Draw ups the pressure on Chippenham
CHIPPENHAM’S National League South play-off hopes are hanging by a thread after they were held to a 2-2 draw at Ebbsfleet, while Havant & Waterlooville defeated Hampton & Richmond 3-0.
The Bluebirds are now three points behind Havant with two matches remaining. They must at least match the Hampshire side’s result and then win away to Havant on Saturday to make the top seven. A draw at Havant would be enough if Chippenham beat Hungerford today and their rivals lose at Hemel Hempstead.
At Ebbsfleet, the Bluebirds twice took the lead through Joe Hanks and Will Richards, but they were pegged back by Elliott Romain and Chris Solly.
Bath City, meanwhile, earned a third straight victory with a 1-0 win over Tonbridge. Alex Fletcher struck after just seven minutes.
Mathematically, Tonbridge can still be relegated, although either Billericay or Welling are the clubs far more likely to go down.
At the top, Maidstone are up, with Dorking, Dartford, Ebbsfleet, Oxford City and Eastbourne set for the play-offs so far.
In the National League North, Hereford’s play-off hopes are seemingly all but mathematically over following their 1-0 reverse at Spennymoor. Jordan Thewlis hit the second-half winner.
Gloucester City, meanwhile, snatched an injury-time leveller at home to Chorley as the sides drew 1-1. Fabien Robert, above, struck at the death to cancelled out an opener from Brad Holmes.
One of Farsley, AFC Telford or Guiseley will be relegated, while Gateshead are now five points clear of Brackley at the top with two matches remaining and a far superior goal difference.
The Heed’s North East rivals Blyth did them a favour by taking a 1-0 win at Brackley to secure their own safety.
In the National League, Yeovil went down 1-0 at play-off-bound Halifax as Zac Dearnley scored seven minutes from time.
Josh Neufville had struck the crossbar for the Glovers during the opening period.
Yeovil lie 13th in the table with three games remaining.
King’s Lynn, Weymouth and Dover have all been relegated, while leaders Stockport lost for the third time in four matches at the top of the table.
Wrexham are now one point behind with three to play as opposed to Stockport’s four, with the teams set to meet in Wales this coming Sunday.