Liam Knowles: Hopeful Stagnation (Page 8)

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ScottT

A really solid month there, beside the Dover result of course. Typical that the Guiseley pitch can't handle the rain... and very unlucky against Boston though that cup is pointless, I'm sure you'll agree now

Jack

8 years

2017-04-15 19:35#241643 ScottT : A really solid month there, beside the Dover result of course. Typical that the Guiseley pitch can't handle the rain... and very unlucky against Boston though that cup is pointless, I'm sure you'll agree now

We were always one step behind Dover in that match, yeah

AND YEAH, FA TROPHY? USELESS MATE.

Jack

8 years

An incredible display this month in the league moves us further into contention for the title at the end of the season. We banked thirteen points out of a possible eighteen in March which pushed our position up to second place in the league. We play Wrexham on the final day of the season, which if our current form continues will be an incredible fixture for the scrapbooks.

We were finally knocked out of the FA Trophy after bagging five wins in the tournament, it took two penalty misses by Togwell and Hammond to finish us off in that competition. Boston United will face Sutton United in the final of that one on 21st May.

In terms of injuries, we have had yet another devastating loss as Réda Johnson suffered a torn hamstring against Guiseley which sees the centre-back out for the rest of the season, leaving us with only two fit out-and-out centre-backs in the first-team.

A sensational month for us has put us within touching distance on Wrexham at the top of the table as we get even closer to the end of the season. It seems to me that the Play-Offs are well and truly sealed for us, even if we do really poor in April. Boreham Wood could go level on points with us if they win their game in hand and results swing in their favour, but we will always be superior in our goal difference of +43 - the highest in the Vanarama National League.

We close in on this campaign with one of the tightest league tables in recent years, as there are four teams within a wins distance from a Play-Off place whom are currently outside the top five. With Wrexham in shocking form of late - winning only one game out of their past ten, there is a good chance we could steal the top spot at the very last.

At the bottom of the table, the panic is really setting in with six games left for the majority of the clubs at the bottom end of the table. North Ferriby stand four points from safety, but there are five teams that have a chance of being caught up in the relegation dogfight starting from 16th placed Torquay United.

Despite missing the first three matches of the month due to suspension, Hakeem Odoffin picks up this month's Player of the Month award. The on-loan Wolves right-back has been a star all season on the right flank with eight assists from 43, including three of them in this month. With our shortage of centre-backs running so deep, Odoffin had to fill in at the center of defence, doing a good job at a position he wasn't a natural in at Barrow. I hope to keep Odoffin in the future, particularly if we are promoted.

ScottT

8 years

Fantastic month overall and just three points behind a struggling Wrexham, not bad at all this league could be yours. Shame about the dropped points to Barrow (very late goal, gutting) and a strangely poor result to Torquay. That last game of the season could be brilliant, imagine if the league is decided on the last day...

Jack

8 years

2017-04-15 22:10#241651 ScottT : Fantastic month overall and just three points behind a struggling Wrexham, not bad at all this league could be yours. Shame about the dropped points to Barrow (very late goal, gutting) and a strangely poor result to Torquay. That last game of the season could be brilliant, imagine if the league is decided on the last day...

It was one of the best months at the club, without a doubt. Devastated about that draw to Barrow, especially given that we'd be one point behind Wrexham with a victory there! Torquay was definitely and off-day for us.

Jack

8 years

In an immense season full of twists and turns, the final day of the season turned out to be a deserving end for a very entertaining 2016/17 campaign in the National League.

Thanks to Eastleigh's disastrous form at the beginning of April, Liam Knowles saw his side go from title contenders to fighting to simply stay in the Play-Offs by the time the fixture against Solihull Moors came around.

With Lincoln City consistent throughout April, Danny Cowley's Imps capitalised on Eastleigh and Wrexham's poor form as they snatched the league title and the only automatic promotion spot on the final day of the season, thanks to Eastleigh.

In a style that Eastleigh fans had been hoping to see all the way throughout April, Ryan Cresswell's men steamed to a 4-0 victory over Wrexham, who began the day at the top of the table, just one point ahead of Lincoln.

With Jake Pickard bagging a brace, followed by goals from Sam Matthews and Darius Henderson it made for a nightmare for Wrexham fans at Silverlake Stadium, and a stark reminder of what things could have been like for the Eastleigh squad had they remained consistent through the previous five matches.

