National League North 2023-24

[Josh Butler]

Alfreton shaded one of the worst games I've ever seen. We never looked like scoring, they looked slightly more likely, they missed a great chance near the end if normal time

We got sucked into their hoofball match but defended a million long throws very well
Then win the coin flip of spot kicks

Makes you think pens is such a bad way to decide season, just send the higher team through if it ends in a draw.
Not that I'll mind on this occasion!

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Crikey that was bloody hard work to get through when only having to listen and able to go on the computer, feel sorry for them stuck watching it and adding in the nerves!!!!

Don’t know what it is with Alfreton’s sheer ability to make games awful. Both Brackley and Curzon are both of a similar approach to be tight at the back and maybe counter, but at least both will allow games with chances and when the opportunity arises will have a go at the other side.

Alfreton just seems an endless game of going for 15,000 throw ins, it’s effective but not good as a neutral.

It was why I sortve wanted them in the play offs, if you can weather that storm of corners and throw ins your always in with a chance as they won’t fully commit, fair play Boston getting through it, I think Scunthorpe may be happier with Boston just down to fact it will be a more enjoyable game.

 

[Bottega Don]

5.5k sold for Boston so far, Boston sold 800 overnight so imagine they’ll sell their allocation.

Going to be a great atmosphere but we need to overcome our inability to perform in big games. We’ve won 1 of the last 14 in crowds over 5k which is horrific.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

So the other game tonight

Chorley vs Curzon

Again thoughts?

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Personally I think this is a very tough one for curzon, the clubs know each other quite well, played each other a lot, usually a tough place to go but we did thump them 3-0 there a few seasons back…….usually we fare much better vs Chorley at our ground and them at their ground.

All depends on the nerves, we have been a nervous wreck the last two games as it became more a reality than a hope, if we had not played the two worst teams I’d say we would not be here tonight, we made numerous basic errors not expected, a lot of our team hasn’t had this before and that is a worry on how it developed it is currently biggest game in clubs history….a tag which seems to move week or week currently so they have not handled this well.

Saying that will Chorley also handle the pressure of a massive expectant crowd, it is after all ‘only curzon’ and will that pressure add nerves to their side….hard to say.

Think first half crucial, we will face a storm and have to ride it or we will sink, then possibly grumbles will play into our hands

 

[David Curries Mullet]

Chorley possibly best team we played, so would fancy them to have enough.

 

[Prodigal]

Seriously think we will have too much fire power for Curzon tonight, the place will be rocking, if we were to get an early goal then I fear that Curzon may suffer, but if they can hold us at bay the who knows....

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

I agree and that is my fear, I expect us to play you same as we played Scunthorpe and South Shields who play very similar styles and we grabbed 10 points from 12 there…….try to keep possession and defend in the first half and grow into the game during the second with a lot of reliance on holding the line first 20 minutes

Personally I’d rather we threw everyone by just going for it tonight, we are capable of playing a very offensive game when want to since mahon took over and we’re at one stage playing attack home and away, it’s just we can leak goals when we do, and stopped after a poor run, but I just think if we went out and dominated it early it would throw an enormous spanner into the works as everyone expects the opposite and while I have every respect for Preece because of his time at Carlisle he has never been a great manager and if we could possibly flog his pre-match gameplan I am not sure he’d know what to do.

Overall I just hope we turn up tonight game is good and it isn’t decided by some crappy decision and won fairly either way

 

[GTFCfish]

5.5k sold for Boston so far, Boston sold 800 overnight so imagine they’ll sell their allocation.

Going to be a great atmosphere but we need to overcome our inability to perform in big games. We’ve won 1 of the last 14 in crowds over 5k which is horrific.

I do think you’ll win these play off though, your home form seems to have been pretty good throughout the season so I would definitely fancy you to win 2 home games on the bounce against anybody to get promoted.

 

[Bottega Don]

I do think you’ll win these play off though, your home form seems to have been pretty good throughout the season so I would definitely fancy you to win 2 home games on the bounce against anybody to get promoted.

We absolutely should as we have the quality to do so but anything can happen in the playoffs

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Even first half so far we played very well, actually did what I hoped and came out having a go and we’re on top first 29 minutes but Chorley been on top last 20 minutes only one real good chance each so far…..think both sides trying to have a go but neither wanting to fully commit or gamble.

