Dangermen Adriano Moke, Rob Ramshaw and star marksman Glen Taylor are the ones to watch for the Moors. Taylor, who has been at the club since 2016, consistently scores at least a goal every other game, and managed 36 in 2018/19, although he did prove his fallibility by missing a penalty against Leamington in a 2-1 defeat a couple of weeks ago. Midfielder Ramshaw, who joined the club in the same season as Taylor, is already among the goals this season. Oh how luxurious to have a backbone of a team that’s been with the club long-term and has had time to build a real understanding, rather than always starting again from scratch each season.
Spennymoor have in recent years tended to be almost unbeatable at home but leaky away, although slow-starting York came away with the points at the Brewery Field on Monday, in front of a bumper crowd somewhat oddly described as being ’over 2635’. However, that 3-1 win was reportedly somewhat flattering, with Moors missing a host of what were described by their official website as being ‘guilt-edge chances’, which are presumably gilt-edged chances that are so gilt-edged that the missers are racked with guilt for missing them. Some more of that guilty profligacy would be warmly welcomed on Saturday. Prior to that, Saturday’s visitors had won two (away at Boston and home to Southport) and lost one (the aforementioned defeat to Leamington).
Like Fylde, Spennymoor have aspirations to become a Football League club in the near future, with money available behind the scenes to assist them in that ambition. Since ascending to the National League North in 2017, they haven’t finished outside the top eight in seasons actually completed, and competed in the play-offs in 2018/19.
These two sides were kept apart by Covid last season, with Spennymoor finishing one place behind Hereford in the table, on the same number of points and having played the same number of games.
For the Bulls, ex-Wolves winger Zele Ismail seemed to spark things into life a bit when coming on in the bank holiday stalemate at Telford, and could start here, although the club suddenly boasts a wealth of options in wide attacking areas. New arrival Krystian Pearce looks like an absolute zinger of a signing at centre back (well done the management team and the board for getting that bit of business done), and will relieve some of the pressure from the shoulders of Ben Pollock and Luke Haines, who have shown real character at the back so far this season.
Could a case be made for them playing as a three in defence with Jared Hodgkiss, starting the season in fine form, and Ryan Lloyd pushing on either side? I don’t know, tactics are a mystery to me, I just really like it when the ball goes in the right net, but it might just work. Certainly the youngsters are good enough footballers for a three to work. Actually would that end up with wing-backs AND wingers, which isn’t really ‘a thing’? Hmm. Whatever the formation, ‘The Chief’, as the new centre back is apparently known, will be looking to keep Glen Taylor in his pocket for the 90 minutes, assuming chiefs have pockets. The only concern about the Birmingham-born Barbados international is that he’ll be away on occasion playing CONCACAF matches against Caribbean islands smaller than the Isle of Wight, missing league games in the process.
Of
the recent arrivals from north of the border (Scotland as opposed to
Shropshire), playmaker James Vincent was missing on Monday through injury, but
Miles Storey again looked to be a real threat and will twist the blood of
defenders all season, as long as he hasn’t got Jared Hodgkiss legging it
forward and getting in his way as a wing-back. If Vincent misses out again, new signing Harry Pinchard could come in alongside the increasingly assured-looking George Forsyth, with the experienced Yan Klukowski another option.
Josh Gowling rang the tactical and personnel changes for the Telford game, in what looked like an effort to ensure that defeat was avoided. A more attacking approach will be anticipated and expected for home games, so there may be a few tweaks again.
The first clean sheet of the season was something to build on, but two points and two goals from the opening four games is not the start that was hoped for.
Let’s hope that a squad that looks good on paper and has occasionally burst into life on actual grass can finally engage top gear, allowing the season to get started properly at last.
COYW