With nine games left in the conference season, Luton Town are edging ever closer to a league return and while their lead of 14 points isn’t unassailable just yet, the Hatters are widely seen as the Champions elect, with Betfair quoting odds of 1/250 on Luton claiming the title.
Yet the question of who will join the Bedfordshire club in League Two, is a genuine mystery. The season is building to an incredible climax with as many as 16 clubs still in with a genuine chance of making the play-offs. Here’s the lowdown on the top contenders.
Cambridge United
Cambridge are in second and will be buoyant after claiming the FA Trophy final with a 4-0 win over Gosport United. The U’s had slipped behind Alfreton while contesting the knockout trophy, but their midweek 3-0 victory over Salisbury saw them move ahead of the Derbyshire club. With two games in hand on their play-off rivals, it seems certain that Cambridge will finish in the top five.
Alfreton slipped down to third this week as they lost away at Halifax on Monday, before seeing Cambridge win in midweek. With Cambridge having enough games in hand to move clear, the aim must be to stay in the third-place play-off position.
Nicky Law would have been disappointed to see his side go down at promotion rivals Halifax but three points from their home fixture against sixth-placed Nuneaton could help to cement a play-off slot.
The North East outfit leapfrogged their way into the play-off spots thanks to a 2-1 win over Aldershot. Gateshead now sit fourth but there are sides currently outside the top five that have the games in hand to move above them.
What Gary Mills‘ side do have counting for them is momentum. They are unbeaten in their last five and have only lost twice in their last 17 league outings.
Nuneaton Town
Nuneaton are in fifth-place but look vulnerable with sides below them keeping games in hand. Former Coventry City player Mark Noon is currently in charge after Kevin Wilkin left for Wrexham but a poor run of form has seen Boro win just two of their last six league matches.
That record has left Noon and his men looking over their shoulder at the teams below them, and like Gateshead, a play-off place is out of Nuneaton’s control. Their fate should be decided by three crucial games against teams around them – Alfreton, Barnet and Halifax.
Grimsby Town
Grimsby may be in seventh place, just outside of the play-offs, but they have played three games less than Gateshead and Nuneaton. That’s one of the reasons why Paul Hurst’s team are third favourites to win the title, while a play-off slot seems probable.
The Mariners lost to Luton in midweek and but aside from their fixtures against Halifax and Alfreton, the remainder of their games look relatively straightforward as they prepare to take on a number of lower table sides.
The best of the rest
As the teams prepared to complete their March fixtures, only eight points separate fifth-placed Nuneaton and Lincoln who lay in fifteenth. Several of the squads in mid-table have games in hand after the winter fixture list was hit by the weather, setting up a uniquely exciting race for the play-offs.
Halifax, Barnet, Kidderminster Harriers, Forest Green Rovers and Braintree Town are among the clubs looking to pick up vital points in the next few weeks and while Cambridge United look relatively comfortable in third place, the remaining slots are up for grabs as the Conference season draws to a thrilling climax.
