Focus On The NL North And South Relegation Battles

We’re into the middle of January now and supporters know that if their club are down at the wrong end of the standings, it’s going to be a tense final few months of the season.

We’ve looked through both division’s strugglers to see who are the favourites to escape danger.

National League North

North Ferriby United have won just once this season and are 20 points adrift of safety. The Villagers continue to show fight but a second successive relegation looks almost inevitable.

The other two relegation spots could go to a number of clubs. Gainsborough Trinity and Darlington currently occupy them but both know a win could take them out of the bottom three.

Gainsborough will need to rely on their home form and have crucial games coming up against Alfreton Town and Southport. For Darlo, they would have expected to be challenging at the other end of the table this season but it’s been a difficult campaign. Five of their next six games are against teams in the top ten and they’ll need to improve to pick up vital points.

Nuneaton Town and Southport have both picked up big wins recently to climb out of the bottom three and now need to keep the points coming.

AFC Telford United and Alfreton Town sit just a point above the relegation places and both have struggled for form as of late. Telford have two big home games coming up against York City and Nuneaton whilst Alfreton, who today parted company with boss John McDermott, host Leamington next and also travel to Gainsborough soon.

Leamington are another club in danger thanks to a run of one win in six League games. Their next three games are against Alfreton, Darlington and North Ferriby. The results of those games could well play a big part in who stays up.

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National League South

Could we see the greatest of Great Escapes? Whitehawk are definitely giving it a good go! The Hawks have picked up seven points in three games so far in 2018. They’re still 15 points off safety but at last they have some momentum - they’ll need it against Truro and Dartford next!

Bognor Regis Town took Leyton Orient all the way in the FA Trophy before going down in extra time on Saturday and they’ll need to show some of that spirit in the League. The Rocks have won only one game in their last 21 National League South fixtures but still have a chance. Wealdstone are up next.

It’s been a difficult campaign for third-bottom side Poole Town and they’ve not played since New Year’s Day. They’re five points adrift of safety and the next two home games against Chippenham Town and Welling United are crucial.

Just above the bottom three are Gloucester City and Chippenham. The pair meet in Evesham next Saturday in the definition of a ‘six-pointer’.

Just above them, Concord Rangers have shown great form to climb out of trouble for now but Oxford City remain in the mix.

There will also be alarm bells ringing at Eastbourne Borough. The Sports have lost five of their last six games and slipped down the standings. They end January with fixtures against St Albans and Concord - a victory would be most welcomed.

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