boston only drew dan lol. felt like a win equalsing so late though

The past week I saw:

Monday 14th: Dover grabbed a last gasp equaliser at Chelmsford in the battle for the Conf Sth playoffs. 2-2 the final score.

I caught another 2-2 on Tuesday in the Essex Senior League, with champions Stansted drawing at Barking, to remain unbeaten in the league, with 25/32 matches now played, though they did lose top spot that night to Enfield 1893 but Stansted still have two games in hand.

Wednesday I was at Brentwoods ground for a floodlit fixture between nearby Mountnessing and Hainault/Romford based Manford Way. Manford won 1-0 to boost their title hopes in the Essex Olympian Prem (step 7), with Mountnessing still fighting relegation.

Yesterday I was watching playing field football again, up in NE Colchester for the Essex & Suffolk Border Prem match between leaders Gas Recreation and unbeaten Brightlingsea Regent, who are pushing for promotion back to Ridgeons League (Eastern Counties - step 5/6). Gas ran out easy winners 4-1, ending the last unbeaten record in the division, though like West Bergholt, Regent can overhaul Gas if they win all their games in hand (5-6). Bergholt and Regent meet next saturday.

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This week:

Some long midweek trips to far corners of Essex as I'm off work.
Tuesday I'm at Brightlingsea (between Colchester and Clacton, where lots of oysters are caught) for the Regent's home game with Holland (not the country, a part of Clacton) in Essex & Suffolk Border Prem.

Wednesday I'll be off to Saffron Walden, still harbouring faint hopes of promotion from Ridgeons Div 1 to Ridgeons Prem. They host Godmanchester (they're halfway between Cambridge and Huntingdon).

A double bill saturday due to the England game messing things up. Off to Tilbury for a midday kick-off in Ryman Div 1 Nth, with playoff hopefuls (just) Waltham Abbey the visitors. Then I'll have about an hour to go along the A13, up the A130 then up the A12 to the outskirts of Colchester for the game at West Bergholt.

Still doing quite well for the first season back at BSN. I thought Alfreton were a shoe-in a few weeks ago but they've slipped up a fair bit lately. I think they will still win it, but Telford will run them close. Then its between you, Guiseley, Nuneaton and Solihull Moors (amazingly) for the playoffs. Possibly Blyth or Droylsden but they probably have too much to do.

In Conf National, moneybags Crawley beat second placed AFC Wimbledon, and are now virtually guaranteed the title. They are nine points clear of Dons with four games in hand, and fourteen points clear of Luton with a game in hand.

Despite losing at Fleetwood yesterday, I still think Wrexham will make the playoffs, along with Wimbledon and Luton. Still ots of issues off the pitch for Wrexham, with the 'new' owner no longer in charge, and rivals bids pulling out.
The final place is very much up for grabs. Kidderminster, York, Fleetwood, Rushden, Darlo and Grimsby are fighting for the final position. The ones at the back of the pack have games in hand as well. Probably asking too much now for Mansfield and Newport to make the playoffs.

Histon look destined for the drop now, ten points from safety with ten games left. Eastbourne Boro, despite a recent mini revival, are now eight points adrift after losing at home to Barrow yesterday. Altrincham have hit another good run though and are now just a point from safety, with Forest Green in the drop zone as opposed to Southport on GD. Hayes & Yeading won yesterday, along with Barrow (on a great run of away form atm) and Cambridge Utd to move a little clear of trouble, but still far from out of it, along with out of form Tamworth.

In Conf Nth, Alfreton not too long ago, seemed certain to be champions. However their form has hit the buffers of late, losing a few games. Lying in fourth they are three points off top spot, but have three games in hand on AFC Telford, who look like Alfretons only real threat.
Boston and Nuneaton are currently fighting for third position, but they both have only a handful of games left. Guiseleys form has dipped lately after a superb run, and despite having games in hand, are desperate to stop the rot. Surprise package are minnows Solihull Moors, who seem to have rallied together since the death of their long serving manager, currently unbeaten since November, and in the playoffs, with a great chance of making it. Droylsden and in form Eastwood could yet pose a late challenge if they win their games in hand, but its unlikely they will do it. Blyth have had a great season, but haven't got enough games left to pose a real threat.
Financially stricken Redditch got a new owner this week, but are all but mathematically relegated, and with a five point deduction for financial irregularities imposed this week, they are indeed down, with just seven points. Stafford however, who not too long ago seemed doomed, have put on a great run, and now leapfrog fellow financially stricken Hyde on GD with a game in hand. Gainsborough are also now back in real trouble, just three points clear from more games. Gloucester need at least another win I feel to ensure survival, maybe two.

