Conference Focus

Into the Non Leagues now, and time this Thursday to turn our attention towards the Conference Premier.

The expulsion of crisis club Chester has seen their results expunged this term, affecting both ends of the table.

Promotion:



A drop of form and the loss of their results against Chester have seen York drop out of the race for the Conference title leaving just Oxford and Stevenage to battle it out.

The Oxen have a game in hand on the leaders, but can Borough, with their superior goal difference, surprise the former Football League club?

As it stands:

.......................P...GD...PTS
1. Stevenage....33...40....69
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2. Oxford.........32....30....67

Turls: I can't look past Stevenage here. Oxford have a track record of blowing leads and they looked comfy earlier in the year.

I know Oxford have a game in hand but I think doubts are beginning to creep in among the players and they will find the remaining fixtures a real mental squeeze.

Stevenage don't have the same choking history so I think they should come through as champions.

Summary: Stevenage

Oxford manager Chris Wilder is fighting it out for a place in the Football League

Nobes: I just can't abandon Oxford. I know it looks like the momentum is with Stevenage, and recent history suggests it's the ex-Football League side who end up losing out to the Non League stalwarts.

However, I have great faith in Chris Wilder, their manager, and I believe they will do it still. I've got to have some conviction in my pre-season predictions!

Summary: Oxford


Play-offs:



Things seem a lot more open after teams lost points since Chester's expulsion. The biggest winners appear to be Kettering while York are the biggest losers.

They remain hopeful of claiming a top five spot with Rushden, Luton, and AFC Wimbledon also in contention.

As it stands:

...............................P....GD....PTS
3. Luton..................33.....14.....61
4. Rushden..............33.....24.....59
5. Kettering.............34.....15.....58
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6. York....................33.....15.....57
7. AFC Wimbledon....33.....24.....54

Turls: Lot to play for in the play-off shake-up but I have to say that Luton look safe to join Oxford in the top five.

However, it's too close to call for the other spots.

I fancy Kettering to put in a good shift from now until the end of the season and although I would love to see AFC Wimbledon have a trip to Wembley, I reckon they will be pipped to the post by Rushden & Diamonds.

Summary: Oxford, Luton, Kettering, Rushden.

Player-manager Lee Harper is hoping to lead Kettering to a top five finish

Nobes: Richard Money was an excellent appointment by Luton and I fancy he could well take them up via the play-offs.

I also expect Rushden to be in there. They've proved themselves to be a good young team - and consistent too.

The last place I think will probably be taken by York. They've gone off the boil a bit of late, but I still believe they have the quality and experience to pip at Kettering side that are really only in the top five because of Chester's situation.

Summary: Stevenage, Luton, Rushden, York.

Relegation:



With Chester gone, it's now a race to avoid dropping into the bottom three. Grays appear doomed and Forest Green are also in trouble, but the other position could be filled by a handful of sides.

With teams like Gateshead and Barrow having games in hand over the Tamworth, Ebbsfleet, and Eastbourne how they use them could determine who survives.

As it stands:

..............................P....GD....PTS
17. Tamworth..........34...-10.....36
18. Ebbsfleet...........37...-26.....35
19. Eastbourne........35...-27......33
20. Gateshead.........33...-14......32
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21. Barrow..............31...-18......31
22. Forest Green......33...-28......27
23. Grays................33...-43......18

Turls: Grays are down. Truly abysmal season for them. The future doesn't look too bright for them at the moment.

Forest Green should join them but they will go down fighting. I think they will be joined by Ebbsfleet.

Although they have the points on the board I'm a bigger fan of the birds in the bush. Games in hand for all of the clubs below them should see them drop into the relegation zone and I can't see them climbing out of it too easily.

Summary: Grays, Forest Green, Ebbsfleet.

Garry Wilson's Eastbourne Borough find themselves in danger of relegation

Nobes: Grays are gone, and Forest Green - after many close escapes over the years - will find time has finally ran out on them too.

The last place is an interesting one and largely comprises teams promoted in the last two seasons.

It's interesting that both Barrow and Eastbourne have found the going tougher in their second seasons and I wonder if one of them may well go down this time around.

Judging by the fact the Cumbrian outfit have a few games in hand, I'd suggest it's Eastbourne who may well end up the unlucky third side relegated.

Summary: Grays, Forest Green, Eastbourne.


We'll have more from the Conference Premier next month and tomorrow we conclude our look at the divisions with the latest from the Conferences North and South.