2017/18 National League North

[Darlo On Tour]

I was reading on our official website DSL that your top scorer: Craig Westcarr is suspended having been sent off against Stockport.
That must be a massive blow for you guys if true? Obviously music to one's ears for us Darlo fans.

We MIGHT even actually keep a clean sheet with Westcarr out, I very much doubt it like.

 

[CFC4LIFE]

A LOT better today. Dropped carver and walker and we score 2. Josh Wilson needs to play up front. Best goalscorer we have.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Alfreton 1-1 Darlington.

Well shocking really again from us really. We are so predictably poor every week its untrue. No home win since September about 6 straight home games we have gone behind in the first 10 minutes. Dire second half performance. No urgency at all given the situation.

Gifted a point at the end thanks to a moment of crazy mindless madness from the Darlo keeper which we are eternally greatful for as he decided to inexplicably punch Tom Allan off the ball in the final minute of the 90.

Only positive I take is it keeps us out the drop zone...for now. My god we will be fortunate to surivive the trap door at the moment.

Another week...another round of Bullshit from John.
Actually opening critising the fans. I would like to see him pay £14 to see the fucking tripe he serves up every fucking week.

I will take the point but Darlington were the better side and really should have the won the game IMO. We struggled to lay a glove other than a half decent spell in the 10 minutes before HT.

Christ its squeaky bum time from here.

 

[Prodigal]

Got the 3 points away at Curzon, unusual for us to get anything there. Jansen rang the changes, starting Wilson and Brewster up top in place of Carver and Walker, with Haughton returning from illness. Wilson opened the scoring with a header from a corner on 13 minutes, not much other goalmouth action, Curzon unlucky when a Teague header dropped onto the crossbar, could easily have been an own goal. Both sides passed the ball well but Curzon in particular were guilty of just retaining possession and getting nowhere, then losing the ball. Second half underway and Carver replaced Brewster and added more energy up front but as usual failed to take his 1 on1 chance v the keeper, 15 minutes from the end and a short throw to Haughton saw him waltz into the penalty area before leaving the keeper helpless with an immaculate finish into the far bottom corner. Game over, basically, Curzon are even more punch less than we are. Glad of the 3 points though.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

A very frustrating game for Curzon really and our lack of quality in the final third is really hurting us now and dragging us into the bottom 3.

We played well enough, game Chorley a good game, but we don't look dangerous apart from poor Naill Cummins who has to pretty much create and score at same time. We were extremely on top at the early part of first half and should have gone 1-0 up when we somehow missed a chance that seemed harder to miss at the back post. Chorley scored from pretty much their first bit of action in the game from a well taken corner and good header (although i personally felt goalkeeper should have saved that, but need to see again)

When Chorley scored it gave them a big lift and they took control and could have scored a second when a ball went in front of our goal but got scrambled out, but they highlighted as much as we highlighted why neither team scores much.......the play both have can be good, but the chances from good play are minimal to non-existant. We did rally again as first half went on but struggled to score apart from a header from their defender coming off the bar.

Second half at the start i'll commend our effort and we really took game to Chorley who seemed to just sit 8-0-2 and do nothing than try and mass defend and catch on the break. We dominated large spells but did very little with it and Chorley had better chances from a couple of break-throughs. about 20 odd mins into the second half our energy died a bit and ideas ran out and then it was tough, made worse through a superb finish to make it 2-0 and you knew then game was done and over with.

for me a quite even game, but the game was decided as Chorley were much more clinical than we were and defended very well. We need to really just get to feb and some massive massive season defining matches.

 

[Swedes]

Got the 3 points away at Curzon, unusual for us to get anything there. Jansen rang the changes, starting Wilson and Brewster up top in place of Carver and Walker, with Haughton returning from illness. Wilson opened the scoring with a header from a corner on 13 minutes, not much other goalmouth action, Curzon unlucky when a Teague header dropped onto the crossbar, could easily have been an own goal. Both sides passed the ball well but Curzon in particular were guilty of just retaining possession and getting nowhere, then losing the ball. Second half underway and Carver replaced Brewster and added more energy up front but as usual failed to take his 1 on1 chance v the keeper, 15 minutes from the end and a short throw to Haughton saw him waltz into the penalty area before leaving the keeper helpless with an immaculate finish into the far bottom corner. Game over, basically, Curzon are even more punch less than we are. Glad of the 3 points though.

