Season 24/25

[symptomless]

Only a week left of the season and it's all a bit quiet on here now that we don't have anything to moan about. The team's playing well and Gavin's recruitment and tactics are finally paying off.

The next week's games decide the season, but they don't define it. What are your highlights and lowlights of our first season in National League South?

Best game? 
Worst game? 
Best away trip? 
Best away food?
Favourite player?

For me best game: 
No doubt, 3 - 2 v. Truro City. Great spirited performance till the end, v. 2nd place, well timed subs, great fight back, well taken goals. What more can you ask?

Best away game? 
Bath away was enjoyable and it felt great to play in a proper historic stadium (even if it was a rugby stadium and I never made it to Torquay). We deserved the 1-0 win and I thought we'd turned things around with Mensah at the back but alas; false dawn.
Chesham 3 - 1 away was a solid victory but my favourite was probably 1-1 v. Dorking. A great fight back against a decent team, in the rain, fans boxed in, determined performance and a glimmer of hope.

Worst game: Hampton & Richmond away. Lots of promise from a new strike force of Ottoway and Hutchinson and promising Mensah at the back. But utter capitulation, dodgy tactics, and what's worse, £7.50 for poorly poured Guinness in the bar! I wouldn't have shed a tear if they'd have got relegated for that fact alone.

Favourite player for me is hard, Gavin seems to get a greater returns than the sum of the parts.
For me the season started turning around when Adam Thompson joined. Steadied the back and we didn't look like we'd capitulate every time the wind blew the ball down our end.

Special mention for Rhys in goal, many of our early points were down to him and unlucky to be out of the side.

Still plenty to play for in the week ahead but a talking point if nothing else.

 

[No bull Towner]

Totally agree season turned around after new year with a defence that finally did the job!! Adam Thompson definitely the signing of season.  Rhys definitely deserves the accolade as you rightly say as has done nothing wrong to be dropped the way he has for Wright, who has had very little to do in reality but it's typical Gav not changing things...if Rhys hadn't got concussion and compulsory weeks out this wouldn't be happening. Let's not forget we had only lost 3 since Xmas and had gone on a good unbeaten run before Eastbourne too so Wright definitely isn't an upgrade.  Goalie life though is whoever has the shirt keeps it until they fk up so be interesting if after the blatant goalie error in judgement Saturday that cost a goal changes things though I doubt it as Rhys hasn't played for several weeks now and in such an important game can't see Gav changing things back.

[The Crowing Cockerel]

10 hours ago, No bull Towner said:

Rhys definitely deserves the accolade as you rightly say as has done nothing wrong to be dropped the way he has for Wright, who has had very little to do in reality but it's typical Gav not changing things...if Rhys hadn't got concussion and compulsory weeks out this wouldn't be happening. Let's not forget we had only lost 3 since Xmas and had gone on a good unbeaten run before Eastbourne too so Wright definitely isn't an upgrade.  Goalie life though is whoever has the shirt keeps it until they fk up so be interesting if after the blatant goalie error in judgement Saturday that cost a goal changes things though I doubt it as Rhys hasn't played for several weeks now and in such an important game can't see Gav changing things back.

Joe has done an incredible job - particularly after he took a fair amount of stick during his time at Chatham. Its a luxury to have Rhys waiting in the wings. I fully expect Rhys to start next season as the No.1, but we shall see...

[No bull Towner]

48 minutes ago, The Crowing Cockerel said:

Joe has done an incredible job - particularly after he took a fair amount of stick during his time at Chatham. Its a luxury to have Rhys waiting in the wings. I fully expect Rhys to start next season as the No.1, but we shall see...

I'm not saying he has done a bad job but I wouldn't call it incredible. Most matches he's barely had to make any saves at all as opposition haven't created much, the main reason we've managed to not lose to be honest!

[No bull Towner]

53 minutes ago, The Crowing Cockerel said:

Joe has done an incredible job - particularly after he took a fair amount of stick during his time at Chatham. Its a luxury to have Rhys waiting in the wings. I fully expect Rhys to start next season as the No.1, but we shall see...

Maybe he will maybe he won't but he will be a far bigger loss than Wright if he doesn't stay....

[The Crowing Cockerel]

1 minute ago, No bull Towner said:

Maybe he will maybe he won't but he will be a far bigger loss than Wright if he doesn't stay....

