National League North 2024/25

[BigDaveCUFC]

I have been hearing rumours mostly around Facebook that Farsley may have to play up to 17 league games away from home because their pitch has been delayed……would 18 away games in a row be a football record?

Problem is they have not been updating much so be careful if you have them marked away currently it may switch short notice

 

[Railway Blue]

This season's new boys are struggling, in the main. Needham & marine seem a bit toothless, oxford ditto dropping in with us. More of a surprise is radcliffe. I saw them last season & had them down as a play off side in 24-25. They have started badly and although it's early days, it will take some recovering from them, to do anything like what I expected. Is theirs a money issue? With Kevin Campbell passing away, has the money tap been turned off?

They've got nothing up front.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Of the new boys in Oxford they have surprised me I expected better.

I feel sorry for marine they lost a lot of key players from their side in the summer, they will do well to survive.

Needham is an interesting one because I feel they are solid, they battle they don’t look out of depth but they have absolutely nothing going forward and if you cannot score it’s going to be tough.

Not seen leamington yet, they should have knowledge of what went wrong a couple of seasons ago to cope but indifferent start.

Kiddy have done as expected.

Radcliffe have had a shocking start they spent big this summer and hasn’t worked at all

 

[Bluandwite]

I have been hearing rumours mostly around Facebook that Farsley may have to play up to 17 league games away from home because their pitch has been delayed……would 18 away games in a row be a football record?

Problem is they have not been updating much so be careful if you have them marked away currently it may switch short notice

Trying to play at BPA but needs inspecting apparently before confirming, Leamington (next scheduled home opponents) announced it but then deleted.

 

[Quakerz]

Of the new boys in Oxford they have surprised me I expected better.

I feel sorry for marine they lost a lot of key players from their side in the summer, they will do well to survive.

Needham is an interesting one because I feel they are solid, they battle they don’t look out of depth but they have absolutely nothing going forward and if you cannot score it’s going to be tough.

Not seen leamington yet, they should have knowledge of what went wrong a couple of seasons ago to cope but indifferent start.

Kiddy have done as expected.

Radcliffe have had a shocking start they spent big this summer and hasn’t worked at all

Leamington are dull as dishwater, as they always have been. They're absolutely tedious as fuck.

 

[JE93]

Trying to play at BPA but needs inspecting apparently before confirming, Leamington (next scheduled home opponents) announced it but then deleted.

Farsley v Leamington now moved to Alfreton

 

[Bluandwite]

Farsley v Leamington now moved to Alfreton

Could be a record low attendance for the level at that.

Horsfall no longer passes the grade for NLN despite it doing so just over a year ago when BPA were in this division. Lack of press/director seats and poor barriers around running track.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

It’s abit bloody ridiculous though, I mean it isn’t like farsley vs leamington is going to be a big crowd puller……the one stand at bpa would have done enough.

They’d been better trying to get a game at curzon or stalybridge, better transport routes from farsley.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

How’s people do in the fa cup.

We smashed barnoldswick 6-0 more goals for Mols and Buckley ricketts to keep their confidence going.

Home next week can finally get to it been struggling lately to get to games.

 

[Bottega Don]

We made far too many changes and drew 1-1 with Newcastle Town, just a terrible performance all round

We never win in the FA Cup so who knows if we will win the replay

 

[Farsley Arkan]

Yep I too was surprised that the Horsfall game(s) have been switched. Also agree that going at least half of the way to leamintun to play a 'home' game seems weird. Surely somewhere nearer was available? We'd have been better just reversing it like the others.

 

[Farsley Arkan]

SAYING that - I seem to recall some small-print rule about playing games somewhere else that is a further/more awkward journey for the away side being something u r penalised for (financially or pts-wise). So we could play southport at curzon ok, but would get grief if the game was played at York - for example.
So I assume that's the last we'll see of BPA at this sort of level for the foreseeable - regardless of their current playing state.

