September... A glorious month filled with much promise and excitement. For the professional game in the UK, the final weekend of September starts to show who'll be the main players and strugglers with all teams sitting at a minimum of 6 games. In our game we have to wait for that to come in October.

So currently with 3 league games played and Norfolk Senior Cup victory (albeit by default), we sit 6th. Our record is the same as last season in terms of 1 win and 2 defeats, but the positives far outweigh the negatives currently. Last season after 3 games we'd managed only 3 goals and conceded 6. So far this, we've put away 8. We have conceded 8 as well but at a recount I only recall 4 where we have been undone; others have come from moments of luck rather than judgement, individual errors and gifts.

Losing the opening game to last season’s Division 2 Champions Castlegate hurt, twice we led but the match just slipped away. I take my part in blame; the changes I made via substitutions were positionally wrong, but equally all too many people are happy to point the finger. Every player needs to stand up and be counted. Goals from Jon Soderberg, Simon Brett and Scott Winton (all firsts for the club) gave us a 3-2 lead only for us to lose it 4-3.

Second up we took on Aslacton (as we did last season at the same point). The stylish pass and move football carried on from the first game but with more control offensively and defensively. Cracking goals from Joe McFarlane and Scott Winton, followed by strikes from Jon Soderberg and Paul Dodimead gave us a 4-2 victory which could, and probably should, have been far greater.

A weeks rest due to our cup match being called off was followed by another newly promoted team Dussindale Rovers (who finished 1 point adrift of Castlegate). Missing 9 from the squad wasn’t the best preparation and providing the lead for them after about 5 minutes didn’t help. But we battle well and got level through Jon Soderberg. As controlled as we looked at the back, we didn’t really look like we'd score again either. To concede with 5 minutes left through a scrappy bundled goal was galling. But again we rallied and created a couple of chances but couldn’t take them, losing

2-1

So looking at the positives - The football has in chunks been great to watch. The losses of Bella and Sandle from last season were potentially devastating. But it has actually meant players have had to step up. No longer are we expecting them to win us the game. It’s now becoming a collective responsibility. And the question mark over who’d score the goals has seemingly been answered in the short term.

Individually, Ian Dodimead has controlled the back line with James Hoyle next to him. Scott Winton moving out to left back has given him the opportunity to get forward and taken off some of the pressure he felt last season. Neil Dodimead has looked far better at right back in 3 games than he did in 16 at centre back last year. Joe McFarlane has taken the responsibility of captaincy and grown into the role and continued to impress. With Jerry Finch sitting next to him there has been a quick understanding built up. Jon Soderberg is still working towards full fitness following last seasons leg break, but has now hit 3 in 3. But so far the stand out player this season has been Simon Brett. Only just 18, he has looked stronger in each game, very rarely loses the ball and uses it intelligently. The attacking midfielder role needed to have something special brought to it and so far it has. Others have provided flashes of ability, workrate and adaptability. Some need to up their game to the next level as with a squad sat at 22 the potential options for change are plentiful.

Negatives - We are a team. We support each other. We encourage. We provide a consistent message to others about what we want. I am in charge, I make the decisions. I'm fully aware when things that I change don’t work. I don’t criticise individuals performance and I don’t expect others too either, especially during the game. I want people to be more vocal on the pitch, but I want it done in the right manner.

All in all though, I'm happy with the performances overall so far. Shame we don’t have more points on the board, but from what I've seen, I don’t see any reason why we won’t be nearer the top of the table come April 2012.