National League North 2023-24

[Bottega Don]

If there is justice you will get promoted. I still think you are the best time in the league. Tamworth are just more functional and street wise.

Nah we're absolutely not the best team in the league.

We're the best pure footballing side but there's a lot more to being a good team than having the best technical players.

We simply cannot handle adversity, we've came from behind to win once this season and it was on the first day. You can't be the best side when you won't dare fight for every point.

This season was never going to be easy, after 3 relegations in 5 years and almost going under we were not going to become a winning team overnight. It's hard to shake the habit of losing.

I'd have taken 2nd at the start of the year so hopefully we can get it

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Well a massive weekend in all areas of the table can see a few sides realistically with season over by Tuesday and we should have better idea of where we are at.

I know title looking finished but Tamworth will say it isn’t over till line crossed so there we head first.

1: Tamworth 86 +41
———————
2: Scunthorpe 75 +37

Games over weekend:
Scunthorpe vs Kings Lynn
Tamworth vs Bishop Stortford

Brackley vs Tamworth
Southport vs Scunthorpe

Most Scunthorpe can get at present is 90 points, win both games and tamworth win league regardless, Scunny fail to win and less is needed.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Play offs are more madcap. Some teams have 6 games and others 5 but we will just focus weekend.

3: Brackley 72 +18
4: Chorley 71 +24
5: Boston 65 +20
6: South Shields 65 +17
7: Alfreton 64 +18
——————————-
8: Spennymoor 64 +7
9: Curzon 64 +7
10: Chester 62 +17
11: Hereford 62 -1
11: Warrington 61 +7

Games over weekend:
Gloucester vs Brackley
Alfreton vs Rushall
Banbury vs Hereford
Blyth vs Curzon
Boston vs Peterborough
Buxton vs Chester
Darlington vs Chorley
Scarborough vs Warrington
South Shields vs Spennymoor

Brackley vs Tamworth
Chester vs Alfreton
Chorley vs Blyth
Curzon vs South Shields
Hereford vs Buxton
Rushall vs Boston
Spennymoor vs Farsley
Warrington vs Darlington

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

And lastly the dogfight bishop are gone.

16: Blyth 50 -4
17: Kings Lynn 50 -8
18: Peterborough 49 -9
19: Farsley 46 -17
20: Darlington 46 -23
——————————-
21: Rushall 44 -14
22: Banbury 37 -35
23: Gloucester 35 -27
24: Bishop S relegated

If Gloucester lose both games most they can get is 47 points so could go down this weekend, Banbury if losing both can get 49 so also mathematically possible but less likely. I’d say Blyth, kings lynn and Pererborough sage with one more win.

Games:
Gloucester vs Brackley
Alfreton vs Rushall
Banbury vs Hereford
Blyth vs Curzon
Boston vs peterborugh
Darlington vs chorley
Farsley vs Southport
Scunthorpe vs Kings Lynn

Bishops vs Banbury
Chorley vs Blyth
Kings Lynn vs Scarborough
Peterborugh vs Gloucester
Rushall va Boston
Spennymoor vs Farsley
Warrington vs Darlington

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Looking at the play offs I was guessing all the final games, alot have easy games on paper apart from South Shields, Hereford and Warrington although you could argue Hereford and Warrington need games vs sides up there to catch up.

With none of them current top 7 I’m horrendous form (unlike last season when Darlington and Scarborough in free fall) it’s tough this year to see movement.

Had my final lot like this:
3: Chorley 82
4: Brackley 80
5: South Shields 77
6: Boston 74 (due to G/D)
7: Either Curzon/Spennymoor both on 74 GD at both currently +7
———————————
8: other one
9:Alfreton 73
10: Chester 70
11: Warrington 69
12: Hereford 67

But we’ll it can easily swing

 

[Bartonyellow]

It is the business end of the season and usually it’s those with the nerves and character to see games out. I would not write Hereford off yet. They can be very impressive when on form, but dreadful when out of it.
I think Chester might sneak into the top 7.

 

[Harrier94]

Looking at the play offs I was guessing all the final games, alot have easy games on paper apart from South Shields, Hereford and Warrington although you could argue Hereford and Warrington need games vs sides up there to catch up.

