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| Tweet Topic Started: 2 Sep 2015, 10:31 AM (396 Views) | |
| Darlington | 2 Sep 2015, 10:31 AM Post #1 |
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Welcome to The New League (or life in the Evostik Premier after last season's promotion) Darlo got promotion via the play-offs last season and moved into a division now 1 tier off the Conference North. The bouyancy of promotion and the euphoria led fans to expect more of the same I suppose and what a welcome we got. The league have 6 games in just over 2 weeks in August (15th to 31st), and the first question was why? Why not start the league a week earlier instead of two games a week? Anyway first game of a new campaign and a new division and off we go to Derbyshire to face Buxton FC. Not a lot known about them but hey fair play to them they said welcome to the top division in the Evostik leagues and promptly gave us a lesson as they beat us 2-0. All that way for a show that was great if you are a Buxton fan, if you are a Darlo fan you were wondering what happened to the fighting team of last season. Looks like this is going to be one hard campaign and one very rude awakening probably. No sooner had we got over the opening day defeat than on the Tuesday we faced Frickley Athletic at home. They must have had a kicking from the manager as they came out the blocks fast and were two up in half an hour with normal service of Portas & Cartman banging them in like they did last season. Funny thing was it was against the run of play as Frickley were the better team...be thankful for small mercies I suppose at least our boys finished given the chance. Frickley's heads dropped a little then and Darlo nabbed a third before half time and that was game set and match. Second half saw little exciting play as Darlo took the points and their first win at 3-0. Sat halfway down the league we then had another home game against Barwell who had 3 points from two games like us. This was a really dire game in the first half with both sides having few chances and sitting off one another probably to frightened to lose it rather than go and win it. Half time though the manager did something as they came out and delivered with Portas and Cartman bagging goals again. We went two up before with 4 mins to go Barwell got one to give them a chance. Darlo though got them on the break to get a third on 90 and win 3-1. On the whole we were the better team in the second half. In the first half the announcer shaded it as he had more to do! No rest for the wicked at the fourth game came on Tuesday with a trip to Workington which I couldn't make. Gutted but relieved as Workington took it 2-1. Reports say it was close with a late winner for them. So it's now the 29th August and in two weeks this is game 5. Dunno if the boys can keep this up. I mean it's not like we are man city with a squad of 200 hundred and all quality players. Tiredness will surely come in soon. Anyway it was a lovely trip to the coast.....of Wales. Yep long trip again to Colwyn Bay. Lovely spot I might say. The game was a cracker with six goals to boot. I say a cracker and it was after Darlo conspired to throw it away. Seaside air maybe got to them at half time perhaps. we played great for 45 mins with white getting a brace as Darlo went three up. Looked comfortable and honestly thought we would win 5 or 6 nil. Oh you foolish man as Schizophrenia set in. It must have as it wasn't the same players, well they looked the same but someone else was in their mind and bodies. They were comfortable first half but second they were not with it as Colwyn Bay bagged a goal. maybe Gray (the manager) realised the invasion of the body snatchers had taken place and sent on sub Dowson. He was clearly not affected as the rest of the team watched on as he restored the three goal advantaged. Colwyn then got another back but with only ten minutes the motley crew of Darlo hung on in there. Bank Holiday Monday feet up and no footy as international break this week. What idiot told you that! We entertained unbeaten league leaders Blyth Spartans (they dumped us out the cup last season and are no mugs). Spartans were a good outfit. They looked so much better than us and rightly went one up just after half time. They were looking comfortable and I'm thinking this lot could win the league. I must check the fixtures though and see if they have been to Colwyn Bay lately as they then became a different team or did Darlo suddenly become super good....no invasion of the body snatchers on Spartans. Darlo hit back twice in 5 mins as Blyth didn't know what hit em and me either. I swear to god it wasn't the usual Darlo but a couple of Newcastle lads out of the Premiership masquerading in Darlo shirts for the afternoon that tripped by Blyth's defenders and netted for us. A great 2-1 win in the end and what a difference it has made. We started mid table after two games and after beating Blyth we are now 1 point behind them (they are still top) and sitting in third spot. Don't think it will last though as we seem to be a team that is to inconsistent one minute we play like Barcelona, ok not Barca but you get the idea, and then the next it's like that lot off the telly ad....you know the walking football mob. Trouble is as we walk the opposition run. On we go to see what September brings. |
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| Owlish52 | 2 Sep 2015, 11:37 AM Post #2 |
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RR Foreign Legion - Across the Pond - View from Texas
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Thanks, Darlington! Sports have their swings, from the ridiculous to the sublime and back again, often over a single match. Thanks for the report on Darlo and look forward to following the team through your eyes this season! Enjoy!
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| "It could have been worse with Hillary..." - Owlish52 | |
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| daib0 | 2 Sep 2015, 12:51 PM Post #3 |
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Inter-Forum Gamemaster!
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Yeah, I'm looking out for them in the tables every weekend thanks to our distinguished friend - another promotion would be a fairy tale!
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Royals Rendezvous - a specialist and friendly Reading FC fan forum Cello man... VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEVmGOEMJLE&t=12s Please share ! | |
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| Darlington | 2 Sep 2015, 01:05 PM Post #4 |
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Our next couple of fixtures:- Sat 5th Away at Halesowen Town - That is a fair trek. I am hoping to go but as we are on holiday from Sunday not sure other half will be to pleased if I do (packing etc.). They are in bottom 5 at moment so should stand a good chance of the win Tues 8th Home to Ramsbottom United - I am away in Paris so no chance of going. Ramsbottom are currently bottom. They beat us in play offs two years ago so revenge would be very sweet indeed. Sat 12th is FA Cup 1st qualifying and we are at home to Hyde United. Hoping the lads win all 3 that I'm away for. Back for Sat 19th when by some quirk we face Hyde United again but in the league and at home. I will get full reports from my mate so will post up a brief account on what went on when I return from hols. |
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| daib0 | 5 Sep 2015, 09:35 PM Post #5 |
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Inter-Forum Gamemaster!
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Halesowen 0 - 3 Darlington Darlington SECOND !! |
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Royals Rendezvous - a specialist and friendly Reading FC fan forum Cello man... VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEVmGOEMJLE&t=12s Please share ! | |
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| Zip | 6 Sep 2015, 08:07 AM Post #6 |
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Former football Leagues generally manage to find their way back into the Football League in time. Darlo will get there. It is getting so much harder to get there these days and the Conference is a proper Division Five (or Division Three I suppose) these days and that's no bad thing. |
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| daib0 | 8 Sep 2015, 10:10 PM Post #7 |
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Inter-Forum Gamemaster!
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another win, 2-1 top of table pl Pts 1.Blyth8619 ---------------------- 2.Darlington818 3.Buxton815 4.Nantwich814 5.Frickley814 --------------------- 6.Salford814 One auto, 2nd team up from play-offs 2nd to 5th ... Edited by daib0, 8 Sep 2015, 10:11 PM.
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Royals Rendezvous - a specialist and friendly Reading FC fan forum Cello man... VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEVmGOEMJLE&t=12s Please share ! | |
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| daib0 | 22 Sep 2015, 04:03 PM Post #8 |
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Inter-Forum Gamemaster!
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Darlington still top - just - after 10 games played ... |
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Royals Rendezvous - a specialist and friendly Reading FC fan forum Cello man... VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEVmGOEMJLE&t=12s Please share ! | |
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Sports have their swings, from the ridiculous to the sublime and back again, often over a single match. Thanks for the report on Darlo and look forward to following the team through your eyes this season! Enjoy!

8:42 AM Jul 11