2022/2023 National League North

[BigDaveCUFC]

I suppose it depends who goes up.

Say Brackley go up it may have different layout to Chester.

Also I still have to question if Peterborough will not be demoted yet, ground is not yet up to spec.

It has become a very spread out north league, a few years ago it was just a mass belt across Merseyside, Manchester and Yorkshire.

 

[Swedes]

If you want Marcus Carver back i would think he’ll be available. Need to clear the decks for whoever we can tempt from March/Holbeach/Moulton Harrox/Eye to play for us.

It wouldn't surprise me if we make an approach. He may not have done much for you but he's been key for us and how we play, and he seems to like it here too.

 

[Lucky Bobble]

I suppose it depends who goes up.

Say Brackley go up it may have different layout to Chester.

Also I still have to question if Peterborough will not be demoted yet, ground is not yet up to spec.

It has become a very spread out north league, a few years ago it was just a mass belt across Merseyside, Manchester and Yorkshire.

? Surely it's just the most northerly NS team, which will be Oxford City won't it? (unless they are promoted.)

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

I don’t know Kings Lynn must be nearer to paris than some of them northern sides.

 

[lecks180]

Fantastic end to the season with many having written off our management half way through the season (I had my doubts).

On to Alfreton tonight, hoping for a good 500 tonight and a big W!

#COYR

 

[TonyM]

I don’t know Kings Lynn must be nearer to paris than some of them northern sides.

To be fair, everywhere is a long way from King's Lynn (apart from Boston). We had times in both the north and south at various steps and before the most recent changes had a number of years visiting many clubs around Bristol and the south west. The other thing that doesn't help those visiting us is the road and rail networks which are geared towards north/south travel and certainly not travelling east.

 

[Harrier94]

720 tickets purchased for Harriers in 24 hours. Probably close to 1000 there for us tonight

 

[joethegill]

? Surely it's just the most northerly NS team, which will be Oxford City won't it? (unless they are promoted.)

Bishop's Stortford is marginally further North than Oxford is, but it depends how they draw the line I guess. Might not just be a flat East to West line, it might angle up a bit at one end.

 

[SpennyfanChris]

North Play Off's
Quarter Final (Eliminator)
A Alfreton Town v Kidderminster Harriers (Tue 2/5)
B Brackley Town v Gloucester City (Wed 3/5)

 

[Harrier94]

COME ON!!!!

The winning run continues, our early goal scoring continues and our impressive defensive record continues

 

[SpennyfanChris]

COME ON!!!!

The winning run continues, our early goal scoring continues and our impressive defensive record continues

33 Seconds is all it took!!!

 

[Harrier94]

33 Seconds is all it took!!!

Not a surprise we got an early goal.

In our last 7 we've scored in the first 5 minutes 6 times. 33 Seconds isn't even the fastest we've had.

 

[Bluandwite]

Not sure what the Alfreton keeper was doing having seen the replay.

Thought you would edge that one though. Sets up a good clash on Sunday, two in-form sides.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

While I agree with this play off layout and the advantage higher place teams get, it does always seem to come off a little cruel at how quickly teams get dumped out.

Alfreton gone from ‘yeah in the play offs’ just 3 days ago to ‘bang’ season down the toilet 3 days later.

 

[Harrier94]

Not sure what the Alfreton keeper was doing having seen the replay.

Thought you would edge that one though. Sets up a good clash on Sunday, two in-form sides.

I thought the same. And from the opposite end of the ground I didn't even think it was in. But we've posted this angle this morning. And to be fair to the Alfreton keeper he doesn't have a chance it's a really good header. Just looks worse as he hadn't dived for it.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1653677574977929217

 

[Harrier94]

After that early goal Alfreton worried us with a few early throw ins but once we settled down they didn't offer any threat. It seems we figured out the formula to nullify them and it worked.

22 long throws launched into our box and Alfreton got the first contact 1 time. The 3 back formation stopped any of Head's flick ons from goal kicks as our other cb's dropped back picked up any loose ball and stopped Ceesay and Hobson from having any impact with there pace. And Billy Heath just doesn't have a plan B. It's obviously been affective for them to be in the playoffs but their recent form shows they've been found out.

