2022/2023 National League North

[Clem Fandango]

Hard fought 2-1 win at Alfreton yesterday. First half we raced out of the blocks and really should have been 3 up at half time. Kieran Phillips bagging another two but missed a bit of a sitter for his third. Looks a completely different player under King. Brandon Hall dropped an absolute clanger with their free kick allowing Alfreton back into the game.

In the second half it was mostly one way traffic with a constant stream of long balls up to Denton and a Rory Delap like throw in, which the guy doing it gladly took about five or so yards extra every time. Thankfully we defended resolutely and saw it out for our second win on the trot.

Special mention for the ref, 5 mins injury time yet played 8 minutes and 25 seconds. They keep getting better

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Adam

Adam Rooney in at Brackley. There must be plenty of opinion on here about the guy. Has he still got the legs?

He didn't really do anything on Saturday at BM. On the plus side he played for 90 minutes.

 

[David Curries Mullet]

Decent game with Brackley on Saturday. We by far the better team 1st half, they by far the better 2nd. Their 2 half-time subs made the difference. Little No.17 is, I take it, inconsistent, as if his performance was the norm for him I can't see how he doesn't start. Martin Woods was also class when he came on. Agreed with Lambert being subbed off, Hedley was being targeted second half, and getting precious little support from Lambert. Had he been having any influence from an attacking point of view, then could see why he would be annoyed at being subbed, but he wasn't. Didn't think the ref was that bad to be fair - there were very few if any contentious decisions, bar a handball he didn't see. He did look to his linesman for help, but he didn't indicate anything, so what was he supposed to do? Few moans about a couple of elbows, but I didn't think there was anything in either. Tellingly, players involved both got up, without Physio involvement, as soon as play was stopped. Think fans are becoming as soft as players when it comes to any physicality in the game now.

 

[GEORGE]

Decent game with Brackley on Saturday. We by far the better team 1st half, they by far the better 2nd. Their 2 half-time subs made the difference. Little No.17 is, I take it, inconsistent, as if his performance was the norm for him I can't see how he doesn't start. Martin Woods was also class when he came on. Agreed with Lambert being subbed off, Hedley was being targeted second half, and getting precious little support from Lambert. Had he been having any influence from an attacking point of view, then could see why he would be annoyed at being subbed, but he wasn't. Didn't think the ref was that bad to be fair - there were very few if any contentious decisions, bar a handball he didn't see. He did look to his linesman for help, but he didn't indicate anything, so what was he supposed to do? Few moans about a couple of elbows, but I didn't think there was anything in either. Tellingly, players involved both got up, without Physio involvement, as soon as play was stopped. Think fans are becoming as soft as players when it comes to any physicality in the game now.

Does Ben Liddle play much ?

 

[David Curries Mullet]

Does Ben Liddle play much ?

Hasn't really started. Been used as a late sub more often than not. Danny Rose ahead of him at the moment. Did score a cracking injury time goal to beat Blyth.

 

[AndyPark]

A very tough game for us tomorrow away to Kings Lynn. 1st v 2nd.

On the early train out of Darlo at 7am with 5 others, expecting a decent turnout to make the long trip down to Norfolk. I'd take a point right now.

Also just signed Joe Leesley from Boston on loan for a month, so that has bolstered our midfield. Looking forward to tomorrow. Haway Darlo.

 

[TonyM]

A very tough game for us tomorrow away to Kings Lynn. 1st v 2nd.

On the early train out of Darlo at 7am with 5 others, expecting a decent turnout to make the long trip down to Norfolk. I'd take a point right now.

Also just signed Joe Leesley from Boston on loan for a month, so that has bolstered our midfield. Looking forward to tomorrow. Haway Darlo.

Would gladly take a point now and save us all the trouble / travel. Not sure how we will line up tomorrow, we had a very settled side pre FA Cup fixtures but since then have gone more attacking which has worked but probably more down to who we faced - different story tomorrow so hope we revert to what worked so well previously.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

How do we take four points off kings lynn and Scarborough, win away at Boston and i between lose to f*cling BPA?!??!?

 

[Harrier94]

We're awful. Simple as

 

[Bluandwite]

Chester 4-0 Kettering.

