Fixtures March 16th

[TheShayWay]

Chesterfield v Sutton
Halifax v Aldershot
Kings Lynn v Hartlepool
Stockport v Barnet
Wrexham v Eastleigh
Boreham Wood v Notts County
Dagenham v Weymouth
Maidenhead v Torquay
Woking v Altrincham
Yeovil v Bromley

Stand out games of this week. Chesterfield v Sutton immediately stands out. Chesterfield had been on a real charge until a slight derailment on Saturday. Another test of Sutton's title credentials.

Elsewhere Hartlepool and Torquay have 2 potential banana skin away games. Torquay in particular really need to get back on it before they really get dragged back into the battle for the play offs.

Wrexham v Eastleigh another interesting one. I expect Wrexham to have the edge there mainly because their not the ones making the long ass Journey.

Halifax v Aldershot. 2 inform sides certainly results wises. We got a get out of jail free win on Saturday considering how poor we were for large parts. Equally Aldershot are in fine form themselves. Makings of a tough game. I'm struggling to see past a draw really.

 

[John Still]

Our game at home to Muff goes ahead despite a positive covid test Friday postponing our game at Stockport Saturday. All clear from tests today meant we trained today only.

 

[LongEatonPie]

After a better performance against Wealdstone (better not great) I think its a case of don't lose tomorrow.
We are no where near the team we were last season at this point but in actual fact a stat was posted and we are higher in the table than we were then.

I expect Knight to be on the bench and it will be interesting to see if NA sticks with the 3-5-2. The idea is press us and we can't play but I think that formation will do us better in those situations, perhaps it was tested against Wealdstone with half an eye on Boreham Wood.

Wealdstone didn't press us high up the pitch but they didn't really attack us so there wasn't much space behind them. I think we have been playing better away as the home teams should at least attack us.

 

[OneDecentLester]

Expecting big changes from us. Rowe absolutely seething at the weekend saying he ‘trusted the wrong players’... and the performance supported that statement believe me!!

I’d suggest some of the players at risk of being chopped from the starting XI for this one will be Will Evans, Martin Smith and Mandeville... but they may not be the only ones!

I do think we will see a big reaction from Saturday in terms of performance as we’ve usually bounced back very well from set backs under Rowe, and if we manage to get a result against high flying Sutton then that’ll be a big statement of intent for where we want to go this season..

 

[Chief Rocka]

Must win for us, can’t afford to drop more points here, the pack behind are closing in, DC needs to make some changes cos Saturday was turgid, need to go back to 352, Armstrong is a great goal poacher but can’t play on his own, just hasn’t got the legs for it.

 

[jacobncfc]

After a better performance against Wealdstone (better not great) I think its a case of don't lose tomorrow.
We are no where near the team we were last season at this point but in actual fact a stat was posted and we are higher in the table than we were then.

I expect Knight to be on the bench and it will be interesting to see if NA sticks with the 3-5-2. The idea is press us and we can't play but I think that formation will do us better in those situations, perhaps it was tested against Wealdstone with half an eye on Boreham Wood.

Wealdstone didn't press us high up the pitch but they didn't really attack us so there wasn't much space behind them. I think we have been playing better away as the home teams should at least attack us.

It’s a bit clutching at straws, but maybe the 3-5-2 will be us just stumbling on something that works. It’s pretty clear that we’ve got the players and aren’t far off considering our position having been consistently average, and at times downright dreadful, all season. Last season signing Roberts flicked a switch and we were the form team in the league from then on, need to hope for something similar.

 

[JaredSUFC]

It’s going to be a tough test, but then at this stage every game will be. Ajiboye and Oloafe were missing at the weekend and are doubts for Chesterfield. In two visits we’ve lost twice and have yet to score. Is it 3rd time a charm? It’s a hard one to call.

It’s a big night for our club as at the same time the first team are playing our academy side are away at Liverpool in the FA Youth Cup, so there will be some distracted Sutton fans.

 

[Soup Ladle]

Must win for us, can’t afford to drop more points here, the pack behind are closing in, DC needs to make some changes cos Saturday was turgid, need to go back to 352, Armstrong is a great goal poacher but can’t play on his own, just hasn’t got the legs for it.

Problem on Saturday was he gave Eastleigh too much respect by playing White & Featherstone together and they are both holding midfielders. No idea why he went for that setup knowing Eastleigh are tough to break down. We already have 3 centre halves behind them, it was ridiculous really. Have to try and win every game. Hopefully he doesn't play that XI again. We must beat sides likes this.

I'd go with Shelton, Featherstone with Molyneux behind Armstrong and Oates.

 

[Hollywood Red]

Tough match tonight against Eastleigh but they all are at this time of the season. Confidence is high so wouldn't surprise me if we won. After tonight we have a nice 11 day break to recharge our batteries before the final push

 

[chief]

Tough match tonight against Eastleigh but they all are at this time of the season. Confidence is high so wouldn't surprise me if we won. After tonight we have a nice 11 day break to recharge our batteries before the final push

Durrell will double in size in that period.

 

[B2TF]

We're unstoppable at the minute.......

 

[karlready]

We're unstoppable at the minute.......

