Isthmian 2014/15

[DarkSithLord]

Surely they can't lose to Redhill? They looked utterly hopeless when I saw Worthing play them in Decenber.

They found a leveller 4 minutes from time. Finished 1-1.

Hornchurch won 2-0 at Canvey.Big win

 

[Silver Stone]

2-1 over Lewes, score flatters them honestly.

Margate being held at Canvey means we're now 10 points clear. I'm starting to get a little confident...

 

[Anon]

The flop continues. Even if we hang onto a playoff place (looking increasingly iffy at this stage if games in hand below are won) we'd be crawling into the playoffs.

 

[publeaguelegend]

First half was dire, thankfully we managed to step it up after the break. Jay May was on top form, fantastic punch to score his second! Absolute peach of a free kick pulled one back for Lewes.

Roll on 'Ricay.

 

[Paddy]

Beat Witham 2:1 at home on the weekend. 3 points closer to missing out on the play offs!

we'll most likely be losing Tolfrey for a period of time fairly soon due to Bognorgate so that'll be our season over.

 

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

This is a weird old league. Prior to tonight only two teams in the top 11 (Hendon and Leatherhead) had recorded more than two victories in their last five fixtures. A number teams really struggling for form (most notably Dulwich - what's happening there?) and a real scrap developing for fifth...

 

[Silver Stone]

Prior to tonight Cracking win at an in-form Bill and Ricky for us.

Hendon's win pushes Margate down to third, do we have to worry about them more than 'Gate?

 

[rudebwoyben]

Possibly.
I wonder if Hendon do get promotion, that would probably push back their move to Jubilee Park as that venue already needed some work to get it up to Ryman Premier League standard, let alone Conference South standard.
I still reckon that their refusal to take up their spot in the inaugural Conference South back in 2004 was a big mistake. If they had taken it I think it would have been far less likely that they would have been forced to leave Claremont Road.

 

[Anon]

A number teams really struggling for form (most notably Dulwich - what's happening there?)

I haven't been for a month or so (am going this Saturday though), but a work colleague who's started going to games went to the Hornchurch game and said while it was fairly even-ish by h/t, after the break we were god-awful and didn't turn up.

I've long thought we're treading water when playing one striker as none of the many lone strikers that have played this season have done much even in a supporting role; looking back Hamici as probably the best of the bunch and at least hustled the defenders in a thankless role.

We're also usually poor without Carew who links it all up in the middle and without him we're like a series of wingers passing it about but without much invention or taking charge and directing play. Also looks like Forbes has been in and out of the line-up and he tends to direct and hold the defence together too. Not sure if that's form and/or injuries.

Home to East Thurrock on Saturday... crucial game.

 

[A Man Who Folded Himself]

It’s our turn to have crack at League-unbeaten Burgess Hill Town on Wednesday.

There’s a bit of history between us as the Hillians: virtually neck and neck at the foot of the Ryman 1 South table at the end of the 2011/12 season.

Whilst we comfortably saw off Whitstable at home on the last day of the season (Ian Selley scoring direct from a corner), somehow Burgess Hill beat high-flying Dulwich – a result which cost Hamlet home advantage in a subsequent play-off match and Whyteleafe their place in the Isthmian League for the first time in 28 years.
So now, three years later, Leafe are back and while few of us expect to get promotion to the Prem at the first attempt, we want to fight all the way to the end.

There’s definitely a belief amongst the players and supporters that we can go to Leylands Park (or the “Green Elephants Stadium”?) and win three points as we did at second placed Faversham on Saturday.

The most annoying thing about the end of the 2011/12 season has to be that we would not have finished bottom had Croydon Athletic managed to limp on until the last day of the season and gone bust then. Instead we were relegated as the bottom team (missed on the annual reprieve hand outs); Croydon Athletic reformed and were put in the CCL Div 1, just one step below where we found ourselves. Where’s the justice in that?

 

[DarkSithLord]

Another new Member Welcome mate. Think your our second Whyteleafe supporter. Good opening post too

 

[Paddy]

Possibly.
I wonder if Hendon do get promotion, that would probably push back their move to Jubilee Park as that venue already needed some work to get it up to Ryman Premier League standard, let alone Conference South standard.
I still reckon that their refusal to take up their spot in the inaugural Conference South back in 2004 was a big mistake. If they had taken it I think it would have been far less likely that they would have been forced to leave Claremont Road.