Just for the fans nerves I wish we grabbed a second but it never really mattered. Onto King's Lynn now where the best home form in the league faces the 3rd best away form. It's going to be another close game I imagine.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Fucking useless bbc, I was about to put on consolations to Brackley on another defeat only to just now go on Facebook and see a post they won.

Bbc had it at 0-0 and Gloucester winning on pens which is shambolic considering their were two local bbc radio commentaries at the game.

So of course they shove the Wrexham stuff down tjroat pretending to give a crap about lower leagues then. Cannot even put on the right score in a play off match….useless.

Unlucky Gloucester, well done Brackley but have to say unlike last season your not one I’d be expecting to win this year

 

[JE93]

Well done to Kiddy and Brackley, commiserations to Alfreton and Gloucester but tbh based on where the two losers have been this season making the playoffs can probably be looked upon as a very good season.

Expect Chester to brush aside Brackley, Kings Lynn vs Kiddy is very good tough to call that either way.

 

[Clem Fandango]

Football is a cruel mistress. First half, pretty scrappy and not much to say other than a ref who constantly blew his whistle. Second half we played some great football and took the lead, we had a couple of massive penalty shouts waved away. Having seen one of them back, unbelievable how he hadn't given it.

Brackley then equalised, hate to say it but Brandon Hall should have saved that and I do wonder why King switched Armstrong out for him given how Armstrong performed against Chorley. Hall is more experienced but always has a clanger in him. Brackley then soon after got a second and were in the ascendancy, ironically Hall then made a great save to stop it being game over.

Nine minutes of injury time turned into 11 as Brackley had "injuries", and somehow we did it again with a equaliser right at the death. Bedlam

Extra time came and we should have won it, Phillips played through but his shot was saved well by the Brackley keeper. Penalty lottery followed, Brackley scored every single one whilst sadly Phillips saw his pen saved.

Massively proud of these lads however, after several budget cuts and 3 players missing most of the season through injury (we also had McHale unavailable yesterday) we somehow got into the playoffs. Backed by over 500 travelling fans too. Next season sees the former Hungerford chairman/chairwoman come in....not really sure what that is going to bring as the rumour mill is running out of control

 

[Harrier94]

Current ticket sales as of 9am today

https://twitter.com/x/status/1654045772986437633

 

[Railway Blue]

Fucking useless bbc, I was about to put on consolations to Brackley on another defeat only to just now go on Facebook and see a post they won.

Bbc had it at 0-0 and Gloucester winning on pens which is shambolic considering their were two local bbc radio commentaries at the game.

So of course they shove the Wrexham stuff down tjroat pretending to give a crap about lower leagues then. Cannot even put on the right score in a play off match….useless.

Unlucky Gloucester, well done Brackley but have to say unlike last season your not one I’d be expecting to win this year

Thank you for beating Gloucester. Don't think I could have survived watching them again. As it is I hope we will have a good game of football.

 

[Lucky Bobble]

Football is a cruel mistress. First half, pretty scrappy and not much to say other than a ref who constantly blew his whistle. Second half we played some great football and took the lead, we had a couple of massive penalty shouts waved away. Having seen one of them back, unbelievable how he hadn't given it.

Brackley then equalised, hate to say it but Brandon Hall should have saved that and I do wonder why King switched Armstrong out for him given how Armstrong performed against Chorley. Hall is more experienced but always has a clanger in him. Brackley then soon after got a second and were in the ascendancy, ironically Hall then made a great save to stop it being game over.

Nine minutes of injury time turned into 11 as Brackley had "injuries", and somehow we did it again with a equaliser right at the death. Bedlam

Extra time came and we should have won it, Phillips played through but his shot was saved well by the Brackley keeper. Penalty lottery followed, Brackley scored every single one whilst sadly Phillips saw his pen saved.

Massively proud of these lads however, after several budget cuts and 3 players missing most of the season through injury (we also had McHale unavailable yesterday) we somehow got into the playoffs. Backed by over 500 travelling fans too. Next season sees the former Hungerford chairman/chairwoman come in....not really sure what that is going to bring as the rumour mill is running out of control

Well... we're entitled to our opinions...

but I would say IF you had decent pen appeals turned down (which I despute), it might be because of the large amount of diving your side was doing... the number 8 being the worst offender. You don't mention your player booked for an embarrising dive in the penalty area, nor the time you wasted with the longest goal kicks in history, the histrionics in front of the ref, nor the 7 booking I think you wracked up (vs our 1).

