10:18am Monday 22nd March 2010
By Dave Flett
The race for promotion is hotting up in the Blue Square Premier. With a host of clubs clamouring for play-off places, DAVE FLETT assesses the state of play.
NONE of York City’s promotion rivals will play as many games against relegation-threatened teams during the Blue Square Premier’s end-of-season run-in.
Along with in-form Luton, the Minstermen also face the fewest fixtures against fellow top-five contenders between now and April 24.
Assuming Chester’s record continues to be expunged from the division’s standings, the top nine teams in the table still appear to have a shout for promotion and the bottom nine – from troubled Histon downwards – are fighting against the drop.
Four of City’s remaining matches are against the division’s bottom four including two meetings with basement side Grays, currently ten points adrift of nearest rivals Forest Green.
Tamworth, in 17th, are also still to visit Bootham Crescent but boss Martin Foyle will be taking nothing for granted with five of the Minstermen’s eight league defeats this season having come against those bottom nine sides.
In contrast, the Minstermen have only lost two of 14 fixtures against their top-nine rivals in 2009/10 during away meetings with Oxford and Crawley.
That record will be put to the test in the rearranged home match with AFC Wimbledon and the final day trip to leaders Stevenage.
Grays could already be relegated by the time they travel to North Yorkshire in mid-April but, otherwise, Foyle’s side are only likely to face two opponents with little to play for – Kidderminster tomorrow night and Altrincham on Easter Monday.
Stevenage – the league leaders are due a wobble and anxiety is bound to creep in at Broadhall Way after several near misses with promotion to the Football League in past seasons. The ascent up the table of neighbours Luton will also crank up the pressure on Graham Westley’s men.
Following tomorrow night’s trip to Grays, Borough need to come out of consecutive games against Crawley, Oxford, Luton and Wimbledon unscathed before they can think about putting the champagne on ice.
Luton – Like Imperial Commander in the Gold Cup, Luton could cause a shock by pipping long-time favourites Stevenage and Oxford to top spot. Richard Money’s men have won their last five games and their run-in – including five seemingly straight- forward home games – does not look intimidating.
The Hatters’ April 3 trip to Stevenage could prove a pivotal moment in the championship race although their failure to beat Chester twice would prove costly if results involving the expelled club are reinstated.
Oxford – The U’s have faltered in recent weeks and their title hopes could rest on their next two away games at Rushden and Stevenage. Should they lose both of those key games, their remaining fixtures are unlikely to prove too troublesome though and a top five place seems guaranteed.
Oxford have more games against mid-table outfits than any of their rivals. Hayes and Yeading, Salisbury, Altrincham, Cambridge and Wrexham could all have one eye on their summer holidays when meeting Chris Wilder’s men.
Rushden – Justin Edinburgh will be wishing he is handed a pound for every time he hears the phrase “six-pointer” during the next five weeks.
Six of the Diamonds’ last nine games are against fellow promotion contenders. It is an unforgiving schedule and might yet see the former Conference champions lose their grip on a top-five spot. If not, Rushden will command serious respect in the play-offs.
Kettering – Five of the Poppies’ final seven games are at home but the Northamptonshire club have actually performed better away from Rockingham Road this season.
Town have performed miracles to stay in top-five contention but recent indifferent results suggest that the off-field turmoil might finally have caught up with Lee Harper’s men. Must get back to winning ways soon or else they could find themselves running out of fixtures having played more games than their rivals.
AFC Wimbledon – The Wombles’ next three matches are at home and Terry Brown’s men are due to end the season against lowly trio Grays, Tamworth and Gateshead. The rearranged game at Bootham Crescent, whenever it is played, looks like being an important one.
Mansfield – Saturday’s 5-0 win at Histon reignited the Stags’ flagging top-five aspirations. None of David Holdsworth’s side’s last eight matches will pit them against bottom-ten clubs, however. The Field Mill club remain unlikely candidates for a play-off spot.
Crawley – The Red Devils’ next two matches against Stevenage and Rushden will make or break the club’s outside hopes of snatching a play-off place. Win both of those games though and Steve Evans’ men must be taken seriously.
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