ball down from Whelan's goal kick, he passed to Wells and he played in Smyth who poked it just wide of the post. Dollingstown look strong out here today, Kee's free-kick was saved and Wells' follow up was kept out, he should have hit the back of the net. The tempo picked up and tackles were flying in, Marshall and Smyth both getting stuck into the midfield. The ball was crossed into the box for McDowell and he got the better of Porter but he left his foot in and the referee gave Dungannon the penalty! Gary Lecky doesn't miss and he scored his 11th of the season on 39 minutes. Wells took control of the ball in the centre circle on 51 minutes and Mahashe put in a terrible two footed lunge which left Wells needing treatment, the fans are outraged and the referee sent him off! Kurtis Kane was on for Kee and he took control in the middle but a mistake on 72 minutes by McNally whose first touch ran away from him allowed McDowell one on one with Whelan and he made it 2-0. A few minutes later it was sealed when McEneff sent in the corner for the head of McDonagh to blast into the top corner. Dollingstown were done again by a set piece on 85 minutes, McDowell tucking away the header at the far post across the keeper for his second of the game. The ten men of Dungannon taught a lesson to Dollingstown. Toby King looked smug on the touchline as he shook hands with Euan Henderson at full-time.

Euan, your team are now bottom of the league. How do you turn this around?
EH: It will come with hard work and persistence. We wasn't bad in the first half but trying to take advantage in the second cost us as we were too high up the pitch. They were fantastic though and you can see why they are mounting a title challenge.

PLAYER RATINGS

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Dolliingstown vs Glenavon
28th September 2038


=Glenavon result.webp

Henderson rotated the team and gave starts to Gary McKenna, Thomas Delaney and Mark Maguire. A different formation of 4-3-3 was deployed with David Kee sitting deep. Rooney took control of the ball on the left wing, he drifted past McKenna and crossed for Heffernan who struck the bar from inside the box, he quickly tucked away the rebound to make it 1-0 on 7 minutes. Glenavon looked good going forward and Heffernan turned creator to set up Johnny Corry for the header to make it 2-0 on 24 minutes. It was all one way traffic and Rooney set up Corry for his second on 28 minutes to put the game beyond doubt. Wells had a chance on 38 minutes but the keeper done well to keep the shot out. Tommy Smyth replaced Thomas Delaney just after half-time. Tommy Smyth's first contribution came after being on for 2 minutes when he played a through ball for Wells and he pulled a goal back for Dollingstown but the 3 goal gap was restored when Donnelly slotted in low from Rooney's pass on 54 minutes. Nicky Quinn was on for Mark Maguire. Kee sent in the corner, Bannon headed away, McNally hit it first time but it hit Wells, Kane went for the rebound and it was blocked, McNally had another go and it was blocked. Nicky Quinn got a foot to it and put it into the bottom corner! David Kee won the ball back from Rooney on 74 minutes but he got up and went in hard on Kee resulting in the referee issuing a second yellow card! The sending off didn't stop Glenavon, Kenny crossed in deep from the left and Corry bullied his way into the box to claim his hattrick, 5-2 but there was an instant reply from Dollingstown when Steven Porter crossed into the box and Kyle Morgan leapt at it to get a third for Dollingstown. An eight goal thriller at Planters Park! Smyth linked up well with Quinn and he found Kee lurking on the edge of the box who hit it first time and made it 5-4 on 90 minutes! Is there an equaliser in this for Dollingstown? 92 minutes on the clock and Smyth played the ball forward for Quinn to chase down the right, Wells was in support and in space inside the box, the ball came over and Wells drilled it home! What a comeback! What a finish! The fans have gone crazy! There is jubilation in the home dugout! 95 minutes gone and Morgan came forward but his cross was blocked and it allowed Corry to come down the right, he crossed and Whelan claimed the ball. Whelan sent the ball forward, Wells took it down and had Smyth on the overlap, he played him in and his shot was pushed away. Kee took the corner, the ball was missed by the defence and McNally took a swing at it, Quinn was at the far post and he tucked it in to make it 6! What an end to the match! But the Assistant referee has flagged, Quinn was offside. The referee blew up for full-time but there was no arguments from Quinn as he was a yard offside. What a fantastic comeback from Dollingstown!

EH: It was some game! Goal after goal! We reacted brilliantly to being 3-0 down at half-time and to score 5 in one half is remarkable. They all worked hard and fought to the last kick, could we have won it under Smyth? Probably but what an effort it was in the end.

