Pic: Pinnacle
We are reaching the mid point of the season in the Vanarama Conference and the race for promotion to the Football League is taking shape. Barnet are odds on favourites to win the division but the Bees have wobbled in recent weeks, leaving the door ajar for the chasing pack. Let’s take a look at the season so far and the favourites for promotion.
BARNET
Martin “MadDog” Allen has returned to the Barnet dugout for his fourth spell in charge of the London club. Allen has led his charges to the top of the league on 46 points after a dazzling run of early season form.
Barnet picked up 21 points out of a possible 24 and conceded just two goals in the process. They are, however, being reeled back in by the chasing pack after picking up just one win from their last four league outings.
Barnet’s early season success can be attributed to the predatory instincts of John Akinde, who has notched 14 goals in 23 games, and the Spaniard Luisma who averages a goal for every 102 minutes of playing time (10 goals in 17 apps).
The current league leaders have the strength and depth to maintain their position at the summit of the Conference but Allen will be acutely aware that his team will need to learn to see out the full 90 minutes. Almost a quarter of league goals conceded by Barnet have come in the final 15 minutes of matches.
GRIMSBY TOWN
Last season’s fourth placed side are hanging onto the coat tails of Barnet in second place, but still look up against it in the race for the title. Grimsby have taken a while to find their stride after opening their campaign with three consecutive draws, but they managed to lift themselves from a mid table place to title challengers.
Lenell John-Lewis is having a fine season up front for the Mariners with 11 goals in 20 games – his most prolific season to date – so keeping him fit is key if Grimsby are to avenge their play-off misery from the last campaign.
Gateshead came out of nowhere last season to finish in a remarkable third place but they were denied a fairytale end to the season by Cambridge in the play-off final. Unfortunately, for the ‘heed’ fans they seem to be carrying an emotional hangover into the new campaign.
Their problems have been at the back where they have shipped 16 goals in just 10 home league games, it’s the worst record among the top half of the table – one that was summed up recently in the 3-3 draw against lowly Lincoln City where they conceded a 90th minute penalty.
Gary Mills‘ men will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season but they will really need to tighten up at the back if they are to make any impression on the top five.
BRISTOL ROVERS
The Gasmen were relegated from the Football League by goal difference last season and will be eager to bounce back at the first attempt. It took Rovers a good few weeks to get accustomed to life in the Vanarama Conference after picking up just one point from their first three matches.
But they did string together five consecutive victories in September and scored a crucial win 2-1 over runaway leaders Barnet, that has consolidated their position in the playoff places, However there is definite room for improvement for Bristol Rovers who lack any real goal scorer to spearhead their bid to get back to the Football League.
Eastleigh won the Conference South last term and will be aiming to use that momentum to propel them towards the football league. The Spitfires maybe sitting in 8th place but they have three/four games in hand over most of their rivals and have yet to lose a home league game.
Like Gateshead last season, Eastleigh are one of the lesser known names in the Conference but they shouldn’t be underestimated and are lurking dangerously behind the league’s top teams.
