Warning----------Non VM Press release

Sildegapet enjoyed an entertaining first season in PbPD League 2. They started their first season in the league with a Challenge Cup group that contained Premier League side Eds Madmen. The whites played very well for a debut in the competition and progressed out of the group stages. They eventually fell to another Premier league side Dynamo Groby but not before they had shown their potential.

Despite a positive start to life in the PbPD leagues, Sildegapet started the season slowly. Their first league match was away from home, always a tough start and Sildegapet, despite taking the lead, lost 2-1 to Forest East Rangers.Their next game was at home and Sildegapet defended out the first half of the match before snatching a win late on as they recorded a 1-0 win against Kings United FC. Three draws and a loss then followed with Sildegapet in just 10th position. However, an excellent run saw Sildegapet move and cement their place in fifth with 9 wins, 4 draws and only one loss in this period. At this time, their was a distinct possibility. However, a defeat in their final game against Anthony Town, the league champions, saw any hopes dashed. Despite a fifth place finish, no team managed to do the double over the whites. The only clubs to beat the whites were MBCR, Anthony Town, Danemill 96 and Forest East Rangers. Not surprisingly these were the four clubs that finished above the whites in the table.

In the Trophy, Sildegapet fought extremely hard and reached the quarterfinals at their first attempt. They took the massive feat of beating Ratby Bandits, an accomplished Premier league side with the ability to play well. The whites beat Bandits 1-0 at home in the first leg before they lost to them 2-1 in the second leg. Despite a nervy final 10 minutes, Sildegapet held on for a 2-2 draw and a win on the away goals rule. Sildegapet were then the easiest team left in the competition and the only Division 2 side left in. Despite taking a 2-0 lead into the final 7 minutes of their home leg against Geralds United, the come back kings fought back and claimed a 3-2 away win before, despite a gutsy performance, knocking the whites out at the quarterfinal stage with a 2-0 win at home. It was a hard fought cup run and many were amazed by Sildegapet beating Ratby Bandits.

In the Cup, there was another top performance from the whites. In their second tie, they played Truro City at home and the league and eventual Cup champions were had pushed in what should have been an easy fixture for them. A weakened line up for City seems to have lost them a lot of their effective ball play and Sildegapet held out until extra time. The match almost reached penalties, but an exhausted team had to settle with defeat as Truro City finally made a breakthrough on 116 minutes despite a hint of offside.

So, after such an exciting and positive season so far, with only this edition of the Challenge Cup to come, we have to give some awards out............

So the Golden Boot was not hard to decide, afterall their could only be one winner......Carrin

Carrin 10
Nelson 5
Gera 3
Frings 2
Egido 1

And the Golden Boot competition has also been decided, but a list of nominations is below:

Carrin,
Nelson,
Frings,
Courtois,
Gera.

And this season's winner is.....Torsten Frings and closely behind was Nelson.

Thats all for this season, but we look forward to a few new signings, and another charge for the promotion spots.