2017/18 National League North

[JE93]

As we're both now free Curzon's home game v Darlo has been moved to the 30th September from the 2nd December.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

its a weird one considering the original game i think was a saturday!

I can only guess both clubs think its better now and A: dodge a possible winter posponement or B: free a sat later on for possible Trophy games.

 

[JE93]

its a weird one considering the original game i think was a saturday!

I can only guess both clubs think its better now and A: dodge a possible winter posponement or B: free a sat later on for possible Trophy games.

Yeah those are the only reasons I can think of too. Must apologise though. Our recent form means that not too many are going to make the trip despite Curzon being a great little ground in this league.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Former Alfreton defender Ryan Wilson has departed Matlock and signed for AFC Telford.

His 4th club of the season! He originally signed for Coalville. However he went for a trial at Southport which meant his contracted with Coalville was cancelled. Hos trial was unsuccessful and he moved to Matlock before now signing for AFC Telford.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Yeah those are the only reasons I can think of too. Must apologise though. Our recent form means that not too many are going to make the trip despite Curzon being a great little ground in this league.

Excellent news, here's me thinking I wouldn't have a game to go to on the 30th September.
Yeah I like going to Curzon It's a decent ground to visit, I think the following will probably depend on how well we manage to perform on Saturday at Boston United where we took 234 on that visit last season.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Well back to league football here's Saturday's fixtures for the 23rd September 2017.

Boston United vs Darlington
Brackley Town vs Curzon Ashton
Chorley vs AFC Telford United
Gainsborough Trinity vs Salford City
Harrogate Town vs York City
Kidderminster Harriers vs Blyth Spartans
Leamington vs Bradford Park Avenue
Nuneaton Town vs Southport
Spennymoor Town vs Alfreton Town
Stockport County vs North Ferriby United

Well, next stop Boston United for me on Saturday, I thought we were very fortunate last season to come away with a fantastic 2-1 win. I'm hoping for some response from last Saturday's disgraceful performance in the FA Cup. Whether that happens is another matter? But I'll be their cheering the lads on.

Should be a decent attendance for the Yorkshire derby at Harrogate. Big test for Alfreton to see how far they've come in this league at Spennymoor, that should be an interesting clash. Also Blyth are on the up, that'll be a test at Kidderminster.

 

[rudebwoyben]

We've signed James Pearson, who definitely doesn't have a controversial past

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/leicester-city-racist-orgy-video-5794654

He was great for us in the half-season he played for us in 15/16. If it weren't for his injury record he'd be at a top-half League 2 club.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

We really hit into our 'hope for the best' spell of the season with some extremely tough games coming up where really just grabbing anything will be the bonus.......Brackley away, Harrogate home, Spennymoor away all sides which are doing well.

I think we'll give them more a game than earlier in the season, we finally ditched that long-ball style and went back to passing which has helped us look more solid, we play a lot of keep-ball, only problem we have is trying to score because we play pretty much 5-3-2 all passing game and it is hard to get players forward to support attacks........I think that is why Flanagan attempted a long ball game, but it just made it worse as our players couldn't work it.

Tough game at Brackley and i think if my fave's for the title are to win the title they have to win these games, they won't be beating the stronger full time sides so need their points built vs all the rest, but I hope we can try and frustrate them and see if we can nick it.

Game i am interested in elsewhere strangely is Nuneaton Vs Southport, mostly because we expected Southport to be crap....but then came this amazing start. Now they have had 4 big thumpings in a row, but mostly against teams expected to do well......I want to see how they do here vs another crap side to see if A: they are just having a blip or B: they are going to drop like a rock and just had a good start based on a confidence boosting day 1 win.

 

[wilsontown]

It's a big game for us, Harrogate are flying and I'm a bit concerned that if they score first we're in for a 6-1 thumping like at Guiseley and Gateshead last season. But we have two things in our favour: firstly, we are away. And secondly, Harrogate are a decent side and will come at us. We seem to play well against decent sides but have no idea what to do when teams sit in and play for a point.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Big test of our credentials at Spennymoor tomorrow. We are 7 unbeaten and having being growing game by game in the league but that was against weaker opposition and at home. Going to be really tough having played on Tuesday and travelling all the way up there. Will be delighted with a point.

