The Top 12, Friday April 15th 2022

[Ginge01]

On Darlo Fans Radio today, the topic of ‘had the balloon burst’ was discussed. If Darlington’s balloon has not burst, then it’s leaking air badly and deflating before our eyes. York had this effect recently when they took 1 point from 9 but appear to be reinflating their playoff hopes again after a win today. For Darlington to reinflate their playoff hopes, they will have to take care of their own business, that will need more passion in their game, and scoring goals that result in wins, nothing less. Another loss at Gateshead with teams like York / Boston / Kettering winning, then the Darlington balloon will have burst as the points gap will be too large with four games remaining, the dream of the playoffs will be ended. Not the Easter gift we were all hoping for, just a week ago before the Alfreton game.


Today’s games, Friday Apr 15th 2022
Darlington..... 0-2 Curzon Ashton
Blyth........... 2-1 Farsley
Boston......... 2-1 Bradford
Chester........ 2-2 Kidderminster
Chorley......... 1-2 Alfreton
Guiseley........ 0-6 Gateshead
Hereford....... 1-0 Telford
Kettering....... 1-0 Gloucester
Leamington.... 0-0 Brackley
Southport...... 0-0 Fylde
York............. 1-0 Spennymoor

The Vanarama National League North, Friday Apr 15th 2022

...................... Pd .W D L..W D L...F...A..GD..Pts
01. Gateshead.... 37 15 1 2.. 11 4 .4. 87 40. 47.. 83
02. Brackley....... 37 15 2 1... 9 8 .2. 49 19. 30.. 82
03. Fylde.......... 37 12 2 4... 9 5 .5. 60 33. 27.. 70
04. Kidderminster 37 12 2 4... 7 7 .5. 67 32. 35.. 66
05. Chorley ....... 37 11 4 4... 5 8 .5. 58 43. 15.. 60
06. York............ 36 10 3 6... 6 4 .7. 51 44. ..7.. 55
07. Boston......... 37 10 4 5... 6 3 .9. 57 52. ..5.. 55
08. Kettering...... 37.. 8 6 5... 7 3 .8. 51 46. ..5.. 54
09. Southport..... 37.. 8 9 2... 5 4 .9. 52 48. ..4.. 52
08. Darlington.... 37.. 9 3 7... 5 6 .7. 54 50. ..4.. 51
11. Hereford...... 37.. 9 4 6... 5 5 .8. 45 44. ..1.. 51
12. Spennymoor... 37.. 7 6 5... 7 2 10. 48 49. -1.. 50
13. Alfreton........ 36.. 4 8 5... 9 1 .9. 47 54. -7.. 48
14. Curzon Ashton 36.. 6 6 6... 6 5 .7. 44 53. .-9.. 47
15. Leamington... 38.. 9 5 5... 1 7 11. 34 43. .-9.. 42
16. Bradford. ..... 37.. 7 4 7... 4 5 10. 44 58. -14.. 42
17. Chester ....... 36.. 7 6 5... 3 3 12. 64 67. .-3.. 39
18. Gloucester..... 37.. 5 7 6... 4 5 10. 41 55. -14.. 39
19. Blyth........... 37.. 7 2 10.. 3 3 12. 36 70. -34.. 35
19. Telford..........38.. 7 5 7... 0 8 11. 45 61. -16.. 34
20. Farsley......... 37.. 6 6 6... 2 3 14. 34 72. -38.. 33
22. Guiseley....... 37.. 5 5 9... 3 1 14. 27 62. -35.. 30


Comments in current full league table order,
Top 12 games outstanding are listed with their matchdates.

Gateshead;
Top 12 games remaining (5); Darlington (H) 18/04, Kettering (A) 23/04, Southport (H) 30/04, Chorley (A) 02/05, Hereford (H) 07/05;
Guiseley 0-6 Gateshead; Gateshead returned to the top of the table with an emphatic 0-6 win at Guiseley while leaders Brackley were held to a goalless draw. Gateshead lead 1-0 at half time and added five goals in the second half.

Brackley;
Top 12 games remaining (3); Boston (H) 18/04, Darlington (A) 23/04, Hereford (A) 02/05;
Leamington 0-0 Brackley; Brackley fall into second place when they were unable to score at Leamington and were held to a goalless draw.

Fylde;
Top 12 games remaining (3); Boston (A) 23/04, Kettering (H) 30/04, York (A) 02/05;
Southport 0-0 Fylde; Fylde remain in third place after a 0-0 draw at playoff hopefuls Southport. Fylde had to play the second half with ten men after Will Hatfield was sent off.

Kidderminster;
Top 12 games remaining (2); Kettering (H) 18/04,Darlington (H) 07/05;
Chester 2-2 Kidderminster; Kidderminster remain in fourth place, after a goalless first half, they fell behind 0-2 to Chester before rallying to draw 2-2.

Chorley;
Top 12 games remaining (2); Gateshead (H) 02/05, Spennymoor (A) 07/05;
Chorley 1-2 Alfreton; Chorley lead at half time from a penalty before Alfreton beat them with two second half goals. Chorley remain in fifth place although York narrowed the gap.

York;
Top 12 games remaining (1); Fylde (H) 02/05;
York 1-0 Spennymoor; York’s streak of playing four consecutive Top 12 games is over, an 82nd min goal winning them the three points over Spenny. York have just one Top 12 game to play and must feel confident of securing a playoff place based on improved results (2-2 at Chorley last Tuesday) and a win today. York remain in sixth place.

