The National League’s early promotion runners and riders

The National League season is beginning to take shape now we are a third of the way through the season, but who are the likely champions elect and what outsiders are in with a shout of progressing to the football league proper?
Here is a run-down on how the promotion hopefuls are faring…
Surprise leader
The surprise leaders of the fifth tier English football are Dover Athletic following a fine run of recent form, which goes against many pundit’s predictions. They are playing with a completely new team following a summer of wholesale changes with their playing squad but this has affected performances and more importantly results. Unlike Leyton Orient, who were also considered promotion favourites while playing with a host of new faces, but sit in the lower reaches of the table.
The bookies are yet to be fully impressed however with a price of 8/1 on Dover to win the league this season. Is that a figure you can take with confidence? Sutton remain favourites at 4/1 so perhaps it’s better to employ some free bets rather than spend real money at those 8/1 odds.
In the mix
Macclesfield are also right in the mix but this week’s 1-0 reverse against the Daggers halted their impressive form of five wins on the bounce. They are tied with Dover on 32 points but it’s hard to know which side of the fence to sit on with Macclesfield. Many were predicting a season of struggle for last season’s FA Trophy finalists as a host of top players left the club and there was a feeling their form would dip.
But they look genuine contenders to a place back in the football league, the manner in which they are scraping out victories – most notably their 1-0 away win against Leyton Orient proves their title credentials. Even at this early stage.
Meanwhile, Tranmere Rovers, who amassed a club record 95 points last season in the league but fell at the final hurdle against Forest Green in the playoff final, are struggling to pick up results. They were the bookies’ favourites before a ball was kicked but you can now get double figure odds on them winning the league. It feels like Tranmere’s first Wembley appearance in 17 years has given the club somewhat of a hangover heading into this season. They are struggling for goals at the moment and their 0-0 home draw against Chester, when they dominated proceedings, has been the story of their season.
Back to back?
Last season’s promoted side Ebbsfleet are riding the crest of a wave as they look to secure back-to-back promotions. They are handily placed and have one of the biggest budgets in non-league football so new additions in January are feasible and could add further weight to the promotion credentials. They’ve only lost three games so far but have been left to rue nine draws as they acclimatise to life in the fifth tier of English football. Nevertheless, they remain a side on the up and will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.
Wrexham have flirted with the prospect of promotion in recent times but have never been serious contenders. But this season Dean Keates has shored up things at the back and the results are there for everyone to see as the Welsh side look set for a tilt at the title. Having shipped 61 goals last term there has been a back to basics approach to defending this season and already they boost the best defence this season with 10 goals conceded. However, their midweek defeat to struggling Flyde, who also knocked them out of the FA Cup, is a timely reminder of their Jekyll and Hyde tendencies.
Waiting…
You’d also expect Dagenham and Redbridge to mount a serious assault on the Vanarama National League title this season. Corey Whitelly has been scoring for fun and they have a wily old boss in John Still who knows what it takes to win promotion at this level having taken Luton Town back to the football league four years ago.
The Daggers were enduring a tough October with no league wins until putting early season pacesetters Macclesfield to the sword, so they still remain well in touch of the league leaders and won’t be too worried by the league table at this stage, as they have the quality and personnel at the club to ride through the peaks and troughs of the season.
It’s a notoriously hard division to call, especially this side of Christmas, but I’d have to make Wrexham and the Daggers as the two sides to battle it out for top spot. While Ebbsfleet can continue to surprise this season and take at least a playoff spot.