Scramble for NPL West Division play-offs continue

Just 13 points separate 18th-placed Atherton Collieries - the side currently a place above the bottom four - and Stalybridge Celtic, who occupy the final play-off berth. 

But who looks strong heading into the season's final knockings, and who could make a late push for the top five?

We've picked out some of the key talking points.

Can anyone topple Widnes?

Right now, Widnes are the team to beat.

The Black-and-Whites sit three points clear at the top of the division but know that promotion is far from a foregone conclusion.

In recent times, Michael Ellison's men have become specialists away from home, picking up 23 points from the last 30 available on the road. 

But a run of seven successive wins on their travels came to an end earlier this month and they are currently enduring a mini-blip, losing two of their last three matches - including a 4-0 humbling at Clitheroe in one of last weekend's surprise results.

Widnes aren't unbeatable - not by any means - but they know that promotion is still firmly in their own hands.

Hednesford hunting automatic promotion

The in-form team in the NPL West Division are Hednesford Town. 

Since taking charge of the Pitmen in November, boss Gavin Hurren has been allowed to bring in a raft of new faces - as demonstrated by his first interview in charge, when he spoke of building a squad capable of achieving the club's "ambitious goals".

Of those new signings, experienced goalkeeper Tony Breeden, formerly of Spalding United, has conceded just twice in seven games since joining - keeping five clean sheets and providing a solid base from which to build.

At the other end of the pitch, Hednesford are the division's joint-top scorers alongside Congleton Town and have seven wins and three draws to show from their last 10 matches - form worthy of any promotion contender.

Five of their remaining 10 league games come against teams in the top half, but on current form, few will relish the prospect of facing Hurren's Hednesford.

Will home comforts be key?

As is so often the case, could hope comforts prove to be decisive?

Successive defeats put an end to Congleton's excellent run of form at the Cleric Stadium, but they still top the home form chart in the division, with 20 points accumulated over their last 10 games.  

Currently sitting ninth in the table, Nantwich Town are another who have been in excellent form at home under the guidance of Jon Moran - who became the club's youngest manager for 40 years when he replaced Paul Carden back in October. 

But they, too, have gone four games without a win on their own pitch - an issue which will need rectifying if they harbour serious ambitions of reeling in the top five, even more so considering they remain one of the poorer-performing sides in the division on their travels. 

The chasing pack

Outside of the top five, Stafford Rangers have been the best-performing side in the league, winning five of their last seven matches.

You'd say that 16th-placed Rangers are too far back to mount a challenge for the play-offs, but given the congested nature of the league this season, it could still happen as they continue to hit form at the right time.

Seventh-placed Trafford have won four games on the bounce while Witton Albion - a side who last graced the top table of the Northern Premier League as recently as the 2021/22 season - will look to go one better than last season after missing out on the play-offs on goal difference.

Chasetown are the side currently closest to gracing the play-offs. Indeed, victory at home to second-placed Vauxhall Motors would see them usurp Stalybridge and move into fifth, denying Motors the opportunity to draw level at the top of the table with Widnes ahead of the league leaders’ trip to Avro on Wednesday night. 

One thing is for sure: plenty more twists and turns lie ahead, as the race to escape the NPL West Division continues into March.