WilliWycombe's Willy Hill £10 challenge: Finns, fate and failure

It was all looking so promising a few days ago as my balance soared to an upwardly mobile £9.03. It appeared I was set to break even on my £10 deposit and possibly advance into a position where I could reclaim the £2.50 from my previous losses and make a hasty withdrawal.

Alas, the unhappy quirks of predominantly in-play betting have seen my total decimated as I cling on to the hope of reaching the £12.50 mark.

The breaking news surrounding Finnish football and its match-fixing scandal has added some colour to proceedings. I am beginning to wonder whether KooTeePee v KPV Kokkola (which saw a modest winning return of 14p as a bet on the number of goals scored in the match came through) had been affected.

The Scandinavian leagues, largely active throughout the summer months to avoid harsh winters, must be a mini goldmine for punters au fait with all things 'Norwegian 2. Division - Avdeling 3'.

For the rest of us playing catch-up, let's hope our burgeoning savvy can produce more than just a bus fare to the local Iceland store.

Current Balance-£1.82

Follow me on Twitter @williwycombe as I try to beat the bookie and reach my goal!

WilliWycombe's Willy Hill £10 challenge: Peaks and Troughs

I should have perhaps explained the nature of the challenge in a more lucid way in my previous blog. Just to recap, on the weekend of the Champions League final, I bet £25 of my own hard-earned money and recouped £22.50. In other words, I didn't break even.

I want that £2.50 back and fast. So, I've deposited another £10 in my account with the hope of winning at least £12.50 to cover my previous losses.

I am, however, a betting coward. My strategy thus far has seen very mixed results. I've played safe options, betting 20p here and there to win 6p back and it hasn't been getting me any nearer to my goal.

Last night, I did enjoy some creditable success. Rather than bet on match-winners, I've taken to gambling on the number of goals and whether there will be under or over a certain amount.

The dull Argentinian Primera Division served me well with my prediction that Argentinos Juniors and Estudiantes would conjure less than two goals at 2/1 pulling in £3. I'd also plumped for a goal-fest between Jamaica and Grenada and should have been less conservative than to say there may only be more a guaranteed two goals scored.

This morning, before today's bets were placed, I was edging back towards the original £10 outlay. Here's hoping there's at least one goal in the game between Japan and the Czech Republic and two between Australia and Serbia and the Faroe Islands and Estonia.

Current Balance-£6.53

Follow me on Twitter @williwycombe for live updates and send me your tips to help me reach my target!

WilliWycombe's Willy Hill £10 Challenge: The Beginning of the End

OK, I'll keep this as brief as possible. Last Saturday, to celebrate a rendevous with some old friends and the Champions League final between Manchester United and Barcelona, I opened an online betting account (the clue is in the title with regards to the company I've sold my soul to).

Over the course of the weekend I'd deposited £25 and through a series of bets involving the aforementioned game and the League One play-off final, I'd managed to recoup £22.50.

So I'm £2.50 down and anxious to claw it back. I must have mug tattooed on my forehead as they probably say in a Guy Ritchie film.

I don't need to elaborate at this point but I have pretty average luck as a punter. But I'm cheesed off. I want that £2.50. Bad.

I've deposited a further £10 with the aim of reaching an account balance of £12.50 to get back my second load and the remaining precious funds to 'break even'. I'm eager to beat the bookie.

My challenge started off yesterday (today?) with mixed results. The Miami Heat spunked a 15-point lead to hand the second game of their NBA Eastern Conference Finals series to their revitalised opponents, the Dallas Mavericks.

Thankfully, Argentina's Velez Sarsfield got me back on track with a narrow 2-1 win over Uruguayan side Penarol, who went through on away goals to the Copa Libertadores final.

Cue the Epsom Derby and Euro 2012 qualifying. I've plumped for Recital with an each-way bet at 5/1. The poor bugger doesn't even know who his rider will be as jockey Kieron Fallon awaits the outcome of an appeal hearing brought by owner Ibrahim Araci who claims the Irishman had already agreed to ride his horse, Native Khan, in the showpiece race. The decision is expected to be announced at around 9am tomorrow.

Anyhoo, this evening Italy, Germany (just!) and in-play bets on Liechtenstein (albeit at 2-0 up), and a Croatia turnaround conjoured valuable winnings. Alas, nervy in-play stabs at Lithuania, Georgia and Austria to snatch draws offset my success.

I've stuck 30p on LA Galaxy to do the business against DC United early tomorrow morning (UK time), Montenegro to beat Bulgaria and for both teams NOT to score in the England v Switzerland game. The latter has me slightly anxious as the Swiss may go all-out at Wembley to salvage something from their qualifying campaign.

Follow me in my quest to reach the magic £12.50 mark and feel free to leave any tips you think I might find helpful!

Twitter: @williwycombe

Current balance: £6.64

And then there were four...

Two weeks, two successive recoveries from two goal deficits and Wycombe Wanderers continue to desperately cling to the one remaining automatic promotion place in npower League Two.

Arguably, the Blues' ability to rescue themselves from seemingly hopeless positions displays encouraging resolve however the trite obviousness of the necessity to claim as many of the twelve remaining points available, beginning with the Good Friday trip to promotion rivals Torquay United, is apparent.

Whilst Wycombe have remained defiant in their quest to secure a quick-fire return to League One, familar signs of the end of season implosions that have featured throughout the past decade raise tangible fears of anti-climatic misfortune.

In evaluating the final four fixtures of the season, Arm Chairs & Deck Chairs reflects on a few of the comparable run-ins from recent years where success and failure at the telling denouement have manifested themselves in differing ways.

1998/1999: (Notts County, Blackpool, Wigan Athletic, Lincoln City)

The merits and subsequent deteoriation of Lawrie Sanchez's tenure as Wycombe manager have been much discussed recently following comments made by attendees at a club dinner to commemorate the heroic FA Cup run that culminated in the semi-final against Liverpool.

Sanchez's personal skills may have been scrutinised as the team he inherited and built upon became stale at the turn of the new century however most Wycombe Wanderers historians now seem to prefer the revisionist approach to assessing the Northern Irishman's time at the helm.

Hired to replace Neil Smillie during the 1998/1999 campaign, Sanchez's Wycombe adventure began with one of its finest hours as he helped to save the club from
relegation to the former 'Division Three'.

With only two defeats in the final eleven games of the season, one of those a dispiriting 1-0 reverse at Meadow Lane to Notts County, the Wanderers embarked upon the 'Great Escape' and they would enjoy another five seasons in the third tier of English football before falling down the ladder in 2004.

Losing in Nottingham meant that defeating Blackpool at Adams Park appeared even more imperative. One of Sanchez's most astute purchases was striker Sean Devine, who had initially joined on-loan from Barnet. He netted his seventh goal since his arrival a few months previously as Wycombe twice took the lead before the visitors claimed a point, meaning that the Chairboy's fate was no longer in their own hands.

Contained within similar tales of triumph over adversity, there are quirks of fate that aid the victorious party. It was perhaps fortunate that when Wigan Athletic made the long trip south to Buckinghamshire for the penultimate game of the season, they had played six games in two weeks in their own pursuit of glory, namely achieving play-off qualification.

As the visitors threatened to extinguish Wycombe's survival hopes with a Simon Hawarth opener, two heroes of the battle to beat the drop combined to ensure that the Chairboys could at least attempt to look forward to the pivotal trip to Sincil Bank to meet Lincoln City for a relegation decider as the Latics tired.

A Sean Devine effort and a first Wycombe goal for striker Paul Emblen, a £60,000 signing from Charlton Athletic, completed the home side's comeback.

Merely three days later, 2,643 Blues fans travelled north to witness the ushering in of a new era of hope following a period of stagnation post-Martin O'Neill.

