National league North 2021-22

[AndyPark]

Apparently we’ve sold 350 tickets online for York away tomorrow night.

Fully expecting a good 600+. Not bad for a Tuesday night, more than what everyone else brings to us on a Saturday.

 

[David Curries Mullet]

Scrappy 1-0 win over Blyth on Saturday, but a game we would have lost earlier this year. 4 wins in 5 now, with other drawn. Alun Armstrong is known as a streaky manager, and we can only hope he's timed this one right. Wheater has certainly tightened us up at the back, even though he's blowing out his a*** after half an hour. Positioning is superb, and his leadership is getting the best out of Jake Lawlor alongside him. Getting fitter all the time, and is proving an inspired signing. York away on Tuesday night - will be a bigger test for them now than it looked 3 weeks ago.

 

[Haxbyreds]

Scrappy 1-0 win over Blyth on Saturday, but a game we would have lost earlier this year. 4 wins in 5 now, with other drawn. Alun Armstrong is known as a streaky manager, and we can only hope he's timed this one right. Wheater has certainly tightened us up at the back, even though he's blowing out his a*** after half an hour. Positioning is superb, and his leadership is getting the best out of Jake Lawlor alongside him. Getting fitter all the time, and is proving an inspired signing. York away on Tuesday night - will be a bigger test for them now than it looked 3 weeks ago.

John Askey manager of month for feb always means we lose next game.

 

[Fyldefan]

The announcement of James Rowe has caused a stir on twitter. Not sure what I think really. Clearly a good manager like

 

[Clem Fandango]

He's an absolute fucking knobhead. Hope that helps

 

[hardbutfair]

On second viewing, you may be right, just, but "clear and obvious goal scoring opportunity", don`t think so. Still think the decision was very harsh. And Brackley certainly looked hard done by on the disallowed goal. No comment this end on the second "red" either. Would be very unlike Wilkin, but in his post match interview he was clearly simmering, partly at the decisions, partly, I guess, because of the poor finishing. If Brackley don`t go up, the lack of clinical finshing will be the reason. 19 clean sheets doesn`t quite compensate.

We seem to have addressed the goal scoring problem....

 

[Lucky Bobble]

We seem to have addressed the goal scoring problem....

Here's hoping...

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Tuesday 8 March 2022 National League North results

Att. 832 - Chorley 0 Spennymoor Town 2
Att. 415 - Guiseley 0 Brackley Town 5
Att. 3,579 - York City 3 Darlington 1

 

[Darlo On Tour]

We seem to have addressed the goal scoring problem....

Piece of piss! If I was Brackley supporter I'd be getting excited now. At least the games against Kidderminster & Gateshead are at home. I'd say highly likely those games should decide the outcome of the title race?

Not unless anyone of the top three go on a kamikaze run and throw the title away, although mathematically Fylde ain't really done with yet. They will be if they get beat at Kidderminster on Saturday?

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Apparently we’ve sold 350 tickets online for York away tomorrow night.

Fully expecting a good 600+. Not bad for a Tuesday night, more than what everyone else brings to us on a Saturday.

Fantastic away support 616 at York!

That most likely would have doubled if we'd have played on the original date this Saturday!

 

[Darlo On Tour]

It will be more with this clown in charge.

Never really rated the guy when he was at York!

Is it right he's only in charge till the end of the season? Surely he can't fuck it up at Blyth, poor team at BM last Saturday they were.

 

[Minstermen central]

Good game last night.
Can see why Darlo are on a good run,very organised hard working team but a bit slow at centre half’s and def need a striker.Think you have a chance of reaching play offs.
Would like to see 2nd goal again because Hancox did run a distance before getting ball but looked offside,thought officials were awful and a stonewall handball in first half for a pen,
Darlo fans what your thoughts on ground,great atmosphere just wish your ground had a roof and terrace.

 

[Lucky Bobble]

Piece of piss! If I was Brackley supporter I'd be getting excited now. At least the games against Kidderminster & Gateshead are at home. I'd say highly likely those games should decide the outcome of the title race?

Not unless anyone of the top three go on a kamikaze run and throw the title away, although mathematically Fylde ain't really done with yet. They will be if they get beat at Kidderminster on Saturday?

It's the hope that kills you...

 

[Kenneth Dodd]

It's the hope that kills you...

God what would we give for hope

 

[Swedes]

God what would we give for hope

We gave you hope. It appears to have killed you!

 

[Lucky Bobble]

We gave you hope. It appears to have killed you!

You must be pleased with how your season is turning out? You were bottom when we won a hard fought 1-0 at Brackley I think, but looked far too good to be so low in the table. Perhaps didn't expect you to get into the playoffs given that start though.

 

[Railway Blue]

Never really rated the guy when he was at York!

Is it right he's only in charge till the end of the season? Surely he can't fuck it up at Blyth, poor team at BM last Saturday they were.

Yes only in charge unrtil the end of the season. I think he's more or less burnt his boats now. As for Blyth away its unlikely we'll pick up another away point this season.

 

[Swedes]

You must be pleased with how your season is turning out? You were bottom when we won a hard fought 1-0 at Brackley I think, but looked far too good to be so low in the table. Perhaps didn't expect you to get into the playoffs given that start though.

When you look at our fixtures at the start of the season and the relatively young team we have it's understandable why we didn't start too well. Having games against yourselves, Gateshead, Kidderminster, Fylde, Spennymoor and York does not make for an easy start! The only team to soundly beat us though was York, and even then we played well in the first half.

An upgrade of assistant manager from Jon McCarthy to Terry McPhillips, and an easier run of fixtures made for the 14 match unbeaten league run. This obviously brought the scouts in, and we lost Marcus Carver to Hartlepool and also sold Doug Tharme to Blackpool. Injuries have taken their toll in our small squad too, and we seem to be grinding out results now and don't quite look as threatening as we once did.

