PLENTY OF CHEERS
The NLP’s Matt Badcock and Sam Elliott head to the local to discuss a thrilling end to the season
WELCOME to the final month of the regular Non-League season. While some will be fighting it out for promotions and silverware in May, for most the end of the month will be a time to pack the bags and dash off on holiday.
Hereford have already wrapped up the Southern League South & West title, and others are getting close. But there’s still plenty to play for all over the country.
The NLP’s senior writers Sam Elliott and Matt Badcock sat down to discuss the final stretch.
MATT BADCOCK: Is this the most intriguing title race we’ve had in the National League for a while?
SAM ELLIOTT: It’s very interesting. Cheltenham cruised to the title last season really and Barnet were a long way ahead the year before. Bristol Rovers made it interesting by taking it to the last day but it was always Barnet’s really.
Lincoln obviously dropped points the other night at Sutton and Tranmere had a good win against Dover.
MB: We’ll upset Tranmere fans if we talk too much about Lincoln because they think we’ve been ignoring them, but it’s not exactly breaking news to say the Imps are on the verge of an incredible season. But it’s so tight up there. All credit to Mark Cooper at Forest Green because it looked at one stage like their title tilt was going to peter out but he’s managed to get them firing again and they’re in the mix.
SE: The spine of Tranmere’s team could be a real factor. Micky Mellon won the league with Fleetwood and so did some of the player he’s got there now. They’ve got big game performers.
I just can’t rule out Dagenham either. Alright, they’re three games ahead of Lincoln as we speak, but I’ve had this vision they’ll go on a crazy winning run. The games in hand might kill that off, but they’ve not been out of the top five which is testament to them when you consider the takeover issues and lack of cash they’ve had.
MB: So it looks like Aldershot, Dover, Gateshead and Barrow are all pushing the final play-off place?
SE: I think so. Dagenham are in whatever. John Still was really interesting when we did a piece with him a couple of weeks ago. He said they just don’t play for draws and he’s right. They’ve drawn four games in the whole season. It’s incredible. This is 1 why they could be great in the playoffs, if that’s where they end up.
MB: And we’ll see John Still’s experience really shine through now. He knows what it takes to get promotion. The play-offs are going to be exciting. Barrow got a good win against Chester last night. I read Chester fans weren’t big fans of Barrow’s style of play but they are an awkward side to play against. As our columnist Adam Virgo wrote recently, ‘Did Cheltenham play great football last season or Barnet the year before? But they both got up.
SE: It makes me wonder about the game I covered last month, Aldershot-Barrow. Aldershot were 2-0 up and looking really good. Barrow went down to nine men and then scored two brilliant goals – Ross Hannah’s free-kick equaliser was great – to pinch a 2-2 draw. You talk about big moments in the season, could that possibly be one? Paul Cox is a great manager and he’s another one who knows what it takes to get out of this league. He’s won it with Mansfield.
MB: They’ve got back on track after a little wobble, but Gateshead have been on fire recently – as have Aldershot.
SE: Gary Waddock – the Wadfather as Shots fans call him – is doing a great job there. They’ve got to play Dover on Easter Monday. I look at Dover and you can’t rule out the way they seem to bounce back from defeats. Ricky Miller was suspended recently and they still won without him.
MB: He’s such a threat when he is playing. Keeping hold of him in January was big.
SE: I don’t think he’ll be there next year. He loves the manager Chris Kinnear and that’s an important factor. He deserves his chance back in the League. Luton probably wish they’d stood by him during his court case.
MB: It’s just as intriguing at the bottom of the table too.
SE: I ruled Southport out of a Great Escape in my column last weekend and then they won on the Saturday to give them a bit of hope. It’s still a big ask.
MB: They all seem to be picking up points. I have to say, I hope Maidstone United stay up because I think Jay Saunders is doing a really good job down there. He’s taken the club up from Ryman Division One South, probably quicker than anyone at the club expected – it’s a real success story.
SE: How big was their win against Woking last week? They were two down and turned it around to win 4-2. It’s been a long season for North Ferriby United but, in a time of quick sackings, I thought
it was nice news recently that Steve Housham will stay on as manager even if they do go down. There’s no loyalty or thought process shown behind decisions these days, but they’re realistic at North Ferriby. Steve’s a good guy, he’s put together a good young team and they’ve won ten games this season. Not many people would have thought that earlier in the season. Woking are in the bottom four after Torquay’s win against Solihull Moors on Tuesday. MB: Torquay got a really late win against Southport a few weeks ago. I know how much Kevin Nicholson loves that club. By all accounts he puts everything into the job, he was even driving the minibus to
some away games last season. They just need to stay up, by hook or by crook. SE: Penny for the thoughts of Southport. They won Saturday and then see Torquay win on Tuesday night. As did York. That result at Macclesfield could turn their season. Braintree will be alright, Guiseley should be ok – although a fivepoint cushion isn’t perhaps enough yet. I’ve heard some Woking fans saying it’s time for a change, but if they go down then surely Garry Hill is the man to get them back up. If Woking went down, were looking for a manager and Hill was available, you’d go for him. He’s been loyal to them after budget cuts. They’ve had such an up-and-down season, but they really need to put some results together. Will York stay up?