Mahon best player on pitch but he will only last another 20 minutes for curzon. We have gone a little old school today back to curzon of 2-3 seasons ago clipping the e legs, fouling and moaning at the ref….working well so far at frankly stopping Chorley getting going.

Could yet go either way really

 

[Bottega Don]

Two nil nils, a cracking advert for NLN football

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Should have won this game been the much better side.

But it’s 0-0 because we have dominated large spells of the game but lack that quality final ball or touch which Chorley probably have………but they cannot get ball near enough or long enough in our half to use it.

Think we look badly injured at the back may cost us in extra time

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Should have again won it in extra time has been mostly all curzon, but they missed an absolute sitter with 4 minutes to go and now it’s pens.

Hard to say here but really we have no one but ourselves to blame if fail now we had 2 glorious chances and failed both

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Damn out we go.

Could not really have done anymore, restricted the second top scorers to frankly one good chance, dominated large spells of the game but the harsh reality for us is that killer play in the final third is our difference between being 7-9th and 1st-3rd. We got our gameplan spot on today but wasn’t to be as our 2 glorious opportunities were missed.

Bizarrely Chorley did what I was expecting curzon to have to do today, they rode the storms, defended when needed and got themselves through, which at the end of the day is all that matters.

 

[Bottega Don]

Damn out we go.

Could not really have done anymore, restricted the second top scorers to frankly one good chance, dominated large spells of the game but the harsh reality for us is that killer play in the final third is our difference between being 7-9th and 1st-3rd. We got our gameplan spot on today but wasn’t to be as our 2 glorious opportunities were missed.

Bizarrely Chorley did what I was expecting curzon to have to do today, they rode the storms, defended when needed and got themselves through, which at the end of the day is all that matters.

Gutting way to lose but been a great season overall for Curzon, especially when you consider you had your manager poached early on

 

[Prodigal]

Well Big Dave, you can consider yourselves unfortunate but that chance just before the end of extra time, bloody hell 6 of your players collapsed to the floor as he ballooned the ball over the bar! Penalties always a lottery but our Shoot Out Expert, Matt Urwin did the business again with 2 fine saves, great to see our last taker keep his nerve to win the tie for us.
As expected over 2100 in attendance, sadly we didnt play well but generally defended well, better second half when we put the extra midfielder on but as you said you had your fair share of the game and got your tactics spot on, except in front of goal.
We will certainly have to play better than that on Sunday!

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

That big chance at the death would have been very cruel on your lot because it was caused by a very tired Chorley player slipping, but you have to take that opportunity if given.

I more so looked at that massive chance early in second half for us when we put in a cross and Spencer I think it was had a point blank header in front of goal and headed at the keeper…..ah well.

Your lot just never turned up last night at all, the commentators kept saying it was coming and we’d tire but it never happened…….personally I think it was just nerves, that is the great equaliser in these play offs, the likes of Boston and Curzon have to negotiate 3 probable away games but we got our nerves and pressure out the way and handled in them last couple of games of the regular season when we faced must win matches, season ending matches.

Chorley got it for the first time all season last night, Brackley and Scunthorpe will get it for the first time at the weekend…….big different feel when you go from ‘we need to win but have enough points to not worry’ to suddenly ‘we need to win or season over’

It may help you now you have got through one of them matches and your opponent hasn’t. Your lot can relax a little and try and play.

Anyway good luck going forward, no shame losing on pens, you defended well, dug in and held nerve during the pens. Sadly knew Campbell would miss before he took it, he has not come back same time player since going to Macclesfield they have ruined him, hopefully we can work on him in summer

 

[Josh Butler]

Alfreton had a better chance to beat Scunthorpe than us.
We'll try to play bit it'll play into their hands

Crikey that was bloody hard work to get through when only having to listen and able to go on the computer, feel sorry for them stuck watching it and adding in the nerves!!!!

Don’t know what it is with Alfreton’s sheer ability to make games awful. Both Brackley and Curzon are both of a similar approach to be tight at the back and maybe counter, but at least both will allow games with chances and when the opportunity arises will have a go at the other side.

