2017/18 National League North

[BigDaveCUFC]

I notice quite a few of your fans have turned on Davies already..........seems in a way harsh, he inherited a side which i personally was 100% sure would be relegated out of this league (you were utterly horrific in our 2-2 draw earlier in season and relied on us making comic errors) and while yes......he has been damn lucky to get an entire new squad budget (something no one else at bottom got) he is still learning league and got mostly the mid season scraps......he deserves a go at least next year.

Mind your damn lucky you got that big winning run in centre of season or you were gone as your form has been so horrible either side of it..............think Davies will survive?

 

[Prodigal]

Wow, that was some comeback at Tamworth, for an hour it was obvious we had played, Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday, looked tired and jaded, went 3-1 down, then.... Suddenly decided to play the ball on the deck, passed Tamuff to death and scored 3 goals in 17 minutes and missed a very simple chance, then had to thank the brilliant Matt Urwin for a worldy save just before the end, Definitely one of those "I was there" occasions., easy week this week just playing Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Oh, by the way the Ref was crap as is usual in this league.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Great post Big Dave.

Crazy afternoon yesterday that sums up this league this season.
Anybody could beat anybody and boy has it shown.

It was squeaky bum time at Half Time but FC never looked,like scoring really which helped. They played a bunch of kids and 6 or 7 of the first teamers seemed to have quit on Thursday with others playing for free yesterday.

Tom Platt with an absolute beauty worthy of winning any game of football. Nothing else happened but who cares!? Job done.
Its been quite a ride and I genuinely thought we were down at Half time at Curzon Aston. Its clear last weeks brilliant win at Brackley was the catalyst for survival.

It was a great afternoon all round yesterday. Tom Allan deservedly picked up player of the season and super fan Bills Draper unbelievable achievement of 2,000 consecutive matches was celebrated. Amazing devotion to the club.

 

[DarkSithLord]

So what happening at FC United? Seem to have cash flow issues too?



Joshua Smith‏ @SmithJournalist 20h20 hours ago
I'm told FC United have had several players leave this week, including the captain and 'player of the season', leading to three 17 year olds on the bench. Some of today's team also playing for nothing due to financial issues.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Well my final big up has to go to Flanagan this season for keeping Curzon up this year which has been one of the biggest achievements i've seen whether watching Carlisle or Curzon......even if it was very very tight.

club with next to nothing budget, at best 120 paying fans (the other lot will be freebie kids), lost in the summer their goalkeeper, their captain, their creative player and their goalscorer to numerous reasons, brought in two key players in summer, one sadly just didn't work out and the other was superb but then jumped ship at first opportunity a club offered more money (understandable)

Team has lacked creative players all season, Cummins is getting slower and older and harder to be effective, yet somehow Flanagan kept the team gelled as a solid unit, made them incredibly hard to beat, had a superb defensive record, worked on making us hard to beat at home and still kept playing the mostly all passing approach, in a much tougher and stronger conf north than the last two season as usual a superb acievement.

may see Curzon going mixed style next year i believe from what told the scouting this season for the summer has been for more bigger, stronger type players with a belief that this is really the only approach you can go to achieve progress at this level now (probably true since really only Kidderminster play a similar approach) but he will have to watch changing too much.

 

[Harrier94]

When were 2-0 up it was pretty clear we were set in 4th so I turned my attention to the relegation battle and playoff battle. I have to say as a neutral yesterday it was one of the most entertaining days of football I've witnessed. Constant twists and turns.

It felt like throughout the game nobody wanted 7th spot. It changed so many times throughout the game I lost track of who had it. BPA seem to have come from nowhere and have snuck into the playoffs our game against them next week could be huge.

Personally I would like us to play a fairly rotated side, players like Croasdale, McQuilkin and Ironside have played a lot of football this season and a break for the playoffs might help. Happy with our result though the only downside is Fraser Horsfall went down injured as he rolled his ankle as we scored our second but apparently he was seen walking around chatting to fans so hopefully he's fine.

Onto the playoffs.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

this season has just reaffirmed my personal view that adding 6th and 7th was a bad idea.

No offence to any of the sides in them places and granted its adding a good interest int his last week, but none of them sides who end up 6th or 7th can really justify they deserve promotion.....most have been flogging it for large parts of the season.

but i have seen sides do that before in L2, Bristol Rovers if i remember a long time ago spent about only one week in the top 7 all season, but that was the final week and then went up..................its not how you do over the season its just finishing with a chance and then taking it.

It was a massive massive comeback for Chorley, Spennymoor are collapsing (offered nearly nothing at Curzon yesterday) but have very easy home games now vs sides with nowt to play for and should win at least one if not all 3.

