Frickleys relegation was confirmed with an abject display which encapsulated an abject season of abject displays. Spennymoor scored a goal in each half & Sebba pulled off any number of worldys to prevent a cricket score - I fear the cricket score may be imminent at Bramall Lane on Wednesday.....
The most galling thing about our ignomy is the complete dearth of any quality teams in the Evostik Premier this season - for example, Spennymoor are one of the worst teams I've seen at Westfield Lane this season, yet they beat us at a training session canter & are set to finish runners up in the league.
We have managed 12 wins this season - that's 1 in every 4 games (ish) - so for every Matlock at home we've had to endure a Hednesford at home, an Ilkeston away & a Skem away - & we've managed a paltry 47 goals, or 1 a game (ish) if you prefer.
In recent seasons we have dined well on a generous diet of goals (thanks to Gav for 3 seasons & a combo of Zeph & Haze last season). This season we have been fed a series of misfiring attackers who have been played left, right, centre & bench - who have thus never settled & have thus failed to deliver in front of goal. Ladies & gentlemen - I give you (in no particular order):
I exclude Curtly from this list as he appeared to be the only striker that we've had who genuinely had the ability to bully & frighten defences - but then his light only shone briefly, so who knows.
I'm not saying the above are bad players - I'm saying that the constant turnover & change in positions means that no-one ever settled.
As we head out of the Easter period, a particularly religious time for believers, let us all get down on our knees & pray to whatever we believe in & give thanks for The Pole In Goal - a shining light in an otherwise very dark season.
So set your Sat Navs for the likes of Prescot, Romulus & Hyde (don't send for the doctor) & hopefully we'll win more than we lose.
To put things in perspective, this is only our 2nd relegation in my lifetime - however first time round it was from the Gola League (aka the National League these days) which was full of good footballing teams, unlike the league we are about to depart.
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# | Team | Pl | Pts |
18. | Marine | 46 | 55 |
19. | Halesowen Town | 46 | 51 |
20. | Sutton Coldfield Town | 46 | 47 |
21. | Corby Town | 46 | 46 |
22. | Frickley Athletic | 46 | 39 |
23. | Ilkeston FC | 46 | 27 |
24. | Skelmersdale United | 46 | 24 |