Darlington FC 14/15

[Destruction]

Upon reflection, tonight widens the gap to 8 points between Darlo and Bamber Bridge along with a +32 GD.

So no.

Not sure that is overly relevant mate, Bamber Bridge play infront of about 120 fans. Should think you'd be better than them.

No denying you appear to be struggling for form at the exact wrong time of the season.

 

[WeAreDarlington]

What?!

But I thought Bamber Bridge are "twice the side Darlo are"?

Struggling for form? The last 8 games state W6-D2-L0, the last 10 games state W7-D2-L1. Victories include Lancaster (H), Northwich Victoria (A), Droylsden (H), Scarborough (A) and Mossley (H).

 

[WeAreDarlington]

Darlington 3-1 New Mills

(Nelson Mota 17', Matthew Pennal 51', Lewis Walton 71')

P42, W28, D7, L7.

We have scored the most goals in the league and also conceded the least. It's a shame we couldn't secure the title but well done to Salford.

Onto Spennymoor (H) on Wednesday in the play-off semi final.

We have apparently sold over 1,450 tickets in just 2/3 days. The game will be segregated and Spennymoor are entitled to circa 500 tickets. The capacity of Heritage Park is 2,004.

 

[Destruction]

Bamber Bridge won again today and moved into third place so have home advantage now on Tuesday against the Vics.

 

[WeAreDarlington]

Northwich are a very tall side and difficult to break-down. They're well managed under Jim Gannon but I'd expect Bamber Bridge to put them to one side. As for Darlo, I'm not exactly feeling confident for Wednesday. We've had a very good season in all honesty but we seem to suffer from a play-off hoodoo.

I remember predicting that we'd finish 3rd before a ball was kicked, so to come so close to the title behind big-spenders Salford is very respectable.

 

[Destruction]

Northwich are a very tall side and difficult to break-down. They're well managed under Jim Gannon but I'd expect Bamber Bridge to put them to one side. As for Darlo, I'm not exactly feeling confident for Wednesday. We've had a very good season in all honesty but we seem to suffer from a play-off hoodoo.

I remember predicting that we'd finish 3rd before a ball was kicked, so to come so close to the title behind big-spenders Salford is very respectable.

Spennymoor were crap at Brig the other week, I fancy you'll put them away without too much trouble.

 

[Dave-Vale]

I hope that Darlo smash Bamber Bridge in the play off final.

 

[Destruction]

I hope that Darlo smash Bamber Bridge in the play off final.

Now now Dave, play nice.

 

[WeAreDarlington]

I hope that Darlo smash Bamber Bridge in the play off final.

Ha, well done on securing safety in League 1 this afternoon!

 

[WeAreDarlington]

Now over 1,950 tickets sold for the game against Spennymoor (H) on Wednesday.

Very impressive for step-8 football.

 

[Destruction]

Bamber Bridge 2-1 Northwich Vics.

Well done Brig, even game tonight but just sneaked it in ET. Over to the other two tomorrow now...

 

[WeAreDarlington]

Darlington 3-2 Spennymoor

(Graeme Armstrong 45', Liam Hatch 79', David Dowson 89')

Attendance: 1,987.

Never have I seen a game like that before. David Dowson comes up with the winner in the 89th minute after Spennymoor went 2-1 ahead in the second-half.

Onto Bamber Bridge (H) on Saturday.

 

[Destruction]

I'll offer my congrats to Darlo now, the bent system of no neutral venue for a one legged final will surely see them promoted this time round.

Great season again for Brig regardless.

 

[WeAreDarlington]

I'll offer my congrats to Darlo now, the bent system of no neutral venue for a one legged final will surely see them promoted this time round.

Great season again for Brig regardless.

It's anyone's game, look at Ramsbottom last season.

I'm sure you'll be the first one to gloat if Bamber Bridge win, so trying to act all modest and humble doesn't really wash.

 

[David Curries Mullet]

I actually think that it's perfectly fair for the team which, over a 42 game season, proved itself to be better than it's opponent, to be given home advantage. Especially when only 1 automatic place is up for grabs.

Cracking match tonight - Hatchy loves a big occasion, knew he'd grab a goal when he came on, just not within 10 seconds.

 

[JJ1532]

I'll offer my congrats to Darlo now, the bent system of no neutral venue for a one legged final will surely see them promoted this time round.

Great season again for Brig regardless.

So I assume you disagree with the advantage Bamber got from being at home in the semis then?

 

[Pliny Harris]

Backing you all the way Darlo fans.

 

[Destruction]

So I assume you disagree with the advantage Bamber got from being at home in the semis then?

Yes mate. Having a two legged semi at both grounds will also give both clubs a nice boost to the coffers too.

Win win surely?

 

[Modernist]

I actually think that it's perfectly fair for the team which, over a 42 game season, proved itself to be better than it's opponent, to be given home advantage. Especially when only 1 automatic place is up for grabs.

.

Absolutely it's the least they can do, I for one would end the play offs, not only is it totally unfair but quite often the weaker teams get promoted reducing the quality of the leagues.

 

[LordJord]

Absolutely it's the least they can do, I for one would end the play offs, not only is it totally unfair but quite often the weaker teams get promoted reducing the quality of the leagues.

I can understand how the team who finishes in the highest playoff spot thinks this way, however it has to be said having the playoffs does stop a huge number of teams from just coasting through the last month or so.

 

[Chris FGR]

I think that the way the play-offs are done below the Conference offers the best compromise, as they keep the season interesting for more teams but also reward the highest placed teams.

