16 THE NON-LEAGUE PAPER, Sunday, December 29, 2019 Log onto www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com Log onto www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com THE NON-LEAGUE PAPER, Sunday, December 29, 2019 17 ADAM VIRGO GIVES HIS MID-TERM VERDICT EVATT’S MASTERPLAN HAS LEFT THE

BIG GUNS TRAILING IN THEIR WAKEconceded six, three and five in them. Where are the goals going E ARE right in the middle of a mas- MAKING A NOISE: separate games. That’s going to to come from? That’s their big- sive period of the Barrow are the team be their problem. gest issue. The other issue for to beat at the halfway them, along with those around National League stage of the National SUTTON UNITED them, are the teams below them season. League season It was always going to be a diffi- – Wrexham and Chesterfield. A busy festive schedule, big W PICTURE: Dan Westwell cult job to follow Paul Doswell. Teams that should be doing a lot derbies and teams facing each When a club has had a long-serv- better. other twice in the space of a week ing manager, it is a big change – back-to-back wins can be just as for the whole club. They’ve got WREXHAM pivotal as successive defeats. a good squad and maybe they We’ve crossed the halfway They just don’t excite me. I can’t stage now so here is a look at should be doing better than they fathom them being relegated but each team as the season moves are but they’ve really picked up they’ve got to sort themselves into the New Year. nicely in recent games. out because it could happen. On I love Harry Beautyman in Boxing Day they made it three BARROW midfield and with a fit Tommy wins in four which is much more Wright they will be OK. encouraging but I do fear for You wouldn’t have said at the them. They need to bring in two start of the season that they DAG & RED or three new players who hit the would be the team to beat at GOLDEN BOY: Jamie Reid has really impressed for Torquay The biggest fear is when you’re ground running. If they don’t Christmas. But Ian Evatt is show- they’re in trouble. ing what a good manager he is. At Cheek. Then Reeco Hackett-Fair- Woking back at the first attempt really relying on one player to do well. For Dagenham it’s Angelo the start of the campaign he was child is catching the eye. He’s and they’re thriving now at CHESTERFIELD disappointed with the goals they very talented and, at 21 years Step 1. Balanta. When he’s out of the were conceding and the manner. old, he has a real chance of being They are the hardest working team they’re not the same. In the These Chesterfield players are on But now they’re on a roll. snapped up. team in the National League summer they signed Mitch Brun- good money but they’re nowhere The 3-0 away win at Notts The thing with Bromley for when they haven’t got the ball. dle, who I like, but some of the near doing what they should be. County was a big statement. I me is, individually, sometimes That’s testament to the fitness other signings you think, ‘Decent I’m not just saying that because listened to Ian’s interview af- the players can be too incon- of how fit Dowson has got the enough but can he get them in the I tipped them at the start of the ter about how they came with a sistent. On their day, they are players. Part-time teams – those play-offs?’ season! gameplan – they scored a couple a match for anybody and when training on a Tuesday and It’ll be interesting to see if they I saw their game against Notts go out and look for more quali- of goals by using the width, get- they are all on form as a group Thursday night – are more likely County and even though they ty as they’ve been on a slippery ting good balls into the box. It they can be unstoppable. to be relegated but they’re prov- won, there is no way in a million sounds silly, but you can tell they ing me wrong. With a good work slope. years this squad is good enough. are taking on basic instructions. HARROGATE TOWN ethic and keeping things simple, They were so poor. you’ve got every chance. Proba- MAIDENHEAD UNITED At some clubs you point the That’s huge. Play-off hangovers do happen They’re the only team that ha- bly the team of the season so far. Alan Devonshire always loves to finger at the manager but the and Harrogate probably fell into throw the, ‘Told you so!’ at me. players should be doing a lot bet- ven’t really faltered since an in- that bracket with a slow start to consistent opening. The biggest It’s been an outstanding achieve- ter. It’s surely very embarrassing. the season. That’s never a real STOCKPORT COUNTY fear for me is not whether they ment to stay in this league over Being so poor defensively could surprise to me. They found wins The credit I give Jim Gannon is can finish the job off but can they the last couple of years. They’re maybe see them drop out of the hard to come by early on. Then how he gave the chance to the keep the manager? doing as well as they can, really. league. they got three points at Halifax players that got them promot- ed. He felt some weren’t good You’d worry if they lost Danny with a clean sheet and it was the Whitehall because where are the EBBSFLEET UNITED YEOVIL TOWN start for them. enough and, in fairness, has had When a club is relegated you al- to make some hard decisions. goals going to come from? I slight- What can you say? A club that They will have learnt a lot ly fear for them being down there. ways wonder how quickly they from last season. I can’t see them That’s not an easy part of man- had so much positivity – pro- motion, reaching the play-offs will adapt to the National League. breaking into the top two but cer- agement when someone has AFC FYLDE in their first season back – good Darren Sarll has done a magnifi- tainly a play-off spot. done well for you. cent job. They’ve got a really good But he’s made those tough Something just didn’t seem right players, a good young manager. spine to their team. SOLIHULL MOORS decisions and it’s worked. He’s there. They did so well last year, All of a sudden it’s turned into a Stuart Nelson is a good keep- brought in the likes of Joe Pig- Dave Challinor signed players nightmare. er, Charlie Lee has title-winning Don’t write them off winning gott, Joe Leesley and Tom Walk- quickly and all of a sudden he’s I played with Kevin Watson at experience and Jimmy Smith this league. The way they play, er. They are very, very good play- got the boot. Colchester. He wants to play the has, arguably, been their best the personnel they’ve got, gives ers. On their day they can give They’ve been so reliant on right way and since he’s gone in player this season. Rhys Murphy them every