So then makes it between Chorley, BPA and Blyth for the other. I am hoping if Curzon are to rest players we don't on Tuesday at Blyth and just do it next week at Harrogate......we cannot go hoping others do us a favour over recent weeks then not bother ourselves for this battle.

 

[Harrier94]

(probably true since really only Kidderminster play a similar approach) but he will have to watch changing too much

We've changed our game up as well in the past few months. A few more long balls up to Ironside and Bradley as well being mixed in with our passing game. Seems to have benefited us as we've improved a lot in 2018.

 

[Luke Imp]

At one point yesterday we were drawing, and Gainsborough, Tamworth, Alfreton, Curzon Ashton, and Leamington were all winning, and we were right in the shit. We went 1-0 down at roughly the same time as both Gainsborough and Tamworth lost their leads again, and that left us mathematically safe despite us losing. I spent more time in the last 10 minutes of our match checking my phone for the scores than I did watching the game. There was no celebration at full-time though, we are on course for one of the worse seasons in our history, and survival in this league is not seen as an achievement.

I've just looked at the table for where you are off the back of this post and I had no idea you'd dropped so low. Bit of a yo-yo season!

 

[Swedes]

I notice quite a few of your fans have turned on Davies already..........seems in a way harsh, he inherited a side which i personally was 100% sure would be relegated out of this league (you were utterly horrific in our 2-2 draw earlier in season and relied on us making comic errors) and while yes......he has been damn lucky to get an entire new squad budget (something no one else at bottom got) he is still learning league and got mostly the mid season scraps......he deserves a go at least next year.

Mind your damn lucky you got that big winning run in centre of season or you were gone as your form has been so horrible either side of it..............think Davies will survive?

We all expected us to tail off a bit after our good run of form, none of us expected us to look as bad as we did earlier in the season. With what Davies has had at his disposal we shouldn't be limping home in 19th place. If he wins the next two matches then he may get a bit of breathing space, but otherwise I fear he is done for.

So what happening at FC United? Seem to have cash flow issues too?



Joshua Smith‏ @SmithJournalist 20h20 hours ago
I'm told FC United have had several players leave this week, including the captain and 'player of the season', leading to three 17 year olds on the bench. Some of today's team also playing for nothing due to financial issues.

Part of the deal that brought Jason Gilchrist to Southport involved us paying FCUM £1k for each goal he scored this season (crazy, I know). Those goals have dried up recently, so this may have had some impact on them.

 

[CFC4LIFE]

I would like to avoid Stockport, finish 7th and get kiddy. Stockport look a good team this season and we always do well against kiddy.

 

[Harrier94]

I would like to avoid Stockport, finish 7th and get kiddy. Stockport look a good team this season and we always do well against kiddy.

Can't see you dropping to 7th. Too big of a risk to potentially draw or lose a game with a lot teams chasing 7th.

Also what's happened to your discipline? 2 red card in 2 both will miss the quarter-final.

 

[LondonOrn]

What's happened to Tamworth this season? I had a Stockport-supporting colleague at work and I remember last season them being among the teams Stockport were to finish above if they were to get into the play-offs.

Step 3 is below where they should be really, ie yo-yoing between the National League North and Premier based on their size.

 

[Inactive]

Highlights from Saturday's game between York and Leamington

 

[MWS]

Well it was far from a classic up at Blyth on Saturday but a win which pretty much insures we'll finish 5th and a home tie in the play off 1/4 final.

It sure was glorious day to off watching the footy! Sun was shining, beer was flowing, songs we being sung and 3 points to take home. Cannot complain with that at all.

To their credit, I thought Byth were a very decent team. They certainly had a way of playing and used the height of No10 and No11 to good effect. On the balance of play a draw probably would have been a fair result, but we once again tip our hat to Jimmy Ball who settled the game with a stunning 20 yard volley in first half injury time.

Not overly fussed who we face in the play offs. I'd back us to beat anyone at home in the 1/4 final. If we do make it through, it's an away game at either Brackley or Harrogate I wouldn't fancy our chances in. We're not strong enough at the back IMO.

 

[CFC4LIFE]

Can't see you dropping to 7th. Too big of a risk to potentially draw or lose a game with a lot teams chasing 7th.

Also what's happened to your discipline? 2 red card in 2 both will miss the quarter-final.

