2017/18 National League North

[eightiesrobin]

I just read Shaw Lane's manager has joined Boston Utd

http://www.shawlaneafc.com/news/press-release-2074730.html

 

[DarkSithLord]

Boston United confirm the appoint of Craig Elliott as new manager. Elliott joins the Pilgrims from Evo-Stik Northern Premier Division high-flyers Shaw Lane where he has enjoyed tremendous success with the Ducks.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Brendon Daniels freekick from yesterday. Absolute worldie - https://www.instagram.com/p/BbZ-6GCH4MRNChgYgKtBdMhfgQtxOv0y5SrLa40/

 

[McGillsBeard]

Alfreton 2-3 York

To Be fair I thought it was daylight robbery us taking the 3 points. All the effort and urgency came from Alfreton. City strolled around as if it would be easy. No urgency. Solid first 20 as usual but fell away alarmingly. It's only individual quality on one side and poor finishing on the other that gave the result.

Couldn't see Tom Allan's second yellow card too well from our end but considering he did the same thing on the same player, Gary Martin, in the first half, which was pretty blatant and definitely a yellow, then I'm not too surprised the ref sent him off. Thought the ref did ok apart from inventing a pen for Alfreton to even things up. Unfortunately for Alfreton he missed as would have given a fair result.

As suggested by. a Darlo fan elsewhere here I thought Bartlett was excellent in shot stopping and marshalling his back four but dodgy on crosses. Not a bad debut though, a match winning penalty save.

Thought Alfreton's left wing back, Keane I think, was excellent. And definitely a goal of the season from Daniels although he was a little lucky to stay on the field when going over the ball and halfway up Someones leg in the last 10.

Very pleased to get away with three points and hopefully things are on the turn! Feel for Alfreton though. Hope things go your way this week

 

[McGillsBeard]

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.

The Muggleton effect? Better player than given credit for at City. Good luck to him and you!

 

[Quakerz]

Darlington have signed 27 year old left winger Greg Mills, and 20 year old right back Luke Trotman, both from Nuneaton.

Mills particularly seems to have a bit of pedigree and is a prolific scorer for a wide man.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Well, from what I've read so far Nuneaton supporters are glad to see the back of Greg Mills and good riddance. He has ability but somewhat lazy and never looked fit, so in a nutshell sounds as though they are not too fussed about him, I just hope we can shape him up and get the best out of him.

On the flip side with Luke Trotman, we've apparently signed their best young asset he is good going forward, reasonable defensively, and has impressed fans whenever he's appeared. So he sounds promising for the future, actually I seen him down at Nuneaton but obviously didn't take much notice.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Absolutely huge game for us tonight at FC United. Season defining really. Must win after 6 defeats in 7 games.. We still look distinctly mid table to me and winning tonight against our first opponent outside the top 10 since early September will go a long way to confirming it.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Absolutely fucking atrocious second half tonight.John has lost my support after that. He is absolute clueless. Needs to go!

No fucking way our side should be where they are. Fucking livid.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Tuesday 14 November 2017 National League North Results

Att. 343 - Brackley Town 4 Southport 0
Att. 1,546 - FC United Of Manchester 3 Alfreton Town 2

 

[DarkSithLord]

Well. Calmed down a little after last night.
However we are in a whole world of trouble I think. That was a gutless second half performance last night. I didnt go but I predicted the finish 10 minutes in to the second half. We just folded like a pack of cards.

All the changes over the summer but we have the same points total from the same amount of games as last season. We have a porous defence who look a world away from a clean sheet. A manager who makes preplexing selections, who doesnt know his best XI and keeps picking his favourites despite awful performances. This in turn with some poor tactical decisons has meant that he has completely lost the dressing room. The players seem unable to put in a 90 minute performance and seem to think its acceptable to coast in games at 50% effort and take the piss. It isnt. John has to go.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

They need to wake up and fast DSL. Seen many a relegation dogfight in my Carlisle times and this conf north relegation battle I am thinking is going to be one massive dogfight........can easily see it being 40-45 points needed to survive this year and will go to last day.

NFU are gone, but after that who-knows and is a few mid table sides like Curzon, Alfreton, Southport, Darlington etc etc could be in dire trouble if they have big winless runs.

Is why I was frustrated on sat vs Southport, we cannot afford to flog them games.

FcUM caretaker has done well, but dear me Southport need a new defence and fast

 

[DarkSithLord]

They need to wake up and fast DSL. Seen many a relegation dogfight in my Carlisle times and this conf north relegation battle I am thinking is going to be one massive dogfight........can easily see it being 40-45 points needed to survive this year and will go to last day.

NFU are gone, but after that who-knows and is a few mid table sides like Curzon, Alfreton, Southport, Darlington etc etc could be in dire trouble if they have big winless runs.

Is why I was frustrated on sat vs Southport, we cannot afford to flog them games.

FcUM caretaker has done well, but dear me Southport need a new defence and fast

Yeah we flogged our home game v Southport back in August by losing 1-0. In fact its the only home game we have failed to score in.

