It's non-league day tomorrow, so Scott's here with an update on the latest from the region and a list of tasty games you might want to get down to!
You all need something to take your mind off NUFC for another five minutes, don't you?Instead of debating Eddie Howe or Tino Livramento again, let's get into the latest installment of the Non League review.
It's the penultimate week of March as I type, but we already have our first title winner. REDCAR ATHLETIC were newly promoted into the Northern Premier League East this season,
But from the minute they kicked off, they have been so far ahead of the rest it's been astounding. 123 goals scored with six games still to play with a plus 93 goal difference. They’ve scored five or more goals eight times this season including an Eight and a Ten. Four players have scored 30 goals in all competitions and defensively they've been sound as well.
I've never seen a team as ruthless at this level. The big budget obviously helps, but other teams with similar funds are miles behind. Congratulations to everyone on the Cleveland coast, they could certainly do it again next year.
In the NATIONAL LEAGUE, what an incredible turnaround from GATESHEAD. The last time we did a review, the Tynesiders were down and out. They hadn't won a game in sixteen and crowds were down to the mid hundreds.
Step forward Rob Elliot and his staff.
Since losing on Valentines day, they've only lost two in seven and this culminated on Tuesday with a magnificent performance as they outplayed York City who are in an epic title race. Having seen that game, Gateshead looked stronger, fitter and more disciplined than I've seen in a long time and in Harry Chapman they look like they've gained a very good player.
They moved out of the drop zone with that result and with another home match to come they suddenly hold all the aces. What a club that is!
HARTLEPOOL UNITED are on an upward trajectory as well and are hanging in there in the race for the promotion play offs. Pools struck twice late on to win at Morecambe on Tuesday and are now just two points behind Southend who occupy the last place. After having a little wobble at the start of the month which seemed to rule any bid out, they have won three on the bounce and will aim to keep the Shrimpers in sight until they travel to Victoria Park in the last week of the season. Could be interesting .
In the NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH, the title shoot out between AFC Fylde and SOUTH SHIELDS continues to be fantastic viewing and a month on since we last spoke, we are no further forward in finding out who grabs the title and only automatic promotion place.
Shields looked favourites after ruthlessly dispatching Fylde a few weeks ago, but then lost twice and the Lancashire coast side had suddenly opened up a four point gap. However Fylde lost and Shields won, so it's back to a single point again.
Easter could sort it, but don't rule out a last day shoot out.
SPENNYMOOR have really picked up since Tommy Miller went in as interim manager. They looked out of the play off hunt but are now unbeaten in four and are now just five points off the play offs with a game in hand. Still going to be tough but they are peaking at the very right time.
DARLINGTON are looking anxiously over their shoulders again in the play off spots. A 2-0 midweek home defeat ended a run of three successive wins and with the top two still to play, the Quakers suddenly look vulnerable again. Darlo has been excellent this season generally though and three more wins should see the season extended.
In the LOWLAND LEAGUE, BERWICK RANGERS have had a vastly improved season and though the off the field problems have taken the headlines, they are now in the top ten and for the first time in a long time looking up rather than down. Wins against fellow ex-league sides Cowdenbeath, East Stirling and Albion have pushed them into mid-table and the challenge with six to play is to finish as high as they can, starting with the leaders Bonnyrigg Rose on Saturday.
In the NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, this could be the best title race of the lot and HEBBURN are smack bang in the middle of it. The South Tynesiders and Hednesford have been going at each other constantly for months, but now FC United have joined the party and are now top.
A couple of goalless draws have really hit Hebburn hard in the last few weeks and with the other two having a game in hand, they are playing catch up a little but they have 64 points, level with Hednesford and a point behind FC United. With five left, it could still go any of three ways.
MORPETH TOWN are in a similar situation at the bottom but recent results (one defeat in five and two wins in a row) have given them a great chance of staying up. It's so tight. The bottom side have 32 points and seventh bottom have 38. Morpeth is on 36, just outside the drop zone. Rumours of financial worries were quietened when they signed ex Newcastle player Shane Ferguson last month and they are yet to lose since he signed.
In the EAST DIVISION, apart from Redcar’s aforementioned domination, many North East eyes are in the relegation scrap which consists of nine teams.
