2017/18 National League North

[Harrier94]

Merry Christmas northerners. Hope you all have a great day!

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

meh my boxing day football is off as Couldn't get to BPA today and was going to Ashton Utd Vs staly and that is off, as is Droysden vs Hyde.....others i cannot be bothered with effort to do.

oh well shall go for a walk and have a game in a week.......currently 0-0 at BPA, expect to lose this am impressed with the BPA team and think its a tough game.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Big win at the bottom today for Nuneaton 4-1 win at home to Tamrowth.......puts pressure on the 3 very out of form sides currently Southport, Darlington and Alfreton

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

York winning 3-1 at NFU but we'd all expect that, Curzon 0-0 at BPA and playing much better than sat from all accounts. would be another fine point if we can keep it up.

 

[Harrier94]

Tamworth are in free fall atm.

Currently at Telford. Pitch looks awful lots of water kicking up.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Pretty awful advert for Conference North football at Edgeley Park.

For the first 25 minutes we dog shit and could have been 3 or 4 down comfortably. Former Alfreton player Mantack who was continuously left totally un marked took one chance 4 minutes before HT to give Stockport the lead.

After the break we did improve a little but still nowhere near good enough mind. We did create a few chances, Mulhern forced a good save from Hinchclifle before some great work and brilliant ball from Bradley Wood put Mulhern in. All he had to do was beat the goalkeeper but he made a total meal of it and County clear. Burdett forced another save late on. Stockport could have had a few more but I must say I was very disappointed in the home side seemed to get worse as the game wore on.

Looked a bad challenge from Keane on Mantack too. Was a good player for us. Wish him well in his recovery.

One one place we are heading - Northern Premier League.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Well i didn't expect that result today after Saturday's performance down at Gainsborough. A magnificent performance from the lads against a moderate Harrogate side absolutely destroyed them, apart from one blip which looked offside? Couldn't fault anybody today they all put a good shift in.

Gotta mention Josh Heaton this lad must be find of the season, what a performance in the heart of the defense totally won everything in the air and on the ground. Credit where it's due other individuals stepped up today which was good to see. Best Darlo performance I've seen for a very long time.

Massive 3 points which wasn't expected against Harrogate, I thought Harrogate were a very aggressive and dirty outfit at times with some shocking tackles.

Question is have we turned a corner? Roll on New Year's Day!

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Tuesday 26 December 2017 National League North Results

Att. 1,995 - AFC Telford United 0 Kidderminster Harriers 0
Att. 1,179 - Blyth Spartans 2 Spennymoor Town 3
Att. 1,491 - Boston United 2 Gainsborough Trinity 0
Att. 334 - Bradford Park Avenue 3 Curzon Ashton 1
Att. 1,517 - Chorley 0 Southport 0
Att. 1,759 - Darlington 3 Harrogate Town 1
Att. 3,041 - FC United Of Manchester 3 Salford City 2
Att. 645 - Leamington 2 Brackley Town 2
Att. 1,001 - North Ferriby United 1 York City 4
Att. 929 - Nuneaton Town 4 Tamworth 1
Att. 3,453 - Stockport County 1 Alfreton Town 0

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

we were desperately unlucky in a game i expected nothing. Looks like an even game for 70 odd mins either could have won, then finally they get breakthrough, we up our effort and equalise in the 89th minute before they bang 2 goals in the last 5 minutes to win it.

a shame because with other sides winning it keeps pressure on us even after a superb first half of season, but since vs Stockport we deserved nothing and got a draw and here we deserved a draw and got nothing i'd say it balanced out.

need to start winning games than draws or we will get sucked in

Harrogate really f*cked it up big time yesterday with Salford giving them their chance to close gap, but a massive win for Darlo that one.

 

[ForzaCounty]

Looked a bad challenge from Keane on Mantack too. Was a good player for us. Wish him well in his recovery.

Broken leg.
I always joke with my mates about it seeming like you have to commit ABH to get a booking in this division, sad seeing it in effect though. Looked a terrible foul, in front of the liner & with the ref looking right at it, and they only deemed it a yellow.