Hendon will never get promoted or relegated... they ARE the Isthmian League.

It’s our turn to have crack at League-unbeaten Burgess Hill Town on Wednesday.

There’s a bit of history between us as the Hillians: virtually neck and neck at the foot of the Ryman 1 South table at the end of the 2011/12 season.

Whilst we comfortably saw off Whitstable at home on the last day of the season (Ian Selley scoring direct from a corner), somehow Burgess Hill beat high-flying Dulwich – a result which cost Hamlet home advantage in a subsequent play-off match and Whyteleafe their place in the Isthmian League for the first time in 28 years.
So now, three years later, Leafe are back and while few of us expect to get promotion to the Prem at the first attempt, we want to fight all the way to the end.

There’s definitely a belief amongst the players and supporters that we can go to Leylands Park (or the “Green Elephants Stadium”?) and win three points as we did at second placed Faversham on Saturday.

The most annoying thing about the end of the 2011/12 season has to be that we would not have finished bottom had Croydon Athletic managed to limp on until the last day of the season and gone bust then. Instead we were relegated as the bottom team (missed on the annual reprieve hand outs); Croydon Athletic reformed and were put in the CCL Div 1, just one step below where we found ourselves. Where’s the justice in that?

Whyteleafe! My 3rd favourite Surrey based club... why on earth did you drop out to the Kent League (now the Southern Counties East League) & not the CCL?

 

[rudebwoyben]

Hendon will never get promoted or relegated... they ARE the Isthmian League.



Whyteleafe! My 3rd favourite Surrey based club... why on earth did you drop out to the Kent League (now the Southern Counties East League) & not the CCL?

Never a truer word spoken, they've been there for over 50 years.

 

[Paddy]

It's that time again good people of the Isthmian 1FF community... that's right, I'm bored. Colour table time...

1st - Just like thier pitch, they don't tire over the course of a season (PLD: 38, PTS: 83)
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2nd - Isthmian 4 Life (PLD: 36, PTS: 71)
3rd - Proof that you can't always chuck money at things (PLD: 35, PTS: 70)
4th - Faltering Hipsters (PLD: 39, PTS: 68)
5th - Seriously... Fuck da po-lice (PLD: 38, PTS: 61)
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6th - The original breakaway phoenix club (PLD: 38, PTS: 60)
7th - Still the best team in Thurrock (still not a compliment) (PLD: 39, PTS: 60)
8th - Still fighting for the play offs from their back-to-back rugby/football ground (PLD: 39, PTS: 60)
9th - East Anglia's finest Isthmian team (PLD: 38, PTS: 59)
10th - The receivers of Tolfrey's right hook (PLD: 39, PTS: 58)
11th - The senders of Tolfrey's right hook (PLD: 38, PTS: 58)
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What a tight season it's been! Anyone down to Grays Athletic in 14th (56 pts) has at least a semi-realistic chance of getting that 5th play off place. Dulwich Hamlet are trying their damn best to make sure that the 4th play off place is going to be available too but I think they'll hold on. The title is definately Maidstone's... which is great news for anyone who isn't Margate. Not Police need to fuck off now... technically they should not even be allowed in senior football as they represent an establishment (remember how Team Bath were kicked out of the Conference South?).

 

[rudebwoyben]

The Met Police be bad poh-lice...

 

[A Man Who Folded Himself]

Whyteleafe! My 3rd favourite Surrey based club... why on earth did you drop out to the Kent League (now the Southern Counties East League) & not the CCL?

Firstly, the decision was that of the FA Leagues Committee (headed by Mike Appleby) and, considering the Kent League would have had 16 teams in the league without us, the decision to put us east was pretty compelling. Also worth looking at a map as Whyteleafe was very much on the cusp not only of the Kent League and CCL but also the Sussex County - bearing in mind both Lingfield and Redhill were in the Sussex League.

From our point of view it was six of one half a dozen of the other and travelling east into Kent was more straightforward than west into south west London suburban traffic snarl. I enjoyed the two years in that league going to places and clubs I'd never been to before such as Deal Town, Corinthian, Holmesdale and Rochester. Now Ryman South is full of Kent clubs (Whitstable, Herne Bay, Ramsgate, Folkestone etc.) the journeys are all pretty familiar. And as Kent is the birthplace and epicentre of the micropub revolution, I'm well happy!

Thanks for the forum welcomes BTW. Catching up with fellow Leafer Viv Aldi a little later tonight as he's coming back from Sheffield today.