So are we, could be a real non-event....
Looking forward to this one, got the beers in. Shots at last looking the business, defence o.k., midfield strong and creative, strikers usually misfiring. Ricky Miller has made a real impression, but is only just getting match fit; if and when he finds his shooting boots, we could fly.
A defining match. My predictions are usually crap, but 1-1 draw for me.

 

[TonyM]

Given all the off field issues we have at present - 'will we, won't we' carry on playing, furloughing half the squad and then another defender being injured before half time on his debut last midweek - we actually played OK at the weekend. If we can continue in that vein and maybe get a bit of luck in front of goal then we might spoil the odd party but looking at the bench on Saturday it does look like the management are just trying to get to the end of the season rather than using the time to look at options for next year.

 

[TheShayWay]

See Stockport have signed Paddy Madden..that's a bloody good signing for this level and could really be the difference for them this season and if not this season he'll bag for fun next.

Spending money most of the rest of us can only dream of though. Maybe I'm a little Jelous

 

[EnglishRed]

Chesterfield v Sutton the eye catcher, I have no idea how good either team are. Chesterfield fans were full of praise for their teams performances lately, until the weekend, amd I do expect them to keep pushing forward and comfortably make the Play Offs. Jared the Sutton fan seems a sensible chap and I get the impression Sutton haven't been particularly blowing anyone away but just putting in professional performances. Sutton have a brutal looking two months so its going to be really interesting to see if they can keep up their impressive position.

As for us, we owe Eastleigh for the play offs 2 years ago. And their dodgy penalty at their place (although arguably they deserved something from that game) so I'm hoping for a solid win.

 

[TonyM]

... I get the impression Sutton haven't been particularly blowing anyone away but just putting in professional performances...

That pretty much sums them up last Saturday, didn't look much better than us compared to how others (including Sutton earlier in the season) have pulled us apart but they got one chance from a mistake, converted it and then saw out the rest of the game without any real scares.

 

[karlready]

That pretty much sums them up last Saturday, didn't look much better than us compared to how others (including Sutton earlier in the season) have pulled us apart but they got one chance from a mistake, converted it and then saw out the rest of the game without any real scares.

Yep, same at the Rec earlier this season, pragmatic, practical and very effective.To which they have now added consistency. Which they will have to ditch pretty soon, as they are in danger of winning the league.

 

[chief]

COMMUNITY | Wrexham to donate stream profits to Young Carers Action Day

www.wrexhamafc.co.uk

 

[ForzaCounty]

That pretty much sums them up last Saturday, didn't look much better than us compared to how others (including Sutton earlier in the season) have pulled us apart but they got one chance from a mistake, converted it and then saw out the rest of the game without any real scares.

Sounds like another Macc story, sheer consistency that nobody else has. If Torquay's crisis doesn't let up then I think Pools are the only real title threat.

 

[Sestonpoolie]

See Stockport have signed Paddy Madden..that's a bloody good signing for this level and could really be the difference for them this season and if not this season he'll bag for fun next.

Spending money most of the rest of us can only dream of though. Maybe I'm a little Jelous

Yeah,quality signing for this level.
The title might be out of reach ,but they'll surely be favourites to win the play offs now.

 

[SuperHans]

We need to win tonight to keep up with the pack.

Huge acid test on our credentials.

 

[Optipez]

Yeah,quality signing for this level.
The title might be out of reach ,but they'll surely be favourites to win the play offs now.

Should be a great signing, I wouldn't write any of the top seven off for the title yet.

 

[Optipez]

As we're all playing catch up with Sutton, we need a win tonight. Won't be easy, they won at our place and we're having great difficulty scoring goals.

 

[TheShayWay]

Motorway is closed and traffic coming off is atrocious. I'm wondering if Aldershot are actually stuck in it. No communication from the club saying that's the case yet though.

 

[MrGloverLover]

A win at home to Bromley tonight would move us above them and potentially into the play offs. We haven't drawn in 22 games so something is likely to give.

 

[TheShayWay]

Our game has been delayed till 7:15 due to motorway incident. Aldershot were here at 5:45 though. So I don't really get why

 

[Jerry]

If Torquay's crisis doesn't let up then I think Pools are the only real title threat.

Well we finally should have 4 fit defenders tonight after bringing in a young left back from Argyle. We're really only missing 3 important players now. Our captain and best defender in Cameron, player of the year (until he got injured 6 weeks ago) Nemane and Danny Wright up front. Should all be back in about a month apparently. Still missing a lot of fringe players but those are the 3 most damaging absences.

Saying that Whitfield limped off on Saturday, would be a disaster if he's out for any length of time.

 

[slaphead]

Our game has been delayed till 7:15 due to motorway incident. Aldershot were here at 5:45 though. So I don't really get why

officials stuck maybe?

 

[TheShayWay]

officials stuck maybe?

Only thing I can think of

 

[AJS]

Not feeling confident after seeing team news. Hyde out with a slight knock and both left-backs in Senior and Williams out with slight knocks too. Looks like we are going away from our usual 5212 to a 4231 with Bradbury playing left back... I'd be content with a point right now.