Lincoln City - who were drawing 1-1 with Southport at the time that Jake Pickard's goal went in just before the break at Silverlake Stadium - pinched a 4-1 win at Southport's Haig Avenue to grab a result which snatched Wrexham's top spot position which they had held ever since a 2-0 win against Bromley way back in October.

This means that Wrexham fell into the Play-Off category on the 46th match of the season.

The Play-Off draws have been made already, with Boreham Wood facing Eastleigh in the Semi-Final. The First Leg of that tie will be played at Meadow Park on 3rd May. Sutton United will play Wrexham at home in the First Leg of their Semi-Final.

Now to the bottom end of the table where four unfortunate teams have been relegated to the sixth tier of English football. Solihull Moors' relegation was confirmed before the 45th match was played out, leaving the other three spots up for grabs by the time the final day came around.

AFC Guiseley failed to save themselves from relegation, finishing 23rd on 44 points, North Ferriby finished 22nd place on 48 points and finally, Gateshead were dragged into the relegation dogfight and they were only two goals away from staying afloat in the Vanarama National League as they had the same points as Dagenham & Redbridge, except The Daggers had a -17 goal difference as opposed to Gateshead's -18.

So that is where the National League season stands at the moment. One team going up as champions, four teams leaving the division next season. All that is left to finish off the season is the decisive Play-Off Final which determines which team will join Lincoln City in its arrival in the Football League next season.

ScottT

8 years

Scenes. Very disappointing to see you drop off at the start of April and ultimately have to go through the playoffs but I was right, that last game did have an impact.. just sadly not in the way we expected.

Jack

8 years

Fucking dreadful. That is the only way I can simplify what I saw this month from us into just two words. Absolutely fucking woeful. We entered the month three points behind the league leaders at the time. We finish the month beating that same team 4-0 on the final day, yet still five points behind the ultimate winners.

We couldn't beat the easy teams. We couldn't manage to defeat Dagenham & Redbridge who were 20th or North Ferriby who have been relegated, not to mention Bromley who finished mid-table. In such a successful March month it is devastating that we couldn't muster together some kind of desire to win the title going into the last month of the league phase of the season.

Well, there you have it. The final league table of the 2016/2017 Vanarama National League season. As you are able to see, Lincoln City ran away with the league title, stole under the noses of Wrexham who had held first position since the 16th game of the season.

In the Play-Offs it is Wrexham, ourselves, Boreham Wood and Sutton United (who sneaked into the Play-Offs ahead of York City in the final games). We play Boreham Wood, Wrexham play Sutton United with the hope of reaching Wembley.

It has been a disastrous season for a lot of teams, however. Tranmere were predicted to be in the top two this season, but finished mid-table, as well as Forest Green who were expected to be in the Play-Offs, that instead finished way off the pace in ninth.

Wrexham are a team who surprised many, though, experts had Dean Keates' side down as a mid-table outfit, but stunned many by leading the way for almost the entirety of the season before it all came crashing down on the final day.

Gateshead had a shocking season, considering they were dubbed to finish within the top ten and ended up going back down into Vanarama North as the sacking of Neil Aspin hit the team hard.

It's been a fantastic season for Jake Pickard this time around. Signed in the summer as my very first transfer deal, the Geordie striker is up for the league Player of the Season as he finishes joint-top of the goalscoring charts with 23 goals and tops the assists charts with 18 assists. This month he bagged a hat-trick against Solihull Moors as well as other good performances in what has been a shocking month.

ScottT

8 years

You really took your frustrations out on Solihull and Wrexham, but some awful results losing to Bromley and Dagenham and drawing to North Ferriby. Let's hope you can carry on the form from the last two games into the playoffs against Boring Boreham Wood

Jack

8 years

2017-04-16 12:04#241658 ScottT : You really took your frustrations out on Solihull and Wrexham, but some awful results losing to Bromley and Dagenham and drawing to North Ferriby. Let's hope you can carry on the form from the last two games into the playoffs against Boring Boreham Wood

Absolutely devastated about the end of the season form, but glad that Wrexham were finally taken off the top - thanks to us!

Jack

8 years

KEY:
PB: Peter Beagrie
JD: Jonathan Douglas
KA: Keith Andrews
ST: Scott T(wat)
MP: Michael DeLa Parra

PB: Hello and welcome to today's big Play-Off Final in the Vanarama National League between Sutton United and Eastleigh, live on Sky today. With me in the studio at Wembley is former Leeds and Blackburn midfielder Jonathan Douglas and former Wolves and Bolton player Keith Andrews for today's expert analysis.

