My Old Club, Episode 5: The Mallards Strike Back

Hello all! Welcome back to Northern Ireland and the lovely little town of Ballinamallard.
Though we're in the cold and wintery north if the Emerald Isle, the temperature is solidly 25+.
Why? 
Well, if you remember correctly, last time you were here, The Mallards had made it into the top 3 and secured a playoff spot!
At least, that's what I thought. Turns out the league was NOT 22 games long, but got split into the relegation playoff and the promotion playoff.
So that sucked.
But it then gave us 10 extra games to find the melody and maybe even take 1'st. Maybe!
And that is where we pick up.
Just after the split of the league, before the endgame starts.
Got your Rioja poured?
Good. Lets get to it!

The first 5 matches went really well! Apart from the hiccup against Dundela, but they were amongst the faves to secure a PO spot. So I could live with that.
Beating Carrick in the first match in the Promotion Playoffs was great. Getting off to a good start is SO important and I would love to be able to take The Mallards to the Premiership.
But, as you can see, we only had 1 win. I'm not really focusing on the Cup and against Tobermore, the kids got the chance. Full rotation with the full reserve team in action. I honestly did not care about the game and my only focus was the league.
'Twas but a bonus. Albeit a good one, but still, one that would have to take focus, depending on who we draw in the next round.
But, the next 3 games were rough.
In ALL three games, we had the lead early on and I was proud and excited!
Warrenpoint was 4'th and just after us in the table, to a win would really send a signal. Ryan Mayse scores after 6 minutes and it held until the 83'rd minute.
That, was a tough one. I told them to focus and then that happened. Of course.
Bangor only just made it into the top half and I fully expected a win and 3 points. And, as planned, Danny Graham scored after 54 minutes in a game we absolutely controlled.
72 minutes in... Bloody Bangor scores to 1-1!! I was furious!
Honestly! Just. Just &€/#)((#"!! learn to control the game! ARGH!
Dungannon where second in the league and trying to catch Warrenpoint, but maybe we could cause an upset here.
8 minutes into the game, Lovely Danny Graham scores a beauty! 1-0. Yes, please.
17 minutes! Another goal!
For Dungannon. Obviously. 1-1 and then the game died completely. No one wanted to take any chances and it fizzled out into nothing but a boring draw.

So. status after the first 5 games was 6 points. Not the worst, but I really needed the last 5 games to come good for The Mallards.

Let's just sort out the Irish Cup game. Crusaders are by far the better team and getting them at home, could prove to be a good chance to get some money in and maybe even cause an upset.
But, when you're fighting for promotion, what do you do in such a situation.
Should I risk several of my first team players and have a fighting chance?
Or, put faith in the kids again and see if they could do it. After all, they are the ones who got us this far.
Well, I couldn't take this chance away from the kids, so I stayed true to my word and gave the kids the call yet again.
And, I was very impressed.
Sure, we lost 0-1, but they scored early (16 minutes in) but we certainly put the pressure on! #ProperSpursy
I was actually very satisfied with the result. We came out of it with our heads high and integrity intact.

After the Cup, Carrick was once again the visitors at Ferney Park.
Back with the strongest lineup, the first half ended 1-0 on a great goal from Chris King.
Just what I expected. But. But but but. There is always a but.
I needed a win. I needed to scrape as many points as possible, however, they come.
Aggressively I told them how disappointed I was.
And it must have worked.
2 minutes after the restart, John Curries absolutely smashed it in the back of the net. 2-0. The Manager Mann was happier than before.
Paul Barbu, my 16-year old wunderkind added another after 52 and then it all kicked off.
Reece Neale from Carrick got a direct red after 54 and then Michael Smith pulled one back 2 minutes after that. 3-1.
13 minutes after, they bloody went and scored again. 3-2 and I started feeling the nerves. Dropping points to Carrick, would mean that they kept a short leash on us. NOT what I wanted.
The next minutes were just nervy and shite. A lot of stupid ball loses and freekicks.
Carrick looked likely to grab that equaliser.
In the 84'th minute, a highlight started and Carrick had the ball. I was absolutely bricking it!
They had a shot deflected and it set off a counter attack for The Mallards.
King gets the through ball! 1 v 1..
DO IT!!!!
HE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!
4-2 and 3 points in the bag. That felt so goood! I shouted a little and I'm surprised that I didn't wake the baby nor the Lady of the Manor. Fortune Favours the Brave!
Onwards to Dundela!
This was easy! 50 minutes into the game we were leading 3-0 and all was good.
But in typical Ballinamallard style, we let them into the game and after 82 minutes, the scores 2-3 and I had gotten a little nevous again. 
It was not the first time we'd thrown away a victory at the death of the game and it would not be the last for sure.
But, we managed to keep it at that. Good. Good good.
The next three games gave of 3 point and I'll let you have a guess on, how many of the games we were leading... Go on... Have a cheeky guess...
YOU'RE WRONG!
The game against Warrenpoint was boring and a deserved 0-0, but against the two other, we were trailing for most of the games and pulled of lucky escapes.
But. The 3 points left us in third, while somehow Warrenpoint had lost top spot to Dungannon Swifts.
So. Our old bloody foes would face us in the PO final.
I could have done without playing against Warrenpoint to be honest.
I do not like them. Like, at all!