 

[Farsley Arkan]

Maybe local rivals have been awkward about renting us their grounds? Or we asked & like BPA they dont pass ground grading for our level? From what I've heard - not just tittle tattle but actual news reports - there has been vandalism at Throstle Nest as well as the pitch being dug up. Who knows when we will play actual home games? As said elsewhere on here - dont go booking travelling/accom for coming to us in the league til it certain where the game IS being played ...

 

[Harrier94]

We made a few changes for the cup. Signed a loan CB to cover injuries and he lasted 21 minutes before getting injured. Went in at half time 1-0 down to Leek after a poor first half where we were sluggish.

Second half our fitness levels showed and we dominated Leek, finally got the equaliser on the 78th minute. Thought we'd got a winner on the 92nd minute where the only person in the stadium that saw a foul was the ref as he saw a very soft push as Seb Thompson headed home. If that's a foul you get a fouled everytime you jump for the ball. Leek switched off thinking that was it and we went and scored a minute later.

Avoiding the replay is massive honestly. We've got so many injuries an extra few days to get them back is key

 

[Kenneth Dodd]

A pretty routine win as like everyone else we gave game time to a few players but we didn’t need to get out of second gear to beat a very defensive minded opposition

 

[Lucky Bobble]

Pretty routine from Brackley too - versus a suprsingly toothless Truro City.

We've got a 16 man squad though, so we're 'ravaged with injuries' as soon as anyone gets a knock. Can you do 50+ games part-time with 16 men?

 

[Prodigal]

Mossley made Chorley go all the way as they battled really hard, eventually we did score 20 minutes from the end, result never in doubt then, as they pushed to try and get a goal we added 2 more just before the end.

 

[David Curries Mullet]

We beat West Didsbury and Chorlton 2-1. Missed a few chances as per, but a hard fought win. Hatfield next to go off with an injury. God knows who we'll play on Saturday - only able to name 5 subs on Saturday, and don't think any of them had played a single competitive minute for the first team. The fact we've gone 6 unbeaten, and only conceded the one goal on Saturday in that time is testament to the management team.

 

[David Curries Mullet]

How’s people do in the fa cup.

We smashed barnoldswick 6-0 more goals for Mols and Buckley ricketts to keep their confidence going.

Home next week can finally get to it been struggling lately to get to games.

Was Michael Palin up front for them?

 

[Swedes]

Darlington 3-0 Southport

We were the better side in the first half but went behind against the run of play after failing to track a runner from midfield who slotted home. Second half we changed formation to a 442 and fell apart. Darlo's second goal was from yet another Renshaw clanger, this time passing the ball to their player when under no real pressure. The third goal we left someone unmarked at the back post on a free-kick, who had time to have a touch before firing it home.

The referee was shocking, but that's no surprise in our league. I suspect he was trying to let the game flow, but missed obvious fouls from both teams quite frequently.

 

[Bluandwite]

Made very heavy weather of getting past Rushall, but we got there and now this good run has got us up to second lurking just behind Scunthorpe.

Attack v Defence training session basically, they put 11 men behind the ball from the off, got one sent off and then retreated even further if that was possible. Wouldn’t be surprised if it broke some sort of possession record if the stats lads studied it as that was as close to 100% as you will get. They scored from a penalty, pretty much their only attack of the match.

Fear for Rushall, I liked them last season, put in the best visiting performance at the Deva and had something about them. A million miles from that today though.

 

[Bottega Don]

We were awful yesterday but with better finishing should have actually won.

We missed Whitehall dreadfully, Ubaezuonu being injured as well meant we didn't start with a striker and it showed.

 

[Quakerz]

Darlington 3-0 Southport

We were the better side in the first half but went behind against the run of play after failing to track a runner from midfield who slotted home. Second half we changed formation to a 442 and fell apart. Darlo's second goal was from yet another Renshaw clanger, this time passing the ball to their player when under no real pressure. The third goal we left someone unmarked at the back post on a free-kick, who had time to have a touch before firing it home.

