Away Days Vital To Promotion Hopes

The Last Word by Brendan White

(first published in the April 2009 Monaghan United programme)

Home form is said to be the most important factor in a promotion challenge. For the Blues this year however, away form may be vital.

Last season the Blues’ home form was impressive, as they made the RSC a fortress, winning 10 matches and losing just two. Stephen Henderson’s squad need to emulate that form to maintain a promotion challenge this season

The Blues’ away form proved to be their downfall last season as their promotion bid stumbled at the final hurdles, despite staying with the leaders for most of the year. They won just six matches away from home during last season.

This season the Blues have got off to an excellent start on the road. Three successive away wins have left them in joint third place in the league table after six matches. They began on their travels with a win against local rivals Wexford Youths. In the rain and wind, the Blues coped better and pulled out a 1-0 victory with Willie John Kiely scoring in the first minute.

The Blues then headed to Athlone Town to face the team to which they dropped eight points last season. Having fallen behind, they showed great character to come back to win 2-1, Kiely again with the goals.

The third away game for the Blues this season was against Finn Harps last weekend, and they left Ballybofey with all three points after a very good performance. Once again United fell behind, but again showed their never-say-die attitude by storming back to win 3-1, with Gary Dunphy and Graham Cummins scoring the goals.

The Blues have collected nine points from nine away from home this season so far, but after the opening three matches on the road last season, United had only amassed four points. They scored just 20 goals away from home in all their 18 matches last season, but this year they have already scored six goals after just three matches!

While fans will hope to see as many home victories as possible, away form may be a big factor at the end of the season.