2019-20 National League South

[Pink Panther]

Lost 2-3 to a Bi££ericay side where Matt Rhead is probably on more/week than our entire budget. That said we gave them a real run for their money and a dubious penalty decision probably cost us a point. Play like that and IMO we will be ok this season. Disappointed but not disheartened.

One of their other new galacticos signed his contract in the clubhouse/boardroom at Hendon after a pre-season match, and a Hendon acquaintance who was present said he's on one third more than their entire budget. Alright that's a Step 3 club but even if their budget is tiny that's got to be at least £2k a week. Utter madness.

 

[Aberstone]

Frustrating defeat at Dulwich last night because their goal came after we had been well on top in the opening 20 minutes. This side is a total contrast to the team we had last year because this team is more dynamic, plays on the front foot and likes to get the ball on the ground whereas last years team was very successful being agricultural in their game.

Couple of changes in the second half really killed our chances however, the first being Dulwich bringing on a third centre half at half time, playing 5 at the back and dropping deeper. The second change was Billy Clifford being substituted as at that point we ceded control of the midfield and it forced us to go route one which to Dulwich's credit they defended very well.

I applauded the team off last night, good effort and came close with a few shots on goal but it just wasn't to be.

 

[rudebwoyben]

What? Dulwich fans?? Never! They’re a perfectly behaved bunch who get to decide how non league football should be watched.

They may also call you racist for failing to agree that 5 Woking fans singing about Tommy Robinson means every single Woking fan is scum.

If you ever want a laugh go on their forum and have a look at the ‘editor’ guy. He’s so desperate to appear WOKE that he’s jumped on so many bandwagons but forgotten which ones contradict each other.

One Woking fan singing about Stephen Yaxley-Lennon is one too many.

 

[Pink Panther]

Frustrating defeat at Dulwich last night because their goal came after we had been well on top in the opening 20 minutes. This side is a total contrast to the team we had last year because this team is more dynamic, plays on the front foot and likes to get the ball on the ground whereas last years team was very successful being agricultural in their game.


Couple of changes in the second half really killed our chances however, the first being Dulwich bringing on a third centre half at half time, playing 5 at the back and dropping deeper. The second change was Billy Clifford being substituted as at that point we ceded control of the midfield and it forced us to go route one which to Dulwich's credit they defended very well.

I applauded the team off last night, good effort and came close with a few shots on goal but it just wasn't to be.

I was quite worried for those first 20 minutes but Wealdstone were never quite so dominant again after the goal, and by the end I wasn't too concerned that we'd be able to see out the final minutes for the win. In fact we really ought to have wrapped it up properly with a couple of chances we had on the break, although a two goal margin would have flattered us overall. We wouldn't have won that match last season unless we'd found a second goal from somewhere. We only had a solitary 1-0 win all season, at home to a rather lacklustre St Albans side whom we should have beaten comfortably, and there were only four other clean sheets too; a pair of 2-0 home wins against Chippenham and Dartford, plus a pair of goalless draws at East Thurrock and Concord.

On the face of it Wealdstone looked a more impressive side than last season, although we probably didn't see them at their best in our two meetings, but this league seems so attritional I can't help thinking it's a mistake to "play too much football" even though it's obviously more fun to watch when you get the result. In the Isthmian League we'd just go out and play our game, and if we fell behind we'd keep going until we turned it around. In this league it seems to be all about not conceding the first goal. We haven't lost a league game in which we scored first since October, and we haven't won one in which we conceded first since October! I think Hamlet have learned that lesson and we'll be a lot more streetwise this time.

 

[Seventyseven]

Tough trip for the Angels tomorrow to the Surrey FA HQ to take on last season's Isthmian Prem champs....I'd more than settle for a boring 0-0 draw to get us up and running this season....

 

[Aberstone]

Well that was more like it... 4-0 win against a Braintree side who look to be in real trouble. To their credit, they had more of the play for the first 20 minutes of the second half and should have equalised but their midfield was totally found wanting in the first half and end of the second, not tracking runners which allowed us to overload on the wings.

Dennon Lewis was a handful for the hour or so he played, put in the cross for the OG which put us 1 up and kept getting himself into threatening positions.

