2017/18 National League North

[Darlo On Tour]

https://www.harrogatetownafc.com/news-media/town-sign-quakers-striker-beck/

Beck signs for Town - never would have seen the day that little Town out-poach our Big City rivals.

A month or so too late but can't come soon enough - hopefully with the service he will get his form this season will improve.

He's a good signing for you guys I watched him play in every match last season home and away, scored some great goals. It's a shame for us like. Deffo! - one of my favorite players.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Must be a record for step 6 team we have got bloody FIVE keepers,thank god Bartlett is actually good.
Also signed Gray permantly from Torquay another striker.

He's more than actually good, you've just signed the best keeper in the league by far. I've seen him play home and away this season, and some of his saves have been out of the top drawer. Pure class!!

 

[Minstermen central]

Great. He always has a blinder against us.

Just remembered York have Josh Law who spent 7 years at Alfreton and made over 260 appearances
How has he been doing for you guys? Should be way too good for this level

Josh Law has done ok but defence has looked very dodgy,from xmas on last year defence was strong and kept a lot of clean sheets,only difference is Law and keeper,we all hope that actually having a keeper that can catch a ball will sort this.

 

[Luke Imp]

No he been a great signing shame rest were shocking.
Thought after mills went he’d down tools but came out a said enjoying extra training.

He's probably realised his margin for error is quite small now he's in a part time league.

 

[Minstermen central]

He's probably realised his margin for error is quite small now he's in a part time league.

Or he is on a very good wage and will not get close anywhere else,whichever it good for us because quality player.
Looks like waiste of space Heslop is going this week,plus released Felix & Clappison this week.
From McNamara 20 odd signings only 2 left Whittle who has played all games and ok and kamjo who has been out injured for a year with cruiciate.looks like finally rid of that shamble he built,

 

[Soup Ladle]

Bartlett is a good shot stopper but was found wanting in the football league on crosses and corners. Very uncertain at times, but then again he doesn't play in the football league any more. Was a capable understudy to Trev Carson with us but was never on his level nor Scott Loach who we currently have now.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Well after all my hype at start of season, we have shipped off Max Leonard to Telford after he fell completely out of first team.

Player has a lot of talent but probs just doesn't suit a club with a more defensive outfit. Bigger problem at Curzon for Leonard was his biggest fault.......he's a lazy player.

Many teams can carry a lazy but skilful player, but think Curzon and their total team of grafters style just made him out of place, shame as talent is there

 

[MWS]

Well after all my hype at start of season, we have shipped off Max Leonard to Telford after he fell completely out of first team.

Player has a lot of talent but probs just doesn't suit a club with a more defensive outfit. Bigger problem at Curzon for Leonard was his biggest fault.......he's a lazy player.

Many teams can carry a lazy but skilful player, but think Curzon and their total team of grafters style just made him out of place, shame as talent is there

Surprised by this. He looked sharp in the game at EP earlier this season.

Perhaps at AFC Telfwolves he'll have more time to develop in a full time (or soon to be full time) environment.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

I expected him to storm it at this level.....helped with a manager who does seem to grab more out of players than most others at this level.

On end he just did not suit our approach, plus we as you'd expect at times spend more time working outside other teams box than near it and in the end I think that hurt Leonard badly.

Going to a side which will do the attack hard work for him and let him hover in box should see him do much better

 

[Quakerz]

Darlington sign central defender Josh Heaton from Ramsbottom.

We had him with us in pre season and were impressed enough to sign him but he got injured and it was called off.

Also, Gary Brown is back in the reckoning after 2 months out injured. Hopefully they can both boost our defence.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Looking forward to tomorrow's trip down to Kiddy! Another game in which i don't expect us to come away with anything, a bit like Brackley really. But if we can produce the first half fighting performance like we did up at Blyth - Then just maybe, we could come away with something?

I thought last season we were slightly unfortunate to come away with nothing from the match losing 2-1.
At least we don't have to contend with 'Arthur Gnahoua' he was some player for Harriers.

I'm looking forward to seeing Josh again i thought he was impressive as a trialist at the arena in the summer friendly.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Josh Law has done ok but defence has looked very dodgy,from xmas on last year defence was strong and kept a lot of clean sheets,only difference is Law and keeper,we all hope that actually having a keeper that can catch a ball will sort this.

Very surpised by that. Was one of the better players at Oldham last season.

Looking forward to the game tomorrow


See Gainsbrough have signed midfielder Liam King from FC Halifax Town for a fee. Cant remember the last time they paid a fee.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Nash signed 2 players yesterday.....both well known to Nash fans, one i know, but other played really before my time.