The aforementioned Emblen sent a looping header into the top of the Lincoln net with just seven minutes left to send the Blue hoardes wild with delight. The 1-0 victory completed an incredible final four games for Wycombe, a microcosm of a season full of emotions encapsulated by defeat and just enough success to stay above the condemned.

2002/2003: (Cheltenham Town, Port Vale, Colchester United, Plymouth Argyle)

If the culmination to the 1998/99 season represented the re-birth of Wycombe's Football League ambitions then the manner in which the 2002/2003 campaign crawled to a disappointing finale surely achieved the opposite.

It has been described as 'one of the worst seasons' in living memory, a turgid campaign characterised by a lack of fluidity in Wycombe's play and an outmoded focus on strength over technical ability. The winds of change that were sweeping through the club as Lawrie Sanchez approached his personal endgame are perfectly evinced by this quartet of harrowing encounters.

In the dewey-eyed haze of the FA Cup run, Wycombe had made a credible charge for the play-offs during the first-half of the 2001/2002 season however a traumatic 4-1 home defeat to Blackpool on a drizzly Tuesday night put paid to any legitimate hopes of promotion.

That evening is widely regarded as a watershed moment in Wycombe's recent history and that of Sanchez's reign.

Where Wycombe had previously dispatched of most visitors to Adams Park, the fortress was now far less impregnable. Memorable scalps of the 'giants' of the division were replaced by ignominous defeats where the strength of the squad was questioned.

Although still full of endeavour, the notable victories of the previous season, such as those over Stoke City and Wigan Athletic, were replaced by a 4-0 hammering against a rampant Cardiff City side and even a disastrous 4-1 collapse at home to Stockport County having taken a 1-0 lead in the 65th minute.

A 1-1 draw against Cheltenham Town at Adams Park, who would eventually fall to the Football League's basement division, effectively secured Wycombe's place amongst the twenty-four sides in Division Two for at least another year.

The depressing nature of the contest lives long in the memory. The Gloucestershire side deservedly equalised one minute from time through the diminutive journeyman, Tony Naylor, to cancel out Steve Brown's opener from the penalty spot.

This encounter was a 90-minute summation of the ineffective, dreary percentage football that the Blues had resorted to. Although Cheltenham's attempts to avoid relegation were ultimately in vain, they travelled to Buckinghamshire full of purpose and were it not for the woeful finishing of Damien Spencer and Kayode Odejayi in front of a disbelieving Valley End, they could have emerged comfortable victors.

The erstwhile squad were fading with left-back Chris Vinnicombe in particular, often regarded as the team's 'Mr Consistent', suffering at the feet of Port Vale on the Easter Monday.

The Blues earned a point from Vale Park courtesy of a headed goal from maligned striker, Richard Harris, whose ability to dispatch rocket-like long-throws into the opposition penalty area became symbolic with the team's desperate malaise.

If the Chairboys faithful were hoping for some end of season cheer at home to old rivals, Colchester United, there was more disappointment.

The U's could have left with more than just one point following a drab 0-0 draw however Kemal Izzet's header smacked back off the crossbar. Wycombe could only fire tame efforts towards the Essex side's goal as the season continued to peter out.

By the time Wycombe meekly finished the 46th league game of a forgettable season with defeat to Plymouth Argyle, most were past caring.


2008/2009: (Aldershot Town, Luton Town, Port Vale, Notts County)

As divided as opinion remains on the 'wow factor' of only the second Football League promotion that the Wanderers have achieved, it's worth mentioning that Taylor's charges only lost once in the final four games of this particular season.

It could be argued that the opposition in question had less to play for than those in upcoming fixtures, however Taylor's Blues did just about enough to win a place in League One despite a last-day setback.

Current Wanderers incumbent Gary Waddock and his former employers, Aldershot Town, were enjoying their first season back in the Football League since their resignation in 1992. The Hampshire club had the worst away record in the division and probably travelled to Adams Park on Saturday 18th April 2009 with more hope than expectation, as the Wanderers ran out 3-0 winners.

There was still immense pressure on the Blues to not falter at the final hurdle and as yours truly anxiously huddled around a laptop, whilst frantically clicking the refresh button from the comfort of an undisclosed Dorset location, history was being made.

John Akinde, an explosive loan signing from Bristol City, had breathed fresh life into a season where Peter Taylor's model of efficiency had at times failed to tighten its grip on claiming all three points when called upon.

The Nigerian striker's 56th minute winner at Kenilworth Road against Luton Town ensured a 1-0 victory that seemed to draw the Wanderers tantalisingly close to a return to the third tier following a five year absence.

A win in the following game against Port Vale would have sent the 1,000 travelling Blues contingent into raptures and sealed automatic promotion however Wycombe could only escape with a point after Lee Sawyer's late equaliser.

Requiring only a draw from their final game at Adams Park against Notts County, a team who had in the past been home cannon fodder, Wycombe performed the inevitable and slipped to a 2-1 defeat.

A Football League record attendance of 9,625 fell into deadly silence following the away side's 90th minute winner before news finally filtered through that the Blues had prevailed by the narrowest of margins, a superior goal difference of just one.

The repercussions of the half-hearted pitch invasion that ensued were deemed by some to be more noteworthy than the nature of the promotion itself.

As the Blues prepare to face fierce promotion rivals Torquay United and Bury, sandwiched between equally as crucial games against Crewe Alexandra and Southend United, it will take another herculean effort to persevere.

Seventy-eight points in 2009 were barely enough to start the party. You get the feeling it will take at least that total and perhaps a couple more to raise the roof two years on.

Peter Taylor's side left their slip-up to the final day. Gary Waddock's version of Oxford and Cambridge blue might not even have that luxury.

'Summer of rage' arrives late in Bournemouth and Poole

Two years ago, police chiefs warned of an impending 'summer of rage' in response to the repercussions of the economic collapse during 2008.

Superintendent David Hartshorn, head of Scotland Yard's public order branch, told The Guardian in February 2009 that conditions were ripe for disorder and established activists "would be good at motivating people, but they haven't had the 'footsoldiers' to actually
carry out [protests]."

Today, there are clear signs of co-ordinated action by a number of political groups with local interests throughout Bournemouth and Poole, a broad spectrum of residents affected by upcoming cuts, not characterised by the stereotypes often afforded to a minority of anarchists whose actions have previously threatened to overshadow the wider protest movement.

These people are not merely 'footsoldiers', they are the disenfranchised with a legitimate voice-doctors, nurses, teachers and those others understandably angry and frightened by the prospect of job losses, pay freezes and economic uncertainty as the gap between rich and poor reaches its widest point 'since the Second World War'.

A co-ordinated national raft of demonstrations by protest group UK Uncut took in destinations from 'London to Hawaii' and reached Bournemouth in between over the past weekend.

Demonstrators unhappy with proposed cuts to services by the coalition government targetted a branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland in Bournemouth town centre on Saturday, a clear display of the group's dissatisfaction with the 84% state-owned bank paying more than 100 of its bankers over £1m last year as services such as hospitals and creches suffer.

The Bournemouth strand of UK Uncut were soon met by opposition, however, with Police Community Support Officer's warning protesters they faced a £60 fine for handing out leaflets to highlight their cause, following complaints from members of the public. It later emerged these were employees from the bank.

During an interview with the Bournemouth Echo, music teacher and group member Paul Williams, 41, from Redhill, Bournemouth, told the local newspaper that he was "campaigning against Government cuts, against bank bonuses and the leaflets also clearly stated our opposition to local cuts to libraries", in response to attending council officers who argued members were breaching the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act.