Right. So. Playoff Final against Warrenpoint. Bring it then!

I obviously set the best team that I could and I was excited. I mean. A playoff final! That is always exciting!
Ferney Park was ready. The Mallards were ready!
We kicked off and had control, passing it around the back and making sure that we used it cleverly.
6 minutes in, a highlight started.
With US on the ball!! Sean McEvoy took a run up the wing, not passing, just running at them. Good man! He hits a low cross that finds John Curri in the middle. 
First-time volley!.....

GOAL!!!!!!!!!!! 6 minutes played and The Mallards off to an absolute banger! GET IN!
I was jumping in my seat.
After 28 minutes, another highlight started and I was rubbing my hands because we had all the play. Come on. 2-0 and close it early.
It was a freekick to Warrenpoint, about 30 yards out.
That's alright. Nothing new here, we've got the routines on lock.
The Freekick hits the wall and falls to their Alan O'Sullivan, who somehow just bloody leathers it and takes the net off. 1-1 and I was a little shocked.
The first half ended as it started, even-steven. The second half was just highlight after highlight. But it was either a shot on the keeper or a bad tackle and a foul.
Then, 80 minutes in, another highlight started. Us on the ball. Barbu on the ball, driving it forward. Takes a shot from outside the box.....!!!
YEHSAHDH.. NO! Dammit.. Just wide..
83 minutes. Another highlight. Come one. Give me this one time please!
Dang. Warrenpoint on the ball.
Passing it around. Passing it long!
Header!
RYAN SWAN!! 1-2 with 7 minutes to go.
Arhmen.. I was deflated. A loss here, would make it really tough when we had to travel to Warrenpoint.
The games finished 1-2 and I kinda just gave up.

Right, so how do you overturn a loss, when you're playing away?
Good question!
I decided to change the tactical style completely and went with a 4-4-2 wide, shoot on sight and early crosses.
Let's take the game to them and see what we can do.
I thought to myself, that it didn't really matter how much we lost in this game, because we needed a win. So, let go all guns blazing, but still have some decorum and be solid at the back.

Game day!

