Our predictions for season are off target

THE football season is finally over for local senior clubs so it's time to look back to the start in August and go over the predictions we made on where the individual clubs would end up come May.

Compared to past seasons our predictions turned out to be not so accurate with only Chelmsford City in the Blue Square South and Brentwood Town in the Ryman League Division One North coming near to what was expected.

CHELMSFORD CITY

Predicted: To win the Blue Square South.

Finished: Fifth after losing out in the play-offs.

Expectations were high for City supporters after the previous season of winning the Ryman League Premier Division, with many hoping for a second consecutive promotion.

But in reality City flattered to deceive particularly in the first half of the season, leading the table by nine points at the start of the new year.

The second half of the season was a disaster with a loss of form by individual players, illness and suspensions which help shatter the team confidence.

The turning point was losing away 3-1 to AFC Wimbledon at the end of January when City were leading the table.

They never recovered and players brought in were no better than those let go.

Winning the Essex Senior Cup was small consolation for overall a disappointing campaign.

BRAINTREE TOWN

Predicted: To make Blue Square South Play-offs.

Finished: 14th.

Having made the Blue Square South play-offs in the two previous seasons the Iron were expected to make a strong bid for promotion, particularly with several more expensive and experienced players brought on board.

But they struggled from the start and by October manager Lee Patterson was on his way and Iron fans' favourite player and assistant manager Brad Quinton was put in charge.

The 29-year-old managed to steady the ship and lift the club clear of the relegation zone and with the same players under Patterson.

Their biggest problem though was still giving away poor goals late on in games that cost them points coupled with poor discipline by some players.

A month before the season ended Dagenham & Redbridge assistant manager Robbie Garvey was brought in as the manager to look at the squad and plan for next season with younger and more ambitious players in the side.

BILLERICAY TOWN

Predicted: To make Ryman League Premier Division Play-offs.

Finished: 11th.

It was another season that promised so much but delivered little with the side always hovering just above the relegation zone, when, with the players in the squad, they should have been much higher.

Admittedly an unprecedented run of so many injuries to experienced players didn't help and in mid-season the credit crunch forced a 20 per cent cut in the playing budget which was hardly conducive to restoring confidence in a side which clearly lacked it.

Against this background the side struggled and early in April the management team was broken up with joint manager Jason Broom leaving and experienced player Lee Hodges linking up with the other joint boss, Grant Gordon, to spearhead the team away from the relegation zone.

They did this much to relief of New Lodge fans and shortly before the end of the season former Heybridge Swifts manager Brian Statham was made manager with a view to shaking up the side and plan for a better campaign next time.

HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS

Predicted: 12th in the Ryman League Premier Division.

Finished: 21st (relegated).

The writing was on the wall at Scraley Road even before the season had really started with manager Brian Statham and his assistant Barry Lakin walking out because they felt they couldn't continue and survive in the division following severe budget cuts.

Up stepped Wayne Bond from the reserves knowing full well of the tough task ahead particularly when trying to rely on many of his promising youngsters to see them through.

He almost did it on a shoe string of a budget compared to most other clubs in the division and to their credit Swifts were never well beaten in games, often losing by just the odd goal due to individual mistakes and a lack of experience.

Bond's principle of trying to play decent, attacking and attractive football almost paid off but they ran out of games in the end.

A great learning curve for him and retaining the youngsters for next season they should reap the rewards from their relegation experience.

BRENTWOOD TOWN

Predicted: Sixth in the Ryman League Division One North.

Finished: Third after losing in the play-offs.

It was a tough managerial baptism for Carl Griffiths as the side again tried to make the play-offs, particularly as he had to start from scratch and build almost a completely new side.

But to his and his assistant Scott Canham's credit they did it managing to keep Town amongst the top of the table runners all season and deservedly making the play-offs.

Whilst a mid-table position had been the expectation for most people at the club Griffiths, using a blend of experienced and promising youngsters, managed to upset most of the other front runners by beating them.

It was a lack of goals being scored that was the main problem all through the campaign coupled with the side's inability to see off teams down in the bottom of the table which should have been easy.

Come the play-off semi-final and the players froze on the day something which Griffiths is determined won't happen again next season.

MALDON TOWN

Predicted: Top half of the Ryman League Division One North.

Finished: 16th.

It was another false dawn for Town who struggled to get going and when manager Russell Tanner went off to the USA on a pre-arranged late summer holiday it proved too much for chairman Mike Kirkham who fired him via a trans-Atlantic telephone call.

Experienced player Stuart Nethercott took over and to his credit got the side playing better as a unit and despite operating on a tight budget for their level of football, kept them away from the relegation zone.

Town, who always played and did better against the more fancied teams in the division whilst struggling against the lower placed sides, were solid in defence but at times lacked a proven goal scorer.

They also had many games called off which meant a glut of end of season fixtures but they ended well on a high note and with three or four new faces are expected to do better next season.

WITHAM TOWN

Predicted: 14th

Finished: 21st (relegated)

There was never a dull moment at Spa Road during the season with club chairman Tony Last returning to the manager's role as he tried to find a suitable blend of experienced and young players.

Hard though they tried the players were often too lightweight and lacked experience on the field.

After suffering several heavy defeats and sitting bottom of the league, Last stepped down.

Taking up the manager's reigns again for the second time at the club was Danny Greaves who, knowing the limited budget available, decided to generally opt for youth in a bid to escape relegation.

Unfortunately for the faithful few watching every game at the club it proved an unsuccessful fight against relegation but at least Greaves has begun to put the playing side into a better shape as the club cling on to see whether they may yet be reprieved from dropping into the Essex Senior League.