With none of them current top 7 I’m horrendous form (unlike last season when Darlington and Scarborough in free fall) it’s tough this year to see movement.

Had my final lot like this:
3: Chorley 82
4: Brackley 80
5: South Shields 77
6: Boston 74 (due to G/D)
7: Either Curzon/Spennymoor both on 74 GD at both currently +7
———————————
8: other one
9:Alfreton 73
10: Chester 70
11: Warrington 69
12: Hereford 67

But we’ll it can easily swing

In before Buxton win all 5 and sneak in like we did last year

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

True.

Although last season Darlington and Scarborough were holding top 7 positions and just kept getting worse and worse I’m not seeing any of the current top 7 going to head into shocking form…….afew of us will be hoping they do.

South Shields and Spennymoor already are matching your form but I am wondering if both are peaking too early your lot hit the right form at the exact right time.

 

[Bottega Don]

For those in the play-offs/likely to make it, who do you want to face the most/avoid?

I want to face Spennymoor the most, get revenge for Tuesday night. I'd want to avoid Curzon as they've beaten us twice.

 

[Harrier94]

For those in the play-offs/likely to make it, who do you want to face the most/avoid?

I want to face Spennymoor the most, get revenge for Tuesday night. I'd want to avoid Curzon as they've beaten us twice.

If Spennymoor carry on their form you don't want to face them. We trounced King's Lynn 4-1 and they finished comfortably second. Form, momentum and confidence go a long way in the playoffs

 

[Bottega Don]

If Spennymoor carry on their form you don't want to face them. We trounced King's Lynn 4-1 and they finished comfortably second. Form, momentum and confidence go a long way in the playoffs

We just played them on Tuesday and only lost due to pure robbery, I fancy our chances.

We also smashed them 6-0 earlier in the season

 

[Harrier94]

We just played them on Tuesday and only lost due to pure robbery, I fancy our chances.

We also smashed them 6-0 earlier in the season

Just be careful what you wish for. Kings Lynn battered us 3-0 at their place last season. We then got a very lucky 1-1 draw at ours. But in the playoff semi final we battered than 4-1 and it was purely form and momentum was with us.

 

[Clem Fandango]

We've been done for weeks. The terrible recruitment by the Hungerford chairman playing Manager in pre season has ultimately ruined us.

We could actually go down tomorrow. If Farsley and Darlington win and we lose, we have to win every game and hope they both lose every one. Which given they still have to play each other is impossible.

 

[Quakerz]

We've been done for weeks. The terrible recruitment by the Hungerford chairman playing Manager in pre season has ultimately ruined us.

We could actually go down tomorrow. If Farsley and Darlington win and we lose, we have to win every game and hope they both lose every one. Which given they still have to play each other is impossible.

It's been nice knowing yer.

And if we do go down (which I doubt after winning 7 of the last 10 matches including beating South Shields 4-0, Scunny 4-0, Curzon 3-1) then that will be because of...

The terrible recruitment and results from Clowning in the middle 3rd of the season including an embarrassing 2-0 home defeat to a hopeless 10 men Bishop's Stortford who have lost every one of their 17 matches since..

 

[Ninety Per Cent]

Well done Swann, Hilton and your apologists. Slow handclap.

 

[Bottega Don]

Really tough game for us at home to Kings Lynn

Their manager set the blueprint on how to beat us this season when he was Curzon's manager and then went on to use it again away at Kings Lynn, he's 2-0 against us this year

Need to find a way to win, will take it whatever way it comes

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Bad first half result at present, players need to go for it even a point can be vital in this battle.

Only positive is not many others taking any advantage

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Most of the top 8-9 winning vital for each to hold their leads because all others on for points and a slip up could be disaster plus.

Curzon trying to cling onto it for now.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Title won by Tamworth today, maybe it’s in best interests now for Scunthorpe who can concentrate on play offs.

Fair play to them we constantly expected a fall and they never had one.

 

[Bottega Don]

Yet again another missed opportunity for us today. Kings Lynn came solely for a point and they got it, don't think they had a shot until the 80th minute. We didn't play great but we're really not getting much rub of the green at the moment. Hit the woodwork 3 more times today, just not going right for us.