Signed Defender Jamie Stott on loan from Oldham. He was superb for us last season when on loan so-much-so he went back at end of season to play for Oldham's first team for the end of last season, but as it hasn't worked out this season and he's fallen back out of place he's back here........easily good enough at this level.

Other is Striker Ryan Brooke who from what i read was one of Nash's main strikers as they had the double promotions out of Evo one and evo prom into conf north, been playing at Nantwich.

both should easily fit into system and style which is good. Be also flanagans type of players.Brooke being a gamble based on not being at this level, but known well by manager.....another attempt on our part to replace them lost goals of Morgan/Warburton.

 

[Prodigal]

Back to league action today against Nuneaton, hoping for a good performance and result after the disappointment of the last minute Cup defeat to Fleetwood. At least Urwin and Haughton will be back.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Putting ourselves back into relegation trouble with this 'performance' today. Southport as you would guess by form are awful, but we've practically given them lead through some shocking lazy sloppy performance. Their two goal came from numerous errors and we deserve behind.

Shambles in all positions, spent last 20 mins on internet as our performance is not worth the effort to watch

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

And then a couple of mins later we equalise. Their keeper made a superb save from our first functioning move in 30 mins, then we scramble it in from corner. Damn lucky southport are dreadful at back and lacking confidence as better would be well clear

 

[Harrier94]

Ty Williams can do one. Completely cost us 3 points once again, should've been 5-1 up before Darlo's comeback. Disgraceful performance, sort it out Eustace now.

 

[Quakerz]

Ty Williams can do one. Completely cost us 3 points once again, should've been 5-1 up before Darlo's comeback. Disgraceful performance, sort it out Eustace now.

Needless to say, very happy to get a 3-3 draw at Kiddy after the turmoil of the last few weeks.

From our point of view to come back from 3-1 shows the kind of fighting spirit that we need to claw our way back from the wrong end of the table. And on paper we still have a pretty decent squad, as players come back from injury. Just need to get them playing to their potential again, and hopefully add in a couple of new signings - a striker being a must.

 

[Lucky Bobble]

If we were in our 'natural home' of Conf South we'd be top tonight... Said at the start of the season Salford would walk it, and they look halfway there. Pedestrian performance from us against Gainsborough today who offered little - sort of game we've regularly failed to win over the last 16 months, so pleased to get the job done today. Roll on Southport who sound like they are struggling. Very keen to see Aaron Williams stay on loan post Jan - best striker we've had in the 13 years I've been watching Brackley. We'll be a much weaker team without him, offers a real goal threat and is a class above our other strikers.

 

[Prodigal]

Nuneaton were very threatening up front, particularly first half, then when Matty Hughes came on he turned the game, how we did not win it at the end the Lord knows!

 

[DarkSithLord]

Alfreton 2-3 York

Sigh. Its so immensely frustrating watching us at the moment I cant put it in to words.

Deja vu story from the last few weeks for us.

Again deserved something from the game but a poor refereeing decision and some wasteful finishing and silly errors means we are empty handed again.

We tried but the goals we conceded we absolutely criminal and Bradley Wood who was extremely poor today and looks a bit uninterested missed a second half penalty.

We just stood and watched as Aidan Conolly drifted in to the area and fired York in to the lead after 13 minutes.

We werent at the races really in the first 25 minutes or so and York squandered a couple of chances to extend the lead. Tom Platt fired in a accurate low cross though on 33 minutes which was just behind Daniels but right in to the path of Cieron Keane who showed good composure before blasting past Bartlett.

We missed a vanload of chances in the first 5 minutes of the second half. Allans header off the line, Bartlett flapping at a couple of crosses and getting away with it, jennings smacking the post and Daniels firing the rebound inches over. How something didnt go in I am not sure.

Inevitably York ran up the other end and some more poor defending allowed Parkin to bulldoze his way through and put York 2-1 up.
We responded well though and wasted more chances before a mistake from Allan, who appear to be tugged back allowed Conolly to run through who went sprawling and Mr Referee promptly pointed to the spot and sent Tom Platt off. Has he forgotten about the double jeopody rule then? Never a penalty. Another shocking decision thats gone against us. Jon Parkin stepped up and did the honours. 3-2 York

Brendon Daniels had earlier drawn us level again after one of his unstoppable freekicks from all of 30 yards. Unbelievable strike - https://twitter.com/SmithJournalist/status/929381347935875073

The ref did try and even it up by awarding us a penalty with 15 minutes to go. Bradley Wood stepped up but was denied by a great save from Bartlett to complete another frustrating afternoon. https://twitter.com/iandwightbenton/status/929386566866407424

Unfortunate yes but we are not helping ourselves. We look extremely fragile defensively, wasteful in front of goal and to miss a penalty is unforgivable

Season defining week now for us. Its 6 defeats in 7 and John needs a result Two massive away games coming up at FC United on Tuesday and Telford on Saturday. Must win on Tuesday no excuses. Lose both of the next two and McDermott will be under real pressure.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

An extremely frustrating day and we were very fortunate for late Stockport and Chorley goals as it was looking like a horrendous day for us.