Brewster is an odd one. Southport lad, bags of ability, but nowhere near the level of application to make it in the game. Had one amazing game for us last season, scored a great goal, then disappeared off injured. I wouldn't be surprised if in a few years he ends up being a Sunday League hero after a Saturday night in the snooker club.

 

[Swedes]

Deserved win for us today. Classic front two of a target man (Sampson) and a poacher (Gilchrist) with two flying wingers in Adam Dawson and Dion Charles (until he was substituted, probably injured), and two workaholic central midfielders. The back line rarely looked stressed either, with the new lad poached from AFC Fylde looking solid enough.

I'm a bit more hopeful after today, and the last 3 weeks in general. One goal conceded in four games, and 7 points picked up. The four months without a win appear to be behind us now.

 

[Prodigal]

I am reserving judgement on Brewster as he is clearly lacking match fitness/sharpness, he has pace but didn't seem to have any great desire, reminded me a little of John Cofie, who was a disaster! Time will tell with Brewster.

Brewster is an odd one. Southport lad, bags of ability, but nowhere near the level of application to make it in the game. Had one amazing game for us last season, scored a great goal, then disappeared off injured. I wouldn't be surprised if in a few years he ends up being a Sunday League hero after a Saturday night in the snooker club.

 

[Boz]

Maybe the secret of getting something out of Dawson, is to have him on a non-contract basis, which I assume is still the situation at Southport?

 

[Swedes]

I am reserving judgement on Brewster as he is clearly lacking match fitness/sharpness, he has pace but didn't seem to have any great desire, reminded me a little of John Cofie, who was a disaster! Time will tell with Brewster.

To be fair to him, he's got a hell of a lot more to him than John Cofie, but who hasn't!?

Maybe the secret of getting something out of Dawson, is to have him on a non-contract basis, which I assume is still the situation at Southport?

He had not featured significantly until today, and had not done much in his brief appearances to justify it, he just seemed to get a start be default (Hallam being recalled by Sheffield Utd, Lowe being a show pony with nothing to show). He looked very useful today. A few more performances like that and I can see a contract offer coming his way, either by us or someone else.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Typical relegation pants of a game from two poor sides battling to beat the drop, we we're absolute dog shite through out the second half with just the one so called effort from Scott. Typically blazed his shot over the bar, with a great chance of scoring.

I'd have to say Alfreton we're one of worst sides I've seen this season, especially in front of goal, they had a couple of chances albeit few and far between. They could have easily took the lead before Styche scored, and possibly with a free header straight at our keeper.

No positives to take out of this match other than at least 3 or 4 of our players need to take a run and jump, absolute pure garbage same old conversation heading back home from the match. Apart from Styche with a well taken goal, brilliant finish. Typical Styche getting back in our good books, legging it up the field to us and putting his fist in the air to celebrate.

I can't fathom out what the hell our keeper was doing getting into an altercation with an Alfreton player in the 90th minute, I couldn't see exactly what happened from the distance? Did he punch him, or slap him on the back. He was already on a yellow card for time wasting. Unfortunately he's the lad to blame today , definitely cost us a much needed and vital 3 points. We looked fairly comfortable at the time, but vulnerable of switching off like Wednesday night.

I'd be somewhat surprised if we escape the drop after today's performance, can't see us getting anything out of the Chorley game on Saturday?
And then a relegation battle down at Leamington. We had to win today, so i'm disappointed with a point against Alfreton.

