2017/18 National League North

[BigDaveCUFC]

Interesting evening, Alfreton lost which good for us, Title picture changes again with Salford winning and Harrogate losing, but the interesting twist is Brackley who can go level on points but would have to win 3 games in hand.

tough tough ask for us at Salford i sort've wish we could just skip the game really, worry about some red cards or injuries in what will be a high paced, hard grafting, hard battling match.

 

[Harrier94]

Dan Bradley has remembered how to score at just the right time for us. 4 in his last 3 games. Big win tonight and we didn't concede a late goal

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Tuesday 27 March 2018 National League North Results

Att. 433 - Alfreton Town 0 Kidderminster Harriers 2
Att. 405 - Brackley Town 4 Boston United 1
Att. 1,001 - Harrogate Town 1 Spennymoor Town 2
Att. 804 - Salford City 4 Blyth Spartans 1
Att. 2,169 - York City 3 Southport 2

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

wonder what Salford can do to raise crowds because even with their mass of income they won't sustain well once in the FL.

they getting less than 1,000 when top of the league, with a tonne of publicity, a TV show and cheap ticket prices.........suppose England was on but i always felt England on TV was just another incentive to head off to the game!.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Absolutely, England is an incentive to get to the match. I certainly wouldn't want to watch England if my team were playing tonight. I don't think it matters which league Salford are in they'll never have a fan base. For their climb aboard club toy supporters. I'll be glad when they get promoted, saying that Brackley look menacing tucked in behind waiting to pounce.

 

[Harrier94]

Pretty poor first half today. Both teams trying their best not to give up the first goal. Didn't see the Lee Vaughan incident as there was a foul and I looked away as it happened, although it sounds quite similar to an incident that happened Saturday and Salford escaped a red for it then.

Second half we finally broke Alfreton down as Manny Sonupe took down a long ball and former Alfreton player (And proud owner of the title "The worst miss DarkSithLord has ever seen" ) tucked home from Sonupe's cross.

Ironside should've grabbed a second as he turned the defender inside out before Alfreton's keeper saved. But a minute later another ex Alfreton player grabbed our second as Dan Bradley ran onto Croasdale's through ball before slotting under the keeper.

Funniest moment of the match for me was the Alfreton fans screaming for a red for Ironside as he went in slightly late on the GK after losing a 50:50 ball. The ref wasn't interested and didn't even consider a yellow just a foul, then a few moments later an Alfreton player clatters our GK and Alfreton fans start moaning the ref's blown up a foul.

Overall a good win for us. Now onto Boston.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

I see big Jon Parkin has been ruled out for York City until mid-April after knee op.
Bit of a blow for York fan's, not unless they've got a decent replacement?

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Three more away game's that's another full-house for me for the season for the tour
Can't wait for next season # Up the Darlo #

 

[Tafkat]

I see big Jon Parkin has been ruled out for York City until mid-April after knee op.
Bit of a blow for York fan's, not unless they've got a decent replacement?

That's not the only blow. 2 more went off injuried last night and an attacking midfielder did 2.

 

[MWS]

I see big Jon Parkin has been ruled out for York City until mid-April after knee op.
Bit of a blow for York fan's, not unless they've got a decent replacement?

Can't be easy on the knee's carrying that gut around!

 

[wilsontown]

Yep - Kempster, Almond and Pattison all off injured. That leaves us seriously light on attacking options. Mind you, we've got James Gray. I was pretty much resigned to going home pissed off as he lumbered about the pitch about two seconds behind everyone else in thinking time, and with apparently no clue as to what this football malarkey was supposed to be about. Then of course he popped up with a 90th minute winner. Football, what a brilliant game.

 

[Tafkat]

Yep - Kempster, Almond and Pattison all off injured. That leaves us seriously light on attacking options. Mind you, we've got James Gray. I was pretty much resigned to going home pissed off as he lumbered about the pitch about two seconds behind everyone else in thinking time, and with apparently no clue as to what this football malarkey was supposed to be about. Then of course he popped up with a 90th minute winner. Football, what a brilliant game.

Still think he mishit it.

 

[Swedes]

Still think he mishit it.

It's James Gray, I'm not sure he can connect with a ball properly anyway. It must have been a mishit, at least that's what I'm convincing myself.

Good to see Louis Almond at his natural level and still acting like an arsehole. Seeing him hobble off injured was his just desserts.

I'm not bitter about last night, honest!

 

[Tafkat]

It's James Gray, I'm not sure he can connect with a ball properly anyway. It must have been a mishit, at least that's what I'm convincing myself.

Good to see Louis Almond at his natural level and still acting like an arsehole. Seeing him hobble off injured was his just desserts.

