Northwich take title, play-offs and relegation still top be settled

Northwich Victoria finally met the bookies, and just about everyone else's, expectations by beating pretenders Stafford Rangers 3-1 to take the Conference North title with one match remaining of the campaign.

Apart from a sticky patch at the start of February, the Vics looked every bit champions during the rest of the season and there should be little argument from most team's supporters that they deserved to win the league.

Stafford Rangers in runners-up and Nuneaton Borough in 3rd spot, must take on the other two play-off hopefuls and if successful making it through the final at Eton Park, one of them will take their place alongside Northwich in the Conference National next season.

Droylsden, Harrogate Town and Stalybridge Celtic are the three sides who must fight for the two remaining play-off places, with Droylsden hosting Stalybridge on the final Saturday of the season. Celtic must win both their remaining matches and by a goal difference total of three to oust Droylsden from their play-off berth.

Celtic can still make it with two 1-0 victories in their final two matches, providing Harrogate fail to win away to Stafford Rangers a result perhaps less likely now that Rangers are out of the title race.

The picture will become a lot clearer on Tuesday night when Stalybridge host Barrow in their penultimate match and will then know exactly what they need to achieve going into the final game at Droylsden on Saturday.

The picture is less clear at the bottom, although Hednesford Town are a bucketful of goals away from salvation even if they manage a win at Vauxhall Motors. Worksop Town have two chances to avoid relegation, both matches at home, Tuesday night hosting Lancaster City and Saturday hosting Worcester City.

Leigh RMI and Redditch Utd are both at home in their final encounters, to Northwich and Barrow respectively and I expect one of these two strugglers to join Hednesford in dropping out of the Conference North on Saturday.