The Act allows for distribution of leaflets for charity or political or religious purposes. It would appear the Council are somewhat confused with regards to the nature of UK Uncut's grievances, overtly political and perhaps too radical for councillors to comprehend in a newly emboldened local political landscape.

Inspector Peter Browning from Dorset Police commented that the protestors had been "warned about by-laws in the area".

Whilst it is reassuring to hear that the law is being safeguarded, even if subject to debate given the circumstances, Inspector Browning might perhaps feel a modicum of empathy with protesters angry at cuts to frontline services, especially given the recent announcement that Dorset Police would be culling 530 posts over the next four years.

Chief Constable Martin Baker lamented how his is "consistently the worst funded force in the country in terms of government grant per resident".

Another protest was planned to take place this evening outside the Civic Centre in Poole, organised by the Bournemouth and Poole Anti Cuts Coalition (BPACC).

Dismayed at plans made by Poole Borough to make £14 million worth of cuts with as many as 160 job losses, Darren Brown, BPACC chair, made the group's feelings known.

"These cuts will affect real people – and those who need the services most will suffer the most. That simply isn’t fair" he said.

What's clear is that groups such as the BPACC, who are planning a number of demonstrations in the lead up to May council elections, are a sign that locals in the conurbation are mobilising to ensure their voice is heard. The outcome and success of their actions is still unclear however one thing is certain-the collective will of residents to freely protest will not be deterred by officious bye-laws and indifference with so much at stake.

Bournemouth's Continuation of Violence

The last few months have witnessed an alarming increase in violent attacks throughout Bournemouth.

A vicious assault on a taxi driver, grandfather Thomas Newton, during an altercation with two men on Monday night, has further highlighted the perilous continuation of violence in the area.

Mr. Newton's aggressors had demanded money from the father-of-four at the culmination of a journey that was supposed to end peacefully in Boscombe. When the taxi had pulled up in Adeline Road, the attack began, which included the use of a knife, leaving the driver with a neck wound that required three stitches.

The 66-year-old victim has courageously vowed to return to work on Wednesday evening and told the Bournemouth Daily Echo, "It’s made me nervous and I keep looking over my shoulder...I want these men caught and also want to make other taxi drivers aware of the very real dangers they face.”

Violent crime numbers fell across the Bournemouth Division according to the latest statistics made available by Dorset Police. Between April 2007 and March 2008, cases of 'violence against the person' fell by nearly 10% although detections actually fell by close to 600 instances.

Details of Thomas Newton's harrowing ordeal were published as news of another story of violence emerged on Wednesday. These issues will currently appear far more pertinent than outdated police figures. After all, were it not for passing sanitation workers, Mr. Newton could have endured a far worse fate.

Three men are wanted for questioning following an incident on February 4 outside the Bournemouth International Centre where a 22-year-old man from Poole sustained bruising to the head.

In a week that has also seen the conclusion to one of the most high-profile murder cases in the town's history and the conviction of Alan Pickersgill, fears of violent crime have moved onto the agenda.

Pickersgill, 37, has been given a life sentence for the murder of Julie Bywater at his Southbourne flat in May 2010.

The Echo's Neal Butterworth, in his summation of the tragic event, somewhat reductively labelled Pickersgill 'a wrong 'un', which he undoubtedly was although such terminology obviously doesn't begin to describe the full extent of his complex psychosis.

The fact remains that whilst any large town has to grimly expect the inevitabilities of social disorder; Bournemouth's residents have had recent cause to closely examine the deteriorating situation around them.

Wycombe Wanderers Plot Path to Promotion

Wycombe Wanderers thrashed Burton Albion 4-1 on Tuesday evening to avoid the ignominy of losing four League Two games in a row for the first time since 2007.

The win has seen the Blues clamber back into the automatic promotion positions and up to second place as they plot their path to promotion with fifteen games remaining.

Manager Gary Waddock brought in Lewis Montrose for maligned loanee Scott Donnelly and Jon Paul-Pittman in place of the slightly more unfortunate talisman, Stuart Beavon.

Although Montrose had only featured for the Blues twice since November, his inclusion was certainly no gamble by Waddock as he produced a swashbuckling display of commitment and poise. Montrose's fine evening was capped off by his deflected effort, Wycombe's second goal, that looped over Burton goalkeeper Adam Legzdins.

The midfielder's delight at scoring his first goal since September was clearly evident as he took the plaudits from the crowd and his team-mates before exhaling deeply as he skipped back to the half-way line, closed eyes and a vocal expression of cathartic jubilation visible to all.

In truth, Wycombe could easily have scored more, the aforementioned Pittman was unlucky not to score his second goal for the Blues since returning from his five-month injury lay-off, his electric pace troubling the visitor's defence all evening and the striker's two quick-fire efforts after Wycombe's first goal had to be parried away to safety by Legzdins.

Wycombe's recent poor run had seen them fall to fourth place in the npower League Two table however the Burton game represented a chance to reclaim the upper hand on their promotion rivals.

An all-round strong team performance began with midfielder Stuart Lewis shuffling through a static Burton defence, with referee Oliver Langford obstructing the advancing defender, to calmly fire the ball into the back of net with only 10 minutes gone before Montrose's effort increased the Wanderers' advantage on the half-hour mark.

Lewis, awarded a well-deserved man of match accolade, then proceeded to score the goal of the evening and possibly Wycombe's best goal of the season. In what is looking to be a gem of a signing from Dagenham and Redbridge, the midfielder added to his burgeoning reputation amongst Blues fans by unleashing an unstoppable low drive into the bottom right-hand corner of the Valley End net.

Following the game, Lewis declared to wwfc.com, that it was his 'best game ever' and one he understandably thoroughly enjoyed.

It was perhaps obvious that Burton manager Paul Peschisolido would chasten his team during the half-time interval and demand the addition of composure and zeal to their play. The Brewers had lost Calvin Zola to a hamstring injury during the first-half, a crushing blow as despite his wayward control and finishing, he had looked their most promising attacking outlet until he was replaced by Greg Pearson.

The aforementioned Pearson looked to exploit Alan Bennett's comparitive lack of pace as Burton appeared reinvigorated following the resumption of the game. The reward for their endeavour was Sam Winnall's close-range effort to reduce the deficit eleven minutes into the second-half and the away side were beginning to unsettle Wycombe who had failed to replicate the intensity they displayed prior to the break.

Any hopes the Brewers were harbouring of a dramatic comeback were extinguished when the veteran Moore tussled with the lively Pittman who was rewarded with a penalty kick. Stuart Lewis had an eye on claiming his first senior hat-trick although he had to settle for a brace as striker Scott Rendell stepped up to score his 12th goal of the season, in front of just 3,345 fans at Adams Park.

The Blues issued the perfect response to a week of disappointment that saw consecutive defeats to Bradford City, Southend United and Accrington Stanley.

As the 2010/2011 season prepares to usher in its spring denouement, Wanderers will travel to Macclesfield Town and league leaders Chesterfield in the next week, two sides who had beaten them by a 2-1 scoreline in the reverse fixtures.

Following the victory over Burton, Wycombe have now won 8 of their 16 games against teams in the bottom-half of League Two this season. Macclesfield, however, enjoy a seven point cushion over Stockport County in the last remaining relegation place and will be buoyed by their 2-0 home triumph against Morecambe yesterday.

The journey to Derbyshire to meet league pacesetters Chesterfield next Tuesday evening represents a stern test for Waddock's charges although they will take confidence from previous away wins against members of the current top seven, including a 4-3 victory over Rotherham United and a 2-0 win at Priestfield, the home of Gillingham.

