National League North 2024/25

[David Curries Mullet]

Hopefully we match last years performance. Be happy with a point in reality.

 

[Harrier94]

Could be anywhere between 1st and 8th tomorrow which is mental, such a tight league

 

[Bottega Don]

Hopefully we match last years performance. Be happy with a point in reality.

Our record in the North East is abhorrent, especially on a Tuesday night

We basically can't play worse than we did last year, we quit after the 1st minute in that one

I'd snap your hand off for a point

 

[Prodigal]

We have the horror of going to Buxton and having to play Farsley, just hope we have enough players fit to make up a team, very concerned at the moment.

 

[Bottega Don]

Said I would take a point before kick off but god that was awful, played not to lose rather than to win.

Darlo were the better side and should've won, we got a point because Fitzsimons is a great keeper.

Somehow still 2nd albeit Curzon are level on points with 2 games in hand.

Not sure we will make the play-offs this year we are a terrible football team

 

[Harrier94]

Yeah let's move on from that

 

[Prodigal]

Delighted to get the three points, 4 of our starting 11 were 19 years old, 2 making their debuts, taking into account the wait for the "Home team" to arrive at the ground it was a super result.
Really looking forward to the clash with Curzon at Victory Park on Saturday, bring it on!

 

[Ninety Per Cent]

Enjoyed the beers and the walk out to Darlington’s ground, decent people working there too.
The game though was absolute dog shit, I’d been into work in the morning and put more effort in then our ex-EFL stars

 

[Swedes]

We threw in a stinker at Curzon, and the 1-0 scoreline only reflects how wasteful Curzon were with their chances. Both sides sloppy in possession, but they attacked with pace when we gave the ball away, whereas we slowed everything down and tried to bore everyone in the ground to death each time they cheaply gave away possession. The goal was a header from a corner, which given our complete ineptitude at defending set-pieces is no surprise.

We've got the noisy neighbours from down the A565 on Saturday, and after tonight I can't say I'm looking forward to it.

 

[Bluandwite]

We don't have the best Tuesday night record, especially trying to back up a weekend win so that was a nice one tonight. Oxford came and had a go to be fair, didn't offer too much right up top and most a threat from corners though.

Peers hat-trick, first Chester player to get one since Asante against Telford five years ago.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Braceley is the side to watch, they had a horrendous first two months but must be in some right form because they can also go top if they win both games in hand (like Curzon)

Irrespective morally Curzon are currently out brackeying bracelet, somehow being able to score next to no goals but get up there by conceding even fewer.

Cannot get to many midweek but listened in sounded extremely comfortable but our inability to score is a kicker but a rare home win is a plus.

Now onto Chorley have a terrible record vs them the last two seasons, should have beat them in the play offs last season, we have not done well vs sides near us this season lost games to Scunthorpe, Hereford and Kidderminster when all around us but they were at home and we are more comfortable away.

 

[David Curries Mullet]

Said I'd be happy with a point, but far and away the better team against Scunthorpe, and but for an excellent display from Fitzsimons, and a miraculous goal-line clearance, we would have won as easily as last year. Can see that Scunthorpe have some skilful, technical players, but they have fallen into the "Mark Beck" trap - everything was lofted at his head, but he was never near enough the goal to get a chance, and we made sure we were first to the knock downs he inevitably won. Their no.7 (Clunan) is a right narky sod - if he spent as much time trying to influence play as he does trying to influence the ref to book players, he might have more impact on the side. The full back Barrows was also dreadful.

You can see that we are starting to get it together now - players are getting back to match fitness, and another couple (Hedley and Platt) back on the bench. Just need to put the finishing touch to some of our excellent approach play, and we could yet make a move on the top 7.

Guaranteed defeat at Radcliffe on Saturday now.

 

[Lucky Bobble]

Braceley is the side to watch, they had a horrendous first two months but must be in some right form because they can also go top if they win both games in hand (like Curzon)

Irrespective morally Curzon are currently out brackeying bracelet, somehow being able to score next to no goals but get up there by conceding even fewer.