PLAYER RATINGS

ratings vs Glenavon.webp

Coleraine vs Dollingstown
2nd October 2038


=Coleraine result.webp

4th place Coleraine were the hosts for Dollingstown on a dry but cold day in County Londonderry. Ciaran Marshall was back in the team and Henderson went with 4-3-3 again. There was shouts for McNally to let the ball go out of play but the defender headed it to Porter who was under instant pressure from Cooney and he set up Murphy to tap in at the front post on 6 minutes. Quinn came down the right on 17 minutes and Phil De-Long lunged in sending him into the stands, the referee was straight over and sent him off to the disappointment of the home fans. David Kee went off at half-time and Tommy Smyth came on in the attacking midfield role. Dolingstown looked invigorated and the ball was moving around nicely whilst moving up the pitch, Smyth made a pass to Morgan and he lashed it across the box, Wells missed it but Quinn bagged his 6th goal of the season! A couple of minutes later Dollingstown won the ball and it was Morgan with a ball into the box for Quinn to get his second! What a turnaround! Dollingstown on top! Steven Porter was having a poor game and looked nervous, he was replaced by Ross McKendry with 30 minutes to go. Whelan kicked the ball forward, Marshall's first touch took him into the box and he crossed for Wells and his shot was saved, he went for the follow-up but was brought down, the referee waved it away! Coleraine gave the ball away and Wells picked it up, he held up the ball awaiting support and passed to Quinn who came bombing down the right. He passed inside to Smyth who helped it on for Morgan, he crossed into the box and Quinn buried it for his hattrick! Dollingstown have been incredible since the restart. Kyle Morgan was shattered and on 78 minutes he went off to a massive ovation from both sets of fans to be replaced by Martin O'Shea. Ciaran Marhsall bodychecked Deasy and picked up his second yellow card with less than ten minutes to go, both teams now reduced to ten. Deasy sent the ball into the box from the corner and McKendry headed off the line, Copeland fired the ball into the back of the net to grab a late goal for Coleraine. Dollingstown slowed the game down in the five additional minutes, Quinn played the ball into the box for Wells but the flag went up for offside. It was a tense few minutes and Dollingstown were trying to keep hold of the ball despite Coleraine pressing hard. Wells took the ball and was being urged to get into the corner but he lost possession and the keeper took the ball pushing his team forward for one last attack. The ball rolls right through to Whelan who took his time and surely that is the end? It's back with Coleraine and Deasy finds himself in space but his shot was rising and it went over the bar and that is it! What a win and a fantastic comeback for The Dollybirds! They deserve all the plaudits for that comeback!

EH: I told the players at half-time that this was not over especially with them being a man down. We got aggressive and we pushed them hard. We didn't allow them space to move into and when we won the ball they just could not handle us. Quinn was fantastic today and so was Morgan. The two of them linked up well and made the win possible!

PLAYER RATINGS

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LEAGUE TABLE

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Dollingstown vs Dungannon Swifts
25th September 2038



An unchanged team took to the field to take on 2nd place Dungannon who had only lost twice so far this season. Gary Lecky was on ten goals so far in the league leading the scoring charts in the Premier Division. Kee passed to Marshall who played in Quinn and his curling shot was an inch wide of the post on 8 minutes. Another chance came for Dollingstown, Quinn took the ball down from Whelan's goal kick, he passed to Wells and he played in Smyth who poked it just wide of the post. Dollingstown look strong out here today, Kee's free-kick was saved and Wells' follow up was kept out, he should have hit the back of the net. The tempo picked up and tackles were flying in, Marshall and Smyth both getting stuck into the midfield. The ball was crossed into the box for McDowell and he got the better of Porter but he left his foot in and the referee gave Dungannon the penalty! Gary Lecky doesn't miss and he scored his 11th of the season on 39 minutes. Wells took control of the ball in the centre circle on 51 minutes and Mahashe put in a terrible two footed lunge which left Wells needing treatment, the fans are outraged and the referee sent him off! Kurtis Kane was on for Kee and he took control in the middle but a mistake on 72 minutes by McNally whose first touch ran away from him allowed McDowell one on one with Whelan and he made it 2-0. A few minutes later it was sealed when McEneff sent in the corner for the head of McDonagh to blast into the top corner. Dollingstown were done again by a set piece on 85 minutes, McDowell tucking away the header at the far post across the keeper for his second of the game. The ten men of Dungannon taught a lesson to Dollingstown. Toby King looked smug on the touchline as he shook hands with Euan Henderson at full-time.

Euan, your team are now bottom of the league. How do you turn this around?
EH: It will come with hard work and persistence. We wasn't bad in the first half but trying to take advantage in the second cost us as we were too high up the pitch. They were fantastic though and you can see why they are mounting a title challenge.