2nd is Chorley's now

Title won by Tamworth today, maybe it’s in best interests now for Scunthorpe who can concentrate on play offs.

Fair play to them we constantly expected a fall and they never had one.

We've been concentrating on the play-offs since they beat us in January

 

[Prodigal]

I wouldn't say 2nd is ours now, though it is in our hands we still have 3 away games to play plus 2 at home so there are still several hurdles to overcome before the finishing line. We got some luck today which goes some way to recompense for what happened last season when we had a goal where the ball actually hit the inside of the side netting disallowed then Kings Lynn scored on the counter and effectively cost us a place in the play offs. The other coincidence is it was the same Referee who disallowed Scnthorpes goal against Spennymoor in today's game.
On to Monday at home to Blyth Spartans whilst hoping Southport can do us a favour as well.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Poor match officials back in the limelight again grabbing all the attention, absolutely thrive on it don"t they.

Throwing cards around like confetti, also not giving them when he should have done.

Same referee that robbed Scunthorpe of a goal, now he"s gone and done it with us with a shocking decision, clearly looking at twatter stills the ball was surely over the line.

That was obviously the turning point for us that dubious decision, still take nothing away from Chorley they were a decent and well organised team.

A solid outfit that will most likely take some beating come the play-offs!

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

I personally think Darlo’s key is getting above Farsley. Their form has been shocking for a while now and are more likely at this current stage be the side unable to overtake if dropping below.

They play Darlo so could be a big game although two games vs Peterborough may give them a chance

You need at least one win because Rushall have bishop 3 points Stortford.

 

[Clem Fandango]

We actually played very well against Brackley, something we rarely do and something we haven't done much of all season long. But another last minute equaliser conceded and ultimately a draw not good enough but just prolongs the agony for a few more days

 

[Bottega Don]

So the same referee robs us on Tuesday and then aids our closest rivals to winning yesterday. Having a huge implication in the battle for 2nd.

I'd like to think it's nothing malicious but it's not looking good

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Massive day tomorrow again and some big games in that play off picture some mist wins in there tomorrow because some play each other and I’d say Chorley, Hereford, Boston and Spennymoor have to take advantage to the fact the others play each other or tough games…. Brackley vs Tamworth, Chester vs Alfreton, Curzon vs South Shields.

Is also Chester and Curzon’s chance to get into that top 7 with wins. Defeat for either of any the end of world but would then leave either 4 points adrift with only 9 to play for.

 

[Bottega Don]

We haven't won in April since 2018, today would be a good day to change that

Knowing this club I don't think we will though

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Got to change at somepoint.

We have South Shields today, when I worked out is finishing 7th or 8th I had us grab 10 points but this was the defeat…..we have been dreadful on the whole this season at home to top half sides especially in the last few months.

Plus they will have a larger fitter squad more able to cope with two games in two days than us.

But if we want a go at top 7 we have to be able to beat sides like this you cannot keep relying on other games to get you through.

It is for me our make or break time, our last two games could not be better if handpicked, home to second bottom and away to bottom…….all the other sides would want that finish and if we flogged them two matches we deserve absolutely nothing.

But……..we have to be in a position to make them last two games count and back to back now we have the two best possible sides to catch I’d imagine Chester Hereford, Spennymoor and Warrington are also eyeing up these two sides…..but we will see.

Curzon lose the next two and we could be frankly 5-6 points off by them last two we need to try and keep in 8th at least and a point off.

 

[Bottega Don]

I am not sure how we haven't scored yet again

The last 2 and a half games have been complete onslaughts of the opposition goal and we haven't scored a single goal, it's unbelievable

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Curzon 1-0 South Shields at half time, results on whole going for us elsewhere would be happy for day to end now but sadly another 45 minutes.

We have rode a lot of luck that half they won’t know how it hasn’t got into the net, they are a big strong powerful unit, hard to get off the ball when they have it.

But…….they leave some enormous gaps at the back and we have been exploiting it on the break could have scored more ourselves.

The best form of defence for me vs this lot is pushing them back into defence which I think they are weak at but sadly that isn’t easy to do.