2017/18 National League North

[Harrier94]

Fucking hell. Telford v Spennymoor is OFF. ANOTHER game to fit in.

Telford and Spennymoor have yet to play each other this season.

We're going to end up playing Spennymoor on a Thursday most likely now. But it's been nearly a month since our fixture was called and not even one date planned for the game.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Salford v Blyth also off. About time the Class of 92 invested in the pitch.
Leamington v Chorley also off.
You think Spennymoor is bad spare a thought for Step 5 NWCFL side 1874 Northwich

1874 Northwich‏ @1874Northwich

A 23rd postponement of the season. We now do not have a league game until 20th March when we host @barlickfc which would take us to halfway through our campaign. After an FA Vase semi-final we then have a run of fixtures beginning 26th March... 22 league games in 40 days

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

The two bankrolled squads of the league have the two worst pitches

Am surprised with Salford, Ashton would have been on today, Droysden vs Hyde is on

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

No Naill Cummins today which is a blow, at least it’s just a slight knock

 

[DarkSithLord]

Very strange starting XI for us at Bradford PA

Two top scorers Daniels and Westcarr on the bench with Disley and one real creative spark - Cieron Keane also benched. XI looks very weak. Perplexed.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Very strange starting XI for us at Bradford PA

Two top scorers Daniels and Westcarr on the bench with Disley and one real creative spark - Cieron Keane also benched. XI looks very weak. Perplexed.

Well. Went behind survived some pressure from the hosts before Tom Platt levelled after a quick counter and a stunning strike from Chris Sharp from 30 yards has us ahead!

Everything crossed we hold on. This 3 points would be huge

 

[GuiseleySteve]

Very strange starting XI for us at Bradford PA

Two top scorers Daniels and Westcarr on the bench with Disley and one real creative spark - Cieron Keane also benched. XI looks very weak. Perplexed.

You've had 4/5 chances and scored 2 both great strikes. Avenue have had most of the ball and created lots of chances but as usual their finishing has been woeful.

 

[Harrier94]

Embarrassing that's all that can be said.

 

[Luke Imp]

Big win for Trinity to keep them in touch and with others around them losing. They need to be going on a mini run, though. Picking up the odd win here and there is no good for them.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Still Gutted about our result.

We have actually managed to somehow get worse defensively. Back to the utter shit of last season

I am very concerned. Massive chance for three points squandered today. Draws not really any good.
Gonna be a very close run thing this relegation dog fight. We are doing everything to land in a relegation spot in my opinion..

 

[GuiseleySteve]

Still Gutted about our result.

We have actually managed to somehow get worse defensively. Back to the utter shit of last season

I am very concerned. Massive chance for three points squandered today. Draws not really any good.
Gonna be a very close run thing this relegation dog fight. We are doing everything to land in a relegation spot in my opinion..

I have to say you defended heroically today as you were really under the cosh for long periods. So many blocks, goal line clearances and great saves from your keeper. The biggest problem was in not keeping possession when you got the chance and dropping far too deep when you lost it. Avenue could pretty much approach your penalty box unchallenged second half as everyone dropped back immediately. Just my take on it!

 

[DarkSithLord]

I have to say you defended heroically today as you were really under the cosh for long periods. So many blocks, goal line clearances and great saves from your keeper. The biggest problem was in not keeping possession when you got the chance and dropping far too deep when you lost it. Avenue could pretty much approach your penalty box unchallenged second half as everyone dropped back immediately. Just my take on it!

Appreicate your opinion. You saw the game and I didnt so i bow to your superior judgement. That makes me feel a tad better than a neutral says that.Just immensely frustrated tonight. Actually cannot wait for this season to end. Its not been enjoyable at any point. Been a long old ugly slog.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

That was a killer last few minutes for us today. Looking like a solid away point and other sides not winning to suddenly losing and Gainsborough nicking an unexpected win.

From reading the text seems we played well for 60 minutes, just our usual problem of having a good portion of game but not scoring, then rode a bit of luck when a pen saved then a sitter missed before game was heading for a draw when nicked at the death.

ah well, still just want 3 points from this month, 3 more games to get it.

 

[David Curries Mullet]

You were the better team first half, odd chance, had a lot of the ball without doing a great deal with it. We were better second half, once Gillies came on. Weren't at our recent best but good sign that we can grind it out now. Thought your 9 and 11 were very good.

