National League North 2023-24

[BigDaveCUFC]

Another excellent home win vs Brackley, more fortunate this time because they created some good chances but clearly both clubs have similar issues of being able to play very well but not taking chances made enough times…….thankfully for us we got the breaks this time but it only balanced out last Tuesday when really a 4-0 win in terms of play ended up a 2-1 defeat on the scoresheet.

At present the side seems the most balanced and strongest it’s beeen at this level, has its best chance of play offs if it can ride luck with injuries.

Got to capitalise on Tuesday, am hoping their crucial defeat Saturday home to Darlo has rocked them abit

 

[Clem Fandango]

We haven't beaten Curzon at home in seven years, with the injuries we have I'd be surprised if that changes tonight.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

We have completely dominated the opposition in our last 4 away matches we seem to go away from home now to attack and will control large spells of play.

But we don’t score from our play, we won two of them, lost one and drew one….and one of the wins was an injury time goal, should have won all four but nearly won none of them.

So you have a chance, we are a team very confident currently so expect it tough we have not recently been the usual mass counter attack Curzon, but we sometimes don’t work as hard can the bottom sides them games cost us the last two seasons.

Harsh reality for our lot though is your bottom 4, if we want finally to break into them play offs we must win tonight, does your club usually have a good stream??

 

[Prodigal]

Will be watching the stream in the Social Club at Chorley tonight, this is a must win for us, poor result and below par performance at Scunthorpe on Saturday, need to bounce back tonight to consolidate our play off position.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Well bigged us up too much today, deservedly losing and we’re very very slack and sloppy that first 25 minutes….really struggling with crosses into the box

Got more into it as half went on, now dominating possession but not many chances apart from one about 30 seconds before they scored which really should have went in.

Still it’s only the one goal and if it stays that way nerves may well creep in for them allowing us to up the pressure but we need to make more actual chances or will lose it

 

[Prodigal]

Excellent away performance tonight saw a comfortable 4-1 win at Banbury, a plus point is that Curzon lost so we now move up to 3rd in the table. Curzon come to Victory Park on Saturday, another important game for both sides.

 

[Bottega Don]

How do the Play-Offs work in this league? If we finish second, do we just have one home game to get to the final?

 

[GTFCfish]

but a very difficult away game at Dcunthorpe on Saturday.

Yeah that Dcunthorpe look a good side.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Atrocious from curzon last night, fair play Gloucester on a deserved win.

We didn’t play horrible, had a lot of the ball and play but we were extremely sloppy large chunks of the match, gave ball away at crucial moments, and could not handle a single cross into the box from them all game.

Finishing was again the crucial aspect on both their first and second goals about one minute previous Curzon had a massive opportunity to score and failed…….only for them to go onto the attack and score……could have been 2-0 curzon and instead 2-0 Gloucester…….a constant failing for us this season is lack of clinical goals.

Season wise it’s another example of Curzon’s constant problem…..a totally different response to teams top half or bigger clubs to struggling teams…..is no point working socks off vs top half sides to then flog it vs the poorer, those points are the difference between a play off spot or midtable

 

[Prodigal]

How do the Play-Offs work in this league? If we finish second, do we just have one home game to get to the final?

Yes, second and third straight to semi final, 4 -7 play each other.

 

[Clem Fandango]

Didn't see that one coming! Good performance, hopefully we can get something at Farsley....

 

[Railway Blue]

Defensi

Chester doing us a favour to keep us top

I can see Chester getting involved in the Title fight now after a slow start, they're building momentum

Defensively we're great , but struggling for goals. I think Tom Peers will feature on Saturday. Kole Hall is back, but he's not a goal scorer.

 

[Railway Blue]

.

How do the Play-Offs work in this league? If we finish second, do we just have one home game to get to the final?

Yes join the play-offs at the s/f stage. Like us last year, but we just never turn up in the play-offs.

 

[Prodigal]

Looking forward to todays clash at home to Curzon, always a difficult side to break down but apart from the Scunthorpe game we are in good form and am expecting 3 points today, hopefully a decent attendance too.

 

[Bottega Don]

We play Buxton away today. As a result of police advice, our fans will be held back after the game to avoid any clashes between fans.

At our next away game against Farsley, there will be no segregation as police don't think it's needed.

Mental stuff

 

[Prodigal]

Well for the benefit of Big Dave Curzon played some lovely passing football in the first half and had the majority of possession but were clueless as soon as they got within 25 yards of goal. First goal for us an own goal, keeper flapped at a cross and the player behind tried to head back to him only for it to go in. Second Rus gave defence no chance following a through ball from Ubaezuounu. Definite penalty in second half and keeper saved from Ubaezuounu only for re ound to fall to the onrushing Johnso for a tap in. Curzon then became completely ragged and picked up bookings all over the pitch before Hazlehurst finished off another excellent move for the Magpies. Very convincing win today.