Alfreton just seems an endless game of going for 15,000 throw ins, it’s effective but not good as a neutral.

It was why I sortve wanted them in the play offs, if you can weather that storm of corners and throw ins your always in with a chance as they won’t fully commit, fair play Boston getting through it, I think Scunthorpe may be happier with Boston just down to fact it will be a more enjoyable game.

 

[Josh Butler]

5.5k sold for Boston so far, Boston sold 800 overnight so imagine they’ll sell their allocation.

Going to be a great atmosphere but we need to overcome our inability to perform in big games. We’ve won 1 of the last 14 in crowds over 5k which is horrific.

We're notorious big crowd bottlers
Hereford was a rare exception to win in front kf 4k or in front of a boston away support of mote than 200 or so
Every chance we sh1t ourselves in front of 1400 away fans and 8000 total

 

[joethegill]

Brackley v Chorley is an interesting one, really hard to call. I think Scunny will have too much for Boston at home.

 

[Bottega Don]

Boston have been really impressive against us this season, better time both times we faced.

Their players seemed so much more up for it than ours, we have to change that this weekend

 

[Prodigal]

That big chance at the death would have been very cruel on your lot because it was caused by a very tired Chorley player slipping, but you have to take that opportunity if given.

I more so looked at that massive chance early in second half for us when we put in a cross and Spencer I think it was had a point blank header in front of goal and headed at the keeper…..ah well.

Your lot just never turned up last night at all, the commentators kept saying it was coming and we’d tire but it never happened…….personally I think it was just nerves, that is the great equaliser in these play offs, the likes of Boston and Curzon have to negotiate 3 probable away games but we got our nerves and pressure out the way and handled in them last couple of games of the regular season when we faced must win matches, season ending matches.

Chorley got it for the first time all season last night, Brackley and Scunthorpe will get it for the first time at the weekend…….big different feel when you go from ‘we need to win but have enough points to not worry’ to suddenly ‘we need to win or season over’

It may help you now you have got through one of them matches and your opponent hasn’t. Your lot can relax a little and try and play.

Anyway good luck going forward, no shame losing on pens, you defended well, dug in and held nerve during the pens. Sadly knew Campbell would miss before he took it, he has not come back same time player since going to Macclesfield they have ruined him, hopefully we can work on him in summer

Cheers Dave yes that was a bad miss with the header, I had forgotten about that think you are right we were very uptight and never got going, Brackley has always been a difficult ground for us so perhaps we are due something there am sure we cant play as poorly as that again. Thank God we have a Keeper like Urwin!

 

[joethegill]

Boston have been really impressive against us this season, better time both times we faced.

Their players seemed so much more up for it than ours, we have to change that this weekend

Good side, got some impressive attacking players in their squad and a bit of nous and experience in other areas. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they went up, just think Scunny will do the business at home.

 

[Railway Blue]

5.5k sold for Boston so far, Boston sold 800 overnight so imagine they’ll sell their allocation.

Going to be a great atmosphere but we need to overcome our inability to perform in big games. We’ve won 1 of the last 14 in crowds over 5k which is horrific.?

Any chance you'll beat the 7,511 when you played us?

 

[Bottega Don]

Any chance you'll beat the 7,511 when you played us?

We've just hit 7k tickets so potentially, got a day and a bit to shift 600 more to beat it

 

[Lucky Bobble]

Alfreton shaded one of the worst games I've ever seen. We never looked like scoring, they looked slightly more likely, they missed a great chance near the end if normal time

We got sucked into their hoofball match but defended a million long throws very well
Then win the coin flip of spot kicks

Makes you think pens is such a bad way to decide season, just send the higher team through if it ends in a draw.
Not that I'll mind on this occasion!

Quite agree. Higher team going through is fairer than pens - and at least everyone would know where they stood at say the start of extra time.

 

[Ninety Per Cent]

No way have we sold 5,500 for Saturday

The Burger King and Warranty man must have chucked out more freebies

 

[Bottega Don]

No way have we sold 5,500 for Saturday

The Burger King and Warranty man must have chucked out more freebies

As a man who hates the club more than any rival fan could, I assume you won’t be there?

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

And the there were four……

Play off semis:

Scunthorpe vs Boston

Brackley vs Chorley

Thoughts??