Bit of a slow start but we got going eventually. Nice to see Dudley get on the scoresheet twice, he's been devoid of any confidence for a while. Matty Williams and Willoughby finished it off. The latter bagged his 10th goal of the season.

Kettering were absolutely hopeless and offered nothing in the slightest.

 

[Clem Fandango]

Not much more to say other than we're winning this league under King.

 

[Kenneth Dodd]

s

Not much more to say other than we're winning this league under King.

Should be a decent game on Tuesday two inform teams.

 

[AndyPark]

The less I say about yesterday, the better.

 

[Railway Blue]

s

Should be a decent game on Tuesday two inform teams.

I think we've only lost to them once in 8 fixtures.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

The less I say about yesterday, the better.

Time will tell mate whether we may have or may not have bumped into the NLN winners?

 

[Bluandwite]

Chester 1-1 Gloucester.

Fair point, we looked tired after all the recent games and the extra time from last week, especially being unchanged. Predictable as well. Really tidy finish from Murray for the equaliser, think we've found his role as he always causes havoc when coming on late, even if the opposition laugh at him because of his size.

Gloucester looked a decent side in the first half, although went a suicidal early pace. Turned in to a right bunch of twats in the second half though with the worst time wasting I've ever seen. Eight minutes added but eighteen would have been fairer. Steve King for you I suppose.

 

[Clem Fandango]

More fucking injuries after tonight but would take a point regardless of late equaliser given we have half a squad out. Remarkable what King has done and I'm all for total shithousery frankly as we've been far too nice and naive in the past. Only time we started playing the game that way was under the second season with Rowe, and we were top. We haven't had to do that at all in his other games. But we've been far too honest to our detriment in the past so maybe we've wised up a tad.

 

[Swedes]

The Pride of County Durham 0-1 Southport

Spennymoor tried to be one of those teams who like to play out from the back, but failed miserably. A sloppy touch by one of their defenders gave Bainbridge a free shot on goal, which he rifled into the corner of the net for the only goal of the game. They hit the post once, had a lot of the ball but didn't know what to do with it. We defended solidly and looked threatening on the counter attack but our final ball let us down.

Finishing the match with 6-7 defenders on the pitch was fun, as was playing the last half an hour without a recognised striker. Them having a player sent off late on was the icing on the cake.

We've now got 5 home games on the trot now, hopefully we can kick on a bit more.

 

[TonyM]

Two cracking games at the Walks - Saturday we just blew Darlington away with our best performance in years, the fact that it was Darlington and not Kettering meant it was 3-0 not 10-0 and they didn't look a bad team, just not able to live with us on the day. Banbury came last night and were probably the best team we have played this season and could understand if they went home feeling a bit hard done by, with Jones the keeper being in contention for MotM and they also missed a penalty but ultimately undone by their desire to play out from the back as we pressed them well and our second came direct from winning the ball back in their penalty area.

Onto Gloucester on Saturday for another tough test which will need to be fully focused on before worrying about the trip to Doncaster in the FA Cup the following weekend.

 

[Railway Blue]

Chester 1-1 Gloucester.

Fair point, we looked tired after all the recent games and the extra time from last week, especially being unchanged. Predictable as well. Really tidy finish from Murray for the equaliser, think we've found his role as he always causes havoc when coming on late, even if the opposition laugh at him because of his size.

Gloucester looked a decent side in the first half, although went a suicidal early pace. Turned in to a right bunch of twats in the second half though with the worst time wasting I've ever seen. Eight minutes added but eighteen would have been fairer. Steve King for you I suppose.

Disgraceful time-wasting from Gloucester. Worst I've ever seen in 63 years of supporting Chester. Nos 10 and 20 seriously need to go and have a full medical the way they collapsed every time we moved into their half. Anti-football!

 

[Railway Blue]

Two cracking games at the Walks - Saturday we just blew Darlington away with our best performance in years, the fact that it was Darlington and not Kettering meant it was 3-0 not 10-0 and they didn't look a bad team, just not able to live with us on the day. Banbury came last night and were probably the best team we have played this season and could understand if they went home feeling a bit hard done by, with Jones the keeper being in contention for MotM and they also missed a penalty but ultimately undone by their desire to play out from the back as we pressed them well and our second came direct from winning the ball back in their penalty area.

