Title race very much alive and kicking

As the season enters the final six weeks of what seems to have been the longest eight months on record, there is a fantastic title race at the top of the National League for promotion into the Football League.

Had last season carried on I believe we would have seen a challenge to Barrow who were having a mini wobble at the time of the pandemic forcing all football to be suspended. As it was they took their place in League Two along with Harrogate Town for the 2020-21 season.

This season for a majority of the first few months it looked a one horse race as Torquay Utd won game after game and on Boxing Day last year after thumping local rivals Yeovil Town 6-1 the Gulls were nine points clear of their closest challengers despite having played two games more.

A stuttering January and February where only one win was gained in each month saw the chasing pack catch and overtake Torquay but the Gulls have managed to compose themselves and remain firmly in the hunt for automatic promotion.

The biggest advantage takers from Torquay’s blip have been Sutton Utd, quietly going about their business and stealing a march whilst the Gulls faltered. Of course every team goes through at least one sticky patch in a season and the Gander Green Lane outfit have been no different although more in the form of draws than defeats.

The basis of their title charge this side of Xmas has been a current 14 match unbeaten run which stretches back to the beginning of February and despite a few more draws in the last five weeks or so they too remain fully in contention.

With no game at the weekend they relinquished top spot to Hartlepool but trail the North East side by just a single point with a massive four games in hand whilst being three points in front of Torquay with a game in hand on them.

This Tuesday night see the Gulls heading to Gander Green Lane in search of three big points. Whilst the hosts can afford to draw in terms of their games in hand on both chasing clubs the visitors really need the win to keep the pressure on Sutton and Hartlepool as we head towards the season climax.

As well as Sutton’s great run Hartlepool are themselves 14 games unbeaten and their season comes to a climax a week earlier than everyone else due to Dover’s demise this season and it couldn’t have been written any better, a trip to Sutton in what potentially could a title decider depending on how results fair for both clubs in the next four weeks.

Having watched all three sides either on BT Sport or streamed against Barnet you can make a case for all three to be champions. Sutton are well organised at the back, strikers who can poses a threat up front and the goals from midfield of Harry Beautyman a real bonus.

Pools are free-flowing, also strong defensively and goals across the team, like Sutton they know if they keep their run going it’s going to become a two horse race.

Torquay though now they are over a raft of injuries to key players will feel the race is far from done even if they suffer defeat on Tuesday night, the wily Gary Johnson will try to ensure his team are competitive till the end. With Saturday Tuesday Saturday football for Sutton to contend with over the next four weeks more than the other two sides there is likely to be a lot more twists and turns before the curtain comes down on a difficult season.

Underneath these three clubs those currently in the play-off’s positions are very much in control. Three defeats in a row for Wrexham and for Eastleigh just recently has made the job a little harder whilst four draws in the last five for Boreham Wood might have given them a little too much to do.

Sandwiched in between those three clubs are Bromley who seem to have come to terms with the departure of Neil Smith and unbeaten in three games under Andy Woodman, but like those around them it might be an ask to get inside those top seven places and stay there.

Ten games to go for most clubs does mean there is time to turn things around but those games will pass by very quickly and then the margin for error becomes smaller and smaller, its going to be a great race to the finish, just a shame we are unlikely to witness any of it live bar the final game of the season, although spare a thought for Hartlepool fans who as mentioned above finish a week earlier than anyone else, could be champions and not one celebration inside their Victoria Park Ground.