JD: Good to be here, Pete.

PB: So, Eastleigh. Many saw them as going on to win the league title in the final six matches as they entered April only three points behind Wrexham.

KA: Yeah, some terrible form cost them a chance of getting rid of all this stress of going through the Semi-Finals on penalties to Boreham Wood, followed by the nervousness that I'm sure both sides are feeling today. It's going to be a great fixture between two top, top sides.

PB: Four Eastleigh players are up for Player of the Season nominations for this season. Does that go to show the individual talent that Liam Knowles has going into this game?

JD: Absolutely. I seem to remember it's Jake Pickard, Ben Close, Réda Johnson and Hakeem Odoffin up for contention. All superb players. Jake Pickard is one to look out for today, joint top scorer on 23 goals for the season, as well as topping the assist charts on 18 shows just what a great talent that young lad is - Eastleigh have a real player on their hands. Wouldn't surprise me to see a big team come in for him shortly after this final!

PB: Certainly a great talent indeed. Well! We are very close to kick off, it's time to go through the team line-ups.

Sutton United XI: (4-1-4-1) 1/ R. Worner (GK), 13/ R. Eckersley, 36/ E. Suliman, 17/ S. Arthurworrey, 34/ N. Hamalainen, 16/ N. Bailey, 27/ R. Charles-Cook, 12/ A. May, 19/ J. Monakana, 21/ R. Deacon, 8/ B. Gomis.

Eastleigh XI: (4-4-2 Diamond) 1/ R. Clarke (GK), 21/ G. Hoyte, 4/ R. Cresswell, 18/ A. Obileye, 3/ T. Garrett, 6/ B. Close, 8/ S. Matthews, 15/ D. Hammond, 23/ J. Doughty, 9/ J. Pickard, 7/ D. Henderson.

Sutton Subs: 33/ C. Hunt (GK), 3/ B. Jefford, 15/ C. Eastmond, 6/ J. Collins, 23/ B. Traoré.

Eastleigh Subs: 17/ M. Leacock-McLeod, 16/ A. Dugdale, 12/ S. Togwell, 11/ D. Green, 27/ C. Cole.

PB: Even without some star players like Réda and Roger Johnson, Tom Rosenthal and Hakeem Odoffin, Eastleigh still look such a threatening side don't they?

JD: Yes, the key threat is obviously Jake Pickard with so many goals and such creativity in his locker. Ben Close is able to stop most attacks before it reaches the last line of defence.

KA: I agree, Peter. However, this Eastleigh defence seems very makeshift to me. Missing Odoffin, Réda and Roger Johnson this could be prone to mistakes. Obileye is a very questionable inclusion over Adam Dugdale, considering Obileye has only just been recalled from his loan at Dartford only recently. Whether Hoyte can live up to Odoffin's standards is also still yet to be seen.

PB: Lots of questions, can they give us the answers? We'll be back with our commentary team in gantry after the break.

ST: Michael, mate. Think we're on air now... Look at the light mate.

MP: SHIT! I mean.. Hello! Welcome to today's Play-Off Final coverage with us at Sky Sports One. The coin has been tossed by the referee and it is Sutton United who will kick us off at Wembley Stadium this warm afternoon.

ST: (whispering) Stop smoking, Michael!

(Michael stubs his cigarette in Scott's hair, Scott responds with a swift punch)

ST: Have that, Dutch dickhead!

MP: You support Accrington Stanley, mate, I'm the real winner here.

ST: Shut up. Anyway, Liam Knowles has taken his place in the Wembley dugout now. We're almost set!

MP: It's Gomis who have kicked us off here in London! And we're off! A big roar from the crowd.

ST: I'm gonna kick off with you in a minute.

13' MP: It's Ben Close here with a free-kick in a fairly dangerous area. We could have our first big opportunity of the match here with a good free-kick.

ST: Can see something happening here, to be fair. He's got a right cross on him. It's swung in...

MP: GOAL!!!

ST: Bastard! I was gonna say that! But yes! It's a goal!!! Eastleigh have opened their account in the Play-Off Final!!! It is Darius Henderson from a Ben Close cross!!! What a goal, and Liam Knowles is ecstatic on the touchline!

22' ST: Hamalainen with a throw-in for Sutton on the near side now. Bailey, Deacon out on the left now. Gavin Hoyte goes toe-to-toe with the winger...

