2019-20 National League South

[Aberstone]

I seem to be in the minority but I thought that was a cracking game today - two sides trying to play football, a referee who let a lot go and no shithousery from either side. St. Albans had us on the ropes for those final 20 minutes but the game should have been out of sight by then (Danny Green alone missing 3 glorious chances).

 

[Kim Mitten]

I went to Maidstone 4-1 Dulwich today.

Firstly I want to say thank you to Dulwich, I've spent the last year or so going to games in hope of seeing a football team attempt to play football and not turn into a shambles conceding goals my sons under 9s team don't. It starts with bewilderment and just turns into laughter but ends in me going home wondering why I bother.
Today though I saw Dulwich Hamlet defend in such a comical mess all I had to do was laugh, I got to see what the opposition fans of Southend United see.

Dulwich will wonder though how after 20 minutes they were 2-0 down. I thought they were by far the better side, Maidstone looked shaky and the keeper down right dodgy. Then one cross into the box, not dealt with well by the Dulwich keeper or defender and it's smashed in for 1-0. Moments later a corner and that old Southend trick of not bothering to mark players it's 2-0.
Dulwich continued to have the play and the chances and the dodgy Maidstone keeper suddenly decides to have a worldie, a triple save that if it were played on match of the day tonight wouldn't stopped being talked about for the next week.
Dulwich got the reward for being the better team first half by scoring on the stroke of half time. But for them, that was that.

2nd half was Maidstone's game and some of the worst defending I have seen in a long time, so bad I want to see Southend play Dulwich, reckon we could get a record score together, something like 25-25.
The 4th was my personal highlight. The maidstone 9 takes a shot from 20 odd yards that hits the crossbar and comes back out, straight to a Dulwich defender who just headed it straight to the Maidstone 17 about 3 yards away who put it in an empty net, goalkeeper still sprawling from the earlier shot.

To any Maidstone fans: I was standing by the main stand when the number 9 came on as a sub. Majority of people around me all started groaning and saying things like 'why, why, why' and 'fuck sakes, not him.'
What's all that about?

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Enjoyed the Wealdstone game today. Certainly a very interesting ground is Gorsvenor Vale, a real mismatch of stands but looks like plenty of room around to improve if needed? I did my bit by donating to those with buckets to find ground improvements. Not sure I’ve been at a ground where the best view of the pitch is probably the doorway of the club shop!

Got to say I was impressed with Wealdstone and how they approached the game. The pitch didn’t look to conducive for it but they played some really decent football I thought and really should have had the game put to bed long before the last portion of the game where St Albans put some pressure on. Couple of really good last ditch pieces of defending denied them.

Really liked the set up, looked nice and comfortable on the ball, kept it moving well and got players out wide and made the pitch really big for the opposition to defend. The switch ball was always on and crucially they had players who had the ability to switch it well. Lewis the winger and scorer was excellent but was very impressed with the midfield number 4 Jebb who really made some telling forward passes including for the goal which was a lovely move culminating in a lovely little pass inside the full back. First half in particular I thought he was exceptional.

Some of the football was really very good given it was tough conditions out there, the move which culminated in Green hitting the cross bar was superb I thought.

St Albans also more than played there part with the last 20 minutes but Wealdstone by and large defended well.

Really enjoyed the game and should have seen a few more goals I think given the chances created. Very impressed with both sides but Wealdstone in particular and in my view they deserved the win.

 

[Pinner Stones]

I seem to be in the minority but I thought that was a cracking game today - two sides trying to play football, a referee who let a lot go and no shithousery from either side. St. Albans had us on the ropes for those final 20 minutes but the game should have been out of sight by then (Danny Green alone missing 3 glorious chances).

Very much in the minority!

We should have been well clear before the nervy last 15/20 minutes. As a club we don't have the swagger you'd expect from a team at the top of the table, from the fans, the players and the board. Another very quiet afternoon at the Vale. Atmosphere has gone to pot.