 

[AnimoEtFide]

Well, that confirms us as being down here for yet another season (if it wasn't confirmed already). A pretty awful season and a step backwards compared to last, where at least we managed to stay in the mix for the play-offs until the very end (and with two fewer play-offs places). If it wasn't for the fact that we're entering some transitional FT/PT hybrid model next season which Gannon has very much been leading, I don't think he would be here come the end of the season. And I can't say I would have been overly upset. The only reason I'm on balance against replacing him is that I can't for the life of me think who that replacement would be (or, perhaps, dread to think who that replacement would be).

Onwards to the Cheshire Senior Cup.

 

[GuiseleySteve]

Appreicate your opinion. You saw the game and I didnt so i bow to your superior judgement. That makes me feel a tad better than a neutral says that.Just immensely frustrated tonight. Actually cannot wait for this season to end. Its not been enjoyable at any point. Been a long old ugly slog.

Not as bad as ours! Oh and your no.7 today looks a prospect.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Not as bad as ours! Oh and your no.7 today looks a prospect.

Haha. Ryan Jennings? He has good flashes in a game but is lightweight and has only scored a handful of goals this season. A bit part player at best.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Saturday 10 March 2018 National League North Results

Att. n/a - AFC Telford United P-P Spennymoor Town
Att. 434 - Bradford Park Avenue 3 Alfreton Town 3
Att. 1,292 - Darlington 1 Curzon Ashton 0
Att. 547 - Gainsborough Trinity 1 Kidderminster Harriers 0
Att. 1,547 - Harrogate Town 6 FC United Of Manchester 0
Att. n/a - Leamington P-P Chorley
Att. 478 - Nuneaton Town 2 North Ferriby United 2
Att. n/a - Salford City P-P Blyth Spartans
Att. 849 - Southport 3 Tamworth 0
Att. 3,060 - Stockport County 0 Brackley Town 1
Att. 2,461 - York City 1 Boston United 0

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

You were the better team first half, odd chance, had a lot of the ball without doing a great deal with it. We were better second half, once Gillies came on. Weren't at our recent best but good sign that we can grind it out now. Thought your 9 and 11 were very good.

Our problem all season, we've one of the hardest working sides in the league and play some good on the ground football, but once it gets to around the box it becomes incredibly hard to turn very nice play into a really threatening chance, and even when we do get our chances we struggle to find someone to put the ball in net.

then sadly on about 60-65 mins our team simply gets tired...........a high tempo passing game with lots of running and closing down with part-time players just i think kills us once we hit 60 mins.

gameplan is to be in front by 60 minutes, just doesn't happen enough this season, must put your lot nearly safe, we still have work to do. Was the Gainsborough goal did more damage for me than the Darlo one.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

A very uninspiring performance today from us, especially in the first half. I was absolutely bored shitless.
Curzon were the much better team throughout the game, if only their players brought some boots with them that could put the ball in the back of the net.
They played some really neat football which was a delight to watch, fast as lightning going forward but fell to pieces with their distribution into the box. I can see why our keeper Pears got man of the match with another faultless display.

Our penalty looked soft, from where i was stood didn't look like a penalty? So it was inevitable Thommo was not gonna score, But on the other hand Gillies should have at least hit the target with his chance. He soon made up for it with an absolute quality ball into the most dangerous area of the goalmouth, especially for a keeper.

Curzon seemed to adapt to the pitch a lot better than us to a certain degree, even though we played a lot better in the second half.

Standout performance for Curzon was their number 11.

I thought we were very fortunate today, and definitely played our get out of jail card. After that penalty miss the game had 0-0 written all over it.

Next stop Tamworth on Tuesday night for me, surely a winnable game?

 

[Tafkat]

Awful game on a heavy pitch. All kicked off after we scored via an OG.
Heslop then picks up a 2nd yellow to get sent off. Boston player who was rolling on the floor then jumps and puts a York player in a headlock to get sent off.
Couple of mins later Ex City youth team player Ben Middleton goes though Correia in the corner to earn a red with his OG.
Boston fans are saying Bartlett spit at them at full time.

 

[Lucky Bobble]

Like to see Harrogate promoted over Salford - but Salford's last 6 games look pretty straight forward, and Harrogate's run in much harder (incl. Spennymore, Brackley, Blyth & York back to back). On the other hand if Salford didn't win the league / playoffs this year, they'd surely walk the division next year - so maybe its good if they finish first.

