Race for promotion | The state of play across Step 4

Everyone has battled across 36 games to get to a point where promotion could be obtained, and they’ll be keen to ensure that they end the season strong over these final six games to secure a play-off finish, or in some cases, win the title.

Here is the state of play surrounding the title race and play-off fight in each of our Step 4 divisions.

East Division

The big news coming out of the East Division this week was the crowning of Redcar Athletic as the first of four champions across the NPL with six games to spare, following a 4-2 win over third-placed Matlock Town on Wednesday night - a result which also led to Matlock parting company with manager Adam Clayton for the second time this season. 

Adam Boyes made it 39 goals for the campaign after netting all four on the night, bringing up the scoring tally for the whole squad to a remarkable 126 for the year.

They need just nine points from their final six games to break through the 100-point barrier for the campaign, and while there’ll be eyes on if they can bring up the century, the main focus now is on who else will be joining the Steelmen at Step 3 next season.

Currently, Emley and Matlock look to be the two sides vying for second place, and thus home advantage throughout the entirety of the play-offs. 

But shaky form from both sides over the past few weeks, with both winning just one of their last four games, may open the door for sides just below to climb above them.

Pontefract Collieries and Dunston are both tied on 64 points, seven behind Emley in second, and four ahead of Bradford (Park Avenue) in sixth, who picked up a big point against champions Redcar last Saturday.

So, keep an eye on Park Avenue as a side who could gatecrash the play-off party, but also Heaton Stannington, who are six points off a play-off place but on a four-game winning run.

League leaders: Redcar Athletic (C)

Sides in play-off positions: Emley, Matlock Town, Pontefract Collieries, Dunston

Teams still in play-off contention: Bradford (Park Avenue), Heaton Stannington

Midlands Division

The title race in the Midlands Division was blown wide open on Tuesday night, after second-placed Anstey Nomads put six past league leaders Carlton Town without reply to cut the gap between the two to just five points.

Whoever loses out on the title from hereon in, though, will almost certainly have home advantage throughout the play-offs via a second-place finish, as there’s a 13-point gap separating Anstey in second from Basford United in third.

Then, to highlight how congested it is in the Midlands mid-table, 13 points down from Basford sees you fall all the way to Boldmere St Michaels in 14th.

That being said, there’s a slightly healthy six-point barrier separating Belper Town and Coleshill Town in fourth and fifth respectively, from those directly below. Wellingborough Town, who are currently sixth, are also on a four-game winless run.

While anyone from 16th upwards can mathematically still finish in the top five, the real contenders likely come from Lichfield City in 10th upwards, where there’s an eight-point gap between Ivor Green’s side and a play-off place.

League leaders: Carlton Town

Sides in play-off positions: Anstey Nomads, Basford United, Belper Town, Coleshill Town

Teams still in play-off contention: Wellingborough United, Shepshed Dynamo, Racing Club Warwick, AFC Rushden and Diamonds, Lichfield City

West Division

As has been the case in the other Step 4 divisions, there was a telling result in midweek as Avro were unable to make good on their game in hand on Bury in top spot, losing 3-1 away at Kidsgrove Athletic.

That means that the title is now officially in the Shakers’ hands heading into the final six games of the campaign, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be plain sailing from here.

Just nine points separate first from sixth in the West Division, meaning a poor run of form can see you go from league leaders to not even in the play-offs - a fate that has been bestowed upon Lower Breck over the last month, who are currently outside of the top five after holding down top spot for the majority of the campaign.

Stalybridge Celtic are currently on an 11-game unbeaten run, and Runcorn Linnets have won their last three games to move into the top three. They’re both five points behind Bury, and Linnets welcome Anthony Johnson’s side to the APEC Taxis Stadium this coming Saturday in what will be a massive game.

Vauxhall Motors currently hold the final play-off spot. They’re above Breck on goal difference but in much better form, and Bootle remain within a shot, but just one win in their last six has seen them fall eight points adrift of the top five.

With a trip to Avro in their next game, it could be a tall ask to finish in the play-offs if they fail to win again. But three points against the side currently second could be the boost needed to rediscover the form shown in January which took them within a few points of the play-offs.

League leaders: Bury

Sides in play-off positions: Avro, Runcorn Linnets, Stalybridge Celtic, Vauxhall Motors

Teams still in play-off contention: Lower Breck, Bootle