PLAYER RATINGS

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Dolliingstown vs Glenavon
28th September 2038



Henderson rotated the team and gave starts to Gary McKenna, Thomas Delaney and Mark Maguire. A different formation of 4-3-3 was deployed with David Kee sitting deep. Rooney took control of the ball on the left wing, he drifted past McKenna and crossed for Heffernan who struck the bar from inside the box, he quickly tucked away the rebound to make it 1-0 on 7 minutes. Glenavon looked good going forward and Heffernan turned creator to set up Johnny Corry for the header to make it 2-0 on 24 minutes. It was all one way traffic and Rooney set up Corry for his second on 28 minutes to put the game beyond doubt. Wells had a chance on 38 minutes but the keeper done well to keep the shot out. Tommy Smyth replaced Thomas Delaney just after half-time. Tommy Smyth's first contribution came after being on for 2 minutes when he played a through ball for Wells and he pulled a goal back for Dollingstown but the 3 goal gap was restored when Donnelly slotted in low from Rooney's pass on 54 minutes. Nicky Quinn was on for Mark Maguire. Kee sent in the corner, Bannon headed away, McNally hit it first time but it hit Wells, Kane went for the rebound and it was blocked, McNally had another go and it was blocked. Nicky Quinn got a foot to it and put it into the bottom corner! David Kee won the ball back from Rooney on 74 minutes but he got up and went in hard on Kee resulting in the referee issuing a second yellow card! The sending off didn't stop Glenavon, Kenny crossed in deep from the left and Corry bullied his way into the box to claim his hattrick, 5-2 but there was an instant reply from Dollingstown when Steven Porter crossed into the box and Kyle Morgan leapt at it to get a third for Dollingstown. An eight goal thriller at Planters Park! Smyth linked up well with Quinn and he found Kee lurking on the edge of the box who hit it first time and made it 5-4 on 90 minutes! Is there an equaliser in this for Dollingstown? 92 minutes on the clock and Smyth played the ball forward for Quinn to chase down the right, Wells was in support and in space inside the box, the ball came over and Wells drilled it home! What a comeback! What a finish! The fans have gone crazy! There is jubilation in the home dugout! 95 minutes gone and Morgan came forward but his cross was blocked and it allowed Corry to come down the right, he crossed and Whelan claimed the ball. Whelan sent the ball forward, Wells took it down and had Smyth on the overlap, he played him in and his shot was pushed away. Kee took the corner, the ball was missed by the defence and McNally took a swing at it, Quinn was at the far post and he tucked it in to make it 6! What an end to the match! But the Assistant referee has flagged, Quinn was offside. The referee blew up for full-time but there was no arguments from Quinn as he was a yard offside. What a fantastic comeback from Dollingstown!

EH: It was some game! Goal after goal! We reacted brilliantly to being 3-0 down at half-time and to score 5 in one half is remarkable. They all worked hard and fought to the last kick, could we have won it under Smyth? Probably but what an effort it was in the end.

PLAYER RATINGS

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Coleraine vs Dollingstown
2nd October 2038



4th place Coleraine were the hosts for Dollingstown on a dry but cold day in County Londonderry. Ciaran Marshall was back in the team and Henderson went with 4-3-3 again. There was shouts for McNally to let the ball go out of play but the defender headed it to Porter who was under instant pressure from Cooney and he set up Murphy to tap in at the front post on 6 minutes. Quinn came down the right on 17 minutes and Phil De-Long lunged in sending him into the stands, the referee was straight over and sent him off to the disappointment of the home fans. David Kee went off at half-time and Tommy Smyth came on in the attacking midfield role. Dolingstown looked invigorated and the ball was moving around nicely whilst moving up the pitch, Smyth made a pass to Morgan and he lashed it across the box, Wells missed it but Quinn bagged his 6th goal of the season! A couple of minutes later Dollingstown won the ball and it was Morgan with a ball into the box for Quinn to get his second! What a turnaround! Dollingstown on top! Steven Porter was having a poor game and looked nervous, he was replaced by Ross McKendry with 30 minutes to go. Whelan kicked the ball forward, Marshall's first touch took him into the box and he crossed for Wells and his shot was saved, he went for the follow-up but was brought down, the referee waved it away! Coleraine gave the ball away and Wells picked it up, he held up the ball awaiting support and passed to Quinn who came bombing down the right. He passed inside to Smyth who helped it on for Morgan, he crossed into the box and Quinn buried it for his hattrick! Dollingstown have been incredible since the restart. Kyle Morgan was shattered and on 78 minutes he went off to a massive ovation from both sets of fans to be replaced by Martin O'Shea. Ciaran Marhsall bodychecked Deasy and picked up his second yellow card with less than ten minutes to go, both teams now reduced to ten. Deasy sent the ball into the box from the corner and McKendry headed off the line, Copeland fired the ball into the back of the net to grab a late goal for Coleraine. Dollingstown slowed the game down in the five additional minutes, Quinn played the ball into the box for Wells but the flag went up for offside. It was a tense few minutes and Dollingstown were trying to keep hold of the ball despite Coleraine pressing hard. Wells took the ball and was being urged to get into the corner but he lost possession and the keeper took the ball pushing his team forward for one last attack. The ball rolls right through to Whelan who took his time and surely that is the end? It's back with Coleraine and Deasy finds himself in space but his shot was rising and it went over the bar and that is it! What a win and a fantastic comeback for The Dollybirds! They deserve all the plaudits for that comeback!