The last and only time I attempted to predict the outcome of all 46 games in a regular Football League season was prior to the 2002/2003 campaign. I ambitiously plumped for the Blues team in question to reach the play-offs. As it turned out, the season was a campaign of listless disenchantment and Wycombe Wanderers finished 18th in Division Two, playing some of the worst football in the club's recent history.

The 'Sanchez Way' to promotion following the FA Cup honeymoon season that was 2001/2002 was to be a return to outmoded drudgery and aimless percentage football, a strategy of methodical zonal domination with long-balls into pre-determined danger areas, a philosophy arguably still favoured by Wycombe's erstwhile manager.

This 'revolutionary' approach ultimately imploded with feverish expectations of possible promotion to what was then Division One going unfulfilled with Sanchez becoming increasing fraught at any perceived criticism aimed towards him and the team. The protracted decline that led to relegation in 2004 had already cost the former Wimbledon FA Cup hero his job and I have not been comfortable commenting on any upcoming Wanderers game since.

Alas, this meandering digression may illustrate the futile hopelessness of my powers of prediction altough it also leads into further analysis of the challenges that lie ahead.

The Wanderers still have to travel to Shrewsbury Town, Bury and local rivals Oxford United besides having the pleasure of the visits of Northampton Town and a potentially charged affair with Aldershot to negotiate.

Whilst I am not prepared to risk damaging the team's promotion chances with further outlandish conjecture, there can surely be little chance of collapse if Wycombe continue in the same vein as yesterday evening.

If the Blues can continue to be exponents of this type of high-tempo, pressure football that is often accompanied by the clinical precision as demonstrated against Burton, then re-establishing themselves in the top three will represent an achievable goal.

As Gary Waddock enthused to skysports.com after the match, "we knew they would respond because they are an excellent group of players and they put it right."

Let's hope that for the majority of Wycombe's remaining fifteen games, the Blues continue to find the winning formula as they bid for promotion back to League One.

Welcome to Vice City

Fatal stabbings, sex games gone wrong, citizens involved with armed robbery and pot-smoking students. These are the stories hitting the local headlines in Bournemouth. They may even be similar to the archetypal reports across the rest of the nation. That is, except for one important exception. These are all close to home.

This isn't post-modern revelling in Bournemouth's murky underworld nor a puritanical critique. This is just life and the current state of affairs in a town beset by scandal, intrigue and circulating rumours.

After an initial ban on releasing details of the deceased in the ongoing Moordown stabbing case, the Daily Echo appealed to the courts and more information has been released.

Mahmud Ibrahim Bakir, a 28-year-old man from Wimborne Road, Bournemouth, near the scene of the crime, has been charged with the murder of 20-year-old Kewen Khorsheed in the early hours of the fateful morning of Thursday 27 January.

Along with three other men, Bakir will appear at Winchester Crown Court on Monday 7 February.

Bournmouth man Anthony Bado was involved in a criminal gang responsible for the theft of watches and jewellery worth more than £3.5 million. The spate of robberies, mainly across southern England, led to Bado of St. Clements, Boscombe, being jailed for 12 years.

Meanwhile, another murder case filling column inches has been that of Julie Bywater, 32, last May. She was allegedly strangled by ex-boyfriend Alan Pickersgill, 37, a trainee masseur who had become obsessed with Ms Bywater after their brief relationship fizzled out.

Pickersgill, of Southbourne, Bournemouth, had invited Bywater to his flat where the incident took place. He claims the murder was a result of a 'sex game gone wrong', a strangulation intended to generate erotic pleasure at the point of asphyixiation rather than a cold, brutal murder by an obsessive, as portrayed by Anthony Donne QC, prosecuting.

As that case continues, Bournemouth residents have also been regailed with accounts of the explusion of 'a number of students' from the Bishop of Winchester school in Mallard Road, Bournemouth.

The familiar cause of their exclusion-hash, blow, pot, weed, cannabis, green, the herb. Although the school was not prepared to expand on the exact reasons for their actions or the number of pupils permanently excluded, Principal Paul McKeown said: “The academy is determined to demonstrate zero tolerance towards behaviour that threatens children’s safety.

“As a consequence, it is with regret that a small number of students involved in this isolated incident will be permanently excluded,” he told the Echo.

These are the narratives of modern-day Bournemouth. From the bunga-bunga parties of sleepy Winton back streets to the drink and drug induced haze of Charminster Road, the local media has had much to ponder in the trickle of newsworthiness to emerge recently. This is just the proverbial tip of the iceberg. This is Vice City. Keep looking.

Build It And They Will Come? Another Tesco Prepares to Open in Bournemouth

Although the title header, "build it and they will come" is probably a tenet unlikely to hold much sway in the business world, it is one pertinent in relation to the forthcoming opening of a new Tesco Metro store in Bournemouth.

The line is a poignant paraphrase from the 1989 film Field of Dreams, a sports fantasy based on the tale of a man who builds a baseball field for ghosts. After a year has passed by, the spectres eventally begin to make use of the facility.

One suspects that it will not take as long for the residents of Bournemouth to visit the new Tesco store, located in the prominent unit off the Square that was previously occupied by the now defunct UK arm of the Borders bookstore chain.

When a Tesco store opens, people soon follow with £3.2bn pre-tax profits from the past financial year testament to the supermarket's ongoing success despite the effects of a recession.

Their newest addition to Bournemouth, a medium-sized Metro version, will open on Monday 17 January at 8am following reports that 791 people had applied for the 85 jobs available.

Naturally, president of Bournemouth Chanber of Trade and Commerce, Nigel Hedges, is happy that unit is now occupied with the fresh employment opportunities that the opening will bring to the town.

He told Bournemouth's Daily Echo, "It’s a big store to fill and it needed to be filled. It’s creating employment and getting the lights on in a prime unit."

Arm Chairs & Deck Chairs has been garnering online opinion from residents about the opening. Comments on the Echo website have highlighted how divided the local populous are on the issue.

Those in favour of the opening include 'Tamrin' who announced their recent successful application to join the supermarket giant.

The poster in question said, "I am one of the lucky people who got a job at Tesco ,only part time (17hrs) mind you but i can't wait until the overtime kicks in and i can say goodbye to the job centre and its arrogant staff." (sic)

This particular user is obviously delighted at finding employment following a period without a job and went further in praising the opportunity that the new role could bring by adding, "its all about getting your foot in the door and playing your cards right once your in!"

There are others who share 'Tamrin's' sentiments, welcoming the economic benefits to the town centre. Undoubtledly, the creation of 85 new jobs is a fillip besides the occupation of the redundant former Borders unit.

Meanwhile, various other posters have criticised the supposed lack of neccessity for another Tesco in the town, especially given the close proximity of one of the chain's Express stores, less than a mile away in the Triangle.

'Markmag' commented, "They won't close the Triangle - Tesco don't close stores. What it does mean is you'll have the choice to buy at the triangle at Express prices or at the Square at Metro prices."

With regards to Tesco's policy on opening new stores, no matter how close they are to others, this particular poster alluded to an issue where Tesco have publicly rebuffed criticism.

Addressing points made to the chain by the Competition Commission, in one instance by the Scottish Grocers' Federation, Tesco denied having a policy to deliberately build stores near to existing stores.

The response reads: "In some cases we do operate stores in close proximity, in densely populated areas where a single store would suffer from over-crowding and congestion that customers do not like. We only open stores where we can identify customer demand and we work with the grain of the planning regime to meet local needs."

'CrashTest1976' makes the point that "The store creates 85 much needed jobs for the people of Bournemouth. Quit your whining about prices and recognise that 85 Bournemouth families will now have an income they didn't have before!" however perhaps this poster, whilst recognising the social and financial benefits of employment, fails to recognise the worrying continuing trend of low-paid service based work in the town.

