2018-19 National League North

[ForzaCounty]

My problem with this suspension is that it applies immediately from when he's notified of it (on a Friday afternoon) but can't be appealed until the reasoning has been received, the following Monday. Which means one game's already been served. What happens if you appeal and the ban's rescinded? Do you get given a freebie?

An update
https://www.stockportcounty.com/statement-touchline-ban-remains/

The FA have failed to provide the Written Reasons which would allow James and his legal advisors at the LMA (League Managers Association) to consider an Appeal.

This is an extremely disappointing situation for James and all at the Club, as the FA had previously promised in their communications seven days ago to provide the Written Reasons within this current week, but have failed to do so.

Jesus H Christ, what ineptitude from the people who run our game. Imagine the fuss if this'd happened to a PL manager.

 

[Fyldefan]

Nearly 6 and a half thousand at stockport. Absolutely incredible support and well done. Massive victory

 

[ForzaCounty]

And a hard-fought victory it was too

Certainly not a game for neutrals; County started well enough but fell away as the first half wore on. Spenny looked a very good team indeed, solid and composed with the ball, whereas we couldn't (wouldn't?) hold on to the ball due to aimless punts. Dropping Stephenson meant we had nobody really pushing at them, leaving Spenny to keep a high line.

Second half was a lot more open, County probed more and showed some adventure. The goal was an odd one, Walker sent a ball into the area from about 35 yards out, I can't remember who it was that got near to it but he was shoved over by a defender, maybe that left the 'keeper unsure about what to do 'cos it bounced past him and into the bottom corner.

As I say, much more of a nervy game than a classic, but it leaves us in a strong position in the fight for 1st place. Roll on Boston away on Tuesday.

 

[Minstermen central]

Great attandance Chorley seem to have gone.Yours for taking.
God I wish we had changed managers earlier, look a different team,think we have right manager. roll on next season just need Stockport out of way,

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Great attandance Chorley seem to have gone.Yours for taking.
God I wish we had changed managers earlier, look a different team,think we have right manager. roll on next season just need Stockport out of way,

If we can get six points from Boston and Brackley away this week then i’ll be confident we can go on and do it. Brackley are in cracking form so I’d probably take a draw right now even if it took it out of our own hands again.

Having seen Spennymoor today they will push us hard. I can definitely see how they keep so many clean sheets. From an attacking perspective they were very dangerous from corners (half of which we gifted them through nervous defending) but didn’t produce much in open play, possibly because they were happy to contain us and take a point.

Can’t quite work out if we deserved the victory today - I think we just about did but we definitely missed Duxbury and Thomas despite Osbourne putting in an improved second-half display.

As alluded to above a lot of players were nervy in front of the big crowd but I thought Minihan and Palmer were excellent.

 

[CFC4LIFE]

That was an awful performance again. Stole a point and almost all three. Almond was poor, back 3 all too slow and challoner has been playing with an injury for 6 games. Wilson was bright when he came on and scored the equaliser. He needs to start the next game as he is our only goalscorer. Incredible attendance at Stockport today, well done guys.

 

[Railway Blue]

Had a great week this week but why do my team Chester always have to spoil it. Shooting ourselves in the foot every away game this year. I'm beginning to think we don't want the play-offs. I really thought we'd break our Alty jinx today and were looking good at 0-0, until yet another senseless sending off caused an implosion. Roll on the season's end.

 

[Bluandwite]

Had a great week this week but why do my team Chester always have to spoil it. Shooting ourselves in the foot every away game this year. I'm beginning to think we don't want the play-offs. I really thought we'd break our Alty jinx today and were looking good at 0-0, until yet another senseless sending off caused an implosion. Roll on the season's end.

Fuming with Burton, we were actually looking decent away from home for once until he did that.

 

[Harrier94]

That was an awful performance again. Stole a point and almost all three. Almond was poor, back 3 all too slow and challoner has been playing with an injury for 6 games. Wilson was bright when he came on and scored the equaliser. He needs to start the next game as he is our only goalscorer. Incredible attendance at Stockport today, well done guys.