EH: I told the players at half-time that this was not over especially with them being a man down. We got aggressive and we pushed them hard. We didn't allow them space to move into and when we won the ball they just could not handle us. Quinn was fantastic today and so was Morgan. The two of them linked up well and made the win possible!

PLAYER RATINGS

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LEAGUE TABLE

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I think Quinny may have just saved Hendo's job.

I heard Kewell was on the prowl and was starting all kinds of rumours in the local supermarket.

Bad egg that fella, Huckerby should have taken him out when he had the chance after he robbed that spud gun from one eyed Joe the mechanic.
 

I think Quinny may have just saved Hendo's job.

I heard Kewell was on the prowl and was starting all kinds of rumours in the local supermarket.

Bad egg that fella, Huckerby should have taken him out when he had the chance after he robbed that spud gun from one eyed Joe the mechanic.
Not rumours at all mate, Hendo was in fact pocketing beans from the supermarket and walking out without paying for them. Even took a tin opener in, undid it and tipped the beans into his trouser pockets, old Daryl the security guard had no choice really but to shoot him as he tried to slink out unnoticed. Probably didn't need to put 3 more in each knee when Hendo hit the deck but Hendo saw the funny side of it after the cops let him off with a stern warning.
 
Not rumours at all mate, Hendo was in fact pocketing beans from the supermarket and walking out without paying for them. Even took a tin opener in, undid it and tipped the beans into his trouser pockets, old Daryl the security guard had no choice really but to shoot him as he tried to slink out unnoticed. Probably didn't need to put 3 more in each knee when Hendo hit the deck but Hendo saw the funny side of it after the cops let him off with a stern warning.

Club legend or not, you don’t nick beans on old Daryl’s watch.

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Not rumours at all mate, Hendo was in fact pocketing beans from the supermarket and walking out without paying for them. Even took a tin opener in, undid it and tipped the beans into his trouser pockets, old Daryl the security guard had no choice really but to shoot him as he tried to slink out unnoticed. Probably didn't need to put 3 more in each knee when Hendo hit the deck but Hendo saw the funny side of it after the cops let him off with a stern warning.
Classic Hendo!
 
HENDERSON TO FYLDE?

In a surprise twist on the next AFC Fylde manager, Euan Henderson has dropped from outsider to favourite to take over on the Lancashire coast. The 38 year old has only had one full season in management surpassing the odds and keeping Dollingstown in the top flight. There doesn't seem to have been much interest in taking over at Fylde, with Sunderland boss Bailey Wright recently ruling himself out. Henderson has kept quiet on the matter but is a known admirer of the club he spent his career at. It would also be interesting to see if Duncan Ferguson would be willing to return now the club is under new ownership.




MANAGER ODDS LATEST

Euan Henderson 4/7
Bailey Wright 3/1
Martin Olsson 3/1
Ben Gibson 7/1
Robert Kovac 10/1
 
HENDERSON TO FYLDE?

In a surprise twist on the next AFC Fylde manager, Euan Henderson has dropped from outsider to favourite to take over on the Lancashire coast. The 38 year old has only had one full season in management surpassing the odds and keeping Dollingstown in the top flight. There doesn't seem to have been much interest in taking over at Fylde, with Sunderland boss Bailey Wright recently ruling himself out. Henderson has kept quiet on the matter but is a known admirer of the club he spent his career at. It would also be interesting to see if Duncan Ferguson would be willing to return now the club is under new ownership.




MANAGER ODDS LATEST

Euan Henderson 4/7
Bailey Wright 3/1
Martin Olsson 3/1
Ben Gibson 7/1
Robert Kovac 10/1

Return of the King?

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