This is an issue not limited to Bournemouth. Even by the Council's admission in a recent study of the local labour market, Bournemouth's economy centres on a "significant number of service based jobs (particularly) in the leisure and tourism industry, which tend, to be lower paid," with 91.4% of jobs in the service sector.

Closely following the opening of another retail giant in the town centre, namely the feted introduction of a Primark store in November, Tesco's new Bourne Avenue site is another example of the service sector offering its wares in the age of austerity.

It would be foolish to write-off the new store given the success of the chain's aggressive expansion policy thus far. After all, rightly or wrongly, Tesco may be the only viable option in depressed economic conditons where independent stores had already previously struggled to compete.

Wycombe Wanderers Poised for Memorable 2011

Wycombe Wanderers ushered in 2011 with a New Year's Day victory against Cheltenham Town. The Blues recorded a 2-1 win courtesy of two stunning goals from Stuart Beavon and Gareth Ainsworth. The result has propelled the Blues to third position in the npower League Two table.

In the past, much has been made of the significance of the number '1' in relation to the previous successes of Tottenham Hotspur, notably their last League title win in 1961 and FA Cup triumph in 1991.

A 2001 FA Cup semi-final defeat to arch-rivals Arsenal poured scorn on this erroneous piece of football nostalgia, even if there was some solace in the Gunner's defeat to Liverpool at the crucial juncture of the competition.

If Wycombe were to apply the same superstition, they can justly use their own statistics to make a case for a successful 2011 as they pursue promotion to League One.

After all, the Blues like Spurs were a 2001 FA Cup semi-finalist whilst only a Division Two side. Ten years prior to that historic occasion, Wycombe enjoyed FA Trophy success defeating Kidderminster Harriers in the 1991 final.

Delving further still into the annals of Wanderers history, there was an FA Amateur Cup triumph in 1931. In addition, a poignant reminder of the significance of the digit in relation to past success and the current stadium debate ruckus, is that former Wanderer and Loakes Park benefactor Frank Adams joined the club as a player in 1911.

The upcoming year could be memorable for a variety of reasons, good and bad. Wycombe District Council are expected to announce the outcome of their consultation with residents regarding proposals to build Wycombe Wanderers and tenants London Wasps rugby club a new stadium in the Booker area of High Wycombe. The results of the consultation are expected to be delivered in January.

Thus far, no concrete details have been released by the football club with regards to how the stadium plan would specifically benefit the Wanderers.

A potential promotion could propel the club a step closer to the promised land of the npower Championship. Those more cynical than myself may argue that achieving this feat would have questionable benefits, especially after the false dawn following Wycombe's last promotion and quick-fire relegation in 2010.

Some may take a dim view of having the chance to be the next Scunthorpe United or being able to replicate the feats of clubs like Bury, Stockport County and Grimsby Town. The latter three grimly clung onto their second tier status during the late nineties and early noughties before succumbing to their inevitable slide down the leagues.

Was the last game against Cheltenham a vintage performance to kick-off a year of achievement? It was certainly a win to savour over a bogey team, Wycombe's first in nine Football League encounters with the Robins.

By all accounts, the team awoke from their initial slumber to break with purpose and although there were elements of fortune, the Blues had chances themselves to secure the three points by a greater margin.

The rivalry of sorts with Cheltenham is a peculiar one, online animosity stoked by tedious banter and fanned by the tangible bitterness of Wycombe's 2006 play-off semi-final defeat. The Blues had battered Cheltenham in the return leg before bowing out on aggregate (2-1) after a very one-sided 0-0 draw in Gloucestershire where Wycombe did everything but score.

There are certainly valid reasons for Wycombe fans to be cheerful heading into the new year:

1. We are sexy. At least in a footballing sense. We have a midfield capable of industry and creativity and strikers scoring goals after a slow start to the season for the forward line. That we possess a defence that can sometimes resemble an articulated lorry trying desperately to turn quickly enough to avoid a South Ruislip bridge strike only adds more excitement for Blues fans and neutrals alike.

2. We are managed by an ambitious man of principle and integrity. Wycombe manager Gary Waddock wants the club to progress and to do so playing football the right way. This involves a ball predominantly zipping across the turf rather than the turgid hoofball of c.2002-2003 and other fitful periods of the last decade.

Despite the additional pressure from the men in suits to achieve promotion at all costs, our Gaz has largely managed to keep his focus on the team rather than Brand WWFC with exciting additions such as midfielder Scott Donnelly on a loan deal from Swansea City.

3. Wycombe fans of the world, unite!

You are more likely to see Wycombe fans delivering cutting online insults to one another or cursory glances across the Vere Suite as opposed to a mass conga snaking its way through the Frank Adams stand.

That said, a vociferous number are in agreement in their opposition to sketchy plans to move the club to a new stadium in Booker. Although the proximate cause is unpleasant, the unifying effect of the opposition, epitomised by the 'Black and White' movement, is refreshing.

There have been moments where results and performances have triggered murmurs of dissatisfaction. Defeat to Macclesfield Town at home was cause for concern, swiftly erased by a six match unbeaten run that included a welcome win against rivals Colchester United.

Torquay United's classy 3-1 victory at Adams Park had some questioning how good or otherwise this Wycombe team is compared to some of its promotion rivals.

Defeating Rotherham United, who now top the table, besides victories against fellow promotion hopefuls Bury and Cheltenham in recent weeks, are enough to dispel any accusations that the Blues are incapable of beating the top sides in the division.

Depending on your standpoint, this year is going to be memorable, for good or for ill. Not everyone is opposed to the construction of a new stadium. It is a lingering shiny promise representative of investment in the club and the wider community and has been proposed through worthy enough soundbites.

Their content though fails to answer pertinent qustions as to where exactly there is a need for a larger stadium to suit Wycombe Wanderers Football Club. How will it financially benefit WWFC and what plan, if any, exists to reverse the effects of years of debt accumulation?

As When Saturday Comes writer Paul Lewis noted in 2005, "How a club previously known to be financially stable had amassed debts of more than £2 million by 2003 was never made clear, especially given that players’ wages were always kept as less than 40 per cent of total turnover and that rugby tenants London Wasps have paid £300,000 a year since moving to Wycombe in 2002."

Six years later and these debts have increased to circa £6 million with no transparent plans to stem annual losses of around £1 million.

Let the mocking words of those in power not unduly disparage the genuine concerns of those who remain the lifeblood of an institution supported and maintained by their loyal devotion. Here is to a year to remember, for all the right reasons.

Residents Sick of Surf Reef Squabbles

As a key component of Bournemouth Borough Council's strategy to revitalise Boscombe, the controversial surf reef has thus far largely proved to be divisive.

The construction of Europe's largest artificial surf reef aimed to attract a more bohemian class of visitor to an area synonymous with deprivation. Instead, it has quickly become a symbol of resentment for many residents.

Those who have always been opposed to the reef are now allied with an increasing number angry at its failure to deliver on its promise. In addition, dissenters are annoyed at the significant amount of public money used to fund a project where costs have already doubled to £3 million.

Yet again the reef is making headlines with a very public spat between Councillor David Charon and Liberal Democrat Councillor Roger West dominating the front pages of the Daily Echo.

The Conservative Leader of the Council, Councillor Charon, has attacked Councillor West for his intervention in a deal between council bosses and the firm charged with creating the reef, New Zealand based ASR.

Cllr West and a colleague have challenged a decision made by the cabinet to meet with ASR to discuss a "£55,000 up- front payment, with another £95,000 if they could sort it out", relating to teething problems with the reef.

These were highlighted during the summer by a damning report given by Plymouth University which described the reef as "sub-standard" and "only met four of its 11 objectives."