Braintree still top Conf Sth, but their position is under threat from in form Farnborough now, after Steve King won at his old club Lewes and Braintree (who lost at Farnborough last weekend but won at Havant on monday) were held at home by bottom side St Albans. Ebbsfleet probably out of the title race now after losing at Weston.
Playoffs still very much anybodys right now. Woking are in blinding form (34/36 points - dropped points a last gasp equaliser by Farnborough at Kingfield) right now, upto third, with Ebbsfleet fourth. Chelmsford despite iffy form are hanging onto fifth, however Welling, Eastleigh and Dover are right on their tails with games in hand - Welling won at Eastleigh on saturday 4-1 and go to Chelmsford this weekend.
Down the bottom a great little run from St Albans - 7 points from 9, but they are still nine points from safety after their ten point deduction, and surely going down. Lewes and Maidenhead complete the bottom three, three points behind out of form Thurrock. Bishops Stortford have collapsed lately, prompting them to axe their boss and replace him with the one and only Ian Walker! They're only six points above the relegation zone and need results fast. Dorchester, Hampton & Richmond and Boreham Wood, though still not totally safe, look halfway to ensuring league status.

It's a long way to Whitby Happily the journey home was a happy one as FC United left with all 3 points. Absolutely terrible match, pitch was rockhard and ball spent vast majority of the 90 mins in the air.

Mike Norton only needed one chance to secure the points as he notched his 25th goal of the season. That makes 12 matches running without defeat and FCUoM have now pushed into the last playoff place in the Northern Premier League. Still plenty of twists and turns to come I'd imagine as realistically there are still 11 sides in the mix. Halifax have all but confirmed the automatic promotion spot for champions but behind them there is still lots to play for with Colwyn Bay, North Ferriby United, Buxton and FCUoM being pursued by Matlock, Marine, Worksop, Bradford Park Avenue, Kendal and Chasetown.

Enjoying this rollercoaster! Bring on NFU at Gigg Lane on Saturday.

boston lose managers scott and hurst to bsp side grimsby they did a terrific job though and i wish them well. hope the idiot that is called john fenty gives them a good chance to turn things round at bludell park.
Jason Lee and Lee Cannoville, who both played for Boston in league 2, are in caretaker charge until the end of the campaign. hope we can find a new boss with good lower league experience to take over in the summer

We should be OK but better to have the points on the board now because our run in is against all of the big guns.

So, we're into the last month or so now.

For Gateshead, an outside shot at the play offs, but really I'm not going to relax until we're mathematically safe.

Random question for Dan... Any idea what state the East Stand from Feethams is in? I know it was disassembled a couple of years back, just heard a strange rumour about it today...


I'm ignoring our result.

Found it... http://footballstandforsale.com

Bloody chuffed with our result today

Does anyone reckon that Warrington can still overtake Curzon Ashton? (10 Points clear of us with a game in hand, 9 games left of the season)

Anyway, the Radcliffe Borough keeper (Nick Culkin, shortest Manchester United appearance with 80 seconds) is one of the soundest people I've ever met. He was stood at the back talking to us about the Rugby on Friday when one of our players went down injured.

Short answer ............... no. Sorry mate. Curzon seem sure to stay ahead of Warrington. Big game for them against Chester this week but even if they lose they'll still stay ahead of you.

Andy Heald could be good for you but I still feel sure that the Wire will come up short of the final play-off positions.


He is a good lad indeed. Had the pleasure of chatting to him earlier in the season at Gigg Lane when Radcliffe came across for a FA Cup tie. I think that was one of his very first matches for Raddy. He just seemed so happy to be playing again and seemed very positive about what we were doing (at FC United).

And now Boston are taking both of their ex managers and Grimsby Town to court so things are not looking very nice here.
Still we can't hang on to a two goal lead and are looking to at least one more season in the Blue Square Prem and for me it is the hardest place to be in all football.

So funny to see Luton imploding.

(Kevin Keegan) I'd "love it" if York City got those mugs again in the playoffs (/Kevin Keegan)*

*Providing Kiddy stop winning every bloody match. They've clearly been having their Weetabix.

Didn't they do similar at Ilkeston and leave them in the shit there too?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zytw4...el_video_title

Great goalkeeping error and second goal for Newport. Wayne Hatswell normally puts them in his own goal!

All them goals are immense. At Warrington Town they just try overhead kicks and hope to get lucky. (We tried 3 against Radcliffe, 1 against Prescot. Never works.)

Looks like creepy Crawley could clinch the Conf Nat title next saturday at Tamworth, if they win up there and beat York at home on tuesday.

AFC Wimbledon and Luton are very close for second spot, despite Money Man exiting Luton on monday after a shock defeat at Southport. Gary Brabin is now in charge. Wrexham have slipped a bit of late, including a shock home defeat to Hayes & Yeading yesterday, and they are in danger of slipping out of the playoff places. Fleetwood are back upto fifth, but Kidderminster and York could leapfrog them if they win their games in hand.

Don't think my lot Darlo will make it now after some bad results this past week, including the terrible home defeat to Altrincham. Grimsby are surely now out of it after losing at Newport, as are Rushden who seem to have huge off the field problems, players unpaid, transfer embargo etc - whats going on there? Bath have done amazingly well, at this rate will only just miss out on the playoffs. Ade Brittan for manager of the season surely. Mansfield have a slim chance if they win their games in hand of making the playoffs, but they've also got off field issues right now.