 

[Raymondo316]

To any Maidstone fans: I was standing by the main stand when the number 9 came on as a sub. Majority of people around me all started groaning and saying things like 'why, why, why' and 'fuck sakes, not him.'
What's all that about?

That would be Jonny Edwards.
Someone who has been pretty damn terrible since we signed him this summer & the management are desperately trying to offload. I wasn't there today so can't comment on his performance, but I've yet to see him even have a decent game.

 

[Aberstone]

Enjoyed the Wealdstone game today. Certainly a very interesting ground is Gorsvenor Vale, a real mismatch of stands but looks like plenty of room around to improve if needed? I did my bit by donating to those with buckets to find ground improvements. Not sure I’ve been at a ground where the best view of the pitch is probably the doorway of the club shop!

Got to say I was impressed with Wealdstone and how they approached the game. The pitch didn’t look to conducive for it but they played some really decent football I thought and really should have had the game put to bed long before the last portion of the game where St Albans put some pressure on. Couple of really good last ditch pieces of defending denied them.

Really liked the set up, looked nice and comfortable on the ball, kept it moving well and got players out wide and made the pitch really big for the opposition to defend. The switch ball was always on and crucially they had players who had the ability to switch it well. Lewis the winger and scorer was excellent but was very impressed with the midfield number 4 Jebb who really made some telling forward passes including for the goal which was a lovely move culminating in a lovely little pass inside the full back. First half in particular I thought he was exceptional.

Some of the football was really very good given it was tough conditions out there, the move which culminated in Green hitting the cross bar was superb I thought.

St Albans also more than played there part with the last 20 minutes but Wealdstone by and large defended well.

Really enjoyed the game and should have seen a few more goals I think given the chances created. Very impressed with both sides but Wealdstone in particular and in my view they deserved the win.

Glad you enjoyed the game, there is plenty of space available to expand but we've got a short term lease and I'm not sure what the conditions are within that lease. On a side note, I think I saw Mick Harford at the game today too.

Very much in the minority!

We should have been well clear before the nervy last 15/20 minutes. As a club we don't have the swagger you'd expect from a team at the top of the table, from the fans, the players and the board. Another very quiet afternoon at the Vale. Atmosphere has gone to pot.

The malaise is honestly embarrassing, I started off a good half a dozen chants but hardly anybody else seemed to want to get any singing going. Some of the moaning I heard in the Bulla during those first 10 minutes was completely over-the-top, a neutral on here could see we were playing some intricate football and yet that's still not satisfactory. I don't think anybody has any 'swagger' because there's still half of the league season to go but the players will certainly believe they're good enough to win the league, the board do too going by the fans forum 9 days ago and I'm a fan who believes too. Going up would pose challenges but let's face them head on. Adapt or die...

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Glad you enjoyed the game, there is plenty of space available to expand but we've got a short term lease and I'm not sure what the conditions are within that lease. On a side note, I think I saw Mick Harford at the game today too.



The malaise is honestly embarrassing, I started off a good half a dozen chants but hardly anybody else seemed to want to get any singing going. Some of the moaning I heard in the Bulla during those first 10 minutes was completely over-the-top, a neutral on here could see we were playing some intricate football and yet that's still not satisfactory. I don't think anybody has any 'swagger' because there's still half of the league season to go but the players will certainly believe they're good enough to win the league, the board do too going by the fans forum 9 days ago and I'm a fan who believes too. Going up would pose challenges but let's face them head on. Adapt or die...

Ah youve outed my true identity! Actually saw a few people wearing Luton gear today which was a little surprising!

See what you mean about the fans, where I was standing there were a lot of people just wanting a big lump forward rather than some the passing moves being put together. One guy was doing his nut near me before the goal as he was worried time would run out and wanted a big hoof into the box for one last chance! When you scored I turned to him and said they knock it about well you know but he looked at me like I was a weirdo so I shut up! Same happened at Luton when we went from a more direct style to slow build up so it’s a universal thing I think.

 

[beautifulgame2015]

 

[Aberstone]

Slough fans really are a strange bunch on social media, I swear the majority of them watched a completely different game today? Their joint managers were spot on with their assessment, we deserved to win and it should have been by a far greater margin.

