BFC 3-1 Stevenage, Saturday 31st January 2026

‘She’s no spring chicken. She’s nearly 62!’

It’s the age old (25-26) conundrum: will our forward players outscore what the defensive players concede? Cos we’ll never keep a clean sheet. This week, we’re two goals in front, playing some of our best football of the season, when Captain Fantastic plays a loose pass straight to their bloke in front of goal. And to compound the error, while said player’s run is blocked by a covering defender, Luca is too busy holding his head in his hands to track back and an opponent runs past him to finish his mate’s pass. Still, no worries. We haven’t lost at home from two goals up since...well, since last month (Mansfield, Boxing Day). And that comeback began with a self-imposed error too. A pity, as Connell had been fantastic till then, including playing a couple of super balls through for Kelly and a 40 yard crossfield pass to Cleary.

Half-time, 2-1. Someone, possibly Woody, points out that’s 4 goals Luca has created in 2 games, a record. And there’s me the other week bleating he never sets up owt. We’ve been superb, save for the (usual) aberration. Coach Conor has gone 4-4-2, DKD and McG up top, 2 wingers (Cleary and new loanee Banks) with Connell and Kelly centre mid. No place for the GOAT. Must be saving him for his move to Barca….cos anyone who can’t get in the team ahead of Connell...etc

And we are great going forward. The understanding between our forward-thinking players is the best we’ve had in years. And we only have to make it till midnite tonite for the January transfer deadline to shut. Oh. I knew there was a rabbit off, playing Cleary, DKD and Kelly. Are we losing one, two or all 3 come Monday?

We go ahead around 15 mins in. Kelly has already missed a sitter when McG outpaces a defender (I still can’t believe I’m writing this) to wrap his leg around the ball to score. Their centre half had a slower turning circle than the Ark Royal, though he was on the verge of recovering when McG realized he couldn’t take the extra touch so went for goal instead. Quality.

DKD makes it 2 on the half hour, picking the ball up, waltzing past a defender, then side-footing it in off the far post. Finisher supreme. His 2nd, after half-time, is another peach. Banks plays a ball behind the defender, but DKD’s movement is top notch, ghosting in to round the keeper and put it in the corner. I read that he’s scored more than anybody in the EFL in the past year. We’ll miss him when he’s gone.

Thereafter, we simply see the game out. The subs don’t help, as he takes off DKD, Cleary and Kelly. Our 3 most sellable assets. Saving them for Tues? A wonderful coincidence? Or selling them for a knockdown fee? Time will tell. About 2 hours time, to be precise. And thanks for taking the obligatory short corner to waste time yet instantly lose the ball that we had on 87. Just tell me I needn’t bother watching the rest of the game if we’re not interested in scoring and I can jump in my car early.

Onwards and upwards!

*** DKD. Another couple of quality finishes.
** Kelly. Up and down like a bride’s nightie. (Haven’t heard that one in years.)
* McGoldrick. Effort, class, and a first class finish.

Official MOTM: DKD

Londontykes’ MOTM: 1. Kelly 2. DKD 3. McGoldrick

Despatches:
Last time I looked, we were 7 pts behind play-off Hudds, 5 games in hand. Now it’s 12, yet performances (and results) like Satdy retain the illusion of hope. Beat Northampton tomorrow (a foregone conclusion, surely – they’ve lost 4 in a row) and it’s 9 pts and 4 games in hand. And if we keep Cleary, DKD and Kelly...well, even if we do, all these Satdy-Tuesday-Satdy-Tuesday games will take their toll. We should have played Northampton when we had chance. Even without Yoga, Russell, the GOAT and all of our other internationals, we’d have stood a decent chance. Now we’ll just be running our superstars into the ground. You’ll see.

And talking of keeping the 3 musketeers…I thought it was odd when they played Satdy. OF COURSE the ‘January window’ doesn’t close at the end of January. It closes today, the 2nd of February. (Forgive me, I’m not glued to Sky Sports.) The big news as I write is that Luton are after Luca Connell. Fingers crossed. They must be getting the gang back together…they signed Devante Cole last week. Good luck to ‘em, that’s what I say.

The players? Keeper Goodman had nowt to do. Watson was immense at left back (though I detest that coaches think right back and left back are interchangeable). O’Keeffe, O’Connell and Shepherd failed to make any howlers, though disappointingly there was no Shep Flop. Stevenage were a poor team. How did they score!?

Banks made a promising debut, a solid 7/10, while Connell had a good game. Subs Yoga, GOAT and Cleary’s replacement from Wolves (Chirewa – remember his name, cos I won’t) made no impression whatsoever.

And the ref. I can handle refs making incorrect decisions, but when you've just seen their centre forward try to slam dunk the ball into our net, and you've given the free kick, surely a yellow card follows? (A 2nd yellow, as it would've happened). I presume the assessor had something to say about that one.

Drink du jour: Beartown Inception and Beavertown Satellite (2.8%) at Spiral City. I thought I’d give the 2.8% a chance (driving). I’ll not make that mistake again. Tasted like slightly creamy water. (Reedy wasn’t impressed either.) Left most of it.

Away: 205 (9,823). 2nd bunch this season I never heard a peep out of. Worrying home attendance (again)…considering we could all bring a mate for a tenner. Problem is, we’ve no mates who wish to come. It could be free and it wouldn’t make a difference. But at least the club are trying.

The Damage:
£38.50 away shirt
£31 home shirt
c.£7 petrol
= c.£76.50