The National League is one of the trickiest leagues to break out of, especially when there are only two promotion spots available each year. Last year, somewhat unsurprisingly we saw Wrexham and Notts County win a timely promotion back into the Football League, which won’t have come as much of a surprise to fans, as they were hugely impressive throughout the 2022/23 league campaign, and in Wrexham’s case, their financial power proved too strong for the rest of the teams in the fifth-tier of English football.
Chesterfield have emerged as the early pace-setters in the National League, as Paul Cook’s side have already moved themselves clear of the promotion-chasing teams around them in the table heading towards the busy festive period, and it seems a tough ask for any team to rival them at the summit. However, the race for the play-off places is well up for grabs, with plenty of teams in the mix for a top-seven finish.
Hitting form during busy times of the season could be key for the teams that are looking towards the play-offs, and one team that might fancy their chances of building on some hugely impressive showings in recent weeks is Maidenhead United. The Magpies are hitting somewhat dizzy heights in the National League table after an unbeaten run which has stretched to five matches.
They’ve beaten the likes of Halifax Town and Solihull Moors in that strong run of form, and so it’s no fluke that they’re heading up the National League table at a rapid rate in recent weeks. BonusCodeBets have revealed that Maidenhead are priced at 33/1 on Sky Bet to finish in the top-seven of the National League this season, which seems generous given their impressive recent form.
In terms of their squad, Maidenhead don’t have many players that have previously played in the Football League on a consistent basis, but they do have some members of their squad that are catching the eye for the right reasons. William de Havilland has played for the likes of Dover Athletic, Maidstone United and Aldershot Town in the past, but has been a key member of Maidenhead United’s starting XI, and has struck up a strong partnership with experienced Frenchman Remy Clerima this season for the Magpies.
At the other end of the pitch, the creative threat is often provided from the likes of Ashley Nathaniel-George and Kane Ferdinand. Ferdinand in particular has been a regular in the team this season, and has been trusted in the centre of midfield since signing for Maidenhead on a free transfer in July 2021 after a spell with Woking, who are playing at the same level.
However, Maidenhead’s recent improvements have been down to the eye-catching displays from youngster Reece Smith. The 21-year-old has come through the club’s academy system, and has been key to their upturn in form since November. The forward has scored three goals in his last five matches, which includes their equaliser at Ebbsfleet United and third goal in their 4-1 thrashing of relegation-threatened Oxford City.
If Smith can continue to impress, then he could prove to be the player to fill the void left by Josh Kelly, who left the club in favour of a move to Solihull Moors in 2022. Kelly has scored ten goals for Solihull this season, and he left a sizeable void for Maidenhead when he left, but the Magpies look as though they could have yet another exciting talent on their hands. If Smith can stay 100% fit and build on these strong performances, then Maidenhead could soon find themselves with a chance of finishing in the play-off positions in the National League this season.