Ultimately, Cllr West's move was predicated by his dissatisfaction that there was no mention of a safety aspect in the cabinet report relating to construction flaws. The Councillor is also concerned that the initial refinement plan will not address these issues.

Are the Con/Lib differences symbiotic of the schisms that have recently been revealed within the ruling coalition Government?

What is certain is that the residents of Bournemouth, much to their chagrin in a supposed 'age of austerity', have to further subsidise an over-budget project in serious danger of becoming a proverbial white elephant.

Cllr West is right to intervene if genuine concerns about safety remain and if, as he says, he is acting “in the interest of Bournemouth’s economy and tourism" and not merely in the spirit of political opportunism as his accuser has suggested.

Decisive action is called for with all stakeholders expecting positive answers and action from ASR. Public in-fighting is counterproductive with the successful completion and implementation of the reef a priority, not tiresome politicking to an already apathetic public.

Merry Christmas from Arm Chairs & Deck Chairs!

Another year has flown by and we are now preparing to usher in 2011! Merry Christmas and a happy New Year from Arm Chairs & Deck Chairs, the blog that covers news and opinion relating to the towns of High Wycombe and Bournemouth.

At the beginning of this year, I was busy with The Collected Thoughts of Nobody Special before the transition to the blog in its current form. By focussing on localised and specialist content, including issues relating to Wycombe Wanderers F.C and Bournemouth news, I have been able to concentrate on matters close to my heart. It has also enabled me to participate in active discussions, including those surrounding the tense developments in Wycombe Wanderers' proposals to build a new stadium in Booker.

I am delighted to have been able to contribute to the club fanzine, The Wanderer, and express my views on all things WWFC.

Throughout 2011, the remit of this blog will continue to be to provide news and opinion from the same locales with a strong emphasis on the travails of Wycombe Wanderers too.

If you have an opinion on any matter relating to High Wycombe or Bournemouth, whether it be the stadium plan, the High Speed Rail Link (HS2) through Buckinghamshire or Bournemouth's ever changing news landscape, then I'd love to publish your contributions to the debate. Please feel free to tweet me @williwycombe, email me at willgeldart@hotmail.co.uk or phone the newsdesk through Skype by searching for williwycombe.

Have a great Christmas and an even better New Year.

williwycombe

The Potential Decline of Bournemouth's Alcohol Based Economy

Bournemouth's image changed dramatically throughout the noughties. Once supposedly the favoured retreat of the 'blue rinse brigade', a term used to describe right-leaning pensioners, the seaside town has become synoymous with groups of raucous stag and hen parties in search of a vibrant club scene.

Partying is big business in Bournemouth however the landscape of its lauded night-time economy could be about to change dramatically after an announcement that stated local councils could be about to receive extra powers to deal with the excesses of the demon drink.

The perception of Bournemouth as a south-coast party hub has only been accentuated in recent years by the passing of infamous drinking legislation by the previous Government in 2003.

The 24-hour drinking laws aimed at creating a continental style cafe culture. The ability for pubs and clubs to stagger closing times purported to decrease levels of street violence in towns and cities, allegedly caused as trouble brewed within the throng of people leaving licensed premises at a standardised hour.

Critics, including the new coalition Government, have decried the rise in binge drinking and anti-social behaviour attributed in part to the aforementioned, with a review promised following their election in May.

One of the strictest sanctions that could be made available is the power for local councils to 'impose a blanket ban on specific areas, in which all premises will be barred from selling alcohol between midnight and 6am.'

Another alternative would be to force those premises who choose to open later to pay a levy towards extra policing and the subsequent clean-up operation, believed to be 'up to £4,480 and could generate between £9m and £15m nationally.'

No doubt there will be a polarisation of opinion on the merits of these new powers, should they materialise.

Bournemouth residents have often chided the ill effects of the night-time economy as the town centre, particularly its party strip on Old Christchurch Road, has at times resembled a war zone. Regularly, as those who pass through early on Saturday and Sunday mornings will attest, it is akin to a rubbish dump.

Another common source of debate in relation to the clean-up operation centres on who is to blame for the mess with outside visitors often derided. This, however, misses the point and is ultimately a futile line of inquiry, despite a recent Daily Echo poll favouring a ban on stag and hen parties in the town.

There is most definitely a national, as well as local need, to challenge the downside of excessive alcohol consumption. After all, according to estimates from 2002, Britons spent £17 billion a year on alcohol, figures based on information available nearly a decade ago, no doubt with a continuing trend.

The question is, from these bile filled heady days to arguably draconian measures, how far will the pendulum swing and how successful can these planned powers possibly hope to be?

It is not merely pubs and clubs that may suffer should any limit to their opening hours be imposed or if they refuse to pay for keeping the party alive into the small hours.

Restaurants, hotels and shops also depend on the knock-on effect of Bournemouth's hedonistic lustre and should barflies, both local and from further afield, feel the town has lost its edge, it could mean even harder times ahead for a hospitality trade already fighting the fall-out from a crippling recession.

It is worth remembering that the seeds have already been sown for a potential decline in the fortunes of Bournemouth's evening entertainments. Former nightclub tycoon, Richard Carr, saw his empire dismantled in 2008 following a spate of expensive acquisitions that failed to make significant enough returns.

Ultimately, in maintaining the economic benefits to the town of a strong night-time economy and managing anti-social behaviour, efforts to curb any disturbance caused will have to strike a fine balance.

Ruling that convenience stores may not be able to sell alcohol after midnight should not have too much of a detrimental effect. Meanwhile, restricting licenced premises to certain opening hours will only serve to ensure larger groups of intoxicated partygoers will be heading home at the same time, with the potential for trouble as they leave town or scramble to the nearest venue still open.

With the Government's insistence that the private sector should be the driver for economic revival, local pubs and clubs may have to accept any extra charges levied to clean up their act, even if there are protestations and accusations that the exercise merely amounts to the Council lining their coffers.

Indeed, it is the responsibility of local government to act too. The Bournemouth Quality Nights (BQN) Initiative is one of the Council's key projects. Two of its tenets are particularly poignant in maintaining the strength of this vital cog in the economic lifeblood of the town.

Under the sub-heading of 'Exciting', the vision statement reads that the Council maintain a desire for 'A vibrant and varied choice of high quality entertainment (which) should be one of Bournemouth’s defining characteristics.'

Fair enough. The article goes on to state that Bournemouth must be market leading and that 'A key aim of the Bournemouth Community Plan is to create a World Class Resort. To achieve this the night-time economy must be at the forefront of new initiatives to improve customer service, choice and safety.'

Again, the lure of an attractive night-time offering is paramount to the future economic success of the town. Naturally, it will be more difficult to adhere to this outlined vision should pubs and clubs object to any levy.

Besides, there is also the complexity of creating appealing alternatives as any other activities are unlikely to generate as much money as our drink dependency.

One aspect of the Town Vision document focuses on plans to develop the site of the iconic Winter Gardens. This includes proposals designed to detach the local populous from viewing an evening of inebriated bonhomie as the sole way to enjoy a night out on the town.

The details outlined include a new 'leisure, hotel and residential complex including cinemas, shops, parking and landscaped areas. The move would bring an estimated £60million of inward investment to the town centre'.

The plans, however, if and when they come to fruition, are a strictly medium to long-term project with the developer given until 1st March 2012 to obtain planning permission with the possibility that the project would not near completion until years later.

With regards to proposed levies, whether any such charges would be the proverbial 'nail in the coffin' remains to be seen. One thing is certain; altering the local and national psyche will not be achieved by levies, taxes and regressive laws. Like the alcoholic in search of an epiphany, any change will be much harder to engineer.

