National League South 2021-22

[#Beebot]

Shame to see Billericay at the bottom of the table.

Who're Dorking? Are they the side with the weird Chairman?

I went to see Slough v Billericay last night. The away side were not very good and were lucky to snatch a point. They gave poor Shaq Coulthirst very little service before subbing him.

 

[Farleigh]

Billericay have held Havant, Maidstone and Ebbsfleet to draws recently. Not bad for a side bottom of the table. They‘re a tough side and really should escape relegation if Braintree or Welling slip up.

 

[Colinmorriswalksonwater]

They lost today at home, quite comprehensively apparently.

 

[Farleigh]

Looking on Football Web Pages the top half of the table mostly won, with maybe four strong teams who could win the league. With many top teams due to play each other soon, nobody can afford to drop points.

 

[Clem Fandango]

Had a look at Chippenham's run in which is mental, every team they play until the end of the season is a promotion contender.

 

[Clem Fandango]

Chippenham lost yesterday and Mike Cook goes with mutual consent. Seems very similar however to when he left our place...

 

[joethegill]

I've been to three of the four play-off games this week so thought I'd offer my thoughts on progress. Didn't see Oxford progress past Eastbourne, but that wasn't a major shock as Eastbourne have been in poor form towards the end of the season and Oxford relatively consistent all year.

Dartford 0-0 Chippenham Town (2-3 on pens) - probably the only shock of the play-offs this year, with Chippenham having only snuck into 7th place on the final day. Scrappy first half, but Dartford bossed the second period without having any sort of killer touch in front of goal. Chips hit the bar late on, but extra time seemed inevitable from about 70 mins. Again, scrappy play won out with Chippenham seemingly playing for pens which they achieved. 3 good saves from Town keeper Will Henry in the shootout and the Darts were out.

Dorking Wanderers 3-0 Oxford City - Easy street for Dorking, who scored twice in the first half on a baking hot day, and then early in the second half to wrap it up nice and early. They were a total step up in quality from their hosts, and on another day would've scored 5 or 6 if they'd had to. In the event, they had the opportunity to take some players off and save them for the final, and as a result were a little slack in the latter stages, giving away good chances to Iaciofano, Bancroft and Owusu, none of whom had the potency of the Dorking front pair Rutherford and Prior.

Ebbsfleet 1-0 Chippenham Town (AET) - Boiling hot the day before, treated to an absolute downpour the day after. Fun! As with Dartford on Thursday, Chippenham showed little ambition to attack too regularly, leaving it to the ball-hungry Fleet to try and carve an opening. Thanks to some profligacy in front of goal, plus an over-officious linesman it ended 0-0 in normal time, but sub Lee Martin curled in from 15 yards early in the first period of extra time for the only goal, but one that Fleet absolutely deserved.

So the final is Dorking Wanderers v Ebbsfleet United, 2nd v 3rd from the regular season. The pair drew a few weeks back at Stonebridge Road, but at Meadowbank I think Dorking will fancy their chances. Both play a similar shape with their 3-5-2/3-1-4-2 so tactically it'll be interesting to see if either side blinks. I think Dorking have the nod in terms of goalscorers in their side, but Ebbsfleet are an experienced group and of course are no strangers to the National League.

 

[Joe.]

Dorking have given us an allocation of 910. Very, very generous considering they only have to give us 450 and had a near sell out in the Semi against Oxford City.

£20 a ticket is a bit steep mind! Hoping to get a ticket, but relying on a mate being able to get me one as can't get to the ground! Both clubs are in talks with the League with regards to streaming the game.

As for our chances, we'll have to be very switched on at the back. We played the majority of the game at their place with 10 men and lost 5-1. Quietly confident, should be a great game!

 

[Fleetfanwest]

Ebbsfleets squad for this season is pretty awesome, virtually two full strength teams could be fielded.
Kutrieb has certainly been thorough in his research of players judging by his acquisitions.

 

[Harrier94]

Ebbsfleets squad for this season is pretty awesome, virtually two full strength teams could be fielded.
Kutrieb has certainly been thorough in his research of players judging by his acquisitions.

Sterling James is brilliant but so frustrating. He can smash a ball from anywhere and turn defenders inside out. But when it's not going right you're playing with 10 men basically

 

[Fleetfanwest]

Sterling James is brilliant but so frustrating. He can smash a ball from anywhere and turn defenders inside out. But when it's not going right you're playing with 10 men basically

Very often the case with talented players, grafting isn't their forte, fortunately we have such a strong squad if he's playing and having an off say we have more than adequate replacements.

 

[Fleetfanwest]

Sorry off day.

 

[GEORGE]

What a great final that was today. Full credit to both teams.

 

[GEORGE]

I see Torquay United have appointed Paul Wooten from Truro City and Neil Warnock has joined as football advisor. I reckon they will be favourites for promotion next season.

 

[joethegill]

I see Torquay United have appointed Paul Wooten from Truro City and Neil Warnock has joined as football advisor. I reckon they will be favourites for promotion next season.

Very tough to call that this early to be fair. Boreham Wood, Dorking, Worthing and Maidstone are all better bets for a title charge in my opinion, money would be on Dorking at this moment in time.

 

[kieran_vale]

See John Askey has taken over at Truro City. On the face of it that’s a hell of a coup for them though with the caveat he’s never managed a team south of us in his career. Hope it goes well for him, his career going back to with us though seems to follow a similar pattern of starting well but then not getting recruitment right and his rather inflexible approach to setting up teams eventually comes back to bite him.