Anyway, I don't want to start a feud, as I like Gloucester's journey back from exile and wish them the best in the future. it was a close game, two bang average sides in my opinion. Nothing in the game.

I've watched Brackley fail in all 7 of the playoff campaigns in their history.

I'm confident that will soon be 8.

 

[Lucky Bobble]

Well done to Kiddy and Brackley, commiserations to Alfreton and Gloucester but tbh based on where the two losers have been this season making the playoffs can probably be looked upon as a very good season.

Expect Chester to brush aside Brackley, Kings Lynn vs Kiddy is very good tough to call that either way.

Sadly I agree. Never know though

 

[JE93]

Sadly I agree. Never know though

Full respect to you for making it in and beating Gloucester, but Chester, Kings Lynn and Fylde were a step ahead of the rest of us all season, albeit Kiddy's late season form has made it an interesting game there. But as you say, playoffs, anything can happen. At least you've given yourself a chance.

Gaz Dean giving a great job interview though. Do you think he'll take it up full time next season? Was always going to be an interesting season at Brackley after so many years of Wilkin. But yet another playoff appearance and into the semi-finals is another impressive year.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

As an outsider I have a lot less expectation on Brackley this year than previous.

In previous seasons you were normally the steady solid hand always close but not enough who you felt could go up.

This year hard to see past kings lynn, but with Chester this year filling that solid dependable side and kiddy being the in hot form side it probably puts you currently most peoples fourth choice out of the four.

Maybe lack of expectation might help you this time.

 

[hardbutfair]

As an outsider I have a lot less expectation on Brackley this year than previous.

In previous seasons you were normally the steady solid hand always close but not enough who you felt could go up.

This year hard to see past kings lynn, but with Chester this year filling that solid dependable side and kiddy being the in hot form side it probably puts you currently most peoples fourth choice out of the four.

Maybe lack of expectation might help you this time.

Expectation is low. This is the least momentum Brackley has brought into the playoffs over the last five seasons (or is it six, so many close run things), The previous squad approached every game expecting to win, this one plays in hope. They gave everything last night though and took five outstanding pens. Doubt it will get to that, but you never know. It would be superbly ironic if a managerless squad (believe Dean wants to play full time, but who knows) squeezes into the NL with a combination of aging stars and young bucks making their way. Remember Sir Alex - "football, bloody hell".... Chester, you have been warned! This is still largely the same squad that went 17 unbeaten under Johnson (before falling apart, of course). Let`s see.

 

[Kenneth Dodd]

Expectation is low. This is the least momentum Brackley has brought into the playoffs over the last five seasons (or is it six, so many close run things), The previous squad approached every game expecting to win, this one plays in hope. They gave everything last night though and took five outstanding pens. Doubt it will get to that, but you never know. It would be superbly ironic if a managerless squad (believe Dean wants to play full time, but who knows) squeezes into the NL with a combination of aging stars and young bucks making their way. Remember Sir Alex - "football, bloody hell".... Chester, you have been warned! This is still largely the same squad that went 17 unbeaten under Johnson (before falling apart, of course). Let`s see.

Might be a case that we are a lot fresher than your lads we have been resting players for the last 4 games and didn’t have to play 140 minutes midweek to get this far.

 

[hardbutfair]

Might be a case that we are a lot fresher than your lads we have been resting players for the last 4 games and didn’t have to play 140 minutes midweek to get this far.

Can`t argue - everything is in Chester`s favour - you can`t screw this up now, can you?

 

[Kenneth Dodd]

Can`t argue - everything is in Chester`s favour - you can`t screw this up now, can you?

its possible but the Manager we have now has been so professional I don’t think we will.

 

[Lucky Bobble]

Couldn't we introduce a rule where if the playoff games are tied after 120 mins, that the team that finished higher in the league wins?

It seems ridiculous Kidderminster can finish 24 pts behind the second place team, or Brackley 15 points behind Chester, yet if it is a draw, to settle it with the lottery of pens instead of rewarding the better team over 46 games...