Tension is building, the hopes and dreams of an entire season are at stake, as National League teams jostle for position heading into the final stretch of the 2022-23 season. Competition is fierce in the top two tiers of the non-league pyramid, and anything is possible heading into the sharp end of the campaign.
Bookies already have their favourites to achieve promotion, although the odds can change in an instant, whenever the leading contenders are in action. For anyone focused on making consistent sports betting profits, finding an effective betting strategy is key. This can range from using our instincts, to the careful study of results and form, although there’s always plenty we can do to improve our knowledge.
As we charge towards the most decisive stage of the National League season, let’s take a look at the sides aiming for promotion to the Football League, along with those in the North and South, targeting the next step of rising to the fifth tier of English football. The race is heating up, but which teams are most likely to realise their ambitions?
Vanarama National League Premier
Make no mistake, this is very much a two-horse race for automatic promotion, as Notts County and Wrexham battle at the National League summit. Given the massive gap between those two sides and the chasing pack, one team will end up celebrating automatic promotion, while the other will be forced to joining the annual play-off lottery.
There is little margin for error now, which means that every round of fixtures can present us with a new plot twist, which is precisely what happened on Saturday 25th February. After an exceptional unbeaten run stretching back 25 league games, Notts County suffered a shock 1-2 home defeat against Dagenham and Redbridge, who themselves are battling to remain within touching distance of the play-off zone.
Wrexham extended their unbeaten run to 21 league games without defeat, comfortably seeing off visitors Dorking Wanderers. This result hands the Dragons an important advantage, given they also have two games in hand compared to the Magpies, who will go head-to-head at the Racecourse Ground in early April. That clash of non-league titans could prove decisive towards the final reckoning.
Vanarama National League North
Compared to the summit of the top tier, the race for leadership still remains wide open in the National League North, where King’s Lynn Town and AFC Fylde currently lead the way. But looking just over their shoulders, Brackley Town and Scarborough Athletic are not far behind, with Chester and Darlington both ready to pounce. Right now, and with everything so finely balanced, this promises to be an enthralling battle.
WHAT. A. GAME. We pick up a massive point on the west coast, coming back from 2 goals down through Barrett and Omotayo. Thanks to all the travelling Linnets for the support. pic.twitter.com/RJztopCUML
— King’s Lynn Town FC (@officialKLtown) February 25, 2023
The play-off hunt is just as fiercely contested for all those teams, with Chorley holding the current advantage, just ahead of a chasing pack led by Alfreton Town. The whole perspective could change dramatically, should any of the teams involved encounter a good run of results, while others falter and fall along the wayside.
Vanarama National League South
Heading into the National League South, nobody can touch the dominant lead currently held by Ebbsfleet United, who managed to rise beyond a worrying run of results in December. When they started 2023 with a 4-0 trouncing at Dartford, their fourth consecutive league defeat, everything seemed to be falling apart. But now 11 games unbeaten, featuring 10 wins and just 1 draw, The Fleet are now sailing towards automatic promotion.
Unbelievable once again this afternoon👏🏻👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/vNq2CIeFFX
— Ebbsfleet United FC (@EUFCofficial) February 25, 2023
Unfortunately for Dartford, they couldn’t capitalise on that precious victory at Ebbsfleet, unable to match the same levels of consistency. And while The Darts are staring down the barrel of competing in the play-offs, which teams join them remains an open question. Oxford City, Havant & Waterlooville, Worthing, Braintree Town, and Chelmsford City are all in the mix. In fact, several mid-table sides could also make a late push, making for a remarkable race.