Cannot get to many midweek but listened in sounded extremely comfortable but our inability to score is a kicker but a rare home win is a plus.

Now onto Chorley have a terrible record vs them the last two seasons, should have beat them in the play offs last season, we have not done well vs sides near us this season lost games to Scunthorpe, Hereford and Kidderminster when all around us but they were at home and we are more comfortable away.

Difficult to say. Eeking out some results, but struggle to score, and are not convincing. Honestly still don't know if we're a good side, or a bang average one.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Games this weekend:

Chorley vs curzon
Hereford vs rushall
Kidderminster vs leamington
Needham vs scarborough
Oxford vs farsley
Radcliffe vs darlington
Scunthorpe vs alfreton
South shield vs peterborough
Southport vs marine
Spennymoor vs buxton
Warrington vs Chester

Probably biggest game of season so far is at Chorley but is a few games this weekend if expected on Boxing Day Southport and Warrington games should have big crowds

 

[David Curries Mullet]

Will McGowan recalled by Gateshead, but immediately replaced by bringing Jack Lambert in on loan from Kidderminster. If can show the form he had last time he was here, then what a signing that is. Don't know if he's fully fit or not, but seems more of a fall out with Phil Brown that's led to it. His best form has always been for us, so hoping that remains the case - didn't work out with Joe Leesley coming back.

 

[Harrier94]

Will McGowan recalled by Gateshead, but immediately replaced by bringing Jack Lambert in on loan from Kidderminster. If can show the form he had last time he was here, then what a signing that is. Don't know if he's fully fit or not, but seems more of a fall out with Phil Brown that's led to it. His best form has always been for us, so hoping that remains the case - didn't work out with Joe Leesley coming back.

I really like Lambert as a player but it hasn't worked this season. He got injured at the end of last season came back clearly overweight and has been playing catchup since.

Feels like he's got a month to convince yourselves to sign him

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Thought I could get to todays game but wasn’t to be blooming kids sickness.

Will listen in, tough game Chorley I have full respect to for this season because they had to rebuild and have done well. We hardly ever play well there although did go when we won 3-0 a few seasons ago.

But if Curzon want to show they are a genuine title contender they need to not be afraid and deliver, they are one of the highest scorers but if you take into account we lost 4-0 at Brackley we have only let in 7 other goals this season so know we can defend.

Game I think will flow like the play off game, they want an early good start and breakthrough to force us out of our game, we will try and dominate possession slowing the game up and not allowing them chances

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Well I didn’t expect that one today.

Red card probably helped in making gulf bigger than it maybe is but we easily could have won that 6-0.

I’d say today will finally add a big target onto Curzon for first time really at this level be a question of if they can deal with it.

 

[Prodigal]

Well I didn’t expect that one today.

Red card probably helped in making gulf bigger than it maybe is but we easily could have won that 6-0.

I’d say today will finally add a big target onto Curzon for first time really at this level be a question of if they can deal with it.

Well the 7 injuries finally caught up with us, even first half we were never in it in the second, Curzon well drilled but spoil and break,up play at every opportunity, Referee was abysmal, no quarrel with Wilson sending off, let himself and team down but really Curzon should have had 2 red cards, first early in game for a clearly thrown elbow and second Mahon for a tackle and stamp in second half.
Curzon clearly are very difficult to break down and took their chances from our poor defensive errors very well, as you said they will have their card marked from now on.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

As brackley or alfreton would tell you, you don’t have a great defence down this league by just being superb defenders, got to be a master of the dark arts also.

Every team down here tries to do it just a handful have become exceptionally good at it

 

[Swedes]

Southport 0-0 Marine

Utter dross today. Marine better in the first half, us better in the second half, but neither side deserved anything. 2464 people went home bored.

 

[Bluandwite]

Burke to the rescue (again) to get a point late on. Shouldn't have got to that though, making such a meal of getting just a draw there is poor. Away form simply not good enough to be considered a serious challenger for promotion as things stand.

