WE’RE in the last month of the Skrill Premier season and the play-off picture is one of the most interesting things throughout Non-League football.
Realistically, it looks as if any team down to Forest Green Rovers in 11th could grab a spot in the top five with Cambridge United in second looking the only team relatively safe to begin play-off preparations.
The FA Trophy winners have drawn three of their last four at home but are rightly favourites to win promotion to the Football League at 5/2 with William Hill Sports.
The second placed team often has a bit of a hangover in the play-offs so the best value comes with the sides currently in and around the top five.
Alfreton Town looked safe for the play-offs but their three point deduction and two games without a win has put that place in jeopardy. They’re still a decent 8/1 to go up.
Grimsby will control their own fate with games in hand over their rivals and Paul Hurst’s men will be a difficult test over two legs.
The Mariners maybe need to start scoring more goals but they claimed a vital win at Wrexham last night and at 3/1 seem decent value.
Two sides, although maybe unfancied, that could really cause problems are FC Halifax and Braintree. Both sides have excellent home records which would come in very handy over two legs.
Neil Aspin’s men are 10/1 while the Iron, who like Grimsby have games in hand, are a slightly bigger 12/1. With games coming thick and fast, the part-time sides may start to struggle but only time will tell.
Other clubs who still have a chance are Forest Green at 12/1, although their defeat to Woking last night makes their task very difficult, Kidderminster at 14/1 and Barnet at an attractive 16/1 under new boss Martin Allen. Lastly, Nuneaton have drifted to 25/1 following the recent departure of boss Kevin Wilkin to Wrexham.
The one team not mentioned is the one I’d tip: Gateshead. Gary Mills has done a tremendous job at the International Stadium and the Heed are currently fourth.
Nobody will relish a long trip up to the north east in the play-offs and Mills’ men have won their last three. Good form is always a big thing for the end of season shoot-out and Gateshead seem to have it.
Mills led York City to promotion through the play-offs two years ago and you can get 8/1 on him doing it again – surely worth a few quid of anybody’s money!
