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

Nicolau experienced a rollercoaster ride

From the very first day of the season, his defensive deficiencies were exposed. There are few tougher tests for a full back in League Two than former Cheltenham Town winger Martin Devaney, and it was just the Camden-born left-back’s luck that United faced the Robins first up.

The youngest member of the initial back four by some eight years, Nicolau’s poor positioning and indiscipline in the challenge helped Town win 2-0, and when he played Gary Taylor-Fletcher onside for Lincoln City’s strike in a 1-1 draw three days later, the 21-year-old was under intense pressure.

He retained his place in the side for the next four matches, ironically the period in which Blues could not find a goal from open play, let alone a win. United’s difficulties out wide were the main problem, and Nicolau was made the scapegoat, with Che Wilson replacing him. The former Arsenal man even dropped off of the substitutes’ bench for a while, with the likes of Michael Kightly and James Lawson preferred to him.

Steve Tilson showed an astute mind when he recalled the ex-Gunner to the ranks for the LDV Vans Trophy run, and Nicolau was impressive against both Shrewsbury Town and Northampton Town, finally earning his recall to the team for the League Two match against Rushden & Diamonds, on the left-hand side of midfield as Tilson rested key players.

A 3-0 win later, and a first senior goal in the next clash, a 3-1 triumph over struggling Kidderminster Harriers, and Nicolau had earned a regular spot back, this time at the expense of Mark Gower, who was carrying a knee concern. He grabbed another goal – this time more luck than judgement as Rhys Evans pushed a corner into the net – but his reluctance to play as an out-and-out winger meant that his end to the regular season was disjointed.

Tilson made a key call in bringing the youngster in for the second leg of the Play-Off semi-final at home to Northampton Town, and he was repaid with a fine performance, winning the penalty kick from which Freddy Eastwood sealed the Shrimpers’ route to Cardiff with a typically menacing run. He may not have been so effective in the final, but he made a real effort despite struggling with cramp, and was a key component of the side, winning himself the offer of a new contract in the process.

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com