 

[Silver Stone]

Title's not ours yet! Everyone around us has games in hand, and we still have to play Dulwich and Hendon away, as well as Margate at home.

We're in good nick, better than I could have hoped for when Flish went down, but it's not over yet.

 

[Paddy]

The games in hand will only make your lead smaller... the way all the top teams are playing at the moment I wouldn't be surprised if the top 5 looked vaguely similar to how it is now (but of course with K's in there somewhere)

 

[Railway Blue]

Title's not ours yet! Everyone around us has games in hand, and we still have to play Dulwich and Hendon away, as well as Margate at home.

We're in good nick, better than I could have hoped for when Flish went down, but it's not over yet.

Your ground holds 2,260. Are there any plans to increase the capacity?

 

[Silver Stone]

Your ground holds 2,260. Are there any plans to increase the capacity?

Funny you should ask, here's something from our website today: http://www.maidstoneunited.co.uk/2015/03/fantastic-news-as-expansion-plans-are-agreed/

I think more turnstiles are also in the works, which is one thing currently holding back the capacity (given the place can easily fit more than 2,200 and has done on the odd occasion).

The games in hand will only make your lead smaller... the way all the top teams are playing at the moment I wouldn't be surprised if the top 5 looked vaguely similar to how it is now (but of course with K's in there somewhere)

Yeah, you'd definitely rather have the points in the bank rather than games in hand. The fact we still have our rivals to play is a blessing and a curse really! I'd probably take draws in all those games.

 

[DarkSithLord]

And Whyteleafe have done it. 36 Games and out for Burgess Hill as they go down 1-0 at home.

 

[Aberstone]

Another win for Hendon tonight. Well done Gary McCann.

 

[Sparrow]

I went to Burgess Hill vs Whyteleafe tonight. A well contested game but you wouldn't have thought the home side hadn't lost in the league yet. They lacked a cutting edge and I can't remember the Whyteleafe goalkeeper having to make a save. The visitors goal came from a corner that was headed in at the back post. Jason Henry put an absolute shift in up front, ran all night. The Leafe fans were great too. Sung for the majority of the game, coming out with originals.

 

[Viv Aldi]

I went to Burgess Hill vs Whyteleafe tonight. A well contested game but you wouldn't have thought the home side hadn't lost in the league yet. They lacked a cutting edge and I can't remember the Whyteleafe goalkeeper having to make a save. The visitors goal came from a corner that was headed in at the back post. Jason Henry put an absolute shift in up front, ran all night. The Leafe fans were great too. Sung for the majority of the game, coming out with originals.

Cheers mate, we all thought there was something in the air and we were going to do it tonight. So glad I made the trip back from Sheffield for it, we are Leafe!

 

[A Man Who Folded Himself]

Great night - still buzzing.
And to think we could have won the quiz in the Red Lion in Turner's Hill too!

 

[Paddy]

Thank god someone stopped that jumped up Sussex steam train. Imagine the BBB from their fans if they came up to the premier undefeated!

 

[Aberstone]

Thank god someone stopped that jumped up Sussex steam train. Imagine the BBB from their fans if they came up to the premier undefeated!

Only to lose 2-0 at the Met Police on the opening day.

 

[Paddy]

Only to lose 2-0 at the Met Police on the opening day.

Worst part is that it might be you lot losing to Met Police on the opening day of next season

 

[Viv Aldi]

Thank god someone stopped that jumped up Sussex steam train. Imagine the BBB from their fans if they came up to the premier undefeated!

Top of the league all season and it could have been a library there

 

[Lurchin Urchin]

I saw Burgess Hill in their glorious win at Aldershot - they looked quite slick - mind you Aldershot were woeful (pre manager change). But you are right - no one likes to see anyone go undefeated. Which is, I believe, why the Chins have lost a few games this season: just so that we are more loved by the rest of you Ryman aesthetes.

Talking of which, Paddy you don't appear to love us any more - we've dropped off your colourfest. Maybe this is because you think we are grinding our way to dull safety. I can assure you this is not the case. We specialise in self foot-shooting; beat Canvey with 10 men and our centre back in goal, beat Dulwich without breaking sweat, then lose to formerly-BBB Lewes who won despite not having a shot on target (their goal was a miscued cross). It'll go to the wire. Hopefully with less GBH than in the TV series - though I wouldn't bet on it if Jimmy McFarlane gets angry.