Chapter 21: Echoes of the Climb
The common room at the training ground buzzed with low chatter and the soft hiss of the kettle. No champagne, no press cameras—just mugs of tea, toast, and a bit of laughter. But for Crawley Town, it felt as good as any trophy celebration.
Two days had passed since the win at Weymouth, but the energy still lingered. Simons walked in late, hair damp from the shower, and flopped into the seat beside Luka with a grin.
"You see the replay? That first goal? Poetry."
Luka smirked, sipping from a chipped Crawley Town mug. "Your pass wasn't too bad either."
Across the room, McCulloch laughed. "You lot talk like we've just won the league."
"Nah," Jamal said quietly, leaning back in his chair, "we just didn't lose ourselves."
The room went still—not out of sadness, but something deeper. Recognition.
It wasn't just about the three points anymore. It was about momentum. About not falling apart after Milan stepped down. About not disappearing into the background.
They'd fought. They'd won. They still believed.
And Niels? He stood in the doorway, watching.
He didn't say much. Just nodded every so often, that quiet look in his eyes. The win hadn't solved everything—but it was something to build on.
Brick by brick.
By Wednesday, the rain returned.
Thin, cold, and steady—it soaked the turf at Broadfield Stadium. The wind slid under the stands, making the advertising boards clatter.
In the office, Niels sat watching footage of Tranmere's last match. They were well-drilled. Tight pressing. Good structure. But one thing stood out—their left-back, number 3.
Raw. Struggled to recover. Shaky under pressure. Whenever the pace picked up on his flank, he hesitated. Missed calls. Poor positioning.
Niels leaned back and crossed his arms. He didn't need the club's scouting system to confirm it—but it did anyway:
[Tranmere LB #3 – lacks pace on recovery, poor communication under pressure. Exploit overlap with wide pace.]
He circled the spot on the whiteboard.
No speech needed. The plan was already taking shape.
Matchday – Tranmere Rovers (Home)
Broadfield under the floodlights always felt tighter. Louder. The rain hadn't stopped. The cold kept creeping in. But the stands were filling up, and with every voice that joined the crowd, Crawley's belief felt a bit stronger.
Niels stood at the edge of the dugout, jacket zipped to his chin, hands buried in his pockets.
He didn't say much in the tunnel. The players didn't need him to.
This wasn't a flashy game—but it was a pivotal one. The kind that could tip a season one way or the other.
The first fifteen minutes were tense.
Tranmere pressed high. Their midfield packed the center of the pitch. Luka dropped deeper, Joel stayed wide, and McCulloch barked orders like a man trying to hold back a tide.
Then it happened.
A one-two between Jamal and Simons pulled Tranmere's midfield out of shape. Dev spotted it and played a clever pass between the fullback and the centre-back.
Joel had been waiting for it.
He saw the gap before it opened—and flew past Tranmere's #3 like he wasn't even there.
A low ball across the box.
Luka, late again—right on time.
1–0.
The crowd didn't explode. It built. A growing wave of noise, recognition. This wasn't luck. Crawley was writing its own script now.
Halftime
The changing room steamed with sweat and damp socks.
"Good," Niels said. "But not done."
He pointed to the same spot on the whiteboard. "Keep pressing here. He'll crack again. Just stay sharp."
The players nodded. No wild celebrations. Just that same quiet belief.
Second Half
Tranmere came out swinging. They had to.
They pushed higher, played riskier. Their number 10 hit the crossbar in the 62nd minute. Their striker got in behind once—but Jack was quick off his line, as always.
Crawley didn't buckle.
Then came the 74th minute.
Simons to Luka. Luka out wide to Dev. Dev waited—timing it just right—then fed Joel again, sprinting down that same flank.
Same weakness. Same story.
But this time, Joel didn't cross it first-time. He pulled it back.
Luka. Again.
2–0.
Tranmere's crowd went quiet.
After that, it was game management. Niels made smart subs—Parks, Alfie, and even young Max for the final few minutes.
By full-time, Crawley hadn't just won.
They had controlled it.
Full-time: Crawley Town 2 – Tranmere Rovers 0
Another win.
Another brick in the wall.
After the Match
The dressing room buzzed with smiles and high-fives, but the mood was calm—like a team that knew the road was still long.
Wallace texted:
"Good work. Keep your feet."
Milan didn't message this time. And that was fine.
Niels stood under the shower for a while, letting the warm water run.
For once, he wasn't chasing belief.
He was walking with it.
League Standings:
[Played: 11 | Wins: 4 | Draws: 2 | Losses: 5 | Points: 14 | Position: 14th]
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