The referee was shocking, but that's no surprise in our league. I suspect he was trying to let the game flow, but missed obvious fouls from both teams quite frequently.

Agreed that the referee was shocking.

Booking Leesley in the 2nd minute for a robust tackle. You like to see players given 10 minutes to settle into the match before the ref starts throwing cards around - always a bad sign when he's reaching for his pocket on the first bit of competitiveness as it usually sets the tone for the rest of his performance..

Southport reminded me of Alfreton but only half as good, loads of niggly fouls and shirt tugs. Loads of complaining when things went against them.

From our point of view a good win, we were defensively solid and that's now 6 clean sheets in a row in the league. Remarkable considering how hammered we have been with injuries all season.

 

[Quakerz]

Made very heavy weather of getting past Rushall, but we got there and now this good run has got us up to second lurking just behind Scunthorpe.

Attack v Defence training session basically, they put 11 men behind the ball from the off, got one sent off and then retreated even further if that was possible. Wouldn’t be surprised if it broke some sort of possession record if the stats lads studied it as that was as close to 100% as you will get. They scored from a penalty, pretty much their only attack of the match.

Fear for Rushall, I liked them last season, put in the best visiting performance at the Deva and had something about them. A million miles from that today though.

Rushall are shite. I think what saved them last season was that in the latter part of the season they were able to get 2 or 3 ringers in on loan from Walsall. If they can't do that this season then I suspect they will be doomed.

Looking at the table after 9 matches it is already remarkably close to how I expect it to end after 46 matches. Nearly all of the teams I expect to be near the bottom are already there with the exception of Farsley who I expect to slowly sink, and the top half is already populated by the usual suspects - perhaps move Darlo and Brackley a little bit higher in place of Farsley, maybe Scarborough will drop back a few places.

 

[Swedes]

Agreed that the referee was shocking.

Booking Leesley in the 2nd minute for a robust tackle. You like to see players given 10 minutes to settle into the match before the ref starts throwing cards around - always a bad sign when he's reaching for his pocket on the first bit of competitiveness as it usually sets the tone for the rest of his performance..

Southport reminded me of Alfreton but only half as good, loads of niggly fouls and shirt tugs. Loads of complaining when things went against them.

From our point of view a good win, we were defensively solid and that's now 6 clean sheets in a row in the league. Remarkable considering how hammered we have been with injuries all season.

This is why I like to see the viewpoints of opposition fans. I thought Darlington players were as guilty as manhandling as we were, the main difference being our players tries to stay on their feet and complain whereas your players would hit the floor (and in one case curl himself around the ball without trying to play it and still somehow get a free-kick). It looked to me as though you were deliberately trying to play for set-pieces as that has been our main defensive weakness this season.

Anyway, we've had our usual defeat at Blackwell Meadows, and at least it's out of the way relatively quickly this season.

Finally, what has gone on with your pitch? We know with it being shared with a rugby club it wouldn't be perfect, but that was as bad as I've ever seen at this level at this time of year.

 

[Quakerz]

This is why I like to see the viewpoints of opposition fans. I thought Darlington players were as guilty as manhandling as we were, the main difference being our players tries to stay on their feet and complain whereas your players would hit the floor (and in one case curl himself around the ball without trying to play it and still somehow get a free-kick). It looked to me as though you were deliberately trying to play for set-pieces as that has been our main defensive weakness this season.

Anyway, we've had our usual defeat at Blackwell Meadows, and at least it's out of the way relatively quickly this season.

Finally, what has gone on with your pitch? We know with it being shared with a rugby club it wouldn't be perfect, but that was as bad as I've ever seen at this level at this time of year.

I don't know whether we were trying to play for set pieces or not, I can't say I noticed really, but playing for set pieces against a team known to be weak against them would be a valid tactic I'd say.

If we did in fact do that, then it would show our management to be knowledgeable and tactically sound - this is something we didn't have for several seasons before Steve Watson took over.