The dual aim of discouraging binge drinking whilst providing alternative forms of recreation, remains for the time being at least, merely a pipedream. The short-term future for the night-time economy needs to be secured before any foregrounded ambitions can be realised.

Have You Heard the One About the Horse That Went to The Car Dealership?

It is not often that I will write a personal blog however I feel impelled to following a weekend break in Brockenhurst, located in the beautiful New Forest.

My intrepid companions, my partner and trusty puppy, headed off on the train for the short journey from Bournemouth to sample some of the scenic delights slighty further afield.

Our hotel, The Watersplash, hosted our visit and we quickly set off once checked-in to take the dog for a walk and explore. The stroll around the heart of the village was an emphemeral wander as we witnessed a journey into a dying way of life.

The few public houses, local butcher, hairdresser, optician and fruit and vegetable shop sat alongside a collection of tea rooms and restaurants. Even a tidy football ground was present. Only a small Tesco Express blotted the copybook.

From this more than adequate base, the close proximity of open land, rolling fields and the Forest itself make Brockenhurst the ideal destination to venture into the countryside.

Our evening was also memorable, refining our palettes at Brookley's bistro, a fantastic eatery with an excellent fusion of French cuisine and local produce. I heartily recommend the venison, in a delicious red wine sauce.

As for the title heading, no article or blog related to the New Forest could fail to mention the nonchalant New Forest ponies and horses, grazing to get their fill besides displaying an adventurous spirit.

Turning a corner to revisit the hotel to collect our belongings, one such chap could be seen peering into a car dealership. Although if I were him, I would much rather stick around rather than drive off, even though it was a bloody cold weekend.

Pudsey Bear and the Peculiarities of Local News

There is no doubt that the way we consume news has transformed the media landscape, even at a local level.

Improvements in access to news and journalism mean that even the more obscure stories, often overlooked when browsing through the print version of a favoured publication, can achieve a high-ranking status owing to their popularity online.

As web news channels rank their stories in terms of most read and popularity, nuggets of news gold are unearthed as they rise to prominence.

As Bournemouth's Daily Echo launches an internet research project to gauge how users view content online, the peculiar story of how a famous fundraising mascot 'nearly caused a riot' at a local school finds itself top of the charts as residents revel in its newsworthy peculiarity.

Cue my own surprise whilst reading the headline 'Children in Need fundraiser cancelled after Pudsey sparks near riot' as I trawled through the daily digest sent to my email inbox.

Pudsey Bear, the furry face of the Children in Need telethon was due to appear at Ashdown Technology College, Canford Heath however his suprise appearance resulted in hundereds of children stampeding to greet his arrival and that of a local TV crew by helicopter on the school field.

As a result, the decision was taken to halt proceedings and a planned non-uniform day was scrapped as punishment and rescheduled.

Despite the relatively comical nature of the piece, it is perhaps a sad indictment that the paper's headline story, 'Help David, 5, make the most of his last weeks of life' was relegated to the number five slot on the most-read list.

Contrast this with High Wycombe's Bucks Free Press and it's stories of the day, the most obscure relating to the planned entrace by Father Christmas by air ambulance having to be toned down to the slightly less glamorous arrival by fire engine after an emergency call-out for the Thames Valley and Chiltern helicopter. Presumably, his reindeer were unavailable.

This gem has only managed to rank number eight in the most-read standings as the more sobering 'Fire at student halls' and 'Linford Christie unable to attend Wycombe court appearance' hold sway. Viva the (social media) revolution.

Halloween in Bournemouth

I don't get Halloween. Well, I understand its premise and existence but as some kind of night of revellry, I only see the tills of retailers and licenced establishments ringing loudest to its spooky tune.

I guess that's why, on a no doubt thoroughly lucrative evening for the aforementioned, I was wearily pulling the covers over my head at the miserly time of 11 p.m.

The fact I'd wolfed down a chicken korma and was suffering the effects of chronic indigestion did nothing to help my countenance. As those in the flat above did the 'Monster Mash' and sipped on ghost cocktails, I was already prepared to enjoy the extra hour in bed as the clocks went back, not really giving a shit.

I suppose my miserabilist loathing of fancy dress affects my ability to enjoy this imported 'holiday'. It's not that I don't appreciate others' fine skeleton make-up, it's just that I feel a complete tool when similarly daubed.

So whilst baristas and the free-spirited had an excuse, if ever one was needed, to dress up and consume vast quantities of intoxicating substances, this scrooge was fast asleep with the sounds of yet another re-run of Friends in the background, drowning out the screams from drink-addled students frequenting the Winton house party scene.

Wycombe Enter the Dark Season Seeing the Light

As darkness falls and sometimes even the ball changes colour, Wycombe Wanderers enter the winter months illuminated by consecutive victories.

It has been the week manager Gary Waddock's players had been hoping for. The potential of the squad has finally shone through following an indifferent start to the season.

If the midweek 4-2 victory against a poor Barnet side served to reinvigorate the Wanderers camp, Saturday afternoon's 2-0 success at the newly named Stevenage FC represented an indicator of the team's tangible intentions. The short trip to Hertfordshire was a litmus test which could shape the future direction of both clubs, for this season at least.

Stevenage began the day two places above Wycombe however by the final whistle; it was the Chairboys who had usurped the hosts to climb into the final play-off position.

In truth, the Blues had made the game safe by half-time with a relatively comfortable margin. Kevin Betsy's header at the far post following a cross from Gareth Ainsworth opened the scoring with Stuart Beavon's converted rebound in reaction to the tireless Ainsworth's initial shot just before the break securing the three points.

The aforementioned 'Beaver', Stuart Beavon, received a standing ovation from the away contingent when replaced by Scott Rendell with six minutes remaining. He epitomised Wycombe's approach, defending from the front and displaying touches of class. The Blues were resolute in defence, swiftly switching to attack with a refreshing diversity of play.

Stevenage were mainly restricted to hopeful balls into the box, although the complexion of the game could have been changed had Jon Ashton converted and steered his header on target with Nikki Bull's goal gaping with around twenty minutes remaining. On the balance of play though, the home side displayed enough to be comfortable towards the upper echelons of League Two.

Wycombe striker Ben Strevens tried desperately hard to get on the scoresheet only to be thwarted by a smart reaction save down low from goalkeeper Chris Day.

Scott Davies, Wycombe's enfant terrible after a frustrating start to his second spell with the club and supposed online reaction (dissatisfaction) to being benched against Barnet was introduced late on.

Like Strevens, he was eager to impress. At times his attempted link-up play was overcooked and too intricate although a few smart switches of play aimed at the industrious Betsy re-affirmed his ability, even if there are unanswered questions about his temperament.

The Stevenage fans were silenced, partially by the travelling Wycombe faithful's mimicry of their 'ultra' style chanting and by their side's inability to penetrate their opposition. Wycombe fans were even treated to a fairly original rendition of 'Twist and Shout', perhaps a welcome addition to the terrace songbook.

The overarching cloud that encompasses the new stadium debate has not dissipated however on the pitch if this momentum can be sustained, there could be plenty more to twist and shout about come the end of the season.

A Very British Rebellion?

Hats off to the Recessionairs for taking on those ghastly banks. A very British rebellion against corporate greed has taken place in Westbourne, Bournemouth this past weekend.

As reported through the Daily Echo, a group calling themselves the 'Recessionairs' bricked up the entrance to a branch of Barclays bank in the seaside suburb in protest against the whole banking network's refusal to loan money to small businesses, calling in overdrafts and paying punitive interest rates on savings while charging higher rates on loans.

Property developer, Cameron Hope, 59, organised the protest along with fellow developer, Charlie Townsend, 49, from Poole. Friend Les Dawson, 66, is the other member of the rebellious triumvirate.

