LONG STRUGGLE WAS NET RESULT
THIS chart shows goals scored in the three major competitions last season. It is a little depressing for some clubs who struggled in front of goal, but to lighten this feature you can see from the clubs’ final positions that only a few were relegated.
We also try to be positive and show that some clubs recovered after a poor first half to the season. For example, Paulton Rovers, Lewes, Kidderminster Harriers, Southport and Bradford PA all recovered to win far more games in the second half of the season than they did in the first.
Positive tactics are difficult when a club is battling for points, especially away from home, and you can see that Paulton Rovers, though winning more games later in the season, difficult continuedto score whento find they goals were on their travels. Not surprisingly, only Stockport County and Bishop’s Stortford in this table actually finished in the top half of their leagues and, strangely, considering their excellent home support, County won more games away than they did at Edgeley Park. Other clubs who struggled for they home battled Harriers,goalsin vain were thoughin Kidderminsterthe sadly second half of the season, and Aldershot Town, who were never really in trouble. It can be very depressing, after a well-contested 90 minutes, if your club has failed to score. The more this problem is repeated, the more difficult it is for players and fans to relax and enjoy their football.
So, full marks to Southport. Despite failing to score in 20 games, they enjoyed a battling second half to the season, finishing in 15th place in the National League,
As we can see, after looking at last season’s stats, the Isthmian League and the Northern Premier League produced most high-scoring clubs last season, so it’s not surprising they do not feature so often in this table.