The National League Season Review Part Five: January

There was a huge game at the start of the New Year which many thought could nail Salford City’s title coffin.

As it turned out, their impressive 3-0 victory at Leyton Orient only served as a warning that their rotten December was being banished to history.

The two ended January leading the way, with Orient in front but the race was getting more exciting.

Tim Flowers’ Solihull Moors were making a name for themselves, and not just because of their great FA Cup run.

Wrexham had slipped again, but more upheaval was to come. Chesterfield got their man as John Sheridan quit Carlisle to take the Proact job.

Darren Currie was named as John Still’s replacement with the former Barnet boss back in the game at Maidstone.

Steve Watson left Gateshead’s play-off push to step down a division as he attempted to revive York City. Defender Ben Clark put his hand up to replace him.

Richard Money left Hartlepool after a month and said he knew within days it wouldn’t work out.

National League North:

January could perhaps be looked back upon as the month that shaped the title destiny of more than one team.

As Chorley seemed to maintain their aura of champions, Bradford (Park Avenue) buckled under the pressure and fell away, taking just one point from January’s fixtures. Stockport County were on hand to capitalise – Matty Warburton’s nine-goal haul enough to edge the Hatters closer to the summit.

The New Year heralded a new dawn for two clubs as York made their second change of the campaign and Kidderminster releases Neil MacFarlane from his duties.

Both managers won on New Year’s Day but couldn’t follow it up four days later.

Steve Watson left National League Gateshead and immediately set out his quickfire play-off plan. But defeats to Stockport County and Chorley showed Watson the sheer size of the task he had accepted. Mark Yates returned to the Aggborough helm almost a decade after his first stint at the club.

All early season promise for Nuneaton Borough had almost faded away and Jimmy Ginnelly’s side found themselves marooned to the foot of the table, 14 points from the right side of the dreaded dotted line.

National League South:

Happy New Year? Not for Gloucester City boss Chris Todd whose stint was brought to an end without mustering a single win, leaving the team fearing relegation.

The appointment of Mike Cook initially settled nerves and three points against Oxford City only increased positivity.

Dean Brennan had one too many defeats for the Billericay Town hierarchy and was sensationally replaced by Harry Wheeler who returned to the club with Jamie O’Hara as his number two. Wins over Slough and Welling justified the decision as the club strived for a play-off place.

Defeat against Bath City for Torquay United did little to knock their title charge off course but Woking kept them at arm’s length.

Gavin Rose was looking for some youthful intervention as he planned a mini overhaul of his playing staff at Dulwich Hamlet.