FAN ZONE
TUST's Chair and TUFC board member, Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
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IT’S A CRAZY LEAGUE. HOW MANY TEAMS HAVE TOPPED THE TABLE?
UNITED WOMEN BACK TO WINNING WAYS HIT FIVE
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO CONCEDE ONLY NINE GOALS IN 31 MATCHES?
“There’s no hiding place. Everyone is disappointed with the performance and the result.” The words of Torquay manager Paul Wotton after Saturday’s second 1-0 defeat in the last two matches.
The irony is that in the 1-0 home defeat to Hampton Wotton felt it was his side’s best all-round home performance so far. Rather underlines that football can be cruel and it takes more luck than skill to win the football pools.
The latest loss is, of course, doubly annoying as it was against a promotion rival. In fact, Maidstone have become a bogey side for Torquay after numerous pointless trips into Kent. Even an overnight stay did not produce the result we all hoped for.
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This National South season must be some kind of football record. As a question at a future sports quiz, ‘how many teams topped the table during season 2024-25?’ The answer to date is eleven as Dorking Wanderers took over from Worthing.
Amazingly, only six points and in some cases goal difference separate the top seven. United’s loss sent them down to sixth but they do have either a game in hand or two on several around them.
Boreham Wood, knocked out of the Trophy on Saturday, won 4-3 at Hemel on Monday to go back to top before being replaced on Tuesday by Dorking following their 2-2 draw at Hampton.
It’s definitely a race to the title with finishing second or third also important giving those teams home advantage in the play-off semi-finals.
We’re now definitely in the business end of the season where picking up as many points as possible is vital.
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There’s a race too in National North between possibly Chester and Scunthorpe, four points separate them with Scunthorpe having a game in hand. And the picture in the National League is similar where Barnet, York and Forest Green are in with a shout, the latter two each having two games in hand on leaders York City. For these teams the stakes are higher as a return to the EFL is the big prize with financial rewards.
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United’s opponents this Saturday are fifth placed Eastbourne who have 55 points, three ahead of Torquay so it’s another important fixture and one which, in the current climate, is likely to attract another 4,000 gate.
Then on Tuesday it’s a return to Worthing to put up a better performance than the recent disastrous Trophy game.
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Non-League Crowd Watch: York City 5,331, Southend 4,810, Maidstone 3,028, AFC Fylde 2,612. Southend were surprisingly dumped out of the Trophy by Isthmian League South-East division Sittingbourne whose reward is a home tie against Aldershot Town. Last mid-week in a National League game Southend’s home match attracted 5,638 of whom visitors AFC Fylde brought nine!
If United feel that away attendances in National South, apart from our own Yellow Army, are low, the division above may not be a lot better in some cases.
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United’s Women’s side got back to winning ways on Sunday with an impressive 5-1 away victory at Pucklechurch Sports Ladies. Lucy Solloway, Tee Kaptein, Chloe Williams and Lucy Palmer amongst the goal scorers. The win means they keep their pressure on the top of the table and their next four fixtures are all away.
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Don’t you love the last few hours of the transfer window? Suddenly there’s a huge rush to get deals ‘over the line’ often with eye-watering sums attached. Who would have thought a few months ago that Manchester United would have released Marcus Rashford? Luckily at our level there is no window.
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Any idea why the National League Board have not announced the play-off dates? With the last match on April 26th there will be many fans wanting to sort out their future commitments. Come on National League.
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On Wednesday a number of TUST board members met to put pin badges and share certificates in envelopes ready for distribution to investors. Also the investor board with everyone’s names is now proudly on display at the club. Check www.tust.co.uk for all the details.
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Saturday’s Torquay v Maidstone game put the two best defences against each other, 27 and 25 respectively but what about Burnley in the Championship? Burnley have played 31 with only nine in the ‘against’ column, four at home and five away - that’s some defending.
Let’s get behind the injury hit team on Saturday and return to fortress Plainmoor.
COYY
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