Dawson's comments strike at the heart of the nature of the trio's expression of anger.

“Somebody’s got to say something. We’re all too apathetic in this country; we need to be a bit more like France.

“We’re not here for a jape, we’re here to bring a serious problem to people’s attention.”

Shortly after the bricks were put up, two police officers arrived to ask the men to remove their protest though not before a photo opportunity with the local press.

As Dawson points out, this kind of direct action is usually anathema to the majority of Britons who still regard the stiff upper-lip as the dignified way of dealing with problems.

When it comes to the subject of banks and bosses' pay though, even the rage of a middle England normally full of hot-air and bravado is being translated into concerted action.

Whether you agree with the views of a few property developers obviously out to make a quick buck themselves, the feelings evident are clear. The British Bankers' Association stressed that "The UK’s banks have established a taskforce to report to the government on exactly this issue – addressing how banks can further help small businesses through the recovery."

For the time being at least, this might not be enough. People want decisive action, not more bluster.

Are Wycombe Fans Guilty of Believing Too Much of the Pre-Season Hype?

"There ain't nuthin' more powerful than the smell of mendacity!", so said Harvey 'Big Daddy' Pollitt during the 1958 film Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. It's an obscure reference but perhaps a pertinent one in relation to the disjointed start to Wycombe Wanderers' 2010/2011 Npower League Two campaign.

During the summer, the WWFC spin machine cultivated an image of high expectations unsurpassed by the build-up to previous seasons. A new team, a brave attacking new dawn and the near promise of promotion at any cost were the tenets fed to the light and dark blue masses.

Wycombe manager Gary Waddock was well aware of the pressure internally and externally being exerted upon his fledgling side.

Following the immediate aftermath of relegation, owner Steve Hayes was quick to assert himself and candid in revealing his aims for 2010/2011. He told the Bucks Free Press, "We have to go up next year. Gary knows it and everyone knows it. We don’t want to wait around another year in that division, the aim is to go up automatically and we want to do it in a blaze of glory."

Returning to the original quote, it would be a little unfair to say the club were guilty of a dishonest approach in their assessment of the newly assembled squad and their verdict on the chances of success this season.

After all, a team that contains players of the calibre of Kevin Betsy and Gareth Ainsworth, combined with the additions of proven lower league goalscorers Ben Strevens and Scott Rendell, was rightly tipped for glory.

What's clear from the opening weeks of the season, however, is a need to keep those high expectations in check. This has become especially apparent following last Saturday's disappointing 2-1 reverse at home to unfancied Macclesfield Town. Wanderers slumped to defeat in front of their lowest Football League home attendance for a Saturday afternoon game of just 3.789.

The manager himself, was honest in his criticism, both this past weekend and the preceding Saturday where Wycombe dropped two points when conceding a last-minute equaliser away at Accrington Stanley.

Following their first defeat of the season, Waddock told BBC Three Counties Radio: "On the evidence of how we performed, we didn't deserve anything.

"We didn't compete, we didn't get close to them. They have hit two fantastic strikes to go 2-0 up.

"In the second half they sat deep and it was very difficult to open them up. Credit to them, they have done their homework."

For an attacking purist such as Waddock, these are worrying early season sentiments. The last manager to opt for flair over efficiency, John Gorman, at least found his team half-way through a season before opponents had fathomed a way of stopping his side from steamrollering them.

In fairness to the Blues, despite only mustering only one meaningful effort on goal (their consolation from the penalty spot), they were undone by two wonder strikes early on in the match and then forced to chase the remainder of the game against obdurate opposition.

Losing talismanic striker Jon-Paul Pittman in the warm-up did not help preparations and it should be noted that this loss will not affect the outcome of the rest of the season.

As appears customary following a disappointing result, the reaction has been fierce with controversial owner Steve Hayes once again attracting the chagrin of a vocal contingent.

Add to that, a warring fanbase tearing itself apart over numerous issues at the club including recent bans handed out to a select few and the atmosphere, though largely non-existent during games, has become poisonous off the pitch.

Let's not forget that there are positives to be taken from the first half a dozen games. Scott Davies has returned on-loan from Reading following a relatively successful spell at Adams Park last season. Midfielder Lewis Montrose, so often on the periphery last season, has emerged from the shadows and looks set to further his career with the Blues. New goalkeeper Nikki Bull has also starred as the last line of defence.

Goals have been hard to come by with Scott Rendell coming in for the bulk of criticism however as the gentlemen pointed out during the inaugural 'Wanderer Podcast', it took a fair amount of time for former strikers Jermaine Easter and Alex Revell to truly find their goal scoring touch whilst wearing the quarters.

The Blues visit Aldershot Town next weekend in what will be a difficult and emotional encounter for their former manager Gary Waddock and a host of former Shots players including the aforementioned Davies and Andy Sandell.

A bear-pit atmosphere awaits with Wycombe fans hoping their team can take this perfect opportunity to put down a marker of their promotion credentials. The fans believed before the start of the campaign, it's time to keep that flame alive.

Dirty, Stinking Bournemouth

It's the Council, the pubs, the clubs, the take-aways, the cheap booze, those lascivious hens, those haughty stags. Everyone's pointing the finger of blame at all and sundry apart from themselves when it comes to the subject of Bournemouth's messy streets following another hedonistic weekend on the south coast.

Council cabinet member David Smith has made his feelings known on the state of Bournemouth's streets followings evenings of revelry, describing them as resembling a "pigsty".

He told a meeting: “You’d be appalled if you saw Bournemouth every morning; we have to go out and pick up the litter left behind by the night-time economy.”

Disgraced former Leader of the Council and porn aficionado Stephen MacLoughlin ironically added that the town had lost its once sterling reputation.

He told the Daily Echo that "people are not proud of Bournemouth anymore", a comment that has been pounced upon by the baying masses of Echo internet respondents still seething from the fall-out following 'Porngate'.

No doubt most of those slighted by MacLoughlin would probably never admit to having a quick look at the errant copy of Nuts magazine accidently moved to the classic car section of Sainsbury's.

So, where does the blame lie? The obvious answer is we must share the responsibility of keeping our town clean and act collectively. It might also help if we were to be empowered by local and central government to enact appropriate rule changes to curb the nasty side of effects of 24-hour drinking legislation.

Fines for the mindless act of inebriated littering would no doubt be difficult to enforce, especially with limited police manpower to target isolated offenders in the throng of a Saturday night.

Ensuring clubs have the power (and also the inclination) to have a sensible last entry time could be one positive step forward.

I'm a man about town so I don't wish to sound too reactionary at the risk of being hypocritical. I've stumbled into night clubs at 5am to get that one last drink. But even I am wondering if that's such a good thing and whether I'd really miss that kind of 'luxury', In the past, I think my brain and liver have asked the same question too with a similar outcome.

That fine bastion of corporate responsibility, McDonald's, has been sounded out as an example to follow. The 'McDonald's Solution', as I like to call it, refers to the Bournemouth town centre branch and its approach to littering outside its frontage. If it's in their vicinity, provided it doesn't cross the force field across the road to Roddis House, their workers will clean it up.

But why should Dallas Chicken clean up mess brought along by Joe Benson or Sharon Hedges if they've accumulated polystyrene containers from Hot Diggidy Dog and carelessly dropped them on the street corner?

The answer: because we're all in this together. Until all parties responsible muster the collective spirit of common sense and civic togetherness, we're all going to suffer the wider repercussions that local and national legislation have wrought. Combined with increasing mind-numbing idiocy and abandon of personal responsibility for our actions, the consequences of failing to face up to this and other problems affecting our town will only lead to further decline.

Just put the damn chip packet in the bin, eh? That is, if you can find one.