MB: I wouldn’t fall off my chair with surprise if they did. You look at some of the players they’ve got there, plus the ‘Gary Mills factor’.
SE: No one wants to be dropping down into the National League North, that’s for sure. It’s my favourite league and has been everything we’ve expected it to be. The attendances across the league have been incredible. Just look how tight the promotion race is. I wish the title race was a bit more open, it’s now down to six points but it was up to 11 at one point. What do you make of Fylde’s 4-1 defeat to Nuneaton – can that tip their season?
MB: They got hammered 5-0 by Salford and were then unbeaten in seven games before that defeat. If they react like that again they’ll obviously win it. They’ve got quality in abundance really. Darlington and Salford are well used to being in the mix at this stage of the season, FC Halifax boss Billy Heath did it last year with North Ferriby too. It’s good to see Stockport pushing again.
SE: Chorley have a chance. Kidderminster’s John Eustace is manager of the year in the National League North for me. He took
over a shamfor bles in the summer, has completely rebuilt the squad. They had no right to be up there. It shows how far they’ve come because, remember, they nearly went bust.
MB: It’s been a two-horse race for the title in the south all season – Maidenhead United and Ebbsfleet United.
SE: They play each other in their penultimate game of the season. Usually it’s a journalist’s worst nightmare at this stage. You interview players and managers and they play everything down, ‘one game at a time’ and all that. But I spoke to Maidenhead striker Dave Tarpey last week and he said, ‘It’s probably going to come down to that game’. It’s going to be the hottest ticket in town. That’s a huge game of football.
Chelmsford City will fancy their chances in the playoffs, well done to Rod Stringer, and and we wait to see what happens with Poole Town’s ground situation.
MB: It’s great to see Dartford pushing promotion again. It’s a good, well-run club. SE: Hungerford Town are having an unbelievable season. Not many would have expected to see them up there pushing for the play-offs. Smashing job by Bobby Wilkinson. Looking further down the ladder, Hereford have obviously already won the Southern League South & West. Peter Beadle and his players have done really well to win back-to-back promotions but their acid test will come next year at Step 3. Royston look all set to lift the title in the Central division. Tooting & Mitcham United are getting close in the Ryman Division One South – Frank Wilson is a good young manager – and Brightlingsea Regent are nearly over the line in the Ryman North. MB: It’s a bit tighter in the Evo-Stik NPL Step 4 divisions. Shaw Lane had a real tragedy when their player Daniel Wilkinson died earlier this season. It would be a wonderful tribute if they managed to get promotion. It’s between Lancaster City and another familiar name, Farsley Celtic, in the NPL North division. Blyth Spartans are running away with the Evo-Stik NPL Premier division really. When I spoke to midfielder Stephen Turnbull before he left to work as an engineer on a cruise ship, he said he wanted the team to be champions by the time he got back from his voyage in April. Looks like he’ll get his wish. I’m not brave enough to predict who will win the play-off in that division.
SE: I’m pleased to see Bognor Regis Town up there in the Ryman Premier. They lost the spine of their team from last season so it’s been a really good rebuild. They probably had a better squad last year, but maybe the pressure is off. Not like at Havant & Waterlooville just below them. Lee Bradbury knows he has to get promotion this year. Then hopefully the momentum can carry them on.
MB: It was a huge win for Dulwich Hamlet at Billericay Town last night. It puts them up into the play-offs. They’ve coped so well with their fixture backlog after an excellent run in the FA Trophy. We all know about their crowds too.
SE: Billericay were really putting results together. I think other clubs will be thinking they’ll have real problems if the Blues make the play-offs. It will be interesting to see how they react from that defeat, but they’ve certainly got enough quality.
MB: As a Suffolk resident, it would be good to see Leiston and Needham Market stay in the top five. Chippenham have got a bit of Thunder & Lightning with Andy Sandell and Dave Pratt rattling in the goals in the Southern Premier. They’re the most prolific partnership around this season.
SE: They’re well managed by Mark Collier, but I wouldn’t count out Leamington. That’s going to go to the wire. I still need to get to Slough Town’s new ground. It will be great in the play-offs if they get a home game.
MB: So who’s going to cover Maidenhead v Ebbsfleet?
SE: Flip a coin?