Well one is Matty Hughes, so I'm not worried, but blakeman was sent off for rightfully going for a ball while the Tamworth player was lying on the ball, we are appealing but can't see it being rescinded, Hughes was given a yellow for giving away his 2nd pen of the game and then given what seemed to be a straight red for arguing

 

[Harrier94]

Well one is Matty Hughes, so I'm not worried, but blakeman was sent off for rightfully going for a ball while the Tamworth player was lying on the ball, we are appealing but can't see it being rescinded, Hughes was given a yellow for giving away his 2nd pen of the game and then given what seemed to be a straight red for arguing

Found this video from the game at 2:50 the incident occurs. For me honestly, it's a red I don't think he's purposely laying on top of the ball and Blakeman seems to go in above the ball nearly catching his head. I can see why it's a red and I can't see it being rescinded.

 

[Josh Butler]

Annoyingly, it looks like we'll miss out on playoff by such a small margin you start thinking of the ones that got away....

 

[AndyPark]

Looking forward to Stockport away at the weekend, can see a good 700/800 making the trip down.

We brought a good 500 last season in the middle of January a week before payday. Any recommendations for decent boozers in the town?

Although I get the sense that both clubs 'dickhead element' will be out in force, so fully expecting a lot of bother on the day. Shame really as I'm looking forward to being pissed out of my head without having to assume I'll be engaging in a scrap.

#UpTheDarlo

 

[MWS]

Looking forward to Stockport away at the weekend, can see a good 700/800 making the trip down.

We brought a good 500 last season in the middle of January a week before payday. Any recommendations for decent boozers in the town?

Although I get the sense that both clubs 'dickhead element' will be out in force, so fully expecting a lot of bother on the day. Shame really as I'm looking forward to being pissed out of my head without having to assume I'll be engaging in a scrap.

#UpTheDarlo

Darlo always bring a good following to EP which makes for a good atmosphere. Home crowd will probably be slightly lower than usual if Chorley and Spennymoor fail to win their games in hand this week as that'll see us 100% finish 5th and people will more than likely save their pennies for the play off home tie the following Wednesday.

Hope you enjoy the day out and the trouble is kept to a minimum.

In terms of boozers there are plenty to choose from on Castle Street in Edgeley but there are one or two that are best avoided.

 

[Luke Imp]

NFU's owner has decided he fancies opening the Club up to travellers on non-match days.

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/football/travellers-site-north-ferriby-ground-1483382

 

[DarkSithLord]

Nuneaton v Boston tonight Postponed a full 3 hours before kick off due to floodlight failure! Tinpot

 

[CFC4LIFE]

Looking forward to Stockport away at the weekend, can see a good 700/800 making the trip down.

We brought a good 500 last season in the middle of January a week before payday. Any recommendations for decent boozers in the town?

Although I get the sense that both clubs 'dickhead element' will be out in force, so fully expecting a lot of bother on the day. Shame really as I'm looking forward to being pissed out of my head without having to assume I'll be engaging in a scrap.

#UpTheDarlo

The armoury is a decent pub

 

[ForzaCounty]

Looking forward to Stockport away at the weekend, can see a good 700/800 making the trip down.

We brought a good 500 last season in the middle of January a week before payday. Any recommendations for decent boozers in the town?

Although I get the sense that both clubs 'dickhead element' will be out in force, so fully expecting a lot of bother on the day. Shame really as I'm looking forward to being pissed out of my head without having to assume I'll be engaging in a scrap.

#UpTheDarlo

I would *strongly* recommend against going into the Prince Albert on Castle St...

... 'cos it's too bloody busy as it is without you lot queueing up as well

 

[AndyPark]

We're gunna be drinking in Piccadilly up until around 1pm before coming to Stockport.

Looking forward to it, last season was a bang on game. Hopefully we have the same again and we go home happy.

Good luck in the play-offs.

 

[Laker]

Apologies if this has been mentioned but I saw on Facebook that Gainsborough’s relegation this season is the first in their 145 year history (they’ve not been promoted either). They’ve failed re-election and not been elected etc but never been promoted or relegated on “merit” until this season apparently.

If true I find that amazing.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Tuesday 24 April 2018 National League North Results

Att. 418 - Blyth Spartans 2 Curzon Ashton 1
Att. n/a - Nuneaton Town P-P Boston United
Att. 610 - Spennymoor Town 1 AFC Telford United 2

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Nuneaton v Boston tonight Postponed a full 3 hours before kick off due to floodlight failure! Tinpot

The game now will be played tomorrow evening (25th of April) at Alfreton Town FC's Impact Arena.

 

[Bluandwite]

We all expected us to tail off a bit after our good run of form, none of us expected us to look as bad as we did earlier in the season. With what Davies has had at his disposal we shouldn't be limping home in 19th place. If he wins the next two matches then he may get a bit of breathing space, but otherwise I fear he is done for.

The Jon McCarthy effect.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

The armoury is a decent pub

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out for it.