28th February Conference Match Thread

[DarkSithLord]

AFC Telford v Alfreton
Aldershot v Dartford
Altrincham v Barnet
Eastleigh v Macclesfield
Forest Green v Southport
Gateshead v Bristol R
Grimsby v Braintree
Kidderminster v Halifax
Lincoln v Woking
Nuneaton Welling

massive games wherever you look tomorrow.

At the top new Conference leaders Bristol Rovers face a tough looking trip north to face play-off chasing Gateshead. While Barnet who lost their berth at the summit for the first time since August visit Mid table Altrincham looking for a swift improvement on their dismal 2015 form. Elsewhere Macclesfield who havent played for two weeks will be looking for all three points from an away trip to the Silverlake Stadium to take on an out of form Eastleigh

Some huge games at the bottom too none more so then at the New Bucks head where Alfreton can all but seal Telfords fate while giving their own survival hopes the power of good and if results go their way could climb out of the bottom four for the first time since September.

Elsewhere Aldershot will be looking to pull further clear from the bottom four when they host Dartford who will be fresh having not played themselves for two weeks.
There is a third relegation 6 pointer taking place tomorrow in Wawickshire as 23rd placed Nuneaton host a Welling side who are in awful form having lost all of their previous 7. Both sides will be desperate for the three points and if Nuneaton were to lose they could perhaps start planning for Conference North football next season

 

[DarkSithLord]

Oh and of course there is the small matter of the Two FA Trophy Semi Final Second legs

Torquay v Wrexham (agg 1-2)
North Ferriby v Bath City (agg 2-2)

 

[Urban]

What's the alty pitch like? This game won't be easy and I really, really hope that MA pulls some fresh ideas out of his head. Forget this long ball business now.

 

[TheGas]

Would take a draw tomorrow probably. Still have few key players out but we'll have a fully fit squad next week when Easter is set to play at the mem for the first time since joining

 

[The_Boss]

John Askey is making all the right noises at the moment, he's fully concentrating on us winning the league, not just being happy with where we are. Unfortunately I think we'll come up short with despite us getting a good draw down there tomorrow, I think its really a must win game. Though a point could look great depending how other results go.

 

[Luke Imp]

Just Diagne missing for us, so we'll probably line-up:

Farman

Miller
Bencherif
Brown
Cranston

Adams
Nolan
Power

Marshall
Burrow/DSY
Tomlinson

 

[BeesKnees]

Must match what Bristol and Macc do, if we bettter it then so much the better.

Our form is misleading, imo, We had 2 good wins, ran Wrexham close with 10 men and then got beat with Akinde missing.
We will be direct and we will put the ball at Akindes feet at evey opportunity. Last time Alty couldn't handle him so we shall see if they can this time. Personally I feel we need to mix things as we get found out when plan A fails so please MA give us some pace on the wings and get them back to when they played fast passing fooball rather than route one. Togwell will probably miss out but Clifford is looking a really good player so no problem with that, Stephens looked injured and has had injury problems all season so Saville will play.

MA keeps going on about trusting these players to do the job but so far he has been too rigid with selection and failed to give some of our talent a fair shout imo, Gambin and Vilhete are top quality players with the direct style and pace that the team has been screaming out for. Dare I say it, but the long throws of Muggleton that send the opposition 40-50 yards back up the pitch, whilst not pretty are very effective at forcing the opposition onto the back foot and have not played a part since the end Sept have also been missed, having made one and scored one in the last 10 min as a sub against Southport I'm pretty surprised he hasn't seen more action since.

So I'm hoping we see some players with pace who like to keep the ball and also make some use of a few assets we've been holding back.
Team for me is
Stack
Yiadom NGala Saville Johnson
Vilhete Clifford Weston Luisma
Macdonald Akinde

Muggleton, Gash, Gambin, Cook, Nurse (or Stephens\Togwell if fit enough) on the bench

 

[Greenacres]

Rovers are in the position of needing others to fail, to have any chance of making the play-offs, but at the same time must continue the form that sees the team undefeated since the turn of the year. A difficult game tomorrow against Southport, but aren't they all like that. Rovers took until well into the second half last Saturday against Telford to find the net, then couldn't manage that feat at Wrexham on Tuesday, but will hopefully have enough to take all three points tomorrow.

Two players injured at Wrexham on Tuesday evening, Wedgbury and Norwood, are extremely unlikely to feature, so my starting line up would be:

Arnold
Bennett, Clough, Raccine, Kelly(c)
Guthrie, Sinclair, Kamdjo, Frear
Fleetwood, Parkin

Subs: Russell, Pipe, Coles (if he has completed his suspension, otherwise probably someone from the youth team), Oliver, Marwood

 

[ComeOnIrene]

Excited, nervous and very wary ahead of our trip to Gateshead. It's not only our longest trip of the season but it's our first since hitting top spot and we couldn't have asked for a tougher game!

