Source: FOOTYMAD
Season Review: Leek Town
A look at how local non leaguers Leek got on this season Leek had a relatively quiet season, one which was welcome after recent seasons had seen relegation battles, both successful and unsuccessful, financial meltdown, managerial changes on an unhealthily regular basis and times when the club looked set to fold. They finished in the top half, kept alive play off hopes until the last week of the season and remained unbeaten at home until the last two games. The pre-season saw some positive results heighten ambitions around Leek that the club could be on the way back up, and the emergence of teenager striker Dan Cope just added to the ambitions of the supporters. That positive pre-season was carried into the league campaign as the first defeat didn't arrive until 26th September, a 2-0 away defeat to Quorn in game number nine, and it wasn't until 24th October that they were defeated again, a 5-2 reverse at Carlton. The cups hadn't seen the same positive results though and a 3-2 home defeat to Bedworth in the Preliminary round of the FA Cup denied the Blues a chance at a money spinning cup run. Wins over Kidsgrove and Kendal put Leek in the second qualifying round of the FA Trophy but that run was ended by a 4-1 reverse at Nantwich. Market Drayton Town and Newcastle Town, in the Presidents Cup and Staffs Senior Cup respectively, both came to Leek and progressed through but wins over Glapwell, Chasetown and Worksop saw Leek progress to the last 16 of the League Cup and keep alive their cup hopes post-November. The league form continued to see Leek hard to beat, with just 2 defeats in their next thirteen league games, but with too many draws meaning they struggled to climb towards the top end of the table. The League Cup run was ended in Round Four when Curzon Ashton came to Leek and beat the Blues 4-2, meaning Leek could now concentrate on pushing themselves into a play off spot. That play off spot was there for the taking after six wins in eight league games, with just one defeat, a 5-2 reverse at local rivals Kidsgrove, hoisting the Blues well inside the top five. Blues did earn some local pride when they defeated Kidsgrove at home, by two goals to one, but that was their final victory of the season as four defeats in the final five games, including their first two home league defeats, saw them drop from 5th to 8th and be condemned to another season in the Unibond League First Division. Things got worse at Harrison Park when star man and leading scorer Dan Cope announced he was heading to the USA this summer for a four year scholarship and that will leave a massive hole in the Blues front line that they will do well to fill. League record: P42 W18 D13 L11 F68 A61 PTS67 (8th) Top scorers: 16-Dan Cope 9-Leon Ashman 6-Ashley Miller FA Cup: Preliminary Round FA Trophy: 2nd qualifying round Unibond League Cup: 4th round Presidents Cup: Round One Staffs Senior Cup: Quarter Finals