Really glad to beat them after some of their supporters sang "Feed the Wealdstone" on Boxing Day.

 

[Pink Panther]

Really glad to beat them after some of their supporters sang "Feed the Wealdstone" on Boxing Day.

I don't get the joke. Am I missing something really obvious?

 

[Aberstone]

I don't get the joke. Am I missing something really obvious?

No joke, similar to how Manchester United seem to sing "Feed the Scousers" to Everton or Liverpool near Christmas, I don't know why they sang it but it did a good job of winding me up. Chances are there are plenty of kids in Slough below the poverty line too so it was just in poor taste.

 

[Pink Panther]

No joke, similar to how Manchester United seem to sing "Feed the Scousers" to Everton or Liverpool near Christmas, I don't know why they sang it but it did a good job of winding me up. Chances are there are plenty of kids in Slough below the poverty line too so it was just in poor taste.

The growing disaparity between the haves and the have nots in this country is sickening. I'm sure Slough is no different to anywhere else, and here's the evidence:

https://slough.foodbank.org.uk/

 

[rudebwoyben]

No joke, similar to how Manchester United seem to sing "Feed the Scousers" to Everton or Liverpool near Christmas, I don't know why they sang it but it did a good job of winding me up. Chances are there are plenty of kids in Slough below the poverty line too so it was just in poor taste.

Slough is certainly not a rich area and is probably less affluent than Harrow/Wealdstone, let alone Ruislip!

 

[Pinner Stones]

Slough seem to have a very strange fan base going by their SM presence. Spend most of their time slagging off refs and other clubs and come across as poo faced and self entitled. All rather weird. Them and Havant seem as bad as each other in the CS.

 

[Pinner Stones]

Slough is certainly not a rich area and is probably less affluent than Harrow/Wealdstone, let alone Ruislip!

Maidenhead sing it to them, so maybe they are trying to create a rivalry . Deprivation in Slough considerably higher than Ruislip for sure.

 

[Pink Panther]

Maidenhead sing it to them, so maybe they are trying to create a rivalry . Deprivation in Slough considerably higher than Ruislip for sure.

I would imagine a lot of people in other East Berkshire towns look down their noses at Slough. Some supporters just seem to have a default setting to chant abuse at the opposition whoever they are. It's literally moronic, someone starts it and the rest join in without thinking it through.

 

[Raymondo316]

This team has no consistency whatsoever.

We struggle against one of the worst teams in the league (Tonbridge) and then beat one of the best teams (Havant).

 

[iron4ever]

Think yourself lucky Raymondo, atm we aren't capable of beating an egg !!

 

[Pink Panther]

First home league win for the Hamlet in 5 months. Don't fancy Braintree's chances of staying up on today's evidence, it's still looking very tight in the bottom half for that second relegation place even if Hungerford remain anchored to the bottom.

 

[Aberstone]

We always lose at Oxford City, it's just a case of how are we going to do it this year? Yesterday was so frustrating because after bringing it back to 2-2 having been 2 nil down, all the momentum was with us. Their defenders were rattled but yet again we concede a horrible goal from a corner (second one of the game).

Jack Jebb who had performed so well in the previous two home games had a shocker and the change to bring Adam Coombes on reinvigorated us. Ah well, onto a trip to Billericay on Tuesday night, should the game go ahead that is.

 

[Aberstone]

2 defeats in 3 days, this time at Billericay last night. We were thoroughly beaten last night too, the athleticism within their midfield gave us fits all game, they were also able to play passing football on a rather suspect pitch whilst we couldn't handle their press and ended up going long far too often for my liking.

That said, the negativity around the place is completely over-the-top, we're still top for crying out loud!

 

[DarkSithLord]

Mark Collier has left his role as Chippenham Town manager

 

[Aberstone]

Mark Collier has left his role as Chippenham Town manager

Surprised by this however their form has been dire for the past 3-4 months. Welling appointed Brad Quinton as new manager on Tuesday evening, please no immediate manager bounce tomorrow...

