National League North 2023-24

[Quakerz]

It is risky because it may lead to cards but for me if I were Blyth I’d be telling their players to foul a couple of Brackley players early into the game, their eye will be on fitness for play offs it may rock them.

Farsley tactic is really to get that lead early and force Blyth into acting, but I don’t but into this approach neither can win, have seen many a last day with Carlisle and teams can be inspired to drag a result out or be that nervous they collapse.

I suppose for Blyth also an early goal may dent the confidence of farsley who then know tough to turn around

Well there is no escape for Blyth now, losing 4-0 at home to Brackley and Farsley beating Buxton 2-0.

Only Buxton coming back to win 3-2 saves Blyth and fat chance of that happening with Buxton already having their pipe and slippers out.

 

[Bottega Don]

Resting players is proving a mistake right now as we are losing 1-0 to Gloucester

 

[Bottega Don]

Managed to turn it around with the subs and win.

Weirdly we've got to thank Darlington for saving our season, that 4-0 loss really woke us up. Only one loss since that game and it was the complete robbery against Spennymoor

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

We scraped in…….only grabbing a draw away at rock bottom who had 10 men wasn’t a good way to enter play offs but seen a lot of nerves last week so maybe same today and key was to get into them than anything else.

Chorley for us not easy as we not done well vs them of late

 

[Prodigal]

Looking forward to Wednesday at home to Curzon, wont be easy at all but we must be favourites, in reasonable form going into this series of games, who knows what will happen. Much rather face Curzon than Boston.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

On paper I think we are the weakest side but we grabbed 39 Points away from home and it’s better than any of the other play off teams so can be confident we know how to play away.

I’d rather Alfreton, not because I think it’s easier, no game is relatively easy because all have been in decent form, but because I feel they play like ourselves and game will be 50/50 and won by an odd goal or pens.

Chorley will dominate the game, possession and chances, that is how they approach and how we approach playing them sides, we have to ride, through ot and create our own and try and win.

My worry is that can work on occasion but not 2-3 games in a row

 

[Bottega Don]

Really not sure who I would rather face out of Alfreton and Boston.

Alfreton play the worst football in the division, constant time wasting and just horrific to watch. Boston have been the better team against us twice this season, they seem to be really up for it when they play us

Both look very difficult propositions

 

[Bluandwite]

The penny finally dropped for Calum today, at long last acknowledgement that we are a ridiculously small team and we need to sign some big lads. I like how he looked like he’d discovered penicillin when saying it.

I mean, we aren’t going to turn in to Alfreton, but it’s a start.

 

[Harrier94]

Should finally start making myself comfortable back in here on a regular basis.

Everything is pointing to Phil Brown staying, but the team needs a complete rebuild. Penn was far to kind and generous with a team that got a lucky promotion and kept too many players who are average NLN at best.

If we can keep Dibble and Shane Byrne and build the team around him Caleb Richards, Jack Lambert who are already here next season.

And if Brown doesn't stay I want us to go for Liam McDonald, he's done a great job with Rushall.

 

[Quakerz]

Looking forward to Wednesday at home to Curzon, wont be easy at all but we must be favourites, in reasonable form going into this series of games, who knows what will happen. Much rather face Curzon than Boston.

Is Donowa getting a game for you?

 

[SpennyfanChris]

Play Off's
Quarter Final (Eliminator - 7.45pm Kick Off's)
A Alfreton Town v Boston United (Tue 23rd April)
B Chorley FC v Curzon Ashton (Wed 24th April)

Semi Final (3pm Kick Off's)
1 Scunthorpe United v A Winner (Sat 27th April)
2 Brackley Town v B Winner (Sun 28th April)

Final (@ Highest Placed Home Team, Sat 4th May, 3.30pm)
3

The Eliminator and Semi Final games will be on National League TV and the Final will be on TNT Sports 1

 

[Prodigal]

Is Donowa getting a game for you?

He was recalled by Altrincham at the end of his month loan, was quite impressive in the 3 or 4 games he played, he played at RB.

 

[joethegill]

I thought Curzon Ashton were appalling yesterday, never really looked like scoring against a Bishop's Stortford side who seemed intent on providing them with openings. If anything Stortford had the best chance of the game around the hour mark through Critchlow. Still, Curzon got what they needed so fair play!

 

[Swedes]

We were comfortably beaten by South Shields yesterday, again showing our ability to make stupid mistakes which lead to all of their goals. It made a change to go to a match that actually didn't matter much to us, and was enjoyable despite the defeat. Glad to put this season to bed, it's been a slog for us but luckily with some very enjoyable away days.

 

[DaveBirm1875]

Good luck to all the play off teams, big ups to Rushall for staying up, a fantastic achievement by Liam McDonalds pics

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

I thought Curzon Ashton were appalling yesterday, never really looked like scoring against a Bishop's Stortford side who seemed intent on providing them with openings. If anything Stortford had the best chance of the game around the hour mark through Critchlow. Still, Curzon got what they needed so fair play!

It’s the type of games curzon hate, favourites to win, not battling against the odds, expected to score etc etc

Last two seasons these exact
Games are what cost us a top 7 place, this season we were hammered away at Gloucester and scraped away wins at Blyth and Banbury……don’t know why but we cannot raise game for these.

Plus we looked damn nervous vs Gloucester last week I’d imagine it was even worse Saturday, I know people will look to Scunthorpe and claim the pressure is all on them but I think it’s also there massively for curzon, biggest games in the clubs entire history.

All other sides in the play offs have a good chance next season of being top 7 again, it isn’t a case for curzon it may be their only chance, you have Radcliffe coming ip, maybe Macclesfield Ashton United or Hyde…..competition for players. Our players are not used to being under pressure and think it showed in last two games.

