ARSENAL
December started well with a 4-2 win against Tottenham. This was followed by a disappointing 2-2 draw away at Manchester United. Given the season that they have had we should have done better. Two wins by a 1-0 margin followed. Firstly against Huddersfield and then in the Europa League against Qarabag.
The unbeaten run came to an end away at Southampton and overall I think that was a good thing because Tottenham would never have let us forget it if they had been the team to end the unbeaten run. We lost to them in the next match in the Carabao Cup and although it hurt if we have to lose to them the Carabao Cup is the time to do it.
We were back to winning ways with a 3-1 win over Burnley but the injury list which has resulted in an unstable back four has seen us draw away to Brighton and lose 5-1 away at Liverpool.
The new year gives us a new start as we face Fulham in the League and Blackpool in the Cup before taking on West Ham and Chelsea. The F.A.Cup fourth round draw will take place after we have beaten Blackpool and the month is finished off with a match against Cardiff.
BRENTFORD
December started with a 1-1 draw away at West Bromwich. Two defeats to Swansea and Hull were followed by a 1-0 home win against Bolton. The christmas period has seen two draws away from home, firstly 1-1 at Bristol City and then 0-0 at Birmingham City.
The new year sees a couple of challenging matches against Norwich and Stoke at home and these are followed by two away fixtures against Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday.
SOUTHEND
Southend have blown hot and cold throughout December. An F.A.Cup defeat by 4 goals to 2 against Barnsley was followed by a 1-1 draw against Luton in the Checkatrade Trophy. The League form shows as Lost Won Lost Won Lost. The winning teams were Portsmouth, Rochdale and Coventry while the two losing sides were Accrington and Oxford.
The new year starts Home Away Home Away Home against Gillingham, Doncaster, Plymouth, Bradford and Luton. Given the hot and cold nature of December "anything could happen in the next half year."
EXETER
December started with a Checkatrade defeat to Peterborough and continued with a league defeat away at Bury. There then followed a purple patch of green (wins) as Exeter beat Crewe 1-0, Oldham 3-2 and Yeovil 2-1. The month ended with a home defeat to Grimsby.
January sees us away at Swindon and then Lincoln, a home match against Morecambe, another away match just over the newly free Severn Bridge at Newport and the month ends at home to Cambridge.
EASTLEIGH
A 2-2 draw at home to Dover was followed by a 2-0 away defeat at Wrexham. The 2-1 win at home to Harrogate was followed by an away draw 2-2 at Havant & Waterlooville. The month ended with a comprehensive away defeat 3-0 at Ebbsfleet.
January sees the return fixture against Havant & Waterlooville which is almost a local derby. This is followed by a trip to Solihull then matches against Sutton and Bromley.
WESTON
A poor season saw December start with the third of three wins in a row but it was only against Hengrove Athletic in the Somerset Premier Cup. Defeats to Woking, Chelmsford, Truro, Oxford City and Bath followed broken only by a single point earned in a 0-0 draw at home to Gloucester. Perhaps keeping the defence tight is the way to go.
The new year starts with a visit to Gloucester so that point is something to build on. January continues with matches against Billericay, Eastbourne, Truro and Slough.
TIVERTON
The season started reasonably well but things seem to have turned. December saw defeats to Wimborne and Metropolitan Police. The heavy rain saw two postponements and the team returned to action with a 2-2 draw at home to Swindon Supermarine. The christmas period witnessed a 2-1 defeat at Taunton Town but the year ended with a 3-1 win over Frome Town.
January holds matches against Dorchester, Weymouth, Poole, Hendon and Merthyr.
BARNSTAPLE
My bright red spreadsheet shows six defeats in December. The only yellow on show was in the Devon St Lukes Bowl against Cullompton which ended 3-3 but Barnstaple managed to lose on penalties. The defeats in the league were against Totton, Melksham, Cirencester, Cinderford, Bideford and Moneyfields (I love that name).
The new year needs a completely new approach or Barnstaple will be back in the Western League. The first match in January is against Street (another good name) and this is followed by matches against Bristol Manor Farm, Thatcham Town and Slimbridge.
BUCKLAND
December saw a lot of postponements for the rain but a good victory on 8th saw a 5-3 win over Bridgwater Town. This was followed by a bad defeat 7-2 away at Shepton Mallett. I hope there was a good crowd there for the goalfest. Two draws against Westbury and Roman Glass St George happened either side of a defeat by 2 goals to 1 at home to Plymouth Parkway.
The fixtures in January are against Brislington, Wellington, Hallen and Odd Down.
EXMOUTH
The team are having a good year so it was a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to Falmouth Town. Camelford were well beaten 4-2, Bodmin and Newquay were both beaten 1-0 and the only red stripe of the month was against Cullompton. That was a 1-0 defeat on Boxing Day.
January holds matches against Millbrook, Godolphin Atlantic, St Austell and Launceston.
Bonus: ELMORE
Five postponed fixtures is the story of December for Elmore. There is nothing to worry about though as in a good season the two matches played resulted in wins. 2-0 away at Holsworthy and 1-0 away at Torridgeside.
The early 2019 matches are against Saltash, St Martins, Sidmouth and Ilfracombe.
The new year 2019 is going to be a good year. Let there be lots of football.