Mind you don't think Nat North will be our concern next year - 3 northern teams likely to be relegated from Nat League, plus Hereford promoted (plus perhaps Kings Lynn, or Kettering) means we'll be off south to join Oxford and Gloucester.
Could have big repercussions for the team as so many players are Midlands based they may not like the 'extra' travelling, although hopefully the good team spirit will mean they'll want to stay?
Advantages = Nat South looks weaker than the north to me.
Disadv= Billericay might be very strong, lower crowds.
As I've said before don't think the Midlands teams get a great deal from the current league structure, but I guess teams in the north-east or south-west suffer more.

 

[Luke Imp]

Heslop was lucky his challenge was only deemed a second yellow in their game against Boston. A terrible, cynical challenge. Knew exactly what he was doing.

Yet the ref gives a straight red for Boston's challenge, which is more of a yellow!

 

[Clem Fandango]

Mind you don't think Nat North will be our concern next year - 3 northern teams likely to be relegated from Nat League, plus Hereford promoted (plus perhaps Kings Lynn, or Kettering) means we'll be off south to join Oxford and Gloucester.
Could have big repercussions for the team as so many players are Midlands based they may not like the 'extra' travelling, although hopefully the good team spirit will mean they'll want to stay?
Advantages = Nat South looks weaker than the north to me.
Disadv= Billericay might be very strong, lower crowds.
As I've said before don't think the Midlands teams get a great deal from the current league structure, but I guess teams in the north-east or south-west suffer more.

When we moved south we lost three players straight away but it was really only 1 player due to travelling distances (Jas Singh). Deaman and Hopper was money really. The league is weaker, no doubt about it but with Torquay, Billericay, maybe Dulwich - could be improved. Away supports are piss poor mind but doesn't help that we've gone from being the most southern northern team to being the most northern southern team.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

A few interesting fixtures for Tuesday night that will be closely monitored throughout the evening.
Not unless the weather has it's say?

Gainsborough Trinity vs Brackley Town
Kidderminster Harriers vs York City
Southport vs AFC Telford United
Tamworth vs Darlington

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Next stop for me is Tamworth tomorrow evening in what should be a (dare i say it) golden opportunity of picking up another valuable 3 points against an out of form team, that hasn't won since New Year's day.

But i wouldn't hold my breath after our performance from Saturday's match against Curzon.
And last Tuesday Tamworth were very unlucky not to grab a point or even a win if they had put that penalty away in the 88th minute against Salford.

I would imagine one or two teams hovering around Tamworth will be gunning for a draw? Or even a Darlo win? Looking at the league table.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Like to see Harrogate promoted over Salford - but Salford's last 6 games look pretty straight forward, and Harrogate's run in much harder (incl. Spennymore, Brackley, Blyth & York back to back). On the other hand if Salford didn't win the league / playoffs this year, they'd surely walk the division next year - so maybe its good if they finish first.

Mind you don't think Nat North will be our concern next year - 3 northern teams likely to be relegated from Nat League, plus Hereford promoted (plus perhaps Kings Lynn, or Kettering) means we'll be off south to join Oxford and Gloucester.
Could have big repercussions for the team as so many players are Midlands based they may not like the 'extra' travelling, although hopefully the good team spirit will mean they'll want to stay?
Advantages = Nat South looks weaker than the north to me.
Disadv= Billericay might be very strong, lower crowds.
As I've said before don't think the Midlands teams get a great deal from the current league structure, but I guess teams in the north-east or south-west suffer more.

Actually make that 4 Northern teams, looks like Altrincham, Warrington Town, Ashton United and Shaw Lane are battling it out for the top spot in the evo-stik league.

Hopefully you'll keep the current squad together, and if you do go in the National League South.
You'll be a force in that league, other than Hereford and maybe Torquay i can't see any other teams that could trouble Brackley Town. Anyway you guys ain't officially out of the title race yet, win that game in hand at Gainsborough? Just 4 points adrift of the leaders.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Telford and Spennymoor have yet to play each other this season.

We're going to end up playing Spennymoor on a Thursday most likely now. But it's been nearly a month since our fixture was called and not even one date planned for the game.

Spennymoor Town will play Kidderminster Harriers at The Brewery Field on Tuesday 17th April 2018.
One consolation i suppose, should be a lot milder.

 

[AndyPark]

Have a safe trip tonight Kev, gutted I can’t get the day off work to join you’s.

#UpTheDarlo

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

come on Darlo just need a late goal for them and a good night for us tonight.