Comparing The National League Table At The Start Of 2017 To 2018

Going in 2017 the table saw:
Top: Tranmere Rovers
Play-off places: Lincoln City, Forest Green, Barrow, Dag & Red
Relegation zone: Southport, Guiseley, York City, North Ferriby United

How the 2016/17 season ended:
Top: Lincoln City
Play-off places: Tranmere Rovers, Forest Green Rovers (P), Dag & Red, Aldershot Town
Relegated: Southport,Braintree Town, York City, North Ferriby United

The six point gap that the Silkmen have now is a luxury compared to last season when Lincoln City moved to the top of the table thanks to a 3-1 victory against Guiseley on New Year's Day.

The team they replaced were Tranmere Rovers that was after they were defeated at Macclesfield, that meant it was Danny Cowley's side who leaped to first.

The Imps would beat Rovers to top near the end of the season for automatic promotion with Lincoln losing just two league matches during 2017 in the Vanarama National League.

Speaking of the Silkmen they are 14 points better off this campaign, though have played a three games more at this point of the season.

So Tranmere like this campaign were in the play-off places and went all the way to the promotion final, this campaign they find themselves 11 points off first, though do have a game in hand at present.

Forest Green Rovers would be the team who defeated Micky Mellon's side and they started the year and ended the campaign in 3rd, while Dag & Red stayed in the play-off places as well.

This season there are two more play-off places up for grabs yet the gap between 2nd and the final spot is shorter this season than last at this time, with Tranmere Rovers ending the first day of the New Year eight ahead of 5th placed Barrow, while this season Aldershot Town in 2nd and Tranmere in 7th have just a five point gap.

The final play-off spot was won by Aldershot Town, who picked up 43 points in the remaining 20 league matches to take 5th, while Barrow started the year with their unbeaten run of 26 matches coming to an end at Gateshead, they would eventually finish 7th.

To show how competitive this season has been so far there are just 13 points separating the team just outside the play-off places and the side who are one place above the drop-zone, so there is still plenty to play for.

The last campaign that gap was 20 points and although no team near the drop zone would end up going into the play-off places, a good run of form could see that happen during 2018.

One side who started started 2017 in a strong position but couldn't capitalise on it was Chester who were 10th but ended just two points off the relegation zone, after picking up 13 points out of the remaining 57 available.

Three of the four sides who started 2017 in the relegation places ended there although throughout the remaining games all the sides looked like they could stay up.

The gap between the bottom four and safety was also just two points this campaign it is seven at present.

The only change saw Guiseley perform another great escape with Braintree Town and York City both relegated on the last day of the season.

So right now this is how the table looks after the first game in 2018 has took place.

Top: Macclesfield Town
Play-off places: Aldershot Town, Sutton United, Dover Athletic, Wrexham, Bromley, Tranmere Rovers
Relegation places: Torquay United, Guiseley, Chester, Solihull Moors

Whether this will be the final table at the end of the 2017/18 season remains to be seen, but for sure there will be plenty of twists and turns.

By Tom Feaheny