BLYTH SPARTANS have pulled themselves out of the drop zone and within sight of safety (ending a run of successive relegations). Only one defeat to Redcar in seven games has completely flipped the season and credit goes to Marc Nash and his staff.
BISHOP AUCKLAND were tipped to go straight up in August, but they look like slipping back to where they come from after three successive defeats have left them six points off safety having played more games. They are in serious trouble, as are NEWTON AYCLIFFE, who are second bottom having conceded 30 plus goals since the turn of the February but they still seem to have a result in them.
BLYTH TOWN looked doomed last month but three home wins in a week have meant they are not done yet. They are five from safety but bang in form. ASHINGTON is one place and five points above the drop zone. They lost 8-0 to Redcar, but have only lost one in six since and are slowly getting there. Blyth Town v Ashington next Tuesday already looks crucial.
HEATON STANNINGTON and CONSETT are comfortably in mid table. Consett have reached the magic 50 point mark and are in ninth, after a mainly positive run since the New Year, when safety was very much in doubt.
Heaton Stan still have an outside chance of the play offs after recapturing form in the last few weeks with some magnificent wins. They completed the double over big spending Matlock, while defeating high flying Emley and Bradford Park Avenue. It's four wins in a row now for a very dangerous side.
DUNSTON are the highest placed North East team and are in pole position to reach the play offs for a third successive season. They have a four point cushion in fifth and are unbeaten in four after a strangely weak February.
After looking in serious trouble in the last review, our friends in the South, HANWELL TOWN have recovered well and now sit pretty safe in twelve place with a seven point gap from the congested relegation places of the SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH.
In the NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, the league is ending in a bit of chaos after the resignation of WEST ALLOTMENT CELTIC. The pulling out of over a century old Celtic wasn't a shock and the club say they will regroup at a lower level next season, but was really disappointing. Hopefully they can give it a go again. Nomads for the last few years, they really needed a local base to start again.
Celtic quitting meant all their results were annulled. SHILDON, who were leaders beat West twice, but title rivals GUISBOROUGH lost to them so despite that, they have really gained off this. The Priorymen now only need to win their last three games to win the league. Shildon are two points behind but have played a game more. They can only hope when they face each other in the final game it's up for grabs still. It will be some game if it is.
The loser of that fight will go into the play offs and fight it out with WHITLEY BAY (Who look set to finish third after a good recent run). WEST AUCKLAND and BORO RANGERS occupy the final spots with KENDAL a point behind. BLUE STAR and NORTH SHIELDS look too far off at this stage, eight points behind in 7th and 8th respectively.
At the bottom West Allotment have left that up in the air as well. NORTHALLERTON now look in serious danger and it looks like them or WHICKHAM for the other relegation spot.
In DIVISION TWO, it’s very tight at the top but REDCAR TOWN should make it a Redcar double if they hold their nerve. They are second behind YARM and EAGLESCLIFFE, however have three games in hand and should wipe out the one point deficit.
JARROW are just behind but have played five more than Redcar and PARK VIEW make up the play offs. SEAHAM could sneak in with three games in hand.
At the bottom ESH WINNING could be saying goodbye to the Northern League for the first time in 45 years but SUNDERLAND WEST END have said they will take voluntary relegation due to lack of funds and interest, so an escape route for them and BILLINGHAM SYNTHONIA (W
Who have had six points deducted).
It's Non league day this weekend so here's a quick run down of the fixtures over the weekend.
FRIDAY
Ashington v Dunston, NE63 9FW
SATURDAY
Gateshead v Yeovil, NE10 0EF
South Shields v Alfreton, NE32 3UP
Hebburn v Lancaster City, NE31 1UN
Morpeth v Leek Town, NE61 2YK
Blyth Town v Heaton Stannington, NE24 3PS
Consett v Pontefract Collieries, DH8 7BF
Newton Aycliffe v Blyth Spartans, DL5 5AG
Redcar Athletic v Bishop Auckland, TS10 3RW
Berwick Rangers v Bonnyrigg Rose, TD15 2EF
Also games in the Northern League at North Shields, Newcastle Blue Star, Birtley, Newcastle Benfield, Whitley Bay, Chester Le Street, Prudhoe, Ryton and Seaham.
Next month we will be almost there but a lot of football still to be played.
Get yourselves fully immersed in it!
Scott Robson