Danny Green's goal I need to watch again (and again) when the highlights go up, sitting the keeper on his arse allowing him to round him and tuck into an empty net.

Scored 8 and conceded 2 from 3 games, I'm happy with that. Onto Tuesday and a reunion with Dave Pratt and Rhys Tyler, that will be far more challenging.

 

[Raymondo316]

 

[DontBringBertie]

One Woking fan singing about Stephen Yaxley-Lennon is one too many.

Didn’t say I disagree? Just doesn’t mean that EVERY SINGLE Woking fan is scum.

 

[Aberstone]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1160991083121319936

Dirty.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Been a poor start to the season for Dartford who have suffered another heavy loss tonight

 

[Kim Mitten]

One of their other new galacticos signed his contract in the clubhouse/boardroom at Hendon after a pre-season match, and a Hendon acquaintance who was present said he's on one third more than their entire budget. Alright that's a Step 3 club but even if their budget is tiny that's got to be at least £2k a week. Utter madness.

A few whispers down our way was they tried to get Michael Kightly to sign after he retired and offered him the same wages he was on at Southend (rumoured to be £3k a week). Kightly turned them down.

 

[Raymondo316]

We honestly look a mid table team at best, unless we sign some forwards who can actually score we won't be troubling the playoffs. We just never seem to learn, every year we cheap out on forwards and the owners/management continue to question why we struggle to score.

Christ knows what Still was thinking when he just signed 2 Ryman league forwards & one from Halifax who honestly wouldn't look out of place playing a couple of leagues lower.

All our hopes are being put on a 19 year old who showed flashes of looking good last season & is coming back from a broken collarbone

 

[iron4ever]

We honestly look a mid table team at best, unless we sign some forwards who can actually score we won't be troubling the playoffs. We just never seem to learn, every year we cheap out on forwards and the owners/management continue to question why we struggle to score.

Christ knows what Still was thinking when he just signed 2 Ryman league forwards & one from Halifax who honestly wouldn't look out of place playing a couple of leagues lower.

All our hopes are being put on a 19 year old who showed flashes of looking good last season & is coming back from a broken collarbone

We told you you would regret taking Hakan when we were at your place end of last season.

 

[Aberstone]

Hard fought 1-0 win over Chippenham last night but had we been more clinical in the first half then it wouldn't have been so nervy in the final few minutes. Give the visitors due, they kept running second half and were somewhat successful in disrupting our passing game but when they did have the ball, I don't believe they had one shot on target.

Hemel on Saturday which is segregated and should come to the surprise of nobody. Both teams have had good starts and then there's the added spice (not that it needs it, games at Vauxhall Road are always lively) of Dean Brennan and Stuart Maynard returning to the club they managed for 6+ years.

 

[Aberstone]

Two Saturdays in a row where we've spanked the home side, Hemel really did offer nothing and we had far more of the attacking play. I was surprised at the lack of threat that the hosts offered given how much Sammy Moore was hyping the game beforehand but they couldn't handle our numbers in midfield.

Connor Stevens and Michael Phillips immense, plenty to like after 5 games.

 

[Raymondo316]

Michael Phillips immense

The decision to not re-sign him is looking worse by the game

 

[iron4ever]

Up and running now after a 3-0 win at St Albans on tuesday and a 5-0 demolition of Eastbourne today. Started the season with a new manager and a completely new squad so must be pleased after having to play Bath, Billericay and Wealdstone first 3 games.

 

[Aberstone]

Up and running now after a 3-0 win at St Albans on tuesday and a 5-0 demolition of Eastbourne today. Started the season with a new manager and a completely new squad so must be pleased after having to play Bath, Billericay and Wealdstone first 3 games.

Fair play, it seemed far too slow paced last weekend but clearly you've found a gear or ten in the two games since.

 

[Pinner Stones]

Rather strangely Weymouth v Wealdstone is segregated. Whilst it could be 1v2 and a big gate, still seems weird or an over-reaction.

 

[Aberstone]

Supposedly segregated on police advice so better to be safe than sorry. As with Torquay last season, get us under the cover and it should be a great atmosphere.