We turned a=what would have been a very easy win into a draw due to a lazy arrogant attitude in the first half and really it should have deservedly cost us the game, but we got out of jail with the last kick of the first half. Was very surprised with our shocking first half because i can allow for a team having better quality than we have......end of the day our budget is the smallest and therefore the better quality will head elsewhere. But today was us being slow, sluggish, making basic schoolboy errors and them things we cannot afford to be doing, especially in home games vs struggling sides which we need to beat to secure survival.

Southport are a dreadful side at the moment, they lack quality and especially lack confidence.....feel very sorry for their manager he has inherited a mess, he will need new players in quick or they are in much trouble. We started well and scored a decent opening goal because we started piddling about, giving the ball away numerous times, playing slack balls and stupid dangerous passes. We then gifted them a goal by our defense walking the ball out and passing it to their forward who ran into the box before being hacked down when their player wasn't even in too dangerous a posistion......idiotic penalty conceeded and suddenly 1-1.

soon after we f*cked about even more and a terrible back-pass to the goalkeeper went to their forward who then knocked ball into an empty net to give Southport the lead without them even doing anything going forward. We then proceeded to attempt to attack but just foul or give the ball away numerous times until about 2 minutes from half time when we had a good move lead to a volley inside the box which their keeper saved well, but it wasn't enough as we scrambled resulting corner in for 2-2.

Second half was much less sloppy after i'd guess a b*llocking for the first half, and both sides had a go to try and score, but in the end neither got the ball into net. Southport probably closest with one of their few attacks when they 'should' have scored when a ball across box was scuffed wide by a player in an excellent position. Our problem is that we struggle to change things due to a sheer lack of any options on the bench so could not change anything to grab the winner.

Just very lucky Boston and Nuneaton flogged their winning positions as it could have been a nightmare.

 

[Swedes]

An extremely frustrating day and we were very fortunate for late Stockport and Chorley goals as it was looking like a horrendous day for us.

We turned a=what would have been a very easy win into a draw due to a lazy arrogant attitude in the first half and really it should have deservedly cost us the game, but we got out of jail with the last kick of the first half. Was very surprised with our shocking first half because i can allow for a team having better quality than we have......end of the day our budget is the smallest and therefore the better quality will head elsewhere. But today was us being slow, sluggish, making basic schoolboy errors and them things we cannot afford to be doing, especially in home games vs struggling sides which we need to beat to secure survival.

Southport are a dreadful side at the moment, they lack quality and especially lack confidence.....feel very sorry for their manager he has inherited a mess, he will need new players in quick or they are in much trouble. We started well and scored a decent opening goal because we started piddling about, giving the ball away numerous times, playing slack balls and stupid dangerous passes. We then gifted them a goal by our defense walking the ball out and passing it to their forward who ran into the box before being hacked down when their player wasn't even in too dangerous a posistion......idiotic penalty conceeded and suddenly 1-1.

soon after we f*cked about even more and a terrible back-pass to the goalkeeper went to their forward who then knocked ball into an empty net to give Southport the lead without them even doing anything going forward. We then proceeded to attempt to attack but just foul or give the ball away numerous times until about 2 minutes from half time when we had a good move lead to a volley inside the box which their keeper saved well, but it wasn't enough as we scrambled resulting corner in for 2-2.

Second half was much less sloppy after i'd guess a b*llocking for the first half, and both sides had a go to try and score, but in the end neither got the ball into net. Southport probably closest with one of their few attacks when they 'should' have scored when a ball across box was scuffed wide by a player in an excellent position. Our problem is that we struggle to change things due to a sheer lack of any options on the bench so could not change anything to grab the winner.

Just very lucky Boston and Nuneaton flogged their winning positions as it could have been a nightmare.

A fair summing up of the match. I thought in the first half we edged it, and showed a good attitude by closing you down well. Second half, once we had substituted our front two we had little outlet, yet you seemed to be very wasteful with the ball and didn't threaten us as much as you should. A draw was a fair result, and the 2-2 scoreline flatters both sides.

Anyway, we're unbeaten in four games now under Kevin Davies. We've gone from a poor side who would fold under pressure, to a poor side who can grind out points. I doubt we'll get much at Brackley on Tuesday, but things are slowly beginning to look more positive.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

I think you could be a decent team going forward but you just lack confidence in this area and therefore didn't drastically create much in the game.

your defence was poor and i'd say is where Davies has to find new players, in the first 10 minutes we nearly got put through a few times with just a basic lump forward.