Warrenpoint did what we expected and just came charging at us. I thought that this would surely end up being a blowout and after 25 minutes, Warrenpoint took the lead.
Everything like I expected, but not hoped obviously.
I didn't know what to do, to be honest. So I just shouted at them to push forward with 10 minutes left of the first half.
If we could make it to half-time with our confidence somewhat intact, maybe I could do something in the break.
Then. 41 minutes. Highlight.
Oh dear lord, please do not let them score and deflate us completely.
...
Chris King with the ball!!? No.. No no no..,.
YES! 1-1 with 4 minutes to the break and suddenly I could see that tiny, little, bitty, itty glimmer of hope far away in the distance.
Right. I need to make some changes. 
Back to the 4-2-3-1, but still, shoot on sight and early whipped crosses. Let's play to our own strength instead.
We came out like a freight train for the second half. Suddenly we had the ball most, we had pretty much all the shots in the half and they just kept fouling us. The only way they could stop us was with violence.
But it takes more to stop Paul Barbu!
67 minutes gone and he hits a horrible ball that somehow finds its way into the net. 1-2 and we had a game on our hands! This result would take us to Extra Time!
And it did!! AMAZING!
Extra time and the last chance for me to tell the lads how amazing this was.
So I, of course, told them how happy I was! They all reacted with delight. Come on. Bring this one home!
The players were tired, but I was, yeah, scared, about making changes and risking it all on some young gun. But King was has picked up an injury, so I subbed in Recee Byrne to just hold them off. I was hoping for penalties (which is why I put in Byrne).
We're now 108 minutes in and another highlight starts. 
Nerves!
But it was with us on the ball. Could it be? Surely not...
We had a corner. This could be something.
Michael McEvoy takes the corner.
It's an inswinger. 
Ohh... Right in the head of Sean McEvoy...
...
...
GOAL!!!!!!!!!!! 1-3!!!!! Are. You. Kidding. Me! The Mallards takes the lead 3-4 on aggregate! The Mallards are going to the Premiership if this holds!
115 minutes and another highlight.
This could be interesting.
It's a freekick to Warrenpoint just outside the box.
The wall is in place and the routine is sorted.
Let us see this one out please.
Here comes the kick...
High and wide!
Yes!
Come on ref. Blow the whistle!

My goodness. What a stressful experience this was!
But amazing! I can't believe that we overturned that defeat in the first leg, only to come back and just smash it.
I'm so happy!
When I took over, we were fighting relegation and now we're in the Premiership.
Feels amazing.

Hmm...
Something feels awry here...

Oooof course...
I need to play against the loser of the Premiership Relegation Playoff Final.
Typical!

Who even is Ards!?
Well. I guess we have to go again.
Ards came to Ferney Park in the first game and we had a record attendance with an amazing 2.000 on the stands.
This was going to be some game!
I decided to go for it and out the strongest team I had on the pitch.
But, 5 minutes in, Ards took the lead and changed the game. And they held on tight. Like a baby on its toes.
Tight!
Until the 25'th minute, when the beautiful John Currie scuffled one home.
1-1 and all to play for!
26'th minute.
Highlight starts.
What!?! Penalty?!? No way..
26'th minute and Ards took the lead again. On a bloody penalty!
1-2 and it just seemed like it was uphill all the way. 
And it was. 50'th minute and another highlight.
I got up and left to get another coffee.
I mean. Why not. Who even cares!
...
...
... GOAL..!!!
I hear the crowd while I'm pouring my coffee...
Tsh.. 1-3... Screw this game anyway...
...
...
I come back, only to find that we've equalised to 2-2!!!
Amazing!
Come on then. Attack them, Push forward! Grab this tie by the... Well... Tie..!
80'th minute and another highlight. Come on!
Ards on the ball. Shot.
Deflected.
Counter attack.
Long ball to the wing!
Low cross!!!!
CURRIEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3-2!!!!!!!!!!! With 10 minutes left, The Mallards takes the lead! Amazing! 
They have absolutely dominated the second half and it is well deserved!
What a game!

Look at those stats! 50!!!! Shots. That is crazy. And only 16 on target.
A little embarrassing tbh.
But I don't care! We've got one foot in the Premiership!

A couple of days later, we were getting ready for the trip to Bangor Fuels Arena.
It's a typical little town stadium with a lot of soul, and a 2750 capacity. I expected to be met with a wall of home fans, shouting us back to where we came from.
For this one, I had to stick with the guys who got us here. How shite would it be, for me to just swap them out for the final?? game of the season, and, not to forget, the most important one.
I meant, going up to the Premiership is a dream for all club. You want to play in the best league in the country. And we were now just 90 minutes plus a little bit away from that.
Bring on Ards.

