A potential threeeach suffered horse race at the top. Ebbsfleet, Dartford and Havant have all won promotion from this division before – and play-off heartbreak. By early February all three sides would have played each other twice.

Can Chelmsford City sustain it? Creative midfielder Charlie Ruffhas left for Havantand Ovie Ejeheri’s loan spell from Arsenal runs out on New Year’s Day. The Nigerian stopper looks destinedfor greater things, the Clarets will be hoping he’s happy for regular game time at the Melbourne Stadium for another few months.

A late pla...