The National League has been full of entertainment all season, and the relegation battle is set to go right down to the wire. Incredibly, nine points separate Hartlepool in 10th and Dorking in 23rd. With only a couple months left of the season and a lot to play for, I'll be assessing the run-in and who has enough to survive. The final prediction standings were made using an online result calculator:
10th: Hartlepool
Hartlepool are nine points and ten places clear of relegation so barring a miracle will be comfortably safe. Kevin Phillips side have gained 13 points from a possible 18 over their last six games, leaving them just seven points off the playoffs. Could the Monkey Hangers sneak into the playoffs?
11th: Boreham Wood
Boreham Wood are currently 14th, four points clear of safety. After coming agonisingly close to Wembley via the playoffs last year, they will be disappointed to be floating around the bottom half this time around. Their next five fixtures don't make pretty reading, with the Wood having to host Gateshead (5th) and Altrincham (9th), as well as travelling to Halifax (8th), Solihull Moors (4th) and Chesterfield (1st). Get a couple of wins from these fixtures and Luke Garrard's side will be on the beach for the remaining few matches. However, failure to pick up points could see them dragged into an unlikely relegation battle.
12th: Southend
Southend were hit with a ten point deduction earlier in the season, a handicap that threatened their season massively. The Shrimpers were also given a transfer embargo, leaving them with a small, stretched squad. However as ever, Kevin Maher has worked miracles and his side are five clear after three straight wins. Despite the deduction, Southend should be fine - they are a playoff worthy team battling relegation due to shambolic ownership.
13th: Rochdale
Rochdale suffered relegation from League 2 last season and many predicted back-to-back for the Dale due to off-the-field issues. However, with the recent news that 'World Soccer Holdings LLC' have signed a letter of intent to purchase the club, coupled with a point at Chesterfield and a comfortable win over Wealdstone, the feel good factor is slowly coming back to Spotland. Jim McNulty's side have a nice run of fixtures to end the season so should survive comfortably.
14th: Eastleigh
Eastleigh currently occupy 12th and are six points clear of relegation. Kelvin Davies was recently appointed as manager after Richard Hill struggled to make an impact. The Spitfires have scored 61 and conceded 71 already. Despite only keeping one league clean sheet since October and failing to put any meaningful runs together in recent weeks, Eastleigh should have enough to survive with ease.
15th: Dagenham & Redbridge
While the aforementioned teams should have no problem staying up, 15th downwards is anyones guess. Dagenham & Redbridge currently occupy 15th and are three points clear. Inih Effiong has scored 14 goals in 23 appearances this season but is now injured, sending alarm bells around the fanbase. If they fail to replace him adequately, don't be surprised to see the Daggers slide down the table.
16th: York
I am going against the grain here and predicting York to finish 16th. It may be my intrinsic bias due to my love for new manager Adam Hinshelwood, but I fancy York's chances. In Dipo Akinyemi, the Minstermen boast one of the finest strikers in the league and with a manager who puts real emphasis on attacking play, Akinyemi should score a hatful to end the season. Wealdstone and AFC Fylde visit in the next week - win these and York will fancy their chances of survival. Failure to win these and York are in trouble.
17th: Kidderminster
In early January, Kidderminster looked dead and buried. The appointment of Phil Brown was met with dismay due to his poor recent record. The 64-year-old has silenced his critics, accumulating 19 points from the last possible 24 to give Kiddy a fighting chance. With five of the bottom half still to play and momentum on their side, Kidderminster will feel they have a real chance of survival.
18th: AFC Fylde
AFC Fylde also looked in real danger of a return to the National League North, before a run of six wins and a draw gave them hope. The Coasters are now without a win in three, conceding 10 goals in these games. The host Maidenhead, Oxford City and Wealdstone in the next six, as well as travelling to Kidderminster and York. If Chris Beech's side can rediscover their recent form, survival will be in their sights.
19th: Ebbsfleet
Ebbsfleet were another team facing the prospect of instant relegation back to the sixth tier. Dennis Kutrieb was unfortunately relieved of his duties, with the experienced Danny Searle his replacement. Searle has made Fleet hard to beat, keeping clean sheets in the last five, recording three wins in a row. This new found defensive resilience coupled with the goals of Dominic Poleon, I'm predicting Ebbsfleet to stay up.
20th: Maidenhead
Maidenhead continue to defy expectations, with Alan Devonshire getting the best out of the semi-professional team. The Magpies are 16th, three points clear of survival. A surprise 3-1 win at Altrincham halted a run of four straight defeats. They end the season with games against Barnet and Gateshead, before travelling to Chesterfield. Maidenhead will need to be a few points clear by then, or they could be waving goodbye to their National League status.
21st: Wealdstone
The Stones are currently 18th, outside the relegation zone on goal difference. However, they have at leat three games in hand on all their competitors. Manager Stuart Maynard was poached by Notts County and Wealdstone have struggled since. Wealdstone are semi-professional so will struggle with their fixture pile up having to play twice a week. Last season they lost seven of their last ten games. A repeat of that and Wealdstone will be down.
22nd: Woking
Nobody could have predicted Woking will be in this predicament after they finished fourth last season. However, a culmination of injuries and bad recruitment has seen the Cardinals battling an unexpected relegation. Hugely popular manager Darren Sarll was relieved of his duties, with the inexperienced Michael Doyle hired as his replacement. The 42-year-old has failed to inspire the side and Woking are staring relegation in the face.
23rd: Dorking
Dorking have had a historic rise in their 25 year history, gaining 12 promotions and never being relegated. That looks likely to change this season. Wanderers have won one of their last five games. With the top four still to play and many injuries, Dorking look bang in trouble.
24th: Oxford City
This one seems a-given. Oxford City are eleven points from survival and it will require a miracle for them to survive.
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