Boston;
Top 12 games remaining (2); Brackley (A) 18/04, Flyde(A) 23/04;
Boston 2-1 Bradford; Boston rallied from trailing 0-1 at half time to a Bradford penalty to score two second half goals. Boston remain in seventh place with York having a better goal difference (+7) to (+5), both teams on 55 points.

Kettering;
Top 12 games remaining (3); Kidderminster (A) 18/04, Gateshead (H) 23/04, Fylde (A) 30/04;
Kettering 1-0 Gloucester; Kettering needed a 72nd min penalty to beat lowly Gloucester. Kettering rise two places to eighth.

Southport;
Top 12 games remaining (2); Spennymoor (H) 23/04, Gateshead (A) 30/04;
Southport 0-0 Fylde; Southport were only able to manage a 0-0 draw with Fylde and remain in ninth place.

Darlington;
Top 12 games remaining (3); Gateshead (A) 18/04, Brackley (H) 23/04, Kidderminster (A) 07/05;
Darlington 0-2 Curzon Ashton; A lack lustre performance from Darlington who conceded a goal in each half and fall two places to tenth place.

Hereford;
Top 12 games remaining (3); Spennymoor (A) 30/04, Brackley (H) 02/05, Gateshead (A) 07/05;
Hereford 1-0 Telford; Hereford rise to eleventh place after a 44th min goal was enough to beat Telford.

Spennymoor;
Top 12 games remaining (3); Southport (A) 23/04, Hereford (H) 30/04, Chorley (H) 07/05;
York 1-0 Spennymoor; Spenny fall one place to twelfth place after losing at playoff contending York 0-1 from an 82nd min goal.


This week’s games

04/18 Monday
Gateshead.... vs Darlington
Alfreton....... vs York
Brackley....... vs Boston
Bradford....... vs Guiseley
Curzon Ashton vs Chorley
Farsley......... vs Southport
Fylde.......... vs Chester
Gloucester.... vs Hereford
Kidderminster. vs Kettering
Spennymoor... vs Blyth


04/23 Saturday
Darlington..... vs Brackley
Blyth........... vs Kidderminster
Boston......... vs Fylde
Chester........ vs Farsley
Chorley......... vs Telford
Guiseley........ vs Curzon Ashton
Hereford....... vs Bradford
Kettering....... vs Gateshead
Leamington.... vs Alfreton
Southport...... vs Spennymoor
York............. vs Gloucester




Comments

Going for the league championship, Brackley failing to win today now makes Gateshead favourites to win the league, they may have to win every game to do so.
...................... Pd .W D L..W D L...F...A..GD..Pts
01. Gateshead.... 37 15 1 2.. 11 4 .4. 87 40. 47.. 83
02. Brackley....... 37 15 2 1... 9 8 .2. 49 19. 30.. 82


The playoff second group, the four point gap remains with both teams drawing today.
...................... Pd .W D L..W D L...F...A..GD..Pts
03. Fylde.......... 37 12 2 4... 9 5 .5. 60 33. 27.. 70
04. Kidderminster 37 12 2 4... 7 7 .5. 67 32. 35.. 66


The playoff third group, those occupying fifth thru seven place, Chorley’s lead has narrowed with their loss today. Both York and Boston won today. York’s wobble may be over and with easier games to play may be sure of the sixth place at seasons end. Boston and Kettering are fighting for the last place at this moment.

...................... Pd .W D L..W D L...F...A..GD..Pts
05. Chorley ....... 37 11 4 4... 5 8 .5. 58 43. 15.. 60
06. York............ 36 10 3 6... 6 4 .7. 51 44. ..7.. 55
07. Boston......... 37 10 4 5... 6 3 .9. 57 52. ..5.. 55


The playoff chasers, more change with Kettering rise up to eighth place. Southport are still struggling, now Darlington have stopped scoring and have picked up just 1 point in their last two games. Hereford’s win still keeps them four points behind seventh place Boston, Spenny slip to twelfth place.

...................... Pd .W D L..W D L...F...A..GD..Pts
08. Kettering...... 37.. 8 6 5... 7 3 .8. 51 46. ..5.. 54
09. Southport..... 37.. 8 9 2... 5 4 .9. 52 48. ..4.. 52
08. Darlington.... 37.. 9 3 7... 5 6 .7. 54 50. ..4.. 51
11. Hereford...... 37.. 9 4 6... 5 5 .8. 45 44. ..1.. 51
12. Spennymoor... 37.. 7 6 5... 7 2 10. 48 49. -1.. 50


Predictions
Champions Gateshead, they may need to win every game to hold off Brackley

Playoffs participants;
Brackley Fylde, Kidderminster, Chorley all moving towards mathematical certainty

York, Boston. York have found form at the right time, Boston won again, Southport and Darlington struggle again.

[Darlo_Pete]

Great summary Ginge as per usual, but it doesn't make comfortable reading for Darlo fans. Sadly a point on Monday will be not enough. Hopefully we'll have a large following on Monday.

[real_darlo_85]

Why does it make uncomfortable reading...we are 10th in the league? I will say this again, we are nowhere near ready for promotion.

The result yesterday is disappointing of course but the bigger picture is that we are not quite in a position to properly sustain a shot at the National League. Stop the overreaction, this is where the club is at the moment - a top 10 National League North club. If anything this is where the club might have difficulty managing expectations for the next season or two and for supporters to understand this.