You're playing us next week and you tend to beat us so you've got that going for you.

 

[Harrier94]

It'd had been nearly 3 months since Ashley Chambers' last goal. But finally he broke that drought with a hat trick even if it was against Nuneaton. The relief on his face showed when that first one hit the back of the net.

Somehow for about 5 minutes we were back in the playoffs as well before Telford pegged Boston back. Don't think we'll make the playoffs but there's such a better atmosphere around the club it feels like right now. But hopefully Chambers hits form and with Ironside in form and the threat of Williams we could still have a chance of making the playoffs.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Saturday 2 March 2019 National League North Results

Att. 413 - Alfreton Town 2 Ashton United 0
Att. 1,714 - Altrincham 4 Chester 0
Att. 651 - Blyth Spartans 1 Brackley Town 3
Att. 993 - Boston United 2 AFC Telford United 2
Att. 426 - Bradford (Park Avenue) 2 Curzon Ashton 2
Att. 1,213 - Darlington 1 Chorley 1
Att. 2,058 - FC United Of Manchester 2 Hereford 2
Att. 761 - Guiseley 0 Southport 1
Att. 1,539 - Kidderminster Harriers 4 Nuneaton Borough 1
Att. 801 - Leamington 0 York City 1
Att. 6,311 - Stockport County 1 Spennymoor Town 0

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Darlington 1 Chorley 1

Very frustrating afternoon especially in front of goal, we definitely threw that one away but still a point is a point at the end of the day. Chorley's goalkeeper played a blinder with some cracking saves, credit where it's due with Chorley they kept plugging away right till the end.

A much improved performance from the Brackley game on Wednesday night which was dreadful, a good debut in goal from the young lad Turner seemed very confident, very impressed with Kneeshaw he looks a tricky customer. Thommo was on fire! But i thought Ainge was much more comfortable at the heart of the defense rather than up top which he offers very little. He had a really good game worthy of man of the match.

Once again i can't work out TW's tactical substitutions, fetching Henshall on who is absolutely useless at the best of times, we might as well of played the rest of the game out with 10 players on the pitch, it was his cock-up that lead to the equalizer.

We probably could and should have had more than one goal, but i suppose it was a good result against the league leaders, must mention the referee 5 minutes of added time

Good luck Chorley that could be a valuable point come the end of the season.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

That was an awful performance again. Stole a point and almost all three. Almond was poor, back 3 all too slow and challoner has been playing with an injury for 6 games. Wilson was bright when he came on and scored the equaliser. He needs to start the next game as he is our only goalscorer. Incredible attendance at Stockport today, well done guys.

I think the performance wasn't too bad, I think your defense looked very nervous at times with needless hoof balls in the middle of nowhere. Other than that you tried to play some decent football but on the day we were pretty decent at times. I think at the end of the day perseverance got you guys out of jail.

 

[Lucky Bobble]

It'd had been nearly 3 months since Ashley Chambers' last goal. But finally he broke that drought with a hat trick even if it was against Nuneaton. The relief on his face showed when that first one hit the back of the net.

Somehow for about 5 minutes we were back in the playoffs as well before Telford pegged Boston back. Don't think we'll make the playoffs but there's such a better atmosphere around the club it feels like right now. But hopefully Chambers hits form and with Ironside in form and the threat of Williams we could still have a chance of making the playoffs.

We were some way behind you at New Year, and level with Leamington who once again we only managed to draw H and A with again. A lot can change in 10 games - I think you've every hope of making the playoffs. My guess would be that Telford will not make it... That said, the idea of potentially having to win 3 away games in a row looks optimistic for any team getting 6th or 7th...

 

[Lucky Bobble]

If we can get six points from Boston and Brackley away this week then i’ll be confident we can go on and do it. Brackley are in cracking form so I’d probably take a draw right now even if it took it out of our own hands again.

Having seen Spennymoor today they will push us hard. I can definitely see how they keep so many clean sheets. From an attacking perspective they were very dangerous from corners (half of which we gifted them through nervous defending) but didn’t produce much in open play, possibly because they were happy to contain us and take a point.