At least now we have a game more suited our way, away at a much bigger side, more expectation on them, the expectation we will probably be the easy tie, battling to play at the same level……them things we usually thrive at.

 

[Harrier94]

It’s the type of games curzon hate, favourites to win, not battling against the odds, expected to score etc etc

Last two seasons these exact
Games are what cost us a top 7 place, this season we were hammered away at Gloucester and scraped away wins at Blyth and Banbury……don’t know why but we cannot raise game for these.

Plus we looked damn nervous vs Gloucester last week I’d imagine it was even worse Saturday, I know people will look to Scunthorpe and claim the pressure is all on them but I think it’s also there massively for curzon, biggest games in the clubs entire history.

All other sides in the play offs have a good chance next season of being top 7 again, it isn’t a case for curzon it may be their only chance, you have Radcliffe coming ip, maybe Macclesfield Ashton United or Hyde…..competition for players. Our players are not used to being under pressure and think it showed in last two games.

At least now we have a game more suited our way, away at a much bigger side, more expectation on them, the expectation we will probably be the easy tie, battling to play at the same level……them things we usually thrive at.

You're writing your game against Chorley off already as a win then? Very brave that!

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

No jist suggesting these games play more for us than playing the bottom sides do. We have a poor record vs Chorley so it isn’t easy.

Just answering the question saying curzon looked crap vs bishops, I don’t find it that surprising because curzon seem to like to play that dogged little underdog vs larger better supported sides…….when it comes to playing easier games vs similar sized clubs and we are the favourites we seem to struggle to get that hard working team ethic going which usually is how we do ok here.

I think the Chorley game will run with them dominating possession, dominating chances, us trying to keep them out at all costs and hoping as game goes on their fanbase will turn on the team for not being in front.

I don’t drastically see us ‘coming back’ into game if behind, but we will create a couple of good chances and probably will score a goal…..our away record suggests we will.

Question is whether Chorley take advantage of their early domination or fail in it allowing us to then take advantage.

I’m not afraid of being 7th, we took 39 points this season away we k ow how to win but I personally would rather have got Alfreton here than Chorley, think this is the tough one.

 

[Quakerz]

I like how he looked like he’d discovered penicillin when saying it.

Hahaha, love that description, I may have to steal it in the future.

He was recalled by Altrincham at the end of his month loan, was quite impressive in the 3 or 4 games he played, he played at RB.

He always played right wing for us and always impressed.

 

[Railway Blue]

Are they still managed by that pair of gobshites?

Why do you say that ~~ very unfair, even though I was glad when they were sacked.

 

[DaveBirm1875]

are the gobshties bernard morley and johnson? lol i remember them from years back, they always had very high opinions of themselves

 

[Bottega Don]

Do they do an Official Team of the Season at this level?

I would imagine Jas Singh, Jacob Butterfield and Paul Blackett are locks for it. Not sure about the rest

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

So we have our first play offs tonight:

Alfreton vs Boston

What are the views on how it may go tonight??

 

[Prodigal]

So we have our first play offs tonight:

Alfreton vs Boston

What are the views on how it may go tonight??

I imagine Alfreton will stick to their game plan, "if it moves kick it, if it doesnt then kick it till it does", I feel Boston will win though in this game, cant imagine it will be a good game to watch.
Are you planning on visiting Victory Park for the game, Big Dave?

 

[DaveBirm1875]

So we have our first play offs tonight:

Alfreton vs Boston

What are the views on how it may go tonight??

Boston strikers could be the difference, newton and knowles are very good at the level. could be a tight one

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Sadly no I cannot even do home games midweek my partner works late evenings to save childcare so I have the 5 and 2 year olds.

Will pay to watch it online, surprised i cannot get both games for a tenner and only the one….I could pay £10 for sky and get all play off games.

Shame midweek they are trying to ramp up support but I’d say 100 tops, depends how many fans of say Oldham, Hyde Mossley and stalybridge May just nip over to support, saying that 100 is pretty much over half our support so isn’t bad numbers.

Interesting if they segregate it, on paper silly to do so because normally both clubs mix in usual games.

Your going to have 2000 off their we will walk a little into the lions den, but will that crowd inspire or worry your team we won’t know till kick off

 

[Prodigal]

Sadly no I cannot even do home games midweek my partner works late evenings to save childcare so I have the 5 and 2 year olds.

Will pay to watch it online, surprised i cannot get both games for a tenner and only the one….I could pay £10 for sky and get all play off games.

Shame midweek they are trying to ramp up support but I’d say 100 tops, depends how many fans of say Oldham, Hyde Mossley and stalybridge May just nip over to support, saying that 100 is pretty much over half our support so isn’t bad numbers.

Interesting if they segregate it, on paper silly to do so because normally both clubs mix in usual games.

Your going to have 2000 off their we will walk a little into the lions den, but will that crowd inspire or worry your team we won’t know till kick off

Shame you cant make it, hope the stream goes well. I think we are expecting around 2000 and doubt that the game will be segregated, we have never had any bother with you guys, home or away. Will the crowd be a help or a hindrance, only time will tell but if we get off to a decent start and everyone gets behind us then it will be difficult for you guys but am expecting a tough game, have to be honest and say I do expect to win. Cmon you Magpies.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Meant to say for tonight I personally felt Alfreton would win this as they are good at home and Boston have not delivered last few games.

Then Alfreton tonight put up a madcap post saying how they have not lost at home in months and listed the continuous home games without defeat.

That Twitter post is so leading to a first home defeat

 

[Harrier94]

Been confirmed that Phil Brown is staying with us along with Neil McDonald

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Tried to listen in to game tonight but it’s been shocking.