 

[MWS]

NFU at home for us tomorrow. Despite our lowly league position, our home form has been excellent and we remain unbeaten at EP since November last year!

It very much is a must win for us tomorrow, although I believe we are having some injury issues at the moment! Even so, we should have enough to beat NFU!

 

[Harrier94]

NFU at home for us tomorrow. Despite our lowly league position, our home form has been excellent and we remain unbeaten at EP since November last year!

It very much is a must win for us tomorrow, although I believe we are having some injury issues at the moment! Even so, we should have enough to beat NFU!

Was that when we beat you?

Blyth at home for us. Not expecting a win as we have an injury crisis at the moment. Will Longbottom has done his ankle ligaments after a tackle at Deeping and had his loan cut short, Mcquilkin missed last week, Bradley along with the birth of his child has been injured, Ironside still isn't 100%, Croasdale is still on leave for personal reasons. Those on top of the long term injuries to Truslove and Vaughan and our squad is quite thin in midfield surprisingly.

 

[McGillsBeard]

It's a big game for us, Harrogate are flying and I'm a bit concerned that if they score first we're in for a 6-1 thumping like at Guiseley and Gateshead last season. But we have two things in our favour: firstly, we are away. And secondly, Harrogate are a decent side and will come at us. We seem to play well against decent sides but have no idea what to do when teams sit in and play for a point.

Bit like Gainsborough you mean? That was world class timewasting!
And yes, more chance of a decent performance away in front of a sell out..
Still loving this league!

 

[rocknrollnobody]

I'm hoping Harrogate come at us and it's an exciting game. Nearly 3000 tickets sold, last I was told by a reliable source. To make the game all ticket on the Wednesday before the Saturday game is a bit weak though. Glad I got my ticket early!

 

[MWS]

Was that when we beat you?.

No, you guys beat us at the end of October last year. It was Bradford PA who beat us on 19th November 2016. Last team to take 3 points away from EP.

 

[Lucky Bobble]

We really hit into our 'hope for the best' spell of the season with some extremely tough games coming up where really just grabbing anything will be the bonus.......Brackley away, Harrogate home, Spennymoor away all sides which are doing well.

I think we'll give them more a game than earlier in the season, we finally ditched that long-ball style and went back to passing which has helped us look more solid, we play a lot of keep-ball, only problem we have is trying to score because we play pretty much 5-3-2 all passing game and it is hard to get players forward to support attacks........I think that is why Flanagan attempted a long ball game, but it just made it worse as our players couldn't work it.

Tough game at Brackley and i think if my fave's for the title are to win the title they have to win these games, they won't be beating the stronger full time sides so need their points built vs all the rest, but I hope we can try and frustrate them and see if we can nick it.

Game i am interested in elsewhere strangely is Nuneaton Vs Southport, mostly because we expected Southport to be crap....but then came this amazing start. Now they have had 4 big thumpings in a row, but mostly against teams expected to do well......I want to see how they do here vs another crap side to see if A: they are just having a blip or B: they are going to drop like a rock and just had a good start based on a confidence boosting day 1 win.

Important game for us too. No bad results recently, but a run of draws and the loss to Salford - need to get back to winning ways. Last year our home form wasn't good - couldn't win many close games. Better at turning close games into wins this season, but not ruthless enough in front of goal in my opinion to be serious contenders for anything above 3rd or 4th, and perfectly capable of having those 'off-night midweek' games. Looking forward to the game though - hope your boys give you a performance BigDave, but that we get the 3 points. Sounds like you'll have trouble scoring - our defence is good. Probably end 3-0 Curzon now.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

I am going for 1-0 to your lot. I think we sorted our errors when we had run of thumpings and are harder to break down...........mostly because we will try and keep ball for 90 mins. But the quality difference means you should break us in end.

But we will just get half chances......it is whether they go in. To be fair we wont come and mass defend, just we have a strong centre and wings is your best bet

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Think we must have a new signing in today.....no news yet, but our twitter says 'exciting pre-match news reveal'.....shall see.