I'm not bitter about last night, honest!

Good to see Worsop still letting in goals between his legs.

 

[Lucky Bobble]

Interesting evening, Alfreton lost which good for us, Title picture changes again with Salford winning and Harrogate losing, but the interesting twist is Brackley who can go level on points but would have to win 3 games in hand.

tough tough ask for us at Salford i sort've wish we could just skip the game really, worry about some red cards or injuries in what will be a high paced, hard grafting, hard battling match.

... and our next two games are home to Harrogate and away to Kidderminster. 7 games in the next 18 days. Some squad members came in yesterday and we squeezed home over an unimpressive Boston. Don't think we have the legs for a sustained tilt at the title - by Monday evening Salford might be miles ahead

 

[DarkSithLord]

Pretty poor first half today. Both teams trying their best not to give up the first goal. Didn't see the Lee Vaughan incident as there was a foul and I looked away as it happened, although it sounds quite similar to an incident that happened Saturday and Salford escaped a red for it then.

Second half we finally broke Alfreton down as Manny Sonupe took down a long ball and former Alfreton player (And proud owner of the title "The worst miss DarkSithLord has ever seen" ) tucked home from Sonupe's cross.

Ironside should've grabbed a second as he turned the defender inside out before Alfreton's keeper saved. But a minute later another ex Alfreton player grabbed our second as Dan Bradley ran onto Croasdale's through ball before slotting under the keeper.

Funniest moment of the match for me was the Alfreton fans screaming for a red for Ironside as he went in slightly late on the GK after losing a 50:50 ball. The ref wasn't interested and didn't even consider a yellow just a foul, then a few moments later an Alfreton player clatters our GK and Alfreton fans start moaning the ref's blown up a foul.

Overall a good win for us. Now onto Boston.

From what I heard you were deserved winners in the end but it was equal for the first hour. Typical that two former Reds. Shows how far we have regressed.
Cant overstate the importance of Good friday v Nuneaton. Huge game. Have to say the poor home form.and low crowds is another major concern. Be surprised if we muster 400 tomorrow! Praying for 3 points from Diano Marina,.Italy!

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

So we hit the really really huge bank holiday weekend which i think may decide a lot.

Here is the games.

Friday 30 March
Alfreton vs Nuneaton
Boston vs Kidderminster
Brackley vs Harrogate
BPA vs Stockport
Gainsborough vs Spennymoor
Salford vs Curzon
Tamworth vs NFU

Saturday 31 March
Blyth vs AFC Telford
Darlington vs Southport
Leamington vs FCUM
York vs Chorley

Monday 2 April
AFC Telford vs Leamington
Chorley vs BPA
Curzon vs Alfreton
FCUM vs York
Harrogate vs Blyth
Kidderminster vs Brackley
NFU vs Gainsborough
Nuneaton vs Boston
Southport vs Salford
Spennymoor vs Darlington
Stockport vs Tamworth

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Curzon have what I’d call a perfect ‘double edged sword’ match on Friday.

Our big game this weekend is on Monday vs Alfreton, we need ready for that, but right before it the match with least chance of a point, but a high risk of tiring our team, getting injuries or suspensions due to being a derby game with fired up teams.

The argument would of course be to save some for Monday, but the double edge sword part is we cannot afford to go into Monday off a demorialized thumping so do have to try and go for it.

Postponement might have been best situation, but for our bad fixture backlog..........so try hard we must.

The last 5 days turned this game, had a good chance when Salford 4 down, but the comeback, then win, then Harrogate losing has eased pressure.

Still we shall give em a tough game, have to hit our chances, have to ride luck, have to not mass sit back if winning

 

[Harrier94]

From what I heard you were deserved winners in the end but it was equal for the first hour. Typical that two former Reds. Shows how far we have regressed.
Cant overstate the importance of Good friday v Nuneaton. Huge game. Have to say the poor home form.and low crowds is another major concern. Be surprised if we muster 400 tomorrow! Praying for 3 points from Diano Marina,.Italy!

Neither side really created a clear-cut chance before our goal from then it was fairly comfortable for us. Was surprised at the small crowd honestly expected a few more after your win on Saturday. Still don't think you'll go down as there are worse teams around you in the relegation battle.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Nuneaton have just announced the appointment of former Forest,Derby and Villa right back Gary Charles as their new manager ahead of the game tomorrow

 

[Lucky Bobble]

I'd suggest Harrogate fans don't set off until they've checked for pitch inspections. Very very wet here today, pitch already poor state and reserve game called off on Wednesday due to waterlogged pitch. Odds are against the game being played on Friday I'd suggest. Would quite like a postponement since the players could do with a break... but then where do we fit in the extra match that would cause?