 

[AnimoEtFide]

My initial reaction to the challenge was that it was only a yellow. However, the complete indifference shown by the Alfreton number 4 when Mantack was on the floor clearly in a lot of pain, and later when he was being stretchered off, reflected worse on him than even the leg breaking challenge did.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Listened to the latest rubbish John has sprouted. Apparently you are a "big time player" if you have played for North Ferriby at Wembley

 

[Inactive]

Highlights between Leamington & Brackley

 

[Harrier94]

I had a look at the Keane challenge. Not sure it's a red. He's gone in with a bit of force but I think its more just unfortunate that the Stockport players leg got caught in between Keane's leg. I think its also why I don't think there was mass complaints from the Stockport players when he was booked.

Although I very much agree Keane should be apologising while he's been stretched off.

 

[Josh Butler]

Could not go to Boston Gainsborough as was banned for two home games but by all accounts a win despite not playing that well. They seemed to have the better early on but once we scored their limited threat made it very comfortable. Onto NYD to turn to make it 5 straight wins....

 

[Harrier94]

Could not go to Boston Gainsborough as was banned for two home games but by all accounts a win despite not playing that well. They seemed to have the better early on but once we scored their limited threat made it very comfortable. Onto NYD to turn to make it 5 straight wins....

What did you do to get a 2 match ban?

 

[Josh Butler]

What did you do to get a 2 match ban?

Ended up on the pitch celebrating late winner v Southport. Yep, the state of our season so far that such moments cause excitement

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

As we're about half way it should be time for people to assess their club's season so far:

How do you feel season has gone, and what do you hope for or worry about in second half of season?

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

for myself with Curzon i think the first half has gone much better than i ever hoped for.

Squad wise i had us as second worst in the division starting the season, with only NFU and their mass of problems making them weaker. we lost 5 first team players from our starting 11 last year including our goalkeeper, captain, most creative player and main goalscoring threat and being a small club with limited money in maybe the toughest league in England you cannot argue that we had much damage done in the summer.

Yet our manager again seems to defy odds here, he changed the approach from a much more free flowing attack based game to more conservative, trying to keep in games and nick them or else taking lead and holding it and while it had problems early on (some of the hoof ball defensive crap early season was horrific) when he decided to go back to a passing game the players suit it worked better. still been a struggle away from home, but our home form has been excellent and we've never yet been down the bottom even after losing our best player of this season to a rival and one of our other better key players being injured for last 2 odd months.

we are still in danger because this is a close, tight league and just a bad run could see you drop, but we have less issues than a good few sides who have more resources than we do and sit currently with much more to sort in 2018 than us. Need to really keep going with the home form and must make sure to win them important big home games in 2018 Vs Gainsborough, Nuneaton and alfreton

then if we can win them 3 crucial games its a case of trying to nick the last 6 odd points from anywhere to grab a superb survival which i think would be even bigger achievement than previous 2 years due to squad losses at the start. At least a strong first half of season puts us in a solid position to achieve our goal, just a shame we went out of all cups early this year.

if i do have a worry it is our problem struggling to win games and that we draw many.......means teams like Boston and FCUM who were much worse than us have caught up and carry that on others might.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

After Darlo's impressive away win at Salford back in August against the bookies favorites - I'm slightly and somewhat disappointed with our season so far, we've got ourselves in a right pickle with some poor performances on the field over the last few months.

After last season's great achievements in finishing in the play-offs - which turned out to be a disaster I expected us to be in the play-off mix this season, obviously that's now pie in the sky with us struggling in the bottom half of the table, and with other clubs now beginning to pull away with each game that passes by. Our aim now is to stay up? We cannot afford to drop into the EVO-STIK league that would be a disaster for Darlo. We've certainly got a fight on our hands over the coming months ahead.

It's been a strange season with all the shenanigans off the field and on the field. With the Martin Gray regime well and truly gone which has worked out well in our favor, they must have been costing the club an absolute packet with all his sidekicks. Thank fuck York have took on the wage bill of all his cronies that eventually followed him out the door.

We've not had the best of luck with injuries squad wise, but TW has picked up some decent acquisitions lately with Trotman and Heaton.
But his masterstroke was the signing of Reece Styche! This guy will score for fun providing he stays injury free. He took a knock on Boxing day and got substituted? Harrogate was a massive and much needed 3 points for us, hopefully this result can transform our season again. Mustn't get too carried away, we are still not out of the woods yet.

I'm looking forward to the short trip down the road to Harrogate, prediction wise I'd be happy with a draw from this match. No doubt unlikely? Our away form doesn't look great on paper.

 

[JE93]

I'd echo most of what Darlo on tour said. Slightly disappointing season in the sense that following our 5th place finish last year and the additions made to the squad I thought we could again challenge for top 5. Looking at our squad I think we'll be far away from relegation when the season ends. If we can pull ourselves up to top half Wright will have done a credible job.

