The battle for promotion to the National League is hotting up fast. With the solitary automatic promotion place already looking like a three or four-horse race between Gateshead, Brackley Town, Kidderminster Harriers and AFC Fylde, Southport are one of several teams in the mix for a playoff finish.
As we prepare to go deep into the second half of the 2021/22 National League North campaign, we look at the Sandgrounders’ biggest rivals for a playoff place this term.
A quick glance at Southport’s own playoff chances
After 24 league games, Southport find themselves in a solid sixth position in the table. They have a 50% win record, with 12 victories to their name and a positive goal difference of +13. They are six points clear of seventh-placed Kettering, while the Sandgrounders also have a game in hand on their Northamptonshire rivals.
It has been a remarkable rise up the table for Southport, who recently embarked on an unbeaten league run of 13 matches that dates back to October. The Sandgrounders were staring Step 3 football firmly in the face at the start of the campaign, so to now be in the playoff equation is huge credit to the players and boss, Liam Watson. They’ve been attracting bumper crowds of late too, with an FA Trophy run that lasted to the 4th Round also grabbing the attention of locals. However, they will have to come to terms with life without star striker Marcus Carver, whose 17 goals in 28 games earned him a January move to Hartlepool for an undisclosed fee.
Given that the Sandgrounders are now one of the in-form teams in the second half of the season, supporters may find it hard to know where their team stands week on week. If you’re keen to find out whether Southport are the favourites or underdogs going into any round of National League North fixtures between now and May, you can find match odds in the Betway football betting markets. This operator covers both the National League North and South, which is handy for those who like to wager on Step 2 action.
Chorley are incredibly hard to beat
One of Southport’s main rivals for a playoff place – and in the playoff stages themselves – will almost certainly be Chorley. The Lancastrians have lost just three of their opening 24 league games, demonstrating a resilience and spirit that will certainly stand them in good stead for the remainder of the campaign.
Jamie Vermiglio’s troops have plenty of experience in their ranks and plenty of firepower in the shape of former Sheffield United youngster Connor Hall and Jonathan Ustabasi. The latter of which spent six years playing football professionally in Turkey, as well as North Macedonia, before returning to the UK.
Kidderminster looking to build on their FA Cup limelight
Kidderminster Harriers came within seconds of knocking out Premier League West Ham United in the FA Cup. The Worcestershire outfit now have league matters to attend to, with two games in-hand on the Gateshead and Brackley, who are seven points above them. Some might say that points on the board are better than games in-hand and given Harriers’ cup exploits, it could be that they burn out as the second half of the season unfolds.
Nevertheless, ‘Kiddy’ will be a team to be feared if they must settle for the playoffs. As a professional outfit, they are well-oiled and have several players that have performed at a higher level. These include former Coventry and Wigan defender Nathan Cameron and ex-Cheltenham wide forward Omari Sterling.
AFC Fylde buoyed by fine away win at table-toppers Gateshead
AFC Fylde aspire to return to the National League and under former Morecambe boss Jim Bentley they have a chance of doing just that in 2021/22. The Coasters ensured the rest of the National League North would stand up and take notice after their 3-0 away win at league leaders Gateshead A win that moved them level on points with Kidderminster, having played a game more.
Like Kidderminster, there is some serious nous and experience in the Coasters’ squad. Midfielders Danny Philliskirk and David Perkins played for many seasons up and down the Football League, while veteran striker Stephen Dobbie appeared once upon a time in the Premier League for Swansea and Crystal Palace
Hereford are on the march after an indifferent start to the campaign
Hereford FC are a phoenix club for Hereford United and they’ve risen from the ashes metaphorically speaking in the 2021/22 National League North campaign too. Four wins in their last five games have seen the Bulls move to within a point of the playoff positions, with a game in-hand on sixth-placed Kettering.
Their squad contains several imposing former Football League players, including centre half Krystian Pearce and ex-SPL striker Miles Storey. The biggest issue for Josh Gowling’s men? Their season run-in. They face title contenders Brackley and Gateshead back-to-back in their final two games of the league calendar. They’ll need to have the playoffs sewn up before Brackley visit at the beginning of May.
OTS News on Social Media