I should add that we've signed Kieron Cadogan and Moses Emmanuel this evening. Going for it.™

 

[Aberstone]

Hard fought but well earned 1-0 win against Welling today, we played some excellent football and really should have been out of sight before Michael Phillip's second yellow card with 15 minutes left to play.

Connor Smith was fantastic today, don't recall him wasting possession once, some incisive passes and was the one reading the game and breaking up play in midfield. The next two games are a real test of our credentials, away at Havant and home to Bath.

 

[Aberstone]

Jonathan North has today left the club by mutual consent after nearly 10 years with the club. He was part of the furniture, has pulled off great save after great save with the Stones and won us countless points through his goalkeeping during his tenure. The outstretched save he pulled off at Bromley in our first season in this league is still the greatest save I've seen live.

Dean Brennan mentioned it was unlikely that he would play for him again and sadly with him on contract and not getting the first team football he deserves, this is probably the right decision for both parties. All being well he'll get a testimonial in the summer.

Legend.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Jonathan North has today left the club by mutual consent after nearly 10 years with the club. He was part of the furniture, has pulled off great save after great save with the Stones and won us countless points through his goalkeeping during his tenure. The outstretched save he pulled off at Bromley in our first season in this league is still the greatest save I've seen live.

Dean Brennan mentioned it was unlikely that he would play for him again and sadly with him on contract and not getting the first team football he deserves, this is probably the right decision for both parties. All being well he'll get a testimonial in the summer.

Legend.

Saw this. Why is Brennan preferring a loan keeper like Isted over him? Puts you in a bit of a risky position does it not if Isted gets recalled or something?

 

[Raymondo316]

Im really starting to wonder what the fuck is going on at this club.

First we lose one of our top scorers to Gloucester because we apparently couldn't match what they were offering. Now we hear the budget has been miss managed and that we're still over budget even after getting rid of 4 decent earners.

Sadly it looks like until we get some proper investment that this club will just stagnant at this level. Heck the owners have pretty much already said that we can't afford to get promoted again.

 

[Aberstone]

Saw this. Why is Brennan preferring a loan keeper like Isted over him? Puts you in a bit of a risky position does it not if Isted gets recalled or something?

That is indeed the case, granted we have a couple of younger keepers on our books I'm not sure they're up to the level required just yet.

I think I know the plan for what happens once Isted's loan expires at the end of the month but won't put it in the public domain.

Im really starting to wonder what the fuck is going on at this club.

First we lose one of our top scorers to Gloucester because we apparently couldn't match what they were offering. Now we hear the budget has been miss managed and that we're still over budget even after getting rid of 4 decent earners.

Sadly it looks like until we get some proper investment that this club will just stagnant at this level. Heck the owners have pretty much already said that we can't afford to get promoted again.

Are you spunking a couple of grand a week on wages on Elokobi? Quite impressive from the outside looking in that for a club who have the second highest gates in the league and all the additional commercial income (+ 3G hire) can somehow be over budget. Just go part time next season.

 

[Raymondo316]

Are you spunking a couple of grand a week on wages on Elokobi? Quite impressive from the outside looking in that for a club who have the second highest gates in the league and all the additional commercial income (+ 3G hire) can somehow be over budget. Just go part time next season.

I've heard Wishart is on 800 quid a week & I'd imagine Elokobi, Cole & Hoyte are on good money, otherwise looking at our squad I can't see how we have managed to go over budget so badly.

Unless we get more investment going back to part time is probably the best idea for us. Its best to have the pick of the better part time players at this level, than overpay for full time ones who mostly aren't any better.

 

[JaredSUFC]

Surprised by this however their form has been dire for the past 3-4 months. Welling appointed Brad Quinton as new manager on Tuesday evening, please no immediate manager bounce tomorrow...

I should add that we've signed Kieron Cadogan and Moses Emmanuel this evening. Going for it.™

I saw you had signed Cadogan and Emmanuel. With Ross Lafayette, Adam Coombes and Jack Jebb in your squad you’re turning into Sutton 2017