 

[E10rifle]

Nuneaton have just announced the appointment of former Forest,Derby and Villa right back Gary Charles as their new manager ahead of the game tomorrow

Don’t forget HMP Derby FC.

 

[Luke Imp]

Gary Charles tried to sue us for £50k in wages for 5 months work!

He had been brought in by David Holdsworth on a voluntary basis alongside Curtis Woodhouse and there was a view to offering Charles a full time job at the end of the season depending on the financial situation at the Club. In the end, he wasn't offered anything but to try and claim £50k for 5 months work.

Suffice to say he lost the case.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

While I applaud how quick Salford transformed their ground (having visited now 3 times before, during and after the work) the new ground just seriously lacks anything, very very basic and bland, think they’d been better on their old main stand doing a better job, just 4 bland sandy sides that seem to be made out of meccano

 

[Harrier94]

Not even surprised we lost that to another late goal. 5 late goals have cost us points in our last 6 games.

 

[rudebwoyben]

While I applaud how quick Salford transformed their ground (having visited now 3 times before, during and after the work) the new ground just seriously lacks anything, very very basic and bland, think they’d been better on their old main stand doing a better job, just 4 bland sandy sides that seem to be made out of meccano

It does look better than what Tamplin has done to Billericay’s ground.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Friday 30 March 2018 National League North Results

Att. 535 - Alfreton Town 1 Nuneaton Town 1
Att. 1,158 - Boston United 3 Kidderminster Harriers 2
Att. 750 - Brackley Town 0 Harrogate Town 0
Att. 1,044 - Bradford Park Avenue 2 Stockport County 3
Att. 686 - Gainsborough Trinity 4 Spennymoor Town 1
Att. 1,541 - Salford City 2 Curzon Ashton 1
Att. 665 - Tamworth 4 North Ferriby United 1

 

[Darlo On Tour]

While I applaud how quick Salford transformed their ground (having visited now 3 times before, during and after the work) the new ground just seriously lacks anything, very very basic and bland, think they’d been better on their old main stand doing a better job, just 4 bland sandy sides that seem to be made out of meccano

Moor Lane was shit-hole years ago, I must admit I applaud how they've transformed the ground within a couple of years from being a playing field with an old bicycle shed as a stand. And that seated main stand where the dugouts was situated, for me wasn't much better.

But at the end of the day money talks if it wasn't for the enid blyton's famous five we would be still going to that shit-hole called Moor Lane. I agree very meccano-ish!

But at least they have got segregation in place now, after the trouble a few years back when segregation wasn't in place. Plus they are heading for the Football League with The Peninsula Stadium?

 

[Darlo On Tour]

I can see Spennymoor having another game to re-arrange. I can't see Monday's game getting the go-ahead with all the rain and snow showers forecast over the weekend. Only have to sneeze on their pitch, match off.

 

[Lucky Bobble]

"A minute later home fans were incensed as Belshaw (GK) looked to bring down a Brackley attacker in the box, but the Town stopper won the ball first and ensured the points were shared. - Harrogate Website Match Report
He bloody well didn't!
Even Harrogate's manager thought it was a pen "Weaver saying, “The penalty decision probably went for us. The ball got stuck in the mud as the keeper came out and we got away with it today".
Our striker played the ball past the keeper and had an empty net in front of him, when he was felled. I'd bet my mortgage on the fact the Harrogate GK did not get the ball at all... in fact, I'd bet my life on it.
Oh well, it was always going to be a long shot to catch Salford, especially with our next game at Kiddy and so many games to play, but that tiny glimmer of hope is snuffed out by a gutless and worse, a dumb piece of refereeing, since the striker had absolutely no reason to fall in that position, which should have been obvious, even if the referee couldn't see the contact like I could 20 yards from the incident. Linesman did nothing - but they rarely do anyway. I don't often complain about refs, but one crap decision (this one by Paul Howard) can cost clubs relegation and promotion, and he simply wasn't good enough when it mattered today.
Always said Salford's last 6 games looked straight forward - I bet they'll drop a couple of points still until the end of the season, but reckon they're home now. Mixed feelings - don't like anyone 'buying' the league, but if they didn't win it this year, they'd win it next - it's only a matter of time.
As for Brackley - we do look a good team at the moment, only team I fear a bit in he playoffs is Stockport, but then again anyone can beat anyone.
More important, desperately keen to keep the team together next year. If we started the season with this level of depth, the understanding & confidence the players have, and the goals of Aaron Williams, we should make a good challenge. Also impressed that for a 'footballing side' we've done well on a very poor pitch at home for the last couple of months.
Sympathies to all those in a relegation battle - been there, done that, for a miserable couple of seasons.