December started well with a 4-2 win against Tottenham. This was followed by a disappointing 2-2 draw away at Manchester United. Given the season that they have had we should have done better. Two wins by a 1-0 margin followed. Firstly against Huddersfield and then in the Europa League against Qarabag.
The unbeaten run came to an end away at Southampton and overall I think that was a good thing because Tottenham would never have let us forget it if they had been the team to end the unbeaten run. We lost to them in the next match in the Carabao Cup and although it hurt if we have to lose to them the Carabao Cup is the time to do it.
We were back to winning ways with a 3-1 win over Burnley but the injury list which has resulted in an unstable back four has seen us draw away to Brighton and lose 5-1 away at Liverpool.
The new year gives us a new start as we face Fulham in the League and Blackpool in the Cup before taking on West Ham and Chelsea. The F.A.Cup fourth round draw will take place after we have beaten Blackpool and the month is finished off with a match against Cardiff.
BRENTFORD
December started with a 1-1 draw away at West Bromwich. Two defeats to Swansea and Hull were followed by a 1-0 home win against Bolton. The christmas period has seen two draws away from home, firstly 1-1 at Bristol City and then 0-0 at Birmingham City.
The new year sees a couple of challenging matches against Norwich and Stoke at home and these are followed by two away fixtures against Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday.
SOUTHEND
Southend have blown hot and cold throughout December. An F.A.Cup defeat by 4 goals to 2 against Barnsley was followed by a 1-1 draw against Luton in the Checkatrade Trophy. The League form shows as Lost Won Lost Won Lost. The winning teams were Portsmouth, Rochdale and Coventry while the two losing sides were Accrington and Oxford.
The new year starts Home Away Home Away Home against Gillingham, Doncaster, Plymouth, Bradford and Luton. Given the hot and cold nature of December "anything could happen in the next half year."
EXETER
December started with a Checkatrade defeat to Peterborough and continued with a league defeat away at Bury. There then followed a purple patch of green (wins) as Exeter beat Crewe 1-0, Oldham 3-2 and Yeovil 2-1. The month ended with a home defeat to Grimsby.
January sees us away at Swindon and then Lincoln, a home match against Morecambe, another away match just over the newly free Severn Bridge at Newport and the month ends at home to Cambridge.
EASTLEIGH
A 2-2 draw at home to Dover was followed by a 2-0 away defeat at Wrexham. The 2-1 win at home to Harrogate was followed by an away draw 2-2 at Havant & Waterlooville. The month ended with a comprehensive away defeat 3-0 at Ebbsfleet.
January sees the return fixture against Havant & Waterlooville which is almost a local derby. This is followed by a trip to Solihull then matches against Sutton and Bromley.
WESTON
A poor season saw December start with the third of three wins in a row but it was only against Hengrove Athletic in the Somerset Premier Cup. Defeats to Woking, Chelmsford, Truro, Oxford City and Bath followed broken only by a single point earned in a 0-0 draw at home to Gloucester. Perhaps keeping the defence tight is the way to go.
The new year starts with a visit to Gloucester so that point is something to build on. January continues with matches against Billericay, Eastbourne, Truro and Slough.
TIVERTON
The season started reasonably well but things seem to have turned. December saw defeats to Wimborne and Metropolitan Police. The heavy rain saw two postponements and the team returned to action with a 2-2 draw at home to Swindon Supermarine. The christmas period witnessed a 2-1 defeat at Taunton Town but the year ended with a 3-1 win over Frome Town.
January holds matches against Dorchester, Weymouth, Poole, Hendon and Merthyr.
BARNSTAPLE
My bright red spreadsheet shows six defeats in December. The only yellow on show was in the Devon St Lukes Bowl against Cullompton which ended 3-3 but Barnstaple managed to lose on penalties. The defeats in the league were against Totton, Melksham, Cirencester, Cinderford, Bideford and Moneyfields (I love that name).
The new year needs a completely new approach or Barnstaple will be back in the Western League. The first match in January is against Street (another good name) and this is followed by matches against Bristol Manor Farm, Thatcham Town and Slimbridge.
BUCKLAND
December saw a lot of postponements for the rain but a good victory on 8th saw a 5-3 win over Bridgwater Town. This was followed by a bad defeat 7-2 away at Shepton Mallett. I hope there was a good crowd there for the goalfest. Two draws against Westbury and Roman Glass St George happened either side of a defeat by 2 goals to 1 at home to Plymouth Parkway.
The fixtures in January are against Brislington, Wellington, Hallen and Odd Down.
EXMOUTH
The team are having a good year so it was a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to Falmouth Town. Camelford were well beaten 4-2, Bodmin and Newquay were both beaten 1-0 and the only red stripe of the month was against Cullompton. That was a 1-0 defeat on Boxing Day.
January holds matches against Millbrook, Godolphin Atlantic, St Austell and Launceston.
Bonus: ELMORE
Five postponed fixtures is the story of December for Elmore. There is nothing to worry about though as in a good season the two matches played resulted in wins. 2-0 away at Holsworthy and 1-0 away at Torridgeside.
The early 2019 matches are against Saltash, St Martins, Sidmouth and Ilfracombe.
The new year 2019 is going to be a good year. Let there be lots of football.
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