I'm staying over on Sunday evening as I'm sure are plenty of other Stones supporters.

 

[Raymondo316]

I know Weymouth got a warning for how some of their fans acted at our place, then add Wealdstones ''reputation'' of being abit rowdy and it looks like the police have over reacted and demanded segregation.

 

[Raymondo316]

McClure scores again!!

Looks like he might of finally found his level

 

[Aberstone]

The decision to not re-sign him is looking worse by the game

Signed a new contract for an undisclosed length this past week so clearly the management team rate him highly.

That was a really hard fought win this afternoon against a spirited Hungerford side who worked their socks off.

Scoring less than a minute after they equalised was pivotal just to kill any momentum they may have had. Danny Green is playing like a man possessed right now, just watch his setup play for Jacob Mendy's goal to put us 1 up when the highlights go up on Monday, sensational.

 

[iron4ever]

Hard fought win today v Dorking, but the first time this season we have come from behind to win. This young team of ours have nearly all come from lower leagues and are bit by bit adapting well. All credit to Glen Driver and Tony Kinsella for putting together a competitive squad on a severely reduced budget.

 

[Raymondo316]

Well that was certainly unexpected, we never normally beat Chelmsford so I was expecting us to lose. By my count that's the first time we have scored 4 goals at home in the league since Chester or Southport (can't remember which game came first) back in 2017.

We're now unbeaten in 5 games (been a long time since thats happened) and with Tonbridge rock bottom I could get used to this.

 

[Aberstone]

Over 5 hours getting back from Weymouth but certainly worth it, what a win and what a performance too! Really impressed with Weymouth, both full backs were out on the opposing touchlines which meant the game was very expansive and allowed both sides to play technical football, some of the stuff being played wouldn't have looked out of place higher up the pyramid.

The scenes in the away end when Lafayette bagged his hat-trick in the 89th minute would have been redundant if the referee had correctly awarded us a spot kick when 3-1 up after Lafayette was fouled.

Weymouth will be right up there this season, they had us under the cosh for a good 20-25 minutes in that second half.

 

[Raymondo316]

Apparently Tamplin got into an argument with his ''joint manager'' today because he wanted his son on the pitch, but Wheeler didn't want to bring him on.

Tamplin finally gets his own way & Matt Rhead gets taken off for his son, then his son makes a mistake which leads to Hemel scoring and then everything falls a part

I give it a month before Wheeler gets sacked again because Glenn doesn't like being told no.

 

[Aberstone]

Apparently Tamplin got into an argument with his ''joint manager'' today because he wanted his son on the pitch, but Wheeler didn't want to bring him on.

Tamplin finally gets his own way & Matt Rhead gets taken off for his son, then his son makes a mistake which leads to Hemel scoring and then everything falls a part

I give it a month before Wheeler gets sacked again because Glenn doesn't like being told no.

Seriously!?

Put that in the tinpot thread. Harry Wheeler was spineless for going back there in the first place, if the above is true then he should walk, you can't 'manage' a football club under an autocracy.

I forgot to mention the jobsworth Weymouth steward who nearly caused a riot at the end of the game today, something was clearly said to him but then he gave our supporters the wanker sign and in the aftermath had to be held back by other stewards as he clearly wanted to get in a scrap. Shame I didn't get the incident on video, he should be sacked.

 

[Raymondo316]

Seriously!?

Put that in the tinpot thread. Harry Wheeler was spineless for going back there in the first place, if the above is true then he should walk, you can't 'manage' a football club under an autocracy.

Couple of Hemel fans confirmed it on the facebook group and there was this post on the conference south forum

''Hamblin having a bust up with his manager over a substitution was quite amusing. It was 0-0 at the time and on came his son, Archie for the one Ricay player who had caused us a few problems, Rhead and he gave the ball away for our first goal''

Billericay fans seem pretty pissed off by the whole shambles as well.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1166024810754912264

https://twitter.com/x/status/1166060411076194304

https://twitter.com/x/status/1166028571615342595

https://twitter.com/x/status/1166086796201144320

https://twitter.com/x/status/1166024534627143685

 

[Aberstone]

Honestly I could watch this on repeat for hours on end, pandemonium in that away end when it went in.