Onto Gloucester on Saturday for another tough test which will need to be fully focused on before worrying about the trip to Doncaster in the FA Cup the following weekend.

Hope you beat them cheating so and so's.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Another excellent away point especially since half the starting 11 was rotated last night (part time need rest)

Joint best defence in league currently but need to start making it count vs the sides you should be beating Hereford are poor this season and Fylde are wobbling….need to capitalise on these home games.

Kings lynn will walk the title this season, but I think that other promotion place is very very wide open

 

[Railway Blue]

Another excellent away point especially since half the starting 11 was rotated last night (part time need rest)

Joint best defence in league currently but need to start making it count vs the sides you should be beating Hereford are poor this season and Fylde are wobbling….need to capitalise on these home games.

Kings lynn will walk the title this season, but I think that other promotion place is very very wide open

Yes ~~ the gulf between NL and NLN is widening.

 

[Minstermen central]

Yes ~~ the gulf between NL and NLN is widening.

The gulf is massive.
Every game is hard and some very good teams and ball is mainly on floor.
Surprised Kiddy and Flyde aren’t higher,on a separate note glad that prick Cox has got sack.

 

[Solihull Mooron]

I assumed that the King’s Lynn squad had changed quite a bit since last season. They were pretty poor in the national league last season. Is this not the case?

 

[TonyM]

I assumed that the King’s Lynn squad had changed quite a bit since last season. They were pretty poor in the national league last season. Is this not the case?

No, we retained the bulk of the squad that finished the season under Widdrington, including signing a few who were with us on loan, a couple of additions from lower leagues and Ponticelli from Wrexham. The gulf is huge which maybe wasn't as apparent to Lynn fans (well me at least) as our first year at NL was in lockdown so everything looked different anyway and by the second year at NL every area of the club was exposed as being below what was required.

Now we are 'on a roll' with a massive shift in confidence, being one of the few full-time teams at NLN is also paying off and this side would certainly do better at NL if we do get promotion. Widdrington has found a system that compensates for players weaknesses combined with opponents who struggle to exploit them means we are looking good for now but not sure that would be the case at NL

 

[Railway Blue]

Last night we had to play a FA Youth Cup tie again v AFC Flyde. We'd beaten them in the original tie 8-7 on Pens. Their final player was unable to take his pen because he's injured himself fouling a Chester player who ended the evening in hospital. Amazingly the ref gave him a yellow. The ref didn't know what to do. Eventually he deemed that because the player had not identified himself as unable to participate before the kicks began, he was deemed to have missed. Our GK then scored to win the match. AFC complained to the FA and the numpties at the FA ordered the match replayed. Well readers you will be glad to learn that we gave them a football lesson last night and won 2-0. Horrible club also complained to the Daily Mail. Well done to all the players and staff at Chester FC academy for seeing that this hideous club got their comeuppance.

 

[856ontour]

No, we retained the bulk of the squad that finished the season under Widdrington, including signing a few who were with us on loan, a couple of additions from lower leagues and Ponticelli from Wrexham. The gulf is huge which maybe wasn't as apparent to Lynn fans (well me at least) as our first year at NL was in lockdown so everything looked different anyway and by the second year at NL every area of the club was exposed as being below what was required.

Now we are 'on a roll' with a massive shift in confidence, being one of the few full-time teams at NLN is also paying off and this side would certainly do better at NL if we do get promotion. Widdrington has found a system that compensates for players weaknesses combined with opponents who struggle to exploit them means we are looking good for now but not sure that would be the case at NL

Found a system? He has many systems as shown at the backend of last season away at the likes of Grimsby, Solihull Moors and Aldershot to name a few. The National league is clearly weaker this season and we would have been more than capable of staying up this time round. On to Gloucester tomorrow.....See you there Tony?

 

[Solihull Mooron]

Thanks Tony. Looks like you’ve been a lot better since Widdrington took over. I’ve felt that there isn’t a massive gap between the national league and the national league north. I don’t know how much York have strengthened but they are doing well. Gateshead are just about staying above the relegation zone but would have been doing a lot better if they had been able to retain Scott and Langstaff. And Langstaff scored about 25 in NLN last season and is on to score a lot more for Notts County this season.

 

[Clem Fandango]

Not much more to say other than we're pissing this league under King