*Commentary on*

Ladies and Gentlemen...! It is a lovely evening here at the Bangor Fuels Arena, where we bid you welcome to the last game of the Playoff final between Ards FC and Ballinamallard FC.
The Mallards shocked everyone with a commanding victory in the first leg and it will be very interesting to see if they can keep this result for the next 90 minutes.
Listen to the crowd! The atmosphere is tense as the two teams come out on the pitch. 689 Mallards have flow here today and they are making their quacks ring out over the pitch.
The Mallards are back in their strongest lineup and The Manager Mann looks confident that they can pull it off.
The Ards are looking strong. They are expecting this to be overturned and so are the fans.
Here we go! The Mallards are on the ball and are passing it around the back with some passion.
It is clear to see that they are wanting to control this game.
Moody to Morgan. Gets it back immediately. High ball to Chris King in the middle of the park.
King looks very determined!
*10 minutes played*
A very good tackle buy King here. Gets the ball to Moorehead on the wing who takes it forward with some pace.
What can he do with it here?
Hits a high ball towards Sackman in the box!
Ohh... What a waste of a chance. Sackman was clearly not ready for that, even though he was left all alone by a very scattered Ards defence.
It's been all Ballinamallard here and Ards are not looking up for this.
18 minutes on the clock and it is still all Ballinamallard at the Bangor Fuels Arena.
It is only a matter of time until we see a goal. Hopefully.
McMullan gets the ball from King who gets it back. 
A quick pass to Moorehead on the wing who takes it forward. Passes it to Michael McEvoy in the middle who looks up and finds Sackman on the edge of the box.
Oliver Sackman fluffs his shot, but McEvoy picks it up.
McEvoy with a snapshot!
GOOOAAAAL..!!!!
20 minutes in and it's Michael McEvoy with an absolute stunner to give The Mallards the lead.
What a play from The Mallards. 
They are all over Ards here and the lead is well deserved.
Can Ards respond here?

The Ref restarts the game and Ards are passing it around the back. 
Hooh!!! Oliver Sackman intercepts a horrible pass from Harwood and is charging towards Neeson in the goal!
Sackman!
SCORES!!!!!
Oliver Sackman adds to the lead and Ards are sinking like a stone here!
2 goals in 2 minutes and The Mallards are well and truly putting this game in the bag.
The Manager Mann is looking thrilled with the way his team has come out to this game and I can fully understand it. They are looking leaps and bounds above Ards and this could get ugly.

30 minutes played and Ballinamallard is not looking like taking their foot off the pedal.
It's Moorehead with the ball. Passes it back to Graham.
Graham passes it back to Curran in the goal. Short pass O'Reilly who finds Sackman on the opposite wing.
Sackman passes it to King, who immediately finds McEvoy in front of him. 
The Mallards are looking very determined here.
McEvoy with the ball.
He is looking for the shot, but Ards have all men in their own box and it is not looking like there is much room to move around here.
Shot from McEvoy!
OHH! Great save by Neeson! But he can't hold it and Sackman picks it up and shoots first-time!
GOOOAAALL!!!!!!!!!!
THE MALLARDS ARE ABSOLUTELY HAMMERING ARDS HERE!
We've only just passed the half-hour mark and Ards are nowhere to be found.
Bangor Fuels Arena belongs to The Mallards and we've still got a full half to come.
Are we going to see a humiliation of the home team?

*37 minutes played*
Auch! That tackle could be heard up here! Danny Graham with a hard tackle on McCawl who looks in some pain here.
It could be red card for Graham here.
He is very lucky! Only a yellow and the first of the game.
There has been a lot of fouls in the first half here and it is a little surprising that the first yellow comes this late in the first half.

We're in the last minutes of the first half here and the score is still 0-3 and Ards are not looking any closer.
Leo Brown takes the ball towards The Mallards box here. What a move!
He absolutely smokes Chris King with that. 
Hits a through ball to Kym Nelson!
Nelson!
WHAT A HIT!
Ards pulls one back in the last seconds of the first half! They have been given a lifeline by an amazing play by Leo Brown, who found Nelson with a beauty of a pass.
It's 3-1 at halftime and we might have a game on our hands here.

After a first half that was absolutely dominated by The Mallards, Ards found a way through and can head to the break with a little glimmer of hope in the horizon.
It'll be exciting to what the second half brings.

Welcome back to Bangor Fuels Arena and the last half of football this season, were The Mallards have shown they really do deserve to play in the Danske Bank Premiership.
It has been a joy to watch them and The Manager Mann has told them to sure up that defence and they look stern coming out of that dressing room.