 

[DL5]

We've brought in Adam Dawson, 24yr old winger from Tranmere on a month's loan, hopefully he'll spark the revival.

 

[Harrier94]

We've brought in Adam Dawson, 24yr old winger from Tranmere on a month's loan, hopefully he'll spark the revival.

There's a reason he's played for so many different clubs for his age. He never settles anywhere. Knowing him he'll impress on loan then you'll sign him permanently only for him to turn crap and you're left with him on your books.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Curzon have signed Ritchie Baker from FCUM.

I thought he only joined them from Fylde in the summer.....must have been poor for them, but an attack midfielder is something we needed.

 

[CFC4LIFE]

Wow. We tried our best to lose it after battering them in the first half, what happened at kiddy! What a game

 

[Harrier94]

Mental game. Both teams decided they didn't want to defend and just went to outscore the each other. Dunno whether to be angry that we've conceded 4 at home or delighted we score 5 and won .

 

[Darlo On Tour]

We've brought in Adam Dawson, 24yr old winger from Tranmere on a month's loan, hopefully he'll spark the revival.

He certainly did down at Boston today, he had a fairly decent game with some nice touches on the ball.
Put some great crosses into the box, but not a soul in sight on the receiving end of most of them.

One thing for sure the lad has got a little bit of talent, it just depends whether he wants to use it all the time, or just wants to drift in and out of games.

The gaffer took him off in the second half, I'm not sure whether that was down to lack of match fitness.
Only slight negative I could give him today, was he was trying to impress too much.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Curzon have signed Ritchie Baker from FCUM.

I thought he only joined them from Fylde in the summer.....must have been poor for them, but an attack midfielder is something we needed.

Jesus they must be running out of players by now at FCUM. Everybody is doing a runner at the club.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Spennymoor 2-1 Alfreton

Flat and disappointing performance. Injures to key players and our excursions on Tuesday night took their toll. We looked sluggish and wasted what chances we did create Spennymoor are an good side but nothing special. |They did enough to win just about on what was a pretty forgettable game and trip.

Next up.. the inconvenience of a mid season friendly at East Midlands Counties League neighbours Selston FC to celebrate their new floodlights. Their manager played over 200 games for us and Wayne Bradley used to a manager and chairman there.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Well the game down at Boston was a slight improvement from last Saturday's fiasco against Shields.
Strange game we created absolutely nothing other than a great shot by Cartman and a trip on Saunders in the penalty box, and surprisingly up stepped Thompson to blast it home.

Adam Bartlett once again came to our rescue with a great penalty save in the first half, and the one he tipped over in the second half was out of the top drawer. Even at this early stage of the season this guy surely must be a contender for player of the season for us.

As I say we looked comfortable enough to see out the game at one nil up, and then came the calamity defensive errors that happen time and time again. Once Boston equalized they looked only one winner and that was the home team. I would say a draw was probably a fair result over the 90 minutes.

Bartlett once again was man of the match, followed by Dom Collins also Saunders played very well.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Mental game. Both teams decided they didn't want to defend and just went to outscore the each other. Dunno whether to be angry that we've conceded 4 at home or delighted we score 5 and won .

I wonder if Pete Jameson had his polo mint gloves on, he use to wear them for us.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Saturday 23 September 2017 National League North Results

Att. 1,051 - Boston United 1 Darlington 1
Att. 473 - Brackley Town 2 Curzon Ashton 2
Att. 1,125 - Chorley 3 AFC Telford United 2
Att. 706 - Gainsborough Trinity 0 Salford City 1
Att. 2,800 - Harrogate Town 2 York City 0
Att. 1,524 - Kidderminster Harriers 5 Blyth Spartans 4
Att. 502 - Leamington 2 Bradford Park Avenue 1
Att. 553 - Nuneaton Town 3 Southport 0
Att. 634 - Spennymoor Town 2 Alfreton Town 1
Att. 3,071 - Stockport County 4 North Ferriby United 1

 

[DarkSithLord]

I see Ashley Chambers got another hat trick for Nuneaton to add to the one he got in the FA Cup last week v Kings Lynn. Surprised as he was poor and wasteful against us.