As much as I liked Alun Armstrong it seems as though in hindsight he was a bit "just go out and play boys" and we often got bettered by more savvy teams. And Josh Clowning and Tommy Wright were just terrible managers.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Yesterday vs sports was really a game we should have won by a massive margin, yet realistically in the end should have lost, yet dragged a point out of it with 10 men.

First 70 odd minutes was Curzon with chance after chance after chance after chance, ripping them to bits yet somehow just not getting the ball into the net either through lack of conposure or bad luck or last gasp holding on from them but it was ridiculously one sided and easily could have been 7/8-0 on another day.

It stayed 0-0 and in typical fashion (and we have all seen these types of games at all levels) they get a free kick about 25 yards out and smack in a superb goal to go a goal up.

Still pressure from us and looking not our day, more so when reduced to 10 men but finally a chance went in near the end for 1-1.

Wasted points but if it could just fully click up front we’d have a chance of the title but until then we drop too many points even if looking dangerous in spells

 

[Quakerz]

Of the new boys in Oxford they have surprised me I expected better.

I feel sorry for marine they lost a lot of key players from their side in the summer, they will do well to survive.

Needham is an interesting one because I feel they are solid, they battle they don’t look out of depth but they have absolutely nothing going forward and if you cannot score it’s going to be tough.

Not seen leamington yet, they should have knowledge of what went wrong a couple of seasons ago to cope but indifferent start.

Kiddy have done as expected.

Radcliffe have had a shocking start they spent big this summer and hasn’t worked at all

I wonder what will happen to the Radcliffe finances now that they've sadly lost their chairman? Was he financing that big spending?

 

[David Curries Mullet]

This is why I like to see the viewpoints of opposition fans. I thought Darlington players were as guilty as manhandling as we were, the main difference being our players tries to stay on their feet and complain whereas your players would hit the floor (and in one case curl himself around the ball without trying to play it and still somehow get a free-kick). It looked to me as though you were deliberately trying to play for set-pieces as that has been our main defensive weakness this season.

Anyway, we've had our usual defeat at Blackwell Meadows, and at least it's out of the way relatively quickly this season.

Finally, what has gone on with your pitch? We know with it being shared with a rugby club it wouldn't be perfect, but that was as bad as I've ever seen at this level at this time of year.

Your centre halves spent the whole game with their arms around Maskell. The incident from the corner in the first half was ridiculous -the ref studiously avoiding looking at the blatant holding happening less than 1 yard away from him. You had more of the ball first half, but without really looking like scoring. Bentley totally ruined any chance you had when he pulled Lloyd back into midfield. He disappeared from the game, after looking likely to get you something all game up until then. Thought Quansah looked very good, and like your Will Hatfield lookalike at full back. You just looked toothless, save the chance of a Lloyd screamer, which was strange bearing in mind your goals tally.

As for us, good debut from Will Macgowan, and an excellent one from young Evans on loan from Morecambe. Flint was again outstanding in the midfield, and good to get 80 mins into Leesley. We are well drilled and hard to play against. Once Main is back, we will be even more a threat going forwards.

 

[GEORGE]

Yesterday vs sports was really a game we should have won by a massive margin, yet realistically in the end should have lost, yet dragged a point out of it with 10 men.

First 70 odd minutes was Curzon with chance after chance after chance after chance, ripping them to bits yet somehow just not getting the ball into the net either through lack of conposure or bad luck or last gasp holding on from them but it was ridiculously one sided and easily could have been 7/8-0 on another day.

It stayed 0-0 and in typical fashion (and we have all seen these types of games at all levels) they get a free kick about 25 yards out and smack in a superb goal to go a goal up.

Still pressure from us and looking not our day, more so when reduced to 10 men but finally a chance went in near the end for 1-1.

Wasted points but if it could just fully click up front we’d have a chance of the title but until then we drop too many points even if looking dangerous in spells

Did'nt you lose your owner this week ?