The second half is underway and Ards needs to show something different here. Conall Young passes it back to Neeson who fires it long to Young in the middle. Great first touch to take the ball down!
Hard pass to the wing where he finds McCawl. Takes is past his man and finds Leo Brown.
Brown hits is first time!
...
...
GOAL!!!! What a strike! Leo Brown with a Banger on Bangor!
We're only 2 minutes into the second half and Ards have pulled another one back!
This game has become interesting and just when you thought that The Mallards had done enough to close the game after the first half, they've gone and let Ards right back in it!

*75 minutes played*
We're entering the last 15 minutes of the game and Ards have been banging on the door of Curran in the Ballinamallard goal.
Are we going to see a late equaliser here?
Ards still needs 2 goals to take the game into extra time and it is not looking likely, but The Mallards have been looking sloppy on the ball.
Gray get the ball and fluffs his shot. He gets a corner from his poor effort, which is the most he could wish to get out of that.
Kym Nelson is taking the corner and hit an inswinger.
Conall Young takes it on the chest and hits it low!
...
...
...
GOOOOAAAALL!!! ARDS HAVE DONE IT! THEY'VE EQUALISED WITH 13 MINUTES TO GO!!!
The Mallards are looking deflated and tired out there.
The Manager Mann is not looking at his bench at all. Surely he is not going to finish the game without making a substitution here?

5 minutes left on the clock and The Mallards have gained some control of the game again, thanks to an incredibly hardworking Michael McEvoy. He has been tracking back like a champion and his heatmap is all red all over.
That, kids, is how you fight for your team.
He is looking spent and he is signalling to The Manager Mann that he wants a sub.
No? The Manager Mann is shaking his head and shouting on them to concentrate!
I am not sure that he taking the best option here?
We're into the final minutes of the game and The Mallards are hoofing it up the pitch for Sackman to run at.
There goes the final whistle!
Ballinamallard has done it! They are going up! What an amazing result by The Mallards. They can be so proud of this. They have been working so hard for this and are now reaping the rewards.
Credit goes The Manager Mann, but his players can absolutely be proud of their performances all around.

*Commentary off*

YES!!! WE DID IT!!
WE ARE GOING UP!!!
I cannot believe this at all.
From fighting relegation to winning the playoffs. Premiership football is coming to Ferney Park and they deserve it.
A fantastic season, crowned with the prize they all have dreamt off.

My first season in Northern Ireland is done and what a season it was!
I found some great talents here and it has taken me by surprise how fantastic they are!
Chris King, as you can see, has been one of my best players and with young kids like Paul Barbu, the sky is really the limit here.
Next season is going to be tough. I know that.
We're moving up against the best in the land and I need to sell some of the older players to get some money so that I can get some defenders in to get a solid defence.
I already have some of the Premiership clubs circling a couple of the kids, and, unfortunately also a couple of League 1 and 2 clubs. They are lowballing me big time, but if they throw another couple of zeros on it, then It will be almost impossible to say no.
Besides, I need the money, if I want to stay in the Premiership, as the cup games have shown me that I need a stronger defence.
But. All that can wait until the preseason!
Now, we party!

Oh. Quick side note.
Liverpool won the PL in 19/20 of course, only for City to bounce back and do it back to back again.

Some of the big transfers the last couple of seasons include some insane numbers.
Take a look at some of these. All of them above 50 million pounds.

Some that stand out, are the Chelsea activity!
Honestly. Take a look at these.
All that money spent, and still no Championship.

They sold 27!!! Players, so I can't fit it in a screenshot. That is crazy.
They lost a lot of great players but brought plenty to replace them.
Though, some of those prices are ridiculous!
112£ million for Jorghino and 110 for N'Golo, might be fair.
But then Barca spent 92!!!! on Rudiger! Insanity!
And a 162 for Dembele?! I'm glad I'm not an accountant for Chelsea. Phew. :S
Season 22/23 is currently 13 games in and Chelsea are nr 1 with 10 wins and 3 draws and 33 points.
City with 28 and amazingly... Yes... Get this... Arsenal on third with 26 points!!!
Liverpool is currently 6'th with 23 points.

Well. We can talk more about that next week!

With that, I'm going to love you and leave you!
Thank you so much for following my little journey in Northern Ireland.
To all you Managers out there...
Don't stop believing!
Hold on to that feeling!