Sutton United – 1st.
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Hartlepool United is on the rise compared to National League rivals.
Boreham Wood (A), Solihull (A), Torquay (H), Altrincham (A), Eastleigh (A), Barnet (H), Aldershot (H), Notts County (A), Weymouth (H), Woking (H. .), Maidenhead (A), Pools (H), Barnet (A)
Sutton sits comfortably at the top of the table with 13 games left to play.
The U’s are in excellent shape and rarely stalled over the course of the campaign, which means it takes an unusual breakdown to be knocked off the top.
The South London team still has promotion rivals Torquay, Notts County and Hartlepool to play, as well as potentially tricky encounters at Boreham Wood, Altrincham, Eastleigh and Maidenhead, all just below the play-off spots.
But the home and away games against Barnet are as close as the guaranteed six points you’re likely to get in the National League this season as the Bees have lost 20 of their 27 games so far.
It’s Sutton to lose.
Hartlepool United – 2nd.
Dag & Red (H), Boreham Wood (A), Notts County (H), Wealdstone (A), Weymouth (H), Chesterfield (H), Bromley (A), Maidenhead (H), Aldershot (A), Sutton (A)
Pools have at least three fewer games than any other team in the top 7 and the added uncertainty of being without a game on the last day of the season.
Dave Challinors The team has the best record against the top seven teams of any team in the National League and is expected to host Notts County and Chesterfield before heading to Sutton for their final game of the season.
Playing Wealdstone, Weymouth and Aldershot Town, all of which have little to play for this season with no risk of relegation, might be considered a cheap game on paper – but these are pools we are talking about!
A lack of midweek games could also work in their favor when it comes to keeping everyone fresh. They’re not feeling as comfortable as their runner-up position suggests, but you certainly wouldn’t write them off if they got in the top three.
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National League clubs asked not to have a motion of confidence against …
Torquay United – 3rd.
Woking (H), Wrexham (A), Weymouth (H), Sutton (A), Woking (A), Notts County (H), Aldershot (H), Eastleigh (H), Chesterfield (A), Bromley (H) , Stockport (A), Barnet (H), Altrincham (A)
Once runaway leaders Torquay are now on their way to the finals of the Games.
The Gulls still have to play Wrexham, Sutton, Notts County, Chesterfield and Stockport, which could work two ways.
It gives Gary Johnson’s side the chance to take points from several of their play-off rivals, but with Torquay currently in the worst shape of a team in the top 7 in 2021, it would take a major turnaround to get their title challenge back to get going.
Certainly one of the toughest run-ins on paper.
Stockport County – 4th.
Aldershot (A), Bromley (H), Wrexham (A), King’s Lynn (H), Maidenhead (H), Boreham Wood (A), King’s Lynn (A), Halifax (A), Wealdstone (H), Dag & Red (H), Torquay (A), Woking (H), Yeovil (A)
The Hatters have been challenging at the top for practically the whole season and their run-in doesn’t look bad, as their only encounters with other top 7 teams are away trips to Wrexham and Torquay.
Two games against King’s Lynn and games against Woking and Wealdstone are games that one would expect to win county, but the National League tends to have a few surprises.
Even so, you’d expect them to be there or around May 29th.
Wrexham – 5th.
Notts County (A), Torquay (H), Stockport (H), Halifax (A), Woking (A), Chesterfield (H), Solihull (H), Maidenhead (A), Yeovil (H), Boreham Wood (A .), Notts County (H), King’s Lynn (H), Dag & Red (A)
This is a run-in!
Wrexham’s next three games could very well determine their play-off qualifications if they face the three teams next to them in the table.
They then travel to Halifax, receive Chesterfield and face Notts County again in the last 10 games. There are very few games where Wrexham will be the clear favorite.
But their good shape could really help them when it comes to finishing a 13 year residency in the fifth grade.
Notts County – 6th.
Wrexham (H), Woking (A), Pools (A), Solihull (A), Eastleigh (H), Bromley (H), Torquay (A), Eastleigh (A), Altrincham (A), Sutton (H), Barnet (A), Maidenhead (A), Wrexham (A), Weymouth (H), Bromley (A)
The Magpies have more games than any other side in the top 7. If they win their games by hand, they will take second place in the table.
But an FA Trophy semi-final loss to Hornchurch and a midweek loss to Aldershot since then Appointment of a new manager threatens to lose momentum in the last 15 games.
And with Wrexham (twice), Pools, Troquay and Sutton still to play, it’s going to be a hectic couple of months for Notts County.
Chesterfield – 7th.
Eastleigh (A), King’s Lynn (A), Boreham Wood (H), Bromley (H), Halifax (H), Wrexham (A), Bromley (A), Pools (A), Torquay (H), Woking (A. .), King’s Lynn (H), Wealdstone (H), Dag & Red (H), Halifax (A)
The Spireites have been in excellent shape since their manager change and have the best defensive record in the division.
With 42 points to play for, you wouldn’t bet that they would continue their promotion at the table and easily get into play-off positions.
Two games against eighth-placed Halifax could prove interesting – they also face Wrexham, Pools and Torquay.
Potential dark horses for carriage.
