02/04/2023
By Chris Gibbs
As we head into the crucial Easter weekend matches where every team plays both on Saturday and on Easter Monday, we now know that Macclesfield are deserved champions of our division and that Ramsbottom have been relegated.
One team will join the Silkmen in earning promotion from the Northern Premier League West division and that will be decided via the play-offs.
Leek Town, who we play on Monday, and Workington are already guaranteed two of the four play-off spots, but the last two places are still very much up for grabs.
Clitheroe and Runcorn occupy the last two spots for now but Witton Albion are just a point behind albeit with a tougher run-in, which includes trips to Workington and in form Hanley Town.
Our opponents, on Saturday, Mossley could also have a say if those themslip up although it’s unlikely given they have four points to make up and a significantly inferior goal difference.
There’ll be plenty more twists and turns in the race for promotion, however it’s the other end of the table that is of more interest to us this season.
Glossop North End’s win over us last weekend has given them a chance of staying up, but they are still the most likely team to be joining Ramsbottom in dropping out of our division and heading into tier 5 of the non-league pyramid.
Realistically – including ourselves – there are five teams that could end up being involved in the end-of season relegation play-offs.
Colne and Widnes, who both won last week, have 37 points while we’re locked on 39 points with Hanley and Bootle.
Hanley looked in big trouble only a fortnight ago but have won their last three and after a 4-0 demolition of 1874 Northwich last Saturday, their goal difference is almost worth another point.
Just as with the play-off situation at the other end of the table, there’ll be plenty of nervousness as the season closes out.
After the Easter weekend fixtures, the picture could be a lot clearer.