chance. teams a hammering. Danny Rowe to score goals but as manager they’ve had a reac- is probably the best No.9 in the Their frontline with Paul Mc- now he’s having a season where tion. It’s going to be very difficult league. Even Remeao Hutton has Callum, Danny Wright, Jake BOREHAM WOOD he hasn’t been so prolific. for them to get out of it so they Beesley and Nathan Blissett assists and the best right-back in season of sorting them out. I’ll been excellent at right-back. He’s At one stage you thought they’d NOTTS COUNTY FC HALIFAX TOWN BARNET DOVER ATHLETIC HARTLEPOOL UNITED I also wonder if they’ve got need to pick up some wins. are a problem for anyone. Then the division in Josh Hare. But I be keeping a close eye on them a great out ball, fit and strong. be looking at relegation. But Arguably the biggest club that’s They’re struggling for goals and Darren Currie will live or die If their home record was like Whether I didn’t like playing the players who will be used to Jamey Osborne being on song is think, as a club, they’re in a bet- in the summer because he will I imagine they are above where they’re doing unbelievably well. ever been in the National League clean sheets at the moment but by the way he wants his team to their away record they’d be top there and I’m still taking it out a relegation battle. They’ve got CHORLEY absolutely key. ter place now. want to bring in his own identity. they would have expected to be. It’s difficult for manager Luke but when you’ve been on a losing you can’t look at their current play. You’ve got to respect him for of the league. The way they play on them, but they don’t fill me nice footballers. You can’t get to They’ve got good, honest play- I felt last season they got found For a number of years they be- It needs a big sort out. They’ve given themselves a great Garrard because if anybody run and you drop into a league run of results and say it is any re- that. He was one of the best play- suits them on the road. They with great excitement when I Christmas in this position but ers and they’ve picked up some out a little bit because of the way came a holiday home for retiring chance of winning this league at does really well then they’re off. where you’re expected to win flection on the squad or manager ers I ever played with. He played watch them. They’ve struck me keep saying, ‘Oh, they will go on decent results. That’s got to be they play. I think they’re now bet- were excellent when I saw them players as they tried to buy their TORQUAY UNITED the first time of asking but – and In that final third he’s got four straightaway, it’s not easy. People Pete Wild because they’re doing the game in the right way and against Yeovil in the league and as a club that could be in the Na- a run’. They’ve only won seven pleasing. They went through a it’s a big one – they need to defend ter suited to push for this title. If way out of the league. If you want entertainment then games all season. They concede good players – but all different. forget how much turmoil they more than what they should be that’s what he wants from his Southend in the FA Cup. Like tional League for a while. period of drawing 0-0 so they better and keep more clean sheets. I could have a mulligan on my I think it’s going to be a mid-ta- get along to see the Gulls. They so many goals it’s frightening. Kabongo Tshimanga joined from were in during the summer. in terms of league position. Barnet side. I’ve stuck my neck for so many others in mid-table, But you have to say they’ve have grit and determination. Chesterfield pre-season predic- ble season but I don’t say that as score so many goals you think Oxford City in the summer and All things considered, I think The main worry is how long out to say Jack Taylor is the best it’s all about finding that consis- given themselves the best chance They’re going to get the odd BROMLEY tion for the title, I’d probably pick a bad thing. They’ve had a lot to they’ve got a chance. Going for- ALDERSHOT TOWN has scored 14 goals. they’d have taken where they the bad form and inconsistency player in the National League. tency. I can’t see them scoring possible by appointing Dave tonking and it’s going to be tough Solihull. The problem is defensively deal with off the field following Challinor as manager. That was wards they are one of the best to This club has got an identity and I’ve always liked Keiran are. The takeover went through, goes on for. After such a storm- enough this season to really There’s no one I look at in their but they’ve got a big period com- they’re not good enough at the the departure of owner Stewart a huge, huge statement of intent. watch. They have a genuine goal- ing up and if they can stay up, a direction, from top to bottom. Murtagh in midfield and they there’s a new identity and opti- ing start to the season, they’ve push up the league. squad and think, ‘I’d definitely Great with youth, the communi- WOKING have experience throughout the mism. It takes time to fix things. hopefully already got enough moment and they also need to Donald so it was always going To get him was a real coup – they scorer in Jamie Reid, but they take him’. Ethan Chislett is do- Jamie Vermiglio will have done ty is important and Neil Smith When a team gets relegated from squad. Right-back Kane Smith Whether they make the play-offs points on the board to not have a take their chances – they’re prob- EASTLEIGH to be difficult. Ben Strevens has probably couldn’t believe their concede so many as well. You ing very well but apart from that a magnificent job. But, like Alder- has signed National League ex- the National League you ask is fit again too. I really like him. this season is one thing, but next late season panic. Cameron King ably the most inconsistent side a small squad and it’s probably luck when Fylde got rid of him. can’t go through a season ship- it’s just an OK squad. They’ve shot, the teams they are trying to perience. whether you will ever see them They lose a lot of games but they season could be the one where in midfield is a very talented in both boxes. If they get it right, In the summer they lost Paul more about rebuilding. He’s do- He knows the league really ping as many they do. In three lost key players over the last few leapfrog are teams that should be I’m a big fan of striker Michael again. But Alan Dowson brought also win a lot. they make a really big push. player. they can make the play-offs. McCallum’s goals, Mark Yeates’ ing a good job. well and I think this will be a of their last five games they’ve seasons and it’s hard to replace pushing for promotion.