Can’t quite work out if we deserved the victory today - I think we just about did but we definitely missed Duxbury and Thomas despite Osbourne putting in an improved second-half display.

As alluded to above a lot of players were nervy in front of the big crowd but I thought Minihan and Palmer were excellent.

Looking forward to the game on Saturday. Stockport always give us a hard game, and you're on fire at the moment. We are however playing better than at anytime in the season, and if we'd have had our current shape, formation and Carl Baker back in August, I think we could quite easily have another 10 points or more and be challenging at the top. That said we're only two defeats away from being back out of the playoffs and in the last 10 games have to travel to Spennymore, Altrincham & Chester, and still conceding some soft goals.

Perhaps it will come down to how well Stockport handle the pressure now - and maybe playing home games in front of such large and expectant crowds could be a disadvantage? Are Chorely throwing it away, or will they come back strong again as they did after their Christmas wobble? Spennymore best team I've seen this year, so not counting them out at all.

 

[Lucky Bobble]

Do Brackley have some of the quality players we had in 2015?
Id still have Gaz Dean back, but that Gudger is quality too, thanks for him, as a matter of fact you guys are my favourite team in NLN, happy when you won the FA trophy and would love to see you guys promoted.
Infact just wikipedia'd you. Danny Lewis, Dean, Franklin, Shep, Jimmy Armson, Walker (i thought you had Streete and Byrne too) but didnt know you had Omari SJ... you have enough quality to have a crack at promotion, must be a strong NLN this season.

More or less. There is a core of players that had been at Nuneaton with the manager, who moved on to Solihull once he'd gone and are now back with him at Brackley. Dean & Adam Walker are quality, Armson a bit hit & miss but crucial for his goals. Shep is on the fringes with Franklin (both oft injured). Streetes's now at Telford and Byrne gone (had a bad injury last year), and frankly I think Lewis is a weak link these days. So yep, a core of good players - agree we should have the quality to have a real go. Dean is better than Gudger, but the latter's leaving blew a massive hole in our chances since we had to change from the 3-5-2 of the previous year to a 4-4-1-1 and frankly the new center-half and new formation took a long while to gel. So your gain was our massive loss....and still bit pissed off the way he signed a contract then buggered off at the last minute - but he's clearly looking for professional / league football.

Anyway, best of luck for the rest of your amazing season. Solihull is a bit of a role model I think for teams like ours - seemingly struggling along in Conf North initially and then in the National, a bit out of their depth compared to the clubs around them, but via their successes slowly building the attendances and infrastructure so it now feels they 'belong' at the level they are at. The thought of Solihull possibly playing league football must have seemed cloud cuckoo land just a couple of years ago... Cracking National fixtures next weekend

 

[hardbutfair]

Making my debut on this forum. It`s a Brackley comment-fest. Kevin will know exactly where the points went - should have put Chorley, Chester away at home having dominated first halves, held on to win at Stockport, conceding at the death (tasty match up this weekend, although County can probably survive a loss) and failing to win at Leamington having dominated for 90 mins.

Disagree with my learned friend re Danny Lewis - can`t recall more than two errors all season - think he is allowed those. The side is gelling now, but will need to win every game probably to avoid some away play off games. Aaron Williams` goals probably missed more than Gudger`s tenacity (the reverse from early season) - love Ndlovu, but precise finishing is not his strength. Williams getting minimal pitch time at Harrogate for some reason - maybe we can pinch him back on loan for the run-in.

Bottom line for Brackley is that the best 12/13 are a match for anybody in the league above (would have been out of sight and in the Trophy semis if first half chances created had been taken, as my Orient buddies agreed). Scheduling didn`t help, Darlington is a long way from Northamptonshire three days before a semi. Reminded me of the mini collapse after the winning trip to Spennymoor/ Harrogate last season, which probably denied promotion. Would have fancied Harrogate at home in the Play Off final.

Tough games coming up. let`s see how Wilkin can work his magic.