Apart from the shit match, another warm welcome from Alfreton, and The Victoria near the ground of course

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Saturday 13 January 2018 National League North Results

Att. 727 - Alfreton Town 1 Darlington 1
Att. n/a - Brackley Town P-P North Ferriby United
Att. 466 - Curzon Ashton 0 Chorley 2
Att. 463 - Gainsborough Trinity 0 Nuneaton Town 1
Att. n/a - Harrogate Town P-P Stockport County
Att. n/a - Kidderminster Harriers P-P FC United Of Manchester
Att. 1,626 - Salford City 3 AFC Telford United 0
Att. 848 - Southport 2 Leamington 0
Att. n/a - Spennymoor Town P-P Boston United
Att. n/a - Tamworth P-P Blyth Spartans
Att. 2,642 - York City 2 Bradford Park Avenue 1

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Reportedly that we've had a bid accepted for Tamworth's transfer listed Ellis Deeney. Not sure any truth in that?

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Deserved win for us today. Classic front two of a target man (Sampson) and a poacher (Gilchrist) with two flying wingers in Adam Dawson and Dion Charles (until he was substituted, probably injured), and two workaholic central midfielders. The back line rarely looked stressed either, with the new lad poached from AFC Fylde looking solid enough.

I'm a bit more hopeful after today, and the last 3 weeks in general. One goal conceded in four games, and 7 points picked up. The four months without a win appear to be behind us now.

I don't think Adam Dawson was given a fair chance when he was on loan with us, seen him a couple of times away from home, and he showed some neat footwork out on the flanks. I thought he was okay? But needed more game time.

 

[Harrier94]

A club has had a bid accepted for Ty Williams from us.....good luck if you get him he's a complete liability.

 

[Fyldefan]

Is he the one that made false racist allegations?

 

[Harrier94]

Is he the one that made false racist allegations?

No
And false who said they were false?

 

[Fyldefan]

i was having a chat with one of your ex players that’s now with us and he confirmed what I already knew. The lad made it up, should be ashamed of himself. You can ruin careers telling lies like that

 

[Harrier94]

i was having a chat with one of your ex players that’s now with us and he confirmed what I already knew. The lad made it up, should be ashamed of himself. You can ruin careers telling lies like that

Fair enough, never heard that just heard it was a he said he said situation. No one else heard it so nothing came of it.

How are Tunnicliffe and ZFA doing?

 

[Fyldefan]

They’re doing alright, nothing special but been decent enough of late. ZFA the better of the two

 

[B2TF]

Josh Wilson needs to play up front. Best goalscorer we have.

Oh dear, it's worse than I thought.

 

[CFC4LIFE]

Oh dear, it's worse than I thought.

To be fair, he has been one of the better players this season. Can see why he scored 20 for Telford last season. If he gets the right service and not punts up the pitch like we do, he might actually be able to get involved more

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

If any Kiddy fans coming to Curzon next week, keep eye on weather next few days.

If it goes as they expect I do not see match on as we have very heavy rain today, then temperatures to plummet and 3 days of snow

 

[MWS]

BigDaveCUFC Thoughts on Jamie Stott? We've just taken him on loan from Oldham for the rest of the season.
Has played a fair bit at Curzon so wondered what you made of the lad?

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Heck I thought he was still on loan here. That will explain us having the youth player in defence sat

Did very well for us last season, impressed enough Oldham took him back to put in their first team end of season.

Plays well at this level but Curzon players seem to be a right mixed bag when they go elsewhere so hard to say. Finances at Curzon must be so tight this season......we cannot keep hold of anyone more than a month or so!

 

[Inactive]

Match Highlights from Saturday's game between Southport and Leamington

 

[DarkSithLord]

Big blow for Chorley with Fleetwood recalling Haughton from his loan spell today

 

[Prodigal]

Desperately disappointing news about Nick Haughton, but not surprising, no doubt there is a big offer in for him at Fleetwood. Good luck Nick, thanks for everything, especially the wonder goals.

 

[CFC4LIFE]

Haughton recalled, too good for this level, shouldn't be anywhere near non league level.

 

[MWS]

Seen a few comments above about Delial Brewster. We had him on loan from Everton not least season but the one before. What he lacked in overall game play he made up for with pace and finishing. One of the better finishers I've seen for a long while.

Very good at reading flick ons, quick and a very composed finisher.
See here (Skip to 04:45):

and here (Skip to 01:50):