 

[Bluandwite]

We play Buxton away today. As a result of police advice, our fans will be held back after the game to avoid any clashes between fans.

At our next away game against Farsley, there will be no segregation as police don't think it's needed.

Mental stuff

Buxton have a few fans, Farsley don't, that's the difference. Mind you the latter certainly appear to be a well run club from my experience.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

We play Buxton away today. As a result of police advice, our fans will be held back after the game to avoid any clashes between fans.

At our next away game against Farsley, there will be no segregation as police don't think it's needed.

Mental stuff

A sensible decision. It was the norm many years ago keeping away fans in the ground.

I don't think Farsley segregate to be honest, not to my knowledge.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

No excuses against the Bishop's we were piss poor!

Fully deserved their victory, and they were shite as well.

 

[GEORGE]

What

No excuses against the Bishop's we were piss poor!

Fully deserved their victory, and they were shite as well.

What the hell has happened to Darlington. If your not careful you'll be in the Northern Premier next season. A proper football league club.

 

[Clem Fandango]

Awful performance at Farsley. Even with them going a man down it didn't change a thing other than a couple of late balls which nobody attacked. Massive improvement needed for tomorrow, our home form generally is very good. Away we've not even scored in 5 games and yet to win since April. Has anyone got a worse record?

 

[Darlo On Tour]

What

What the hell has happened to Darlington. If your not careful you'll be in the Northern Premier next season. A proper football league club.

I don't think we have to be careful. I think it's inevitable sliding into the Northern Premier next season.

I just don't see a way out under Gowling.

What a difference a year makes after trouncing Scarborough 5-2 on Boxing Day and returning to the top of the league last season.

Football League days fantastic memories.

 

[Bottega Don]

Good win for us today in a challenging game.

Farsley sat everyone behind the ball and defended brilliantly for 50 minutes until we finally broke them down. Once we got the 1st there was only going to be 1 winner.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Well that was a frantic game at Curzon today.

Two sides who clearly worried about their defence after the last couple of games but the two sides approached their defence issues in such drastically different ways.

Curzon played to an offensive possession game with the exact constant stream of pass pass pass, tap tap tap get out wide then……fail, time and time and time again, either because no one in box or too many trying to cross ball in and none getting into box or a poor cross, but it was constant for 90 minutes of pass pass pass, out wide and fail……..

Southport meanwhile seemed to go the mass defence approach of 9-0-1, play numbers in their half and hope……and hope is what they got because while curzon dominated the play, Southport went. 1-0 with their first attack and 2-0 with their second, both very good goals and they do have talent when in an offensive position but don’t really try and do that.

Curzon just kept it going and going mass tappy tap, mass of possession, lots in their half but few chances, while Southport now 2 up and growing into the game did on an odd occasion have 2 sometimes 3 men in the curzon half.

The key moment was right on half time when finally one of Curzon’s 50,000 passing moves to the wing finally led to a goal and at 2-1 it meant game was more on and knife edge.

Second half curzon completely dominated upping their effort, mind it still mostly involved passing and going wide but was starting to put pressure on Southport who now had to dig in hits deep to hold on……you’d think a change of approach maybe for Southport here…..try to stop the passing game of get people into the curzon half, but no they constantly say back allowing curzon total control of play, ball and possession seemingly trying their hardest to not venture into the curzon half at all unless curzon passed ball into it for them.

Mind it nearly worked because Curzon’s biggest issue of a lack of killer edge almost cost them again we totally dominated but chances were few and then suddenly BANG some space and room outside the box and a smashed 25-30 yarder into the net for a much lay deserved 2-2.

Surely now the flogged 2 goal lead would change the approach of the game……nope curzon still mass dominated everything and it depended on whether they could grab a winning goal which they did and even then when 3-2 down Southport amounted to pretty much almost never getting into the curzon half and at best their offensive style was going 8-0-2, have never seen a side so uninterested in even trying to get back into a game they were losing.

A curzon win, richly deserved for the mass amount of possession and offence we threw into the game today, but the warning sides still there of flapping in defence and our lack of killer touch possibly letting 3 deserved points go, thankfully this time not.

 

[Prodigal]

Very good 3 points for us at Spennymoor, we never win there but today was a real team performance, attacked on the counter and were clinical unlike Spennymoor who failed to beat Matt Urwin in terrific form, even saving a first half penalty. Our second half performance was excellent and Spennymoor never really threatened our goal.
Looking forward now to the return game on Saturday.

 

[Swedes]

Well that was a frantic game at Curzon today.

Two sides who clearly worried about their defence after the last couple of games but the two sides approached their defence issues in such drastically different ways.

Curzon played to an offensive possession game with the exact constant stream of pass pass pass, tap tap tap get out wide then……fail, time and time and time again, either because no one in box or too many trying to cross ball in and none getting into box or a poor cross, but it was constant for 90 minutes of pass pass pass, out wide and fail……..