 

[Darlofan97]

All but sold out our 1,700 allocation within a matter of hours. Only a few remaining for ST holders. Bamber Bridge have the remaining 300.

 

[Jemfy]

I think that the way the play-offs are done below the Conference offers the best compromise, as they keep the season interesting for more teams but also reward the highest placed teams.

As a fan of a club who has never been involved in a one-legged playoff, I have to agree. The higher finishing team should go in to the games with an advantage. A reward for being better through the league year. They should have more chance to go up. No matter who it is. The home advantage is key to that, though I do think the games should be played exclusively on weekends due to the issues that can arise of player availability to travel.

Dynamics are strange with two-legged playoffs, and would be even weirder at this level.

 

[Southern Shayman]

I think that the way the play-offs are done below the Conference offers the best compromise, as they keep the season interesting for more teams but also reward the highest placed teams.

I agree with you to an extent. The problems arise, as we found out that you get play off finals in grounds that don't have the facilities to offer an allocation suitable for that kind of occasion. For example, we played Brackley and got 1000 tickets for a play off final.

Although I suppose, that's blip when considering a system that works well at lots of levels every year.

 

[Destruction]

I agree with you to an extent. The problems arise, as we found out that you get play off finals in grounds that don't have the facilities to offer an allocation suitable for that kind of occasion. For example, we played Brackley and got 1000 tickets for a play off final.

Although I suppose, that's blip when considering a system that works well at lots of levels every year.

Agreed, playoff final and Darlo can only offer Brig 300 tickets. For a final. Not on really.

Perhaps something along the lines of the higher placed team gets the home advantage, but the ground should be split 50/50 as you would expect for a final.

 

[Jemfy]

Agreed, playoff final and Darlo can only offer Brig 300 tickets. For a final. Not on really.

Perhaps something along the lines of the higher placed team gets the home advantage, but the ground should be split 50/50 as you would expect for a final.

Fair point on the gates, because it discriminates against the traveling fans. I guess I'd go with something smaller (say 30-40% minimum unless returned) for a few reasons. First it's just practical, especially for grounds such as Woking, where you have the one massive stand, and splitting that will knock of huge amounts of the capacity. Second it's a bit of a blip for teams like Darlo, FCUM and Halifax* going through who will more than sell out their allocation every single time, even if they get the whole ground. Making the rule around these sides is a bit unfair, even if there does always seem to be one about (Hereford being the next to go through, as they will attract enough to sell out 1000+, we'd be short). Thirdly, part of home advantage is having the (expected) larger portion of the crowd. Obviously not all of it, but a part. Finally, a number of clubs would be able to run these games unsegregated, meaning this wouldn't be an overly large issue anyway.

*Omitted Chester as I'm not sure if they did go through any playoffs, let alone away ones on their way up, and they are unlikely to now.

 

[JJ1532]

Agreed, playoff final and Darlo can only offer Brig 300 tickets. For a final. Not on really.

Perhaps something along the lines of the higher placed team gets the home advantage, but the ground should be split 50/50 as you would expect for a final.

Hang on. Didn't Brig only get 515 fans for the semi final the other day? If thats all they can muster for a semi final, I can't imagine the 300 that Darlo offered is going to cause too many problems. Checking both Bambers website and their twitter feed, it doesn't seem they even sold out their allocation, but I stand to be corrected on that one. Not sure what you are complaining about to be honest, seems like Darlo fans are having more trouble getting a ticket than Bambers. A 50-50 split for this would be insanity. Darlos ground is 2k in capacity. Bamber wouldn't need anywhere near 1,000, whereas Darlington have sold out their tickets and I've seen numerous fans on twitter alone trying to find tickets.

You need to stop making out Bamber are so hard done to, both in terms of the game being at Darlingtons ground and at the allocation of tickets. Both seem fair in this instance to me.

 

[Destruction]

Hang on. Didn't Brig only get 515 fans for the semi final the other day? If thats all they can muster for a semi final, I can't imagine the 300 that Darlo offered is going to cause too many problems. Checking both Bambers website and their twitter feed, it doesn't seem they even sold out their allocation, but I stand to be corrected on that one. Not sure what you are complaining about to be honest, seems like Darlo fans are having more trouble getting a ticket than Bambers. A 50-50 split for this would be insanity. Darlos ground is 2k in capacity. Bamber wouldn't need anywhere near 1,000, whereas Darlington have sold out their tickets and I've seen numerous fans on twitter alone trying to find tickets.

You need to stop making out Bamber are so hard done to, both in terms of the game being at Darlingtons ground and at the allocation of tickets. Both seem fair in this instance to me.

Lot of twisting of statistics there mate.

For example, do your own club get bigger attendances on Saturdays, or on Tuesday nights when sky are showing a live Premiershite game?

I went on a Brig game earlier this season that had a higher attendance than Darlo will have today. So what does that say for your statistics?

 

[Nansan]

Lot of twisting of statistics there mate.

For example, do your own club get bigger attendances on Saturdays, or on Tuesday nights when sky are showing a live Premiershite game?

I went on a Brig game earlier this season that had a higher attendance than Darlo will have today. So what does that say for your statistics?

Craig Stoddart @CStoddartEcho · 16m16 minutes ago
It’s absurd that there’s so many spaces in the Bamber Bridge end, yet hundreds of Darlington supporters couldn’t get a ticket. #DFCFINAL

 

[TheMinsterman]

Go on Big Darlo, congratulations guys.