Boreham Wood and Tranmere still in the hunt for National League title
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With just over a month of the season remaining in the National League there are still up to six teams vying for the title.
Inconsistencies have blighted every club in the most open title race in years. But now it appears Macclesfield Town have stolen a march on their rivals.
The Silkmen have won four in a row following a four-game winless slump in January. They sit five points ahead of their nearest challengers and face seven of the division’s bottom 12 in their remaining 11 matches.
John Askey has done a tremendous job under testing financial constraints at Moss Ross. Macc boast the league’s best away record, third-best home record and the division’s fourth tightest defence.
They’ve not faltered so far. And if their current form is to continue it’s difficult to see how the Cheshire club will get caught. They’re even-money to go up as champions.
Sutton United are their nearest challengers. The U’s have a handy set of fixtures over the next few weeks but face the daunting prospect of Bromley, Ebbsfleet United and Aldershot Town in the final month of the season.
Paul Doswell’s side have not won more than three National League games in a row in a single spell throughout the entire season. It’s that lack of consistency that could cost the Londoners dear if Macc slip up. They’re 9/4 for promotion.
Could that leave the door open for Tranmere Rovers at 5/1?
The Merseysiders have been on fire since the start of December, picking up nine wins from a possible 14 available. They’ve lost just twice in that time and would appear to be Town’s biggest challengers as the run-in hots up.
They have the momentum. And in Andy Cook and James Norwood, they have two of the league’s top seven goalscorers.
If they can tighten up their leaky defence, then Rovers could mount a late charge for National League glory.
The former pair both appear likely to guarantee a play-off place in the coming weeks but lack the momentum to gatecrash the promotion picture.
Boreham Wood, on the other hand, should be considered dark horses for the final run-in. Luke Garrard’s side have been boosted since the return of last season’s talisman Morgan Ferrier from Dagenham & Redbridge.
They’ve lost just twice in the league since September and have won four of their last five matches. Their final run-in could hold the key to not only their fortunes but also those of the teams around them.
Wood take on Macclesfield, Tranmere, Aldershot, Wrexham and Bromley in the closing weeks of the season. If they can come through those tricky tests with a set of positive results, they’re sure to be in business.
You can back the Hertfordshire club at 10/1 for National League promotion.
All Odds and Markets correct as of date of publication