MP: OH WHAT A BALL!

ST: That's right! Deacon has put through a fantastic pass for May here! May is going through on goaaaal! Ryan Cresswell comes up behind him...

MP: PENALTY!!! GOT TO BE!

ST: The referee is looking to his assistant for a little help on this one now... A bit like Michael in the gantry sometimes, the imbecile...

MP: Shut up, Scott. HE'S GIVEN IT. PENALTY TO SUTTON UNITED!!!

ST: Strange decision here, Sutton have placed centre-back Easah Suliman on the penalty to take it.

MP: Something you'd do, you thicko.

ST: (slaps Michael) Suliman runs up... AND FINISHES! Sutton are back in the game with that equaliser! Great penalty!

42' MP: Charles-Cook meets his opposite number, Dean Hammond in the middle of the park now. It's sprayed out to Deacon who cuts inside before spotting Hamalainen in tonnes of space on the left flank...

ST: WHAT A CROSS THAT IS BY HAMALAINEN!!!

MP: Monakana at the far post!!! In tonnes of space there! He's hit the side-netting!!! What a chance that was to see Sutton take the lead here!

ST: Pissed that up just like your career, Michael.

MP: Assume that's why I'm working with you now...

45' ST: Half-time. The teams go in level at 1-1 at the end of the first half. Good performance from both sides here at Wembley.

46' MP: And Henderson kicks off the game for us in the second half, giving it to the footballing no-mark that is Joshua Doughty.

ST: Can you say that? He's in a Play-Off Final, you're talking about it.

MP: Still counts.

68' ST: Here is Tyler Garrett with a throw-in for Eastleigh. Sam Matthews picks up a pass in the center of the field. Tackled by Eastmond. Hoyte's picked it up on the right. It's Ben Close now, Eastleigh in a threatening position... Ben Close has poked a ball through to Jake Pickard!!! Saved by Worner!!!

MP: Decent shot, decent save. I'll admit that.

82' MP: Eight minutes to go now. Usually how long Scott lasts in bed, but we won't talk about that. Here's Bailey with a free-kick in an imposing position. It's whipped in... It's nicked off Cresswell's head... Going towards the far post...

ST: GOAAAAAAAAAAAL!!! STEPHEN ARTHURWORREY AT THE FAR POST!!!

MP: W-w-w-wait right there... The flag is up on the near side... STEPHEN ARTHURWORREY'S EFFORT DOES NOT STAND. OFFSIDE.

ST: SCENES MAN. ABSOLUTE SCENES. That lino is definitely getting a beating when he gets out of the ground!

90+2' MP: Into the final knockings of the game, Sutton have got every single man they have into their own penalty area to defend this free-kick. It's eleven men versus six Eastleigh bodies in that area. Ben Close is standing over this kick which is level with the end of the centre circle... The ball is swung over into the penalty area... It's extremely high in the air now... Towards the far post now... Hamalainen jumps up with Darius Henderson on the edge of the six-yard box... It's nodded down...

ST: GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!

MP: (drops headset and microphone) I DO NOT BELIEVE MY EYES!

ST: (throws headset at Michael before jumping on him) GET IN! IT IS JAKE PICKARD WITH THE WINNER IN THE FINAL SECONDS OF THE VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF FINAL!!!

MP: (pushing Scott against the desk) SWEET BABY JESUS AND THE ORPHANS I CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT I AM SEEING AT WEMBLEY. THERE ARE EASTLEIGH FANS ON THE PITCH.

ST: WE ARE FOOTBALL LEAGUE, SAY WE ARE FOOTBALL LEAGUE!

MP: I swear you're an Accrington fan, Scott?

ST: LIAM KNOWLES' BARMY ARMY!!!

90+3' MP: THAT'S IT! EASTLEIGH FOOTBALL CLUB WILL BE ENTERING THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR 71-YEAR HISTORY. INCREDIBLE SCENES HERE AT WEMBLEY.

ST: Whoa, whoa, whoa... Who's that on the pitch? We've identified a Stamatis Kritikos on the field... HE'S JUST SUCKERPUNCHED THE LINESMAN THAT DISALLOWED SUTTON UNITED'S OFFSIDE GOAL! He is being carried away by stewards and will be dealt with by police. Do not expect to see him at a football game anytime soon!

MP: (smacks Scott) Sorry mate, just thought I'd recreate that moment with you.

ST: (stares angrily at Michael) Just you wait til we get off air...