On the other had this season has been an incredible success. The fans have raised another £248,000 to help the club on and off the pitch which will.culminate in our 500 seats to make us eligible for the play offs being completed by the end of February. I know we won't need it this season but it now takes the burden away for future seasons.

In addition, we got rid of the bully boy Gray. For all the support he has Been given by fans both sentimental and financial he couldn't bare to recognise he would of got no where without us. In the end he showed his true colours. Not making York pay compensation for him to be bought from his 5 year deal. But instead resigning so we would get nothing. Again on the plus side his spend at all costs attitude is gone. From fairly reputable sources we were paying Gray and his buddies £70k a year on a part time basis. This has considerably reduced now Wright isnt inviting anyone who can bare him to be part of the coaching team. Furthermore the playing budget has been reduced from circa £336k at the start of the season to £285k and there is room for us to move down a little further with players who Gray deemed good enough for expensive 2 year contracts leave.

I don't we'll tear up any more leagues like we did the Evo stick prem. But we will.be financially stable under the current model. That should allow us to.begin to build off the field to support the great work we have been doing in it for so long.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Home to Stockport today. Another defeat. Which will be a 12th in our last 15 games.

At the point now where I hope Stockport thrash us to force our chairman to act. Stockport should should be well up for it with the unfortunate injury to Mantack too.

 

[Minstermen central]

Very dissatisfied with performances before New Year.
Last season,finished season very well and managed to sign best players on.Thought Mills had a good squad but got that wrong,only Parkin up for battle with 21 goals.
Enter Martin Gray,who I thought was a brilliant appointment.Things haven’t changed massive budget and turnaround of players and still only Parkin delivers.(least he has already signed for next season)
I do think Gray will sort it out and can see light at end of tunnel.
Feel for Darlo and hope they come good,Sunderland did same to us with Denis Smith,backroom staff and best players and it hurt.
Only plus from 2017 new stadium has started and will be finished for start of 2019 season.bringing big increase in revenue and not paying for upkeeping at crumbling Bootham Crescent and loan for ground will finish.

Been surprised by standard of players in this division and some clubs.
Blyth were excellent at ours last week,Harrogate and kiddy other 2 teams who looked good.
NFU look terrible and think I could of got in team if 20 year younger,but will probably win today.
Highlight or lowlight,Gainsborough at Home must be worst game of football ever seen,never seen a team time waist and cheat from first minute.
Happy new year All.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

0-0 at moment, fair result in even game.

Conditions are horrendous, gale force wind and torrential rain which has hurt game quality.

Boa better early on but we were stronger as half went on. Game probs will be decided by a mistake due to conditions.

 

[DarkSithLord]

An absolute disgrace.

Unfortunately after some thought I wont be going to Ferriby and I dont I will be attending again until he is gone.

Beyond a joke now.

I have seen better organisation from set pieces on a Sunday morning. Ref was a joke too.

Season pros like Craig Westcarr should no better than using the language he did at the lino. But still its not a Red for me and is overly officious. Indicative of our discipline.

 

[AnimoEtFide]

An absolute disgrace.

Unfortunately after some thought I wont be going to Ferriby and I dont I will be attending again until he is gone.

Beyond a joke now.

I have seen better organisation from set pieces on a Sunday morning. Ref was a joke too.

Season pros like Craig Westcarr should no better than using the language he did at the lino. But still its not a Red for me and is overly officious. Indicative of our discipline.

What did Westcarr say to the ref?

 

[DarkSithLord]

What did Westcarr say to the ref?

He didnt say anything to the ref. He called the lino "a fucking c***". The lino took offence, called the ref over and after a short chat promlty sent him off.
He never had control all afternoon quite frankly. Dissent is not a Red card for me. A refs job is to keep 11v11 on the field without very good reason. A yellow card and a strong word in the ear is quite sufficient punishment IMO.

 

[The_Boss]

Dissent might not be but foul and abusive language is!!!

 

[DarkSithLord]

Dissent might not be but foul and abusive language is!!!

Correct. Genuinely dont believe it a Red card offensive. It wasnt directed at the ref. I know limo`s are part of matchday staff but not a red card for me. One of those where you are very cross if its goes against your team. Ref was absolutely clueless.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Elsewhere what the hell happened to Chorley today?