Cheltenham Town	Lincoln City	Rochdale	Cambridge United	West Ham United	Bristol Rovers
Macclesfield Town	Rushden & Diamonds	Wycombe Wanderers	Notts County	Kidderminster Harriers	Colchester United
Darlington	Boston United	Swansea City	Scunthorpe United	Shrewsbury Town	Northampton Town
Shrewsbury Town	Oxford United	Luton Town	Yeovil Town	Grimsby Town	Northampton Town
Leyton Orient	Bury	Chester City	Wycombe Wanderers	Mansfield Town	Rushden & Diamonds
Kidderminster Harriers	Boston United	Notts County	Mansfield Town	Swindon Town	Darlington
Swansea City	Scunthorpe United	Bristol Rovers	Northampton Town	Shrewsbury Town	Bury
Chester City	Bristol Rovers	Lincoln City	Cheltenham Town	Rochdale	Cambridge United
Bristol Rovers	Wrexham	Leyton Orient	Macclesfield Town	Oxford United	Yeovil Town
Grimsby Town	Northampton Town	Northampton Town	Lincoln City

Wilson in combative mood against former club Bristol Rovers

The turnaround from the man run ragged by Martin Bullock in the final of the LDV Vans Trophy final defeat against Blackpool to the full-back who performed so heroically on so many occasions during the ensuing fifteen months was quite unbelievable, and even more so because he was not the man that Steve Tilson initially figured would be doing the job.

For Wilson began the campaign well and truly on the substitutes’ bench, with Nicky Nicolau the player awarded the spot at left full-back that Wilson had intermittently filled during 200/4. He was, almost certainly, a victim of his own versatility. At Bristol Rovers, Wilson had captained the side, but had played a right full-back. In pre-season, he was used in the centre of midfield.

Hang on, central midfield? Yup, this was a surprise to us all, but it worked out so well that it even appeared as though he could be utilised in that position during the regular season. Against Brighton & Hove Albion in a dour, drab, dull and lifeless 0-0 draw, he was a shining light, a man who could conceivably have been used alongside Kevin Maher. Indeed, had there been no captain Kev, he could have played alongside Lewis Hunt.

In the end, it was an equally assured display from Hunt, where he hit the crossbar, that probably led to Wilson being sidelined early in the season. He started the game against Cheltenham Town when Mark Bentley was unfit, and replaced the same player when he was suspended after that red card at Colchester. But by that time, Wilson had wormed his way into the spot at left-back that was most up for grabs.

It was gained, firstly because Nicky Nicolau had made such a poor start to the season against Cheltenham, secondly because Wilson had played so well against Brighton in a reserve match on the south coast, and thirdly as a measure to help Mark Gower out on the left flank, where he needed more support.

The result? Wilson made his first appearance of the season, his second competitive start since the Millennium Stadium debacle, against Macclesfield Town. Blues won, 2-1, and Wilson put in a solid display. Next up was Wycombe Wanderers, and a reserve by the same scoreline that had more to do with outrageous fortune that a poor performance. Slowly but surely, United were getting back into the season, and Wilson’s unspectacular but vital displays at the back were one of the keys.

There were still some goals leaking through – Darlington netted four, Swansea City and Scunthorpe United two apiece – and some of those cost the Shrimpers points. But the defence was more settled. Only the goalkeeper changed – Bart Griemink injured again and allowed Darryl Flahavan to return against Notts County – once Lewis Hunt won his place at right back, and so an almost legendary back four of Hunt-Barrett-Prior-Wilson lined up in a 20-game period between Bury away and Chester City away that yielded less than a goal again.

What Blues got throughout from Wilson was a defensive rock. He did not make the rampaging runs that Nicolau was so capable of. He did not overlap excessively with Gower, although in time this type of run did become more prominent (and grew more of a feature when Gower retracted into his shell at the conclusion of the campaign).

Finally, in April, 55 weeks after his nightmare of Cardiff, Wilson was back at the Millennium Stadium, back on television, back up against a League One right-winger. And this time, for ninety minutes at least, there were no more demons. It was goalless at the end of normal time, and extra time loomed. Somehow Juan Ugarte netted in the first period, then Wilson inexplicably allowed Darren Ferguson the time to complete a fairytale finish.

Evil had been, partially at least, exorcised. Wilson had come through with a typically above-average report, despite his late error. The match, it seemed had gone, and besides, there were bigger fish to fry. Blues lost their way following Cardiff Mk II, but Mk III was just around the corner. This was the big one. Wilson had struck the crossbar late in the second leg of the semi-final against Northampton Town, an unlikely cross-cum-shot that would have sealed the result. It was not to be then, but a third consecutive clean sheet awaited at Cardiff, a 2-0 extra time win over Lincoln City. Wilson had emerged victorious at last, and nobody begrudged him his winning moment.

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com