Southport meanwhile seemed to go the mass defence approach of 9-0-1, play numbers in their half and hope……and hope is what they got because while curzon dominated the play, Southport went. 1-0 with their first attack and 2-0 with their second, both very good goals and they do have talent when in an offensive position but don’t really try and do that.

Curzon just kept it going and going mass tappy tap, mass of possession, lots in their half but few chances, while Southport now 2 up and growing into the game did on an odd occasion have 2 sometimes 3 men in the curzon half.

The key moment was right on half time when finally one of Curzon’s 50,000 passing moves to the wing finally led to a goal and at 2-1 it meant game was more on and knife edge.

Second half curzon completely dominated upping their effort, mind it still mostly involved passing and going wide but was starting to put pressure on Southport who now had to dig in hits deep to hold on……you’d think a change of approach maybe for Southport here…..try to stop the passing game of get people into the curzon half, but no they constantly say back allowing curzon total control of play, ball and possession seemingly trying their hardest to not venture into the curzon half at all unless curzon passed ball into it for them.

Mind it nearly worked because Curzon’s biggest issue of a lack of killer edge almost cost them again we totally dominated but chances were few and then suddenly BANG some space and room outside the box and a smashed 25-30 yarder into the net for a much lay deserved 2-2.

Surely now the flogged 2 goal lead would change the approach of the game……nope curzon still mass dominated everything and it depended on whether they could grab a winning goal which they did and even then when 3-2 down Southport amounted to pretty much almost never getting into the curzon half and at best their offensive style was going 8-0-2, have never seen a side so uninterested in even trying to get back into a game they were losing.

A curzon win, richly deserved for the mass amount of possession and offence we threw into the game today, but the warning sides still there of flapping in defence and our lack of killer touch possibly letting 3 deserved points go, thankfully this time not.

A fair report, particularly our "0" in midfield. First half was an even game, second half was an abject surrender from us and we barely got out of our half. We've been like that for a few games now, sitting off teams and getting punished for it. We seem to be slipping back into the relegation battle again.

 

[Clem Fandango]

Good game for a neutral, sadly I wasn't one of them. Key injuries told again for us, as losing players in certain positions means we have absolutely nothing on the bench to replace them with other than franky southern League quality players like Joe Parker. Hereford had Williams back, and Ceesay on good form. Pinchard for us was clearly up for it against his old club and had a great game. After going a goal down we went in front but player injury forced us into substitutions that aren't good enough and it showed. Hereford came at us last ten minutes with wave after wave of attacks and scores, fortunately chalked off. But then a free kick somehow found it's way in at the last gasp and they won it.

Not sure either club will be looking forward to the refs report. Game was stopped at one point as Hereford fans had thrown stuff at Jeacock and moved the goal posts. Then at the FT whistle Pond then over indulged in the celebrations towards our support which ended in a hail of missiles being thrown at him as well, with a pint landing on him. Further issues in the ground and outside with fighting.

 

[Pride Of Yorkshire]

Arca and gowling have both got the sack

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Well for the benefit of Big Dave Curzon played some lovely passing football in the first half and had the majority of possession but were clueless as soon as they got within 25 yards of goal. First goal for us an own goal, keeper flapped at a cross and the player behind tried to head back to him only for it to go in. Second Rus gave defence no chance following a through ball from Ubaezuounu. Definite penalty in second half and keeper saved from Ubaezuounu only for re ound to fall to the onrushing Johnso for a tap in. Curzon then became completely ragged and picked up bookings all over the pitch before Hazlehurst finished off another excellent move for the Magpies. Very convincing win today.

Sorry on delayed reply, thanks for report, couldn’t go but didn’t sound good. The talk is tired legs has killed us recently, trying to play a high press passing game on heavier pitches and catching up that backlog of games hurt the team and then led to constant changing of players rocking the stability.

Although I see no issue in a thumping at Chorley, you’ve been in top 7 pretty much all season, it’s a tough away game and can easily get beat or thumped in it.

What hurts us is being one goal ahead in the 95th minute of a game and somehow losing or going away to a Gloucester side in bottom four all season and being hammered…..then lost points hurt more come end of season

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

A fair report, particularly our "0" in midfield. First half was an even game, second half was an abject surrender from us and we barely got out of our half. We've been like that for a few games now, sitting off teams and getting punished for it. We seem to be slipping back into the relegation battle again.

The biggest problem I see for your lot was there seemed zero actual purpose or approach to what your doing.

Couldn’t see a style or a tactic or an approach to the game other than completely flood your own half with players and hope for some luck.

I suppose it nearly worked because first shot and second chance both went in but it’s not going to work much.

And I’m certainly not against direct or long ball football, I’d rather a long ball side knowing what it’s doing than a team passing side to side all game with no purpose but your side didn’t seem to even know what style formation or way to play…..has alot to sort in January