Looks a smiliar a story to last season for us at the minute. Must win the majority of home games v bottom half and scramble together a couple of away wins from somewhere. Probably Ferriby plus 2 others. That should see us to around 45-48 points.

 

[MWS]

On Saturday we welcome Chorley to Edgeley Park.

Quite looking forward to this one, it's always a good game against Chorley. They certainly know how to defend and with the likes of Nick Haughton in their team they pose a considerable threat.

We're a much better attacking outfit this season so Chorley's back line will face a stern test but our defensive frailties will almost certainly cause us problems, particularly if they have someone capable of a long throw!

I don't think Gannon and Jansen are the best of friends after last summers 'war of words' following our approaches for some of their players (nothing illegal might I add!) so perhaps a fiery contest on the side lines as well as on the pitch.

 

[Prodigal]

Looking forward as always to the game at Edgeley Park, think it will be close, we don't score many but then we don't give many away either. Can't see there being anything between Jansen and Gannon, certainly not on Jansen's side, he is a gent. As always expect Chorley fans will turn out in reasonable numbers for this one and get behind the side. Should be a good game.

 

[doveranddover]

article about Bradford pa
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...st-rich-history-bradford-lost-football-ground

 

[DarkSithLord]

article about Bradford pa
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...st-rich-history-bradford-lost-football-ground

Intriguing stuff. Thanks for posting.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

It is a very interesting article to read

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Another big game for us tomorrow at Nuneaton. I know it seems ridiculous I bring up 'big games' in first half of season, but because I think relegation battle will be so close I count any of these games vs other sides with relegation possibility as massive.

We were doing superbly in these games until recently when we played Gainsborough and Southport, played well enough to get 6 points and only got 1 pushing us back down table.

Need a win somewhere or these winless runs hurt confidence as Alfreton and Souport show.
But we are dreadful away this season so not hopeful

 

[Quakerz]

Darlington close to signing Reece Styche from Tamworth, although it's unlikely he will play tomorrow because we're playing Tamworth.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Im going but Not sure I can be bothered with tomorrow. Ye has little faith.
Not sure how long we can go on for in our state. Defeat and we really need to be making a change and using the FA Trophy game to bed the new manager in.

 

[DarkSithLord]

I see Jon Worsnop has joined Southport after being released by York earlier today. Very good keeper for us. Was not popular during his time at Chester though and seems to have struggled at York. Big fan of him personally.

 

[Minstermen central]

I see Jon Worsnop has joined Southport after being released by York earlier today. Very good keeper for us. Was not popular during his time at Chester though and seems to have struggled at York. Big fan of him personally.

Worsnop a descent keeper but gave away a lot of penalties.
Seemed to play well away from home but rubbish at home.
At spennymoor he won us the match,pulled off a string of outstanding saves.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Bit quiet in here too?

AFC Telford 1-2 Alfreton.

Well well well...we won! We were much improved because we actually put some effort in and were willing to put the hard yards in.

It was a really poor game though devoid of quality and the win certainty papers over a few cracks buts its 3 much needed points on the board. Up to 13th, 6 points off the drop.

Telford were bobbins and fortunately werent wearing their shooting boots.

We raced in to a 2-0 lead in the first half in the first half again thanks to a lovely chip from Westcarr before a towering header from a quality cross by Daniels. Telford were on the ropes and Shariff missed a chance to make it 3-0 before Telford pulled one back just before the break thanks to Elliott Newby.
It looked like a story of here we go again and indeed it was as Telford dominated long periods of the second half just like FC had on Tuesday night.
This time we held out by working off the ball, defending manfully and a couple of superb Chris Elliott saves followed by a brillant clearance from Bradley Wood off the line.

Just a second ever win at Telford and the first time in 15 visits we had scored more than once.

 

[DarkSithLord]

See Southport are at least trying to stay up. They have signed striker Jason Gilchrist from FC United in a club record sale for FCUM

 

[CFC4LIFE]

Every week I say it but carver is shit. All we had to do was defend a poor cross in my eyes and we didn't. Oswell was their only threatening player. Thought walker played extremely well up front on his own and nick Haughton as always had his moments. Blakeman was a class act again although a change in formation stopped him from threatening as much as he normally does going forward.

 

[CFC4LIFE]

I just want to ask you guys a quick question as our supporters are somehow split on this. Just reply yes or no if you want to, not bothered if anyone replies. So, do you think Marcus Carver is any good?

 

[Harrier94]

There are 3 things that are certain in life; death, taxes and Jon Parkin scoring against us. York fans how was the game? Seen a lot of praise from your fans on twitter towards us.

 

[Prodigal]

I just want to ask you guys a quick question as our supporters are somehow split on this. Just reply yes or no if you want to, not bothered if anyone replies. So, do you think Marcus Carver is any good?

Carver is a grafter, he is not a finisher, would always be in my team, but we do need a lethal striker. Everyone has their opinions in football.

 

[EnglishRed]

Absolutely zero surprise to read on the York forum that Newton has gone to shit since Mills left. He did the same with us and also with Lincoln. it's a shame as when he can be bothered he's a good player. He has an absolutely shocking attitude though. Best thing York could do is bin him off.