It will be a real test of our credentials and I am not convinced we will get the result we (Gasheads, obviously!) all want, although I would love to be wrong. The Heed were the best team I've seen at The Mem this season and I am expecting a similarly difficult match tomorrow.

Come on Gas, show us what you're made of!

 

[BeesKnees]

Excited, nervous and very wary ahead of our trip to Gateshead. It's not only our longest trip of the season but it's our first since hitting top spot and we couldn't have asked for a tougher game!

It will be a real test of our credentials and I am not convinced we will get the result we (Gasheads, obviously!) all want, although I would love to be wrong. The Heed were the best team I've seen at The Mem this season and I am expecting a similarly difficult match tomorrow.

Come on Gas, show us what you're made of!

Gatesheads home record is really poor, 2 wins in the last 8. They even lost to Nuneaton a couple of weeks ago.

Scratch that, just realised Bristol have only won 3 of their last 8 away. Ooooohhh!!!

 

[Chris FGR]

Two players injured at Wrexham on Tuesday evening, Wedgbury and Norwood, are extremely unlikely to feature, so my starting line up would be:

Arnold
Bennett, Clough, Raccine, Kelly(c)
Guthrie, Sinclair, Kamdjo, Frear
Fleetwood, Parkin

Subs: Russell, Pipe, Coles (if he has completed his suspension, otherwise probably someone from the youth team), Oliver, Marwood

I'd go with that team, but would maybe add another more attacking option to the bench rather then just having 3 out and out defenders and a goalkeeper, maybe someone like Corby Moore or even Keiron Forbes.

 

[Greenacres]

Gatesheads home record is really poor, 2 wins in the last 8. They even lost to Nuneaton a couple of weeks ago.

Scratch that, just realised Bristol have only won 3 of their last 8 away. Ooooohhh!!!

Yeah, maybe, but it seems like the last time they lost there was a bloke called Cabot wandering around the streets of their city trying to find a crew for his boat!!!

 

[Greenacres]

I'd go with that team, but would maybe add another more attacking option to the bench rather then just having 3 out and out defenders and a goalkeeper, maybe someone like Corby Moore or even Keiron Forbes.

I'm not sure that Keiron will ever play for us again, Moore is a good shout, but I have a feeling that Bender might get a seat on the bench instead of Oliver.

 

[Chris FGR]

You're probably right on Forbes unfortunately. Good player and as far as I know he's not a trouble maker, plus he's always been good with and willing to help out the youth players which again points to no problems character-wise , so it's strange that he's been completely frozen out.

With Bender now signed I would also expect him to be ahead of Oliver, who is now apparently completely out of favour.

 

[rudebwoyben]

AFC Telford v Alfreton
Aldershot v Dartford
Altrincham v Barnet
Eastleigh v Macclesfield
Forest Green v Southport
Gateshead v Bristol R
Grimsby v Braintree
Kidderminster v Halifax
Lincoln v Woking
Nuneaton Welling

massive games wherever you look tomorrow.

At the top new Conference leaders Bristol Rovers face a tough looking trip north to face play-off chasing Gateshead. While Barnet who lost their berth at the summit for the first time since August visit Mid table Altrincham looking for a swift improvement on their dismal 2015 form. Elsewhere Macclesfield who havent played for two weeks will be looking for all three points from an away trip to the Silverlake Stadium to take on an out of form Eastleigh

Some huge games at the bottom too none more so then at the New Bucks head where Alfreton can all but seal Telfords fate while giving their own survival hopes the power of good and if results go their way could climb out of the bottom four for the first time since September.

Elsewhere Aldershot will be looking to pull further clear from the bottom four when they host Dartford who will be fresh having not played themselves for two weeks.
There is a third relegation 6 pointer taking place tomorrow in Wawickshire as 23rd placed Nuneaton host a Welling side who are in awful form having lost all of their previous 7. Both sides will be desperate for the three points and if Nuneaton were to lose they could perhaps start planning for Conference North football next season

I didn't realise Welling have lost their last 7 matches. That gives you and the other teams in the bottom 4 hope, eh?
As for us, we have to take the match to Alty and make greater use of our players with pace such as Vilhete and Gambin (scratch Marsh-Brown out as it appears he's truly beyond the point of no return with us now).
The last time we played at Alty was back in '91. Alty were title challengers alongside us and demolished us 4-1, where a certain Paul Showler shone for them. The match kicked off at 1pm,. due to it being shown live on Sportscast, a satellite channel that was showing live Conference football at the time. I went on the Supporters coach, which basically broke down as we arrived at Moss Lane. It took hours for a solution to be found to ferry us back to Barnet so we ended up having a kickabout on Alty's pitch, we stayed in Alty til 9ish and didn't get back to London until 1am! That makes the traffic works that might delay Barnet fans tomorrow a bit tame!