Struggle to see how Warrington will stay up based on that. Nothing about them. Only scored through a soft penalty and virtually their only chance other than a few corners.

Also no way they should be letting 900 people in that away end, a dangerous shambles with OAP's having to leap over fences to get out at the end in the pitch black.

 

[DaveBirm1875]

Adam Stevens and Rushall Olympic 'part company' well overdue IMO. Least they are appearing to not be wanting to be relegated with a whimper.

RUSHALL OLYMPIC FC, CLUB STATEMENT: ADAM STEVENS

RUSHALL OLYMPIC FC, CLUB STATEMENT: ADAM STEVENS

www.rofc.co.uk

 

[David Curries Mullet]

Emphatic 4-1 win at Radcliffe. As Jonno said, we seemed to be having our own Goal of the Season Competition - three stunners in the first half, and the 4th wasn't bad either. Had Kelly not hit the bar with his effort from the halfway line it would have been a done deal. The kid has got some confidence now, his goal was a thing of beauty, and he could really make a difference for the rest of his loan. Excellent response to going 1 down. Radcliffe weren't awful and had a few chances of their own but our football was top class. Minutes for Platt and Lambert got 15 or so at the end, providing what we hope will be his first assist of many.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

If night of games tonight:

Alfreton vs Marine
Darlington vs Hereford
Scarborough vs Brackley
South Shields vs Rushall
Warrington vs Curzon

And tonight shows how ridiculously tight this league can be:

Alfreton, Hereford and Brackley can all be in the top 7 tonight and possibly just 3 points off top spot if they win.

South Shields and Darlington would be just a point or two off play offs if they win, big steps considering neither have been troubling it all season.

Marine jump out the relegation zone with a win and of course lastly Curzo. Have a chance to go 3 points clear at the top with a game in hand if they can win.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Well Curzon did what they have been superb at all season last night. Controlled the game away from home didn’t let other side get hardly any chances and scored to win.

8 wins, 1 draw and only that one weird defeat away only 6 goals leaked away and 4 of them were at Brackley.

If we could just play rest of season away title would be ours

 

[Quakerz]

Well Curzon did what they have been superb at all season last night. Controlled the game away from home didn’t let other side get hardly any chances and scored to win.

8 wins, 1 draw and only that one weird defeat away only 6 goals leaked away and 4 of them were at Brackley.

If we could just play rest of season away title would be ours

That's an incredible away record.

 

[David Curries Mullet]

Solid win against Hereford in an uninspiring game. Jack Lambert got his first start (4th home debut for him), and his first goal - lovely little chip over keeper. Hereford equalised, and probably deserved a draw, but a classic Will Hatfield free-Kick saw us take the points. Good to take 3 points whilst not playing particularly well. Not something we are usually good at.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

That's an incredible away record.

Even more ridiculous if you look back into previous season although they drew a lot more.

Curzon lost back to back away games in December 2023, losing at Chorley on 23rd December last year.


Since then it’s 22 away league games, 13 wins, 8 draws and just the 1 defeat.

Add in 16 clean sheets in that last 22 away games. Don’t drastically remember any side with away form like that before.

The worry for Curzon is…….you really should be getting promotion with that away form

 

[David Curries Mullet]

Poor performance against Oxford City. Took lead after less than a minute, but then did nothing of note. Conceded an equaliser, and then, second half, Oxford dropped in to make sure they got a point, and we didn;t have the gumption to break them down. Far too much passing backwards and sideways across the back 4. Really struggle to inject any pace into our forward play, and play far too narrow. Watson/Mitchell really need to come up with a different play when teams sit in against us, as it has happened time and again this season.

Oxford were better defensively than expected for a team with their Goals Against column. Andrews and Parker caused us issues first half, and thought they could have gone on to win it, but they were very negative second half, lots of niggly fouls to break play up, and keeper going down injured every 10 mins. He was very dodgy, didn't hold anything, but we failed to test him anywhere near enough.

The only constant is the lack of consistency it would seem.