Firstly, a Happy New Year to each and every one of you, and hope that 2009 brings all that you wish for.  I like to thank Network Rail, whose engineering works meant that rather than going to see my beloved Spirites lose at Ipswich, I instead I had a more pleasurable trip to the Cope to watch our home games, and credit to Kent for getting these on.  A good start to the year for us with an unbeaten Saturday in the League - who can remember the last time that happened!

The 1's set the tone, beginning the New Year as they saw out the old, top of the league.  It was important, that having reached that height, they did not let it go easily, so I was pleased to see another victory chalked up and momentum maintained.  At home we had three league games, and I started my trip round the pitches watching the 6th team against high flying South Bank.  They dominated the first passage of play and deservedly went a goal up, and only heroics from the South Bank keeper kept the lead down to a solitary goal.  I left that game at 1-0 confident that we were on the right track, and so when news came that it was 1-1, I was slightly surprised and did return in time to see them back on song and firing in two goals to get an important victory that takes them right back into the mix.  I was impressed with the spirit and commitment in the 6's, and the encouragement from the sidelines where Ash rivalled the volume of Stu from the previous game there!  They also played with a collective smile and really seemed to enjoy their football, something we can all learn from. An important result here that puts the 6's 3 points off the top with games in hand.

I didn't catch too much of the 3's, but what I did see was a very professional performance.  Nick and Jason have things well organised here and have maintained great team spirit on and off the pitch, but also seem to have stepped up the performance on the pitch as well.  Confidence seems high and I do believe that yesterday was a springboard to a good second half of the season.  Like the 6's, the 3's have plenty of games in hand which could see them battle their way into possible promotion contention, so well done to all associated.

Most of my afternoon's viewing though was with the 2's, who were playing top of the league Southgate.  The 2's and I keep missing each other, so it was the first time I had seen them for a while, but the news on the grapevine was that they were playing a lot better than their recent results would suggest.  And so it would seem, as the part of the first half I saw showed a young team dominating play and deservedly go into half time 2-0 up.  However, Southgate are not top for nothing and did come out battling in the 2nd half and when they got their first goal, nerves on the sideline were strained.  However on the pitch the 2's simply rolled their sleeves up and kept battling and I was convinced that we had seen the storm through and were destined for the 3 points.  However cruelly in the 5th minute of injury time, Southgate broke away and got their all important equaliser and potential joy gave way to diappointment and disbelief.  Perhaps there was a little naivety in how Southgate got that goal, as the 2's pressed for a 3rd rather than hanging on, but that would be harsh criticism for a team that battled and worked hard, and they are a young team and will learn from it.  My message to the 2s is that the management team there really do believe in you and feel you do not realise how good you can be, and from what I saw yesterday I would agree with that.  Confidence comes with results and you are close to that - yes remember the disappointment of yesterday, but channel that into a positive to ensure it doesn't happen next week, get the result you deserve and that I'm sure will give you the springboard to your true potential.

Next week sees a full league fixture programme, and there will be some sides and players who because of the Christmas break and postponements due to the weather and opposition cry offs will not have played for a month or more.  So this week I want each and every one of you to consider whether you are ready and prepared for the rigours that lay ahead of you on Saturday.  Training resumes this week, so if you get the chance try and get yourself down there and get yourself as fit as you can for Saturday.  If you can't make training, think of what you need to do.  Football is a team game and all of us have a responsibility not to let our teammates down.  Yesterday was good - look at the stats page, the results barometer is swinging the right way, lets all keep the momentum going.

Steve Martin-Lawrence, Chairman