I think there is more to this season for us than a play-off push though. We're showing we can develop players and will help them move into a decent level of full-time football if we can. The above mentioned player transfers show that, as do other transfers in recent years (Dion Charles going on to be prolific in League 1 and an international footballer is the best example). If this helps us attract motivated young players in the future then it gives us a good business model to work with, this whilst other teams in the division spend over the odds on journeymen and their fans complain about the bigger budgets of other teams. Whether or not we go up, make the play-offs or even miss out on them completely, I think we've made progress from where we were a few years ago.

 

[Railway Blue]

When you look at our fixtures at the start of the season and the relatively young team we have it's understandable why we didn't start too well. Having games against yourselves, Gateshead, Kidderminster, Fylde, Spennymoor and York does not make for an easy start! The only team to soundly beat us though was York, and even then we played well in the first half.

An upgrade of assistant manager from Jon McCarthy to Terry McPhillips, and an easier run of fixtures made for the 14 match unbeaten league run. This obviously brought the scouts in, and we lost Marcus Carver to Hartlepool and also sold Doug Tharme to Blackpool. Injuries have taken their toll in our small squad too, and we seem to be grinding out results now and don't quite look as threatening as we once did.

I think there is more to this season for us than a play-off push though. We're showing we can develop players and will help them move into a decent level of full-time football if we can. The above mentioned player transfers show that, as do other transfers in recent years (Dion Charles going on to be prolific in League 1 and an international footballer is the best example). If this helps us attract motivated young players in the future then it gives us a good business model to work with, this whilst other teams in the division spend over the odds on journeymen and their fans complain about the bigger budgets of other teams. Whether or not we go up, make the play-offs or even miss out on them completely, I think we've made progress from where we were a few years ago.

Isn't McCarthy now at Connah's Quay Nomads. I see they have had an18 point deduction for failing to register a player correctly. They played 6 games before it was flagged up. I know its not Jon's fault but bad luck does seem to follow him around.

 

[Swedes]

Isn't McCarthy now at Connah's Quay Nomads. I see they have had an18 point deduction for failing to register a player correctly. They played 6 games before it was flagged up. I know its not Jon's fault but bad luck does seem to follow him around.

Wow, a Chester fan NOT blaming Jon McCarthy for something! Now this is real progress!

 

[appletablepenny]

What's happened to all the National League match threads?

Anyway, I hear John Johnston has joined Guiseley.

 

[Railway Blue]

Wow, a Chester fan NOT blaming Jon McCarthy for something! Now this is real progress!

Ok here goes. McCarthy was absolutely clueless. He got a 2 years contract extension after a good run which was largely attributed to Sharps, who left for Walsall and the form dipped. We managed to stay in NL in 2016/17 despite losing the last six games straight. I think he would have gone then, but the the board (equally clueless) had to keep him becasue he still had 2 years on his contract. I hope this board have learnt their lesson and do not give Watson a contract for next season after 8 points from 13 matches.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Saturday 12 March 2022 National League North results

Att. 387 - Alfreton Town 0 Farsley Celtic 0
Att. 852 - Blyth Spartans 1 Chester 3
Att. 583 - Brackley Town 2 AFC Telford United 1
Att. 380 - Bradford (Park Avenue) 2 Curzon Ashton 3
Att. 1,395 - Chorley 2 Southport 1
Att. 838 - Gloucester City 2 Gateshead 4
Att. 715 - Guiseley 0 Boston United 1
Att. 2,771 - Kidderminster Harriers 0 AFC Fylde 1
Att. 887 - Leamington 0 Hereford 0
Att. 1,202 - Spennymoor Town 2 Kettering Town 1

 

[Bluandwite]

First away win on a Saturday afternoon with fans allowed in for 798 days.

Loved today, played well and could have been more. A rare trip home with a smile on my face.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

First away win on a Saturday afternoon with fans allowed in for 798 days.

Loved today, played well and could have been more. A rare trip home with a smile on my face.

I said to Railway Blue surely Watson can't fuck Saturday up at Blyth! They were awful against us but we managed to break them down, after missing chances galore.

It's a good feeling knowing you've had your money's worth with a decent performance from the lads.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

What's happened to all the National League match threads?

Anyway, I hear John Johnston has joined Guiseley.

I think they've all fucked off!

I can't believe he's still only 27-year-old. I thought he was a decent player at Salford.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Good game last night.
Can see why Darlo are on a good run,very organised hard working team but a bit slow at centre half’s and def need a striker.Think you have a chance of reaching play offs.
Would like to see 2nd goal again because Hancox did run a distance before getting ball but looked offside,thought officials were awful and a stonewall handball in first half for a pen,
Darlo fans what your thoughts on ground,great atmosphere just wish your ground had a roof and terrace.

I wish we had a decent ground let alone roof and terrace. I don't see it happening not many supporters like this rugby ground, it's shite!

I don't think we have a future at Blackwell Meadows! All sorts of rumours are up in the air at the moment but nothing is set in concrete.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

It's the hope that kills you...

That hope could soon be turning into joy...

 

[Kenneth Dodd]

That hope could soon be turning into joy...

Last night was a good night with a few beers and not drowning my sorrows for a change.

 

[Lucky Bobble]

That hope could soon be turning into joy...

Well... I am getting more confident we could end up in the top 2.
But I've seen us lose 6 times in the playoffs in the last 16 years, so you'll understand my general skepticism.
Equally, we make hard work of nearly all the victories - not sure for example how much we deserved the 3 points against Telford yesterday. So yes we can go toe to toe with anyone in the division with confidence, but could also fail to win against anyone too. And 5 of the next 6 fixtures are pretty tough.