I thought you were poor, but i think a lot of that is down to your horrendous form and needing that first scrappy win, but you will have to somehow grind that out somewhere and need to fast or else you could find yourselves in the bottom 3.

draw was i think a fair result, we didn't deserve it as we were sloppy and gave away poor goals and you didn't deserve it as you never created enough to really warrent the win......both defences were poor and thus was how both did end up scoring.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Well that was a worthwhile trip just for the last 10 minutes or so, absolutely buzzin!!
Should have been dead and buried by Kiddy after being 3-1 down in the second half, good game for entertainment but not one for the fainthearted as us loyal Darlo fans will know from today's never-say- die comeback attitude.

Harriers fans must be sick as fuck after throwing away this game, they were absolutely cruising to victory being 3-1 up, and in fact should have easily had more. But then came Wright's masterstroke taking off the ineffective Thommo and Portas, and quickly followed by the unproductive Cartman.

Replacing them with Gillies, Caton and super-sub Syers, and this was the turning point of the fightback in the last 10 minutes, once that third goal went in the stand erupted into wild celebrations.

For me close to the Darlo corner flag Saunders looked as though he got headbutted by the Kiddy defender, all hell broke loose after that, after consulting with his linesman to verify the incident he had to go red card straightaway and Saunders got a yellow.

Heaton's debut he didn't do too bad, obviously he needs to settle in a little bit. Brown had an absolute shocker today, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt with it being his first game back after a long lay off.

All in all, a much needed point from a lengthy trip down to Aggborough with us all in fine voice.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Saturday 11 November 2017 National League North Results

Att. 997 - Alfreton Town 2 York City 3
Att. 541 - Blyth Spartans 1 Leamington 0
Att. 1,211 - Boston United 2 Stockport County 2
Att. 482 - Brackley Town 2 Gainsborough Trinity 0
Att. 1,306 - Chorley 2 Nuneaton Town 2
Att. 519 - Curzon Ashton 2 Southport 2
Att. 2,079 - FC United Of Manchester 3 AFC Telford United 1
Att. 1,879 - Kidderminster Harriers 3 Darlington 3
Att. 389 - North Ferriby United 0 Bradford Park Avenue 1
Att. 1,085 - Spennymoor Town 3 Harrogate Town 1
Att. 1,233 - Tamworth 1 Salford City 2

 

[Harrier94]

Well that was a worthwhile trip just for the last 10 minutes or so, absolutely buzzin!!
Should have been dead and buried by Kiddy after being 3-1 down in the second half, good game for entertainment but not one for the fainthearted as us loyal Darlo fans will know from today's never-say- die comeback attitude.

Harriers fans must be sick as fuck after throwing away this game, they were absolutely cruising to victory being 3-1 up, and in fact should have easily had more. But then came Wright's masterstroke taking off the ineffective Thommo and Portas, and quickly followed by the unproductive Cartman.

Replacing them with Gillies, Caton and super-sub Syers, and this was the turning point of the fightback in the last 10 minutes, once that third goal went in the stand erupted into wild celebrations.

For me close to the Darlo corner flag Saunders looked as though he got headbutted by the Kiddy defender, all hell broke loose after that, after consulting with his linesman to verify the incident he had to go red card straightaway and Saunders got a yellow.

Heaton's debut he didn't do too bad, obviously he needs to settle in a little bit. Brown had an absolute shocker today, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt with it being his first game back after a long lay off.

All in all, a much needed point from a lengthy trip down to Aggborough with us all in fine voice.

I'd be annoyed if the same thing didn't happen all the time. Honestly if I was a Darlo fan I'd be annoyed at the fact you started time wasting at 3-3 did not want 3 points? We were there for the taking.

A lot of fans starting to question Eustace now. Too many points dropped late on, again or both. Chorley, Nuneaton, Curzon, Boston, Curzon, Spennymoor and yourselves are games where we've lost 3 points that should've been comfortable. Things need to change quickly or Eustace needs to go.

 

[Luke Imp]

See Gainsbrough have signed midfielder Liam King from FC Halifax Town for a fee. Cant remember the last time they paid a fee.

In September for ex-Imp Kern Miller from Corby.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Highlights of a 5 goal thriller between Alfreton and York

Fast forward to a goal of the season contender at 1:40 from Brendon Daniels and 2.15 for a shocking penalty award from the ref.

http://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/match-info/match-centre/1-2850147

 

[Josh Butler]

We came seconds away from beating Stockport with just a long throw for a threat.
In truth, play like that and we'll stay up easily.