 

[Gas Go Marching In]

I'm very wary of tomorrow's game against Gateshead. We were lucky to beat them at home. The pressure is on now we've hit the top and it is not going to be an easy game. I think we'll get a draw which wouldn't be that bad a result, depends on how Barnet and Macclesfield get on.

 

[Shotsfan1993]

Win tomorrow and we are almost safe. Lose and its squeaky bum time again.

Our away run in worries me. We still have to play 4 of the top 5 away!

 

[Greenacres]

You're probably right on Forbes unfortunately. Good player and as far as I know he's not a trouble maker, plus he's always been good with and willing to help out the youth players which again points to no problems character-wise , so it's strange that he's been completely frozen out.

With Bender now signed I would also expect him to be ahead of Oliver, who is now apparently completely out of favour.

Keiron is one of the few players, past or present, who I have actually spoken with. He came across as a humble and modest lad, quietly spoken, the sort who lets his football do the talking and like you I can't figure out what he has done wrong.

You are right about Oliver, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he leaves the club in the summer, cannot see him ever being higher in the pecking order than Raccine, Clough or Coles.

 

[The_Boss]

Matching the Rovers and Barnet results at least would be a great weekend.

 

[Gladders]

Seem to have the easiest tie on paper out of the top 10, at home to a side with nothing to play for, probably means we will lose, but a 1-0 win will do again.

 

[ComeOnIrene]

Gatesheads home record is really poor, 2 wins in the last 8. They even lost to Nuneaton a couple of weeks ago.

Scratch that, just realised Bristol have only won 3 of their last 8 away. Ooooohhh!!!

I'd noticed they hadn't won many of their last few home games, but given our away record, which you gleefully displayed , I am not getting carried away. It will be a really difficult game and if we can win it then we will have overcome one of our toughest assignments of the season.

Our away form is frustrating because we lead most games yet inexplicably concede equalisers (Chester, FGR, Dartford to name a few). We need to kick that habit if we're to win the league, that's for sure!

 

[Sparrow]

Need to win tomorrow really. A good chance to make some ground with tight games being played in the division.

 

[Cardsfan]

Agreed. If we don't win tomorrow it's almost out of sight. Think it will be a draw though with Lincoln's home form.

 

[Davidimp]

Score first and you'll be fine, our bunch haven't a clue if they go behind.

 

[Gashead]

Tough games for the top 3 tomorrow, expect Grimsby to gain ground on somebody, maybe all three teams.

I'd just about take a draw at Gateshead despite their poor form, presuming the other results went our way/meant that nobody gained ground. However, with them pushing for the play-offs it should be an open game and, if that's the case, one I think we can win.

 

[Davidimp]

Just Diagne missing for us, so we'll probably line-up:

Farman

Miller
Bencherif
Brown
Cranston

Adams
Nolan
Power

Marshall
Burrow/DSY
Tomlinson

Had an op today and was giving the big am I and dont you know who am I and of course no one did!!! TIT!!!

 

[TheGas]

Estimation of 100 rovers fans on our flight earlier. Few flags up in the airport just as we left. Now for a night out in newcastle. Can't wait. UTG

 

[eightiesrobin]

What's the alty pitch like? This game won't be easy and I really, really hope that MA pulls some fresh ideas out of his head. Forget this long ball business now.

There's nothing to fear from the pitch, it's been fine all season. Granted I haven't seen it for two weeks, but weather has been nothing out of the ordinary.

 

[Nansan]

Tough games for the top 3 tomorrow, expect Grimsby to gain ground on somebody, maybe all three teams.

I'd just about take a draw at Gateshead despite their poor form, presuming the other results went our way/meant that nobody gained ground. However, with them pushing for the play-offs it should be an open game and, if that's the case, one I think we can win.

Since we played you in December we have won 3 drawn 2 and only lost once in the league, that said if you go at us from the off you will win.

 

[Clarkey_GTFC]

With the top 3 all being away this is a good chance for us to gain some ground, I'd be a little surprised if all 3 should win. I fear Braintree will be extremely difficult though, although that fear comes from us probably conceding a stupid goal before/after finally breaking them down and getting a goal, opposed to getting the goal itself.

I think we have a full fit squad, with just Palmer lagging behind a bit but could make the bench. He'd be a big boost, we're gonna need all the attacking options we can get if we're gonna break down Braintree.