Down the bottom Histon look gone now, fourteen points adrift with seven games left. Ditto Eastbourne Boro sadly despite winning their six pointer at Southport yesterday, still nine points from safety with six games left. Altrincham are on the verge of the great escape with only five matches left, only in the drop zone now on goal difference, ditto Forest Green despite their win at Histon yesterday. Southports goal difference is the only thing keeping them above water for now. Hayes & Yeading and Barrow still in the thick of it, plus Tamworth and possibly Cambridge Utd are getting dragged into it as well.

In Conf Nth, Alfreton look well placed to take the title, if they don't get too overcome by the massive fixture backlog. They lead AFC Telford by five points, who lost at Eastwood yesterday.
After that it looks very tight from third down to nineth, with varying amounts of games in hand. Despite losing their managers to Grimsby in the week, Boston won yesterday to remain third. Nuneaton won at Gloucester to stay fourth. Then theres a gap of six points to Solihull Moors, whose five month unbeaten run was finally ended at Guiseley, who are just four points behind Moors now with two games in hand. Blyth and Droylsden are probably now out of the running, but Eastwood are on a great run and with games in hand could yet challenge. Nuneaton could be most at threat as they only have four games left.
Redditch with all their off field problems were relegated down to the Southern League last weekend. Stafford have recovered well of late and now lie a point outside the drop zone, leapfrogging Hyde, with both clubs having issues off the pitch. Hyde lost at Gainsborough in a real six pointer. Trinity are not safe yet, but there are only five games left for these two, and six for Stafford. Gloucester are probably now safe for another season.

In conf Sth Braintree have slipped badly in recent weeks, as injuries to strikers and nerves have taken their toll. Farnborough have cut their lead to just a point, and with Braintree being held at home by Dorchester yesterday, Farnboro could have gone top, but were held at home by Bromley.
Welling have been in good form lately and are upto third, with Ebbsfleet still hanging in there in fourth. Looks like the real battle will be for fifth. Chelmsford have been in poor form for a while, losing to Welling at home last weekend, but won at Havant yesterday to remain fifth. Despite some wobbles recently however, the chasing pack of three can leapfrog Clarets if they win their games in hand - Dover, Woking and Eastleigh all two points behind, but Eastleigh have two games in hand, and the others one.
At the bottom after their ten point penalty for financial irregularities, St Albans are now on the brink and will officially go down if they lose on saturday at Ebbsfleet. Maidenhead have been in terrible form of late and despite a couple of games in hand, are now seven points from safety. Lewes have been picking up wins and are now just two points behind a freefalling Bishops Stortford, now managed by Ian Walker. Thurrock and Boreham Wood picked up results yesterday and are now four points clear of Lewes. Dorchester and Hampton are virtually safe now.

A brief look at upcoming formalities in step 3 and 4

FC Halifax the reformed club, will clinch promotion for the second time in their three year existence, if they win at a Retford side already relegated on saturday in Evo-Stik Prem. If Buxton fail to win at Whitby on Wednesday, Halifax will only need a point at the bottom club this coming weekend to go up to Conf Nth, one division below where the old club went bust.

In Evo-Stik Div 1 Nth, Leigh Genesis (formerly known as Leigh RMI) who a few years ago spent a while in the Conference, are one defeat away from likely relegation to NW Counties League. Ossett Albion could also finish in the relegation places if results go against them this week, and the risk of dropping into Northern Counties East if they do not get reprieved.

In Evo-Stik Div 1 Sth, the bottom two will finish in the relegation places officially. Spalding are bottom, unlikely to get yet another reprieve, so will probably fall into the United Counties League. Shepshed are second bottom, at risk of slipping into the Midland Alliance.

In Ryman Div 1 Sth, Horsham YMCAs two year return to the division is likely to be over now, and a drop back to the Sussex County League looks likely.

In Southern Div 1 S&W Andover are on the brink at the bottom, and could have their relegation confirmed this weekend, if Clevedon better their result. They could survive a fall back to the Wessex League though if Almondsbury, who only got promoted from the Hellenic last season, fail to agree a new groundshare, as their one year extension to their lease is not being renewed, and if the club can't arrange somewhere else to go they will have to pull out of the Southern League.

And a few announcements from step 5:

Chalfont St Peter are just one point away from clinching the Spartan South Midlands Title, and probably promotion, probably to the Southern League. They can finish the job with a draw at Broxbourne on tuesday evening.

And Leiston are a maximum of four points away from clinching the Ridgeons Eastern Counties title and promotion to the Ryman league, following in the footsteps of Bury, Sudbury and recently Lowestoft and Needham Market. They're at home to third placed Wroxham on tuesday, and a win will all but seal promotion barring a big goal difference swing to Dereham. A point at a Wivenhoe side without a win in twenty one games on saturday however is needed to shut the mathematicians up.

New Mills are also on the brink of winning the NW Counties league, and a likely promotion to the Evo-Stik league if their ground is adequate.