Darlington

[casablanca]

Any radio commentary today, please?

[casablanca]

Yes, Darlington FC are on Mixlr!

[ChrisB]

Five subs...that's a first (I think).

[clive]

Five subs is a new rule for this season. It even applies in Step 4 ( and maybe lower ? ).

A very entertaining game today, where both sides will probably think they should have won, but a draw was a fair result. City obviously looked much better when Zac and Reece joined Josh in midfield in the second half, and I thought Brad Stretton had a very good game.

We were not so good defensively, and hopefully it is just a case the Jones and Kpekawa need to play together more often. McKenzie-Lyle had a curate's egg of a game. Some fabulous saves mixed with some potentially huge errors with clearances, which he got away with today

The charging extra for seats wasn't enforced so I don't know why they did this, and the so called "soft-segregation" did not exist, not that it was an issue today. I also don't see the point of the band playing at half-time behind the main stand, and continuing to play for at least 5 minutes into the second half. Very distracting, I was there to watch the football not listen to some mundane covers of old hits !

Anyway, for anyone interested, here is the usual detailed report

fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2024/08/oxford-city-2-2-darlington-fc-att-862.html

[ChrisB]

Thanks for the report Clive: it sounds as though it was an interesting and well-contested match. A tricky trip awaits on Tuesday when they visit Curzon Ashton who've won their opening two games.

[Rijs]

Great report, Clive. I couldn't make it but it sounds as if I missed an entertaining game with lots of action. Good to know Reece is back.

[marks]

A really entertaining game, but I'm really worried about McKenzie-Lyle in goal. His decision making is poor, as is his distribution. He made a couple of excellent saves towards the end of the game, but should have kept out both Darlo goals. My concern is that he's been signed because Sam Cox knows him as a former team-mate, not for his quality. He may get away with his wandering 40 yards from goal lower down the pyramid, but he won't in the NLN. I don't think he did anything to inspire confidence in his back 4 on Saturday - easy to blame our central defenders for their parts in the Darlo goals, but Burley and Roddy were playing too high and too wide in the first half - a situation only rectified at half-time.

City looked so much better with Fleet and McEachran on the field -let's hope they stay fit this season.

On a side note, Tafari Moore turned out for St Albans on Saturday, while I've heard Canice Carroll will be playing his football for Solihull Moors this campaign. Anyone know where Aaron williams-bushell has gone?

[clive]

As I stated in my report, McKenzie-Lyle had a curate's egg of a game, and got away with most of it on Saturday.

I've seen that Tafari Moore was a substitute for St Albans on Saturday, which is a shame as he is more than good enough to be in the City line-up. I've not seen anything on the Solihull website about Canice, but it wouldn't surprise me as he is capable of playing at that level.

I've not seen where AWB has ended up. There was an agent hawking in around on Twitter last month. He is better than several of the players that City have signed in the summer. Don't know if he wanted more money or didn't fancy NLN, but sad he is no longer at City. He is still listed as a City player on Transfermrkt !

[clive]

The goals from the match are now on YouTube. Looks like Mckenzie-Lyle should have saved both of the Darlo goals........

[marks]

Pretty sure the keeper who has featured in the warm-ups this season is Nathan Shepperd who was briefly at Wycombe Wanderers last season. Don't know if he's actually contracted to city, but McKenzie-Lyle certainly needs some competition for the shirt.