Re: The annual Who Will We Play In The League Next Season thread

[2weirdtown]

Torquay lost 5-1 on Tuesday. Not good form!

[Roy D Hacksaw]

Torquay lost 5-1 on Tuesday.  Not good form!

Well they were up until that point, at least.

A late draw on Saturday left Torquay United three points behind Maidenhead United with a game left to play, needing a seven goal reverse on the goal difference. The Magpies are away to Gateshead, who are now safe, and may have one eye on keeping their players fit with the FA Trophy final coming up. Torquay, on the other hand, are at home to Wrexham, who are already crowned champs. Will their hearts still be in it, or will they want to go out with a bang? York City can still mathematically go down, but there'd have to be a fourteen goal reverse in the GD at the very least for them to hit the drop. They are playing Notts County though, who may be playing for pride, so who knows how that one will go. All three games will be worth keeping half an ear on this Saturday, one suspects. Maidstone United, Scunthorpe United and Yeovil Town are already down, of course.

The Isthmian and the Southern League play-off places have been decided, though.

Isthmian champions Bishop's Stortford must be waiting on the Torquay and York results before they know for certain if they're heading North or South. In the play-off semis though, Hornchurch will play Cray Wanderers, while South Essex sides Canvey Island and Aveley make up the other game.

In the Southern League, we can look forward to another late cancelation in the away game after a moderate shower at champions Weston-super-Mare. The play-offs will be contended between Bracknell Town and Chesham United, and Truro City versus Poole Town. But at least with Truro currently playing at Plymouth Parkway's Bolitho Park ground it won't be quite the trek that it used to be if they make their way through the knockout stages.

So all being well there'll be marginally less M4 trips next term, as the division is gradually working its way West!

[Luton Roman]

Good news is we're not going back to Canvey Island to play anyone...hopefully Concord go down. Bracknell or Truro, Aveley or Hornchurch.

[LB]

In the Southern League Premier Central Coalville must be seriously miffed! They only missed out on automatic promotion on goal difference on Saturday and last night lost their play off game on penalties against Rushall who finished 16 points behind them.

[Bristol end]

Bye bye Concord. Will be interesting to see if Weymouth can pull of a great escape and beat Dover on Saturday.

[Roy D Hacksaw]

And Torquay are down!

[2weirdtown]

So it's looking more attractive for us now with Taunton, Yeovil, Chip, Weymouth, WSM and Torquay from the west country. Possibly Poole too.
I am told Truro's ground not up to scratch.

[Bristol end]

Given the number of west country teams it might be worth Gloucester City switching to the NLS next season.

[BenE]

Couldn't Chip have found the wherewithall to concede a goal and saved us from a long trip to Dover next season?

[Steve Whites Missus]

Will need to be good next season to be the best in the south west.

[comrade powell]

For a while when I was on the Board I assisted John Reynolds in hosting officials of the visiting clubs. As you’d expect at this level, most were salt of the earth non league stalwarts who were delightful to chat to. The major exception was the entourage from Torquay who swept in as if they owned the place and some were downright rude. I thought of them yesterday.

[BenE]

I'm glad Weymouth survived I thought they were better than their results showed. I think they will be better next season. Yeovil are in trouble and it is difficult to see anything but another season of struggle, but Torquay will be determined to try to make a quick return. And Chip will no doubt give us a challenge, their second half to the season has been good. I would hope we are stronger than WSM but Bath exiles at Taunton may find next season tougher unless they score more goals.

[2weirdtown]

Torquay announced they will be staying full time.

[Roy D Hacksaw]

I am told Truro's ground not up to scratch.

They play at Plymouth Parkway's Bolitho Park, and while it is a smashing little ground, last time I was there about five years back it was a bit sparse - more like a decent Western League ground that was serviceable for Southern League than for a club playing at our level. I've heard they've done some work since, but hopefully Truro will either put some money Parkway's way to help the ground reach muster or find a more apt ground for this level.

But anyway, aren't Bracknell going to beat them in the play-off?

[Peter Newman]

Could make Xmas/New Year more complex.
Torquay/Taunton, Weymouth/Yeovil perhaps then there is WSM, Chipppenham and ourselves. Perhaps we have to hope Truro come up to make 8 SW teams and alter  the possibilities..
Having said that the reported financial problems at Yeovil could be so severe they do not play in National League S next season.

In some ways sorry to lose Dulwich. I do wonder however how many of their " fans" are aware of the Club's relegation!

[Bristol end]

I'm also sorry to lose them but interesting to read the post match recriminations on the Dulwich forum. I remember an away game at Champion Hill years ago vs Fisher Athletic in the pouring rain, would never have believed that ground would be getting 3,000 plus each home match. They must make £5k on craft beer sales alone!

Testament to the strength of the NLS that a club with those kind of gates has found themselves relegated.

[LB]

I'm also sorry to lose them but interesting to read the post match recriminations on the Dulwich forum. I remember an away game at Champion Hill years ago vs Fisher Athletic in the pouring rain, would never have believed that ground would be getting 3,000 plus each home match. They must make £5k on craft beer sales alone!

Testament to the strength of the NLS that a club with those kind of gates has found themselves relegated.

Perhaps they should have used the money to buy some decent defenders!

[Peter Newman]

I suppose we are responsible (indirectly) for the Dulwich relegation. Firstly they were in some sort of form when they were involved in the Alex Fletcher abandoned injury game but less so when the delayed one took place. Later we won at Dulwich with Elliot Freer's last minute winner from nowhere and more recently we conceded a late debateable penalty at Weymouth to give them an additional 2 points.

[Luton Roman]

I suppose we are responsible (indirectly) for the Dulwich relegation. Firstly they were in some sort of form when they were involved in the Alex Fletcher abandoned  injury game  but less so when the delayed one took place. Later we won at Dulwich with Elliot Freer's last minute winner from nowhere and more recently we conceded a late debateable penalty at Weymouth to give them an additional 2 points.

League table doesn't lie, they went down on goal difference due to the huge amount of goals conceded. Shame, always liked the match there and the crowd.

[LB]

I suppose we are responsible (indirectly) for the Dulwich relegation. Firstly they were in some sort of form when they were involved in the Alex Fletcher abandoned  injury game  but less so when the delayed one took place. Later we won at Dulwich with Elliot Freer's last minute winner from nowhere and more recently we conceded a late debateable penalty at Weymouth to give them an additional 2 points.

The penalty decision at Weymouth was just as bad as the one in Dulwich's game at Twerton, so perhaps a bit of karma there.

[comrade powell]

Could make Xmas/New Year more complex.
Torquay/Taunton, Weymouth/Yeovil perhaps then there is WSM, Chipppenham and ourselves. Perhaps we have to hope Truro come up to make 8 SW teams and alter  the possibilities..

City v Chipp
Torquay v Taunton
Weymouth v Yeovil
Weston v Dover

[Bristol end]

95th minute winner for Truro!

[Luton Roman]

Truro v Torquay
Weymouth v Yeovil
Taunton v WSM
City v Chip

Xmas and NY games. Simple.

[Manchester Romans]

95th minute winner for Truro!

Scored by our old boy Connor Riley-Lowe, following the obligatory Tyler Harvey goal earlier in the match.

[Bristol end]

8 of the 16* leading westcountry teams in the same division

*Bristol City, Plymouth, Rovers, Forest Green, Swindon, Exeter, Cheltenham, Gloucester.

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