I like Rhys, but I certainly don't think he's the perfect keeper - good shot-stopper and quick off his line, but needs to be more commanding with crosses and marshall his defence better.

[No bull Towner]

1 minute ago, The Crowing Cockerel said:

I like Rhys, but I certainly don't think he's the perfect keeper - good shot-stopper and quick off his line, but needs to be more commanding with crosses and marshall his defence better.

I'm not saying he's perfect either I just rate him higher than Wright and feel he's been hard done by of late. Wright isn't the 'saviour' of the season as I've heard some saying at the ground that's all. Since NYD Rhys played 10 games, 5W, 2D, 3L conceded 15 (4 v Maidstone and 5 v Eastbourne which were thumpings) 3 clean sheets totalling 17 pts. Joe including today has played 11, 4W, 4D, 3L conceded 15, 2 clean sheets totalling 16 pts. Assuming we get no more points from last 2 games, Joe would have played 3 more games but Rhys would have more points. Rhys got us through this season not Joe is all I'm saying but some have short memories!

[55 seasons]

The difference in goalkeeping is Joe has the experience to marshall the defence. Nothing against Rhys but this is the significant factor.

 

[No bull Towner]

1 hour ago, 55 seasons said:

The difference in goalkeeping is Joe has the experience to marshall the defence. Nothing against Rhys but this is the significant factor.

 

I don't see much marshalling, I see him shout and wave his arms around when things go wrong but that's about it....opinions differ but that's ok will see who is there next season 

Edited April 20 by No bull Towner
Error

[55 seasons]

I agree that all being equal. Rhys deserves the shirt next season. He will only improve whilst Joe May be past his peak. For the tail end of this season the management were 100% right imo. 

[ETFC2001]

On 17/04/2025 at 21:32, symptomless said:

Best game? 
Worst game? 
Best away trip? 
Best away food?
Favourite player?

Home game? Of course the simple answer is 3-2 vs Truro but I think when we beat Weymouth 1-0 is a good shout. Just over a 1,000 there, and when Reece scored the roof came off the place. Was a brilliant day in the sun (in October!)

Away game? I’d agree with the Dorking answer. The rain, everyone packed in the small little stand.. We all thought we was going to get battered but we fought! Enjoyed it thoroughly.

Worst game is definitely H&R. Absolutely shocking from minute 1. If we’re also talking cup competitions, Sittingbourne is definitely up there too. Shocking.

Favourite player? I would say Lennon Peake.

 

 

[FOT]

Best game- Chelmsford at home, only arrived at this one with 10 minutes to play. Walked in the gate and almost immediately saw us score. This was cancelled out a few minutes later. Everyone behind the goal was dejected, this was the win we were hoping for that our recent performances had deserved. There was no great escape on the horizon, all we wanted to do was celebrate a victory again. But then Sam did Sam and put his head where it hurts got us the points with one of the last attacks of the game. What a 15 minutes of football.

Worst game - maidstone away, no question, awful place to watch your non league team. Drove down after working in Kent, nowhere to park and missed kick off. Was impressed by the facilities and crowd in the first half and had dome friendly interaction with the home fans behind our end. The clubhouse though a nice building was soulless. The 2nd half was a joke, they have a big support every week, they should have segregated the fans and kept the other end for us. When we came back from the clubhouse our end had been taken by maidstone supporters so we made our way to the other end where the majority of their supporters were. We spent the next 45 minutes being abused by 15 year olds standing about 10 feet away as well plenty of adults who should know better. No one minds banter but maidstone should segregate as a different set of away support may have reacted differently to us. Lost 4 nil.

Best away trip - tonbridge, one of only a few highlights pre Xmas, found a locals pub round the corner from the ground. Spent a few hours playing pool against the guys from the pub pool team, nice pint and a great find for a Saturday away next season. Really nice club friendly people in the bar during and after and a great performance winning 3-1. Tuesday night and about 60 there, all offered free food home before the long journey back but well worth it.

Best food- has the be the chips from the Asian chicken van on the corner of the main stand at St albans. 

Best player- it's hard to judge because standing behind our attacking end each game I manage to get to its tricky getting to know all the defenders especially when they change around as much as they have this year. But there has definitely been an improvement at the back so credit to them all Inc both goalkeepers. But I have to give it to Sam Youngs again. 17 goals again we would be nowhere without him. We have used about 8 different strikers this season yet he is the one we look to when we need a goal. He works so hard too and is such a great clubman we are lucky to have him.