IT ALL WENT TO THE WIRE
Virtual finale sees Barnet, Linnets and Hawks prevail
WE MAY never find out how the National League seasons were set to end. Would Barrow have held on to their lead at the top or were in-form Harrogate Town going to pip them to the title?
Could Ebbsfleet United escape the drop and was it really all but over for AFC Fylde? Who would hold their nerve in the North; King’s Lynn Town or York City? And could Havant & Waterlooville catch Wealdstone? After all that the play-offs were still to come – we had some end to the season in store!
Fortunately, our friends at Sports Interactive, creators of the immensely popular simulation video game Football Manager, have helped us produce some sort of conclusion to the season.
The last fixtures played in the National League, National League North and National League South were on the weekend of March 14 and we’ve simulated the final weeks of the season to see what might have happened.
NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH
TITLE RACE
YORK CITY led the way in National League North by two points over King’s Lynn Town – but Ian Culverhouse’s side had two games in hand to cash in which many thought would be the difference.
However, few would have seen York’s capitulation coming as they picked up only seven points from their remaining eight games, leaving them sixth and having to go through a play-off eliminator tie.
It handed King’s Lynn the title but they still made sure to win it in style with a ten-game unbeaten run taking them into the National League. Adam Marriott added six more goals to his tally to end the season as leading goalscorer.
RELEGATION
NO such surprises in the bottom two as the already cut adrift Blyth Spartans and Bradford Park Avenue were relegated to Step 3. Avenue did at least manage to climb off the bottom and finish four games unbeaten.
PLAY-OFFS
BOSTON United and Brackley Town capitalised on the shock drop in form of York to claim the two semi-final spots.
Chester won only once in their seven games during April and had Gateshead won on the final day at Brackley, they would have snatched the final spot.
As it was the Blues travelled to Altrincham and played out a thriller in the eliminator match.
Josh Hancock gave the hosts the lead during the first-half but Elton Ngwatala equalised within four minutes. Anthony Dudley put Chester ahead in the second half before the game turned on its head inside three dramatic minutes.
First Altrincham’s Shaun Densmore was sent off in the 76th minute but two minutes later Jake moult netted a penalty for Alty’s equaliser. However, straight from kick-off Dudley put Chester back in front and it was enough for the win.
In the other eliminator tie, ten-man Spennymoor Town beat York City 4-3 on penalties. James Curtis was sent off for Spenny at the start of the second half with his side leading thanks to Tyler
Forbes’ opener. Jordan Burrow equalised for York but couldn’t find another way through despite their dominance before suffering heartbreak on spot-kicks.
Chester produced another miracle at second-placed Boston United in the semi-final with George Waring scoring twice late on in the second half to turn the tables on the hosts. Danny Elliott, on as a second minute sub for the injured Matty Hughes, scored after 13 minutes for the Blues but Simon Heslop equalised straight away before Boston’s Jay Rollins gave them the lead.
The other semi-final at Brackley Town was more cagey and Spennymoor talisman Glen Taylor netted the only goal towards the end of the first-half. However, the striker went off injured in the second half with a foot injury casting doubt over whether he would play in the final.
Taylor passed a late fitness test but broke down after 34 minutes during the end of season showdown at Brewery Field although Spennymoor still took the lead through Adam Boyes in the second half.
But this Chester side never knew when they were beaten and Matty Watters equalised before Anthony Dudley was again the hero scoring the goal to take Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley’s side back into the top-flight.
NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH TITLE RACE
DEAN Brennan’s prediction that the season would go to the wire came true – but his Wealdstone side hung on for glory.
Havant put the pressure on with five consecutive wins but in April the two sides mirrored each other’s results meaning the Stones came out on top.
In a remarkable run of six games, they each won two, drew two and lost two almost simultaneously as Wealdstone clinched the title with a 2-2 draw at Maidstone United on the penultimate day of the season as Havant lost at home to Oxford City.
RELEGATION
THE BOTTOM two stayed as they were with Braintree Town returning to Step 3 for the first time since 2006 while Ian Herring couldn’t pull off another miracle by keeping Hungerford Town up.
Full-time Dulwich finished in a disappointing 20th while Concord Rangers, possibly distracted by their FA Trophy run, dropped to 19th. Hampton & Richmond had been only a point off the play-offs in March but won only once more.
PLAY-OFFS
MAIDSTONE United made use of their games in hand to steal into the last play-off place as Dorking Wanderers dropped out.
Chelmsford City, under Robbie Simpson, made a late dash for the top seven, finishing just a point outside.
However, Maidstone’s promotion hopes came to a quick end as they went down 2-0 at Weymouth. Josh McQuoid and Shaun Hobson scored late in the second half to put them through.
Elsewhere, Dartford edged out Slough thanks to Liam Nash’s goal just before halftime. There was little to settle the two teams at Princes Park but for one moment of quality.
Havant came from behind in their semi-final tie after Brett Williams had given Weymouth an early lead. Andy Drury equalised for Paul Doswell’s side before their dominance in possession wore the visitors down in the second half as Jonah Ayunga and Roarie Deacon scored in quick succession to put the Hawks into the final.
There they would meet Dartford, who overturned Noah Chilvers’ first-half goal at Bath City thanks to strikes from Darren McQueen and new signing Lewis, a Spanish midfielder.
But Steve King fell short again in the South play-off final for the second year running as Havant controlled the encounter from the off. Simon Walton scored after only five minutes and then Danny Kedwell netted another in the first half to take ensure Havant bounced back into the National League at the first attempt.