County v Brackley: FA Trophy Match Thread (24/02/2018)

What's the betting that we get through tomorrow, but then draw at EP for a midweek schlep down to Brackers?!

But, seriously, a home tie has to be considered winnable - and at least we have avoided other National League sides left in the hat...

Not a bad night for the North, with three of yesterday evening's replays going this side of the Watford Gap!

Which would of course leave us representing northern England!

Just turning this into Saturday's Match Thread - in the hope that mhh, as the originator, won't mind.

You know what to do...

crikey. watch out hazel!

Of the 5 PT sides currently above us in the league, it's Brackley who sit 15 points ahead of us, showing again what consistent performers they are at this level. They've lost the least games of anyone so far which is impressive.

Game management

They've the best record in the league in terms of ensuring their HT 'result' doesn't worsen to FT. In fact, it's happened only once. On the other hand, our HT 'result' has worsened to the FT whistle 8 times in the league, meaning only Curzon have displayed this 'trait' more than us this season.

Spirit

Although it's not a strength to be behind at HT (and they've done that in 1/3rd (10) of their league matches), it is a strength to come back from losing positions. From those 10 games they got something from 6 of them (taking 10 points in all) and that's impressive.

If all this follows through to this FAT encounter, then it seems like we'll need to ensure we score first and do better than we often do at staying in front! While Tuesday's showing didn't suggest that will happen, I think it's fair to expect the verve to be in the players as they seek a trip to Wembley and for the line-up to include a recognised #9 with Ball playing from midfield. As such, what was missing against Nuneaton is what will give us a chance here in my view. Tight though but fingers crossed.

Yup, clearly a lot of belief in JB.  JG's comments about Ball in the podcast echo what he mentioned at least twice in the early season when he said he had talked to Ball about the #4 role and being able to get a move without being in the goals etc. While there's (thankfully) been a move away from his anchoring midfield after a pretty good run at seeing if it would work, he has been able to contribute better when playing more to his strengths. If that had happened more through the season so far, I think he would now be more of a contender with Cowan for YPOTY.  As a fan without the manager insight into players following instruction etc., it's hard to imagine his contribution putting him above the likes of Hinchliffe, Warburton and Oswell on a POTY list.

Anyway, I'm all for believing in players and hopefully Ball will continue working hard like we could see he had done over the summer.  With such great belief in Ball and being able to state a tactical reason to use him as a #9 on Tuesday (pace behind), it was peculiar to hear JG 'justify' the selection by suggesting Oswell hadn't scored or assisted in 7 games while Ball, when mentioned alongside Stephenson and Warburton, had apparently been involved of late.

Ball did indeed have a goal and an assist in his prior 7 starts, I believe, but Oswell certainly had two assists in his (both for Turner goals). Of course, Ball does other things which support our goals like the lung-busting run for the 1st goal v York.  As such, these contributions may be being referred to.  However, on that basis,  since the turn of the year, Oswell's made some sort of contribution (build-up, box play or runs creating space for team-mates) to at least one goal in every game except Harrogate and the 2nd Maidenhead game.  Out of form and tired, that's suggesting there's a level of effort for the team which is perhaps worth some acknowledgement.