 

[Harrier94]

We were some way behind you at New Year, and level with Leamington who once again we only managed to draw H and A with again. A lot can change in 10 games - I think you've every hope of making the playoffs. My guess would be that Telford will not make it... That said, the idea of potentially having to win 3 away games in a row looks optimistic for any team getting 6th or 7th...

We've got a terrible March
Nuneaton (h) 4-1
Chorley (a) 9th March
Spennymoor (h) 16th March
Brackley (a) 23rd March
Alty (a) 30th March

I struggle to see us getting many wins from that run honestly.

 

[Josh Butler]

I'd love to see a table if matches finished at 86 minutes this season
Infuriating... Bradford and Telford getting late draws at our place
Ashton and Alfreton getting late draws, Southport winning at our place late on..... 9 points lost, none won in the closing stages

 

[Josh Butler]

Still, nice easy one on Tuesday at home

 

[Alty Pieman]

Alty getting players back and a couple of new signings and we look back to where we were before xmas, thats 10 goals in 2 games and none conceded. Playoffs was the target so 4th or 5th would be fine.
Chester competed well first half, their fullbacks were superb and stopped us playing, but conceded a lot of fouls and Burton had been a big culprit, as soon as he went off for yet another foul we had the space we needed and it was just a question of how many we would score. Tough game tues v Blyth who always seem to do well at our place.
Well done Stockport beating my favourite to win it Spendymore.

 

[Inactive]

Leamington 0 York 1. Brakes unlucky at times but getting sucked into the relegation battle now with another defeat. Onwards and upwards for York.

 

[AndyPark]

Thought we played very well against Chorley, much improved performance from previous games.
New keeper settled in well and commanded his area very well.

Matt Urwin produced a fantastic acrobatic save to stop Darlo going 2-0 up. Expected much better from the league leaders, who were lucky to get a point in my opinion.

Credit to the Chorley fans who I spoke to in the boozer in the town centre and again at the ground. Decent lads. Good luck for the rest of the season.

Now it's onto Telford away tomorrow night and Hereford away on Saturday. Gonna be a long week of travelling for these games. Hope we can get something from these games.
Staying over in Hereford with 12 others, so should be a good boozy outing.

#UpTheDarlo

 

[DarkSithLord]

Shocking game at the Impact Arena on Saturday.
Mind numbing until a piece of magic from the superb Bobby Johnson and a late finish from Dec Bacon sealed a 2-0 win over Ashton

Its far from pretty and quite difficult to watch but is 3 wins in a row now. Nuneaton away next providing they are still in business.

Real chance of recording a fourth straight win and continuing our momentum.

Think we have given ourselves two much to do in terms of the play offs but all we can do is finish as strong as we can and see where it lands us

 

[MWS]

It was a nervy, cagey game at EP on Saturday in front of an incredible 6,311 supporters!

I thought on balance a draw would have been a fair result. Their keeper pulled of a couple of very good saves, one in each half, while they caused significant problems for us from set pieces.

I think both teams are as solid and capable as each other, with one superb ball into the box the decider.

Onto Boston away on Tuesday which will be a tricky tie, before an away trip to in-form Brackley and our FA Trophy double header with AFC £ylde!

Title is in our hands, but there's a lot of football still to be played!

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Curzon 1-0 Guiseley just finished.

that puts Curzon on 45 points..............i'd class that as now completely safe so their main job done for the season with 9 games to spare, very good considering this was probably the toughest ask with their limited budget, now can just have a go at 7th spot with no pressure.

desperate for Guiseley it was a vital game in hand for them,, Nuneaton are gone so just a battle between the rest, that late FCUM goal vs Hereford was a massive goal.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Monday 4 March 2019 National League North Result

Att. 271 - Curzon Ashton 1 Guiseley 0

 

[AndyPark]

Long trek to Telford tonight for Darlo, not looking forward to the travel like.

Hope we can get a result down there.

 

[MWS]

Big game for us tonight away at Boston. A win will take us top for the first time wince week 1 of the season!

 

[ForzaCounty]

Setting off in a bit. Don't make many away games these days, especially the long-distance ones, so this is like going back to the good bad ol' days