The Promotion Race – Division One Central

Although the title race is down to two, the battle for a play-off spot is hotting up.

Bedford Town currently occupy top spot and possess a three-point lead over second-placed Berkhamsted, who have a game in hand.

The title race is a straight shoot-out between the Eagles and the Comrades, so let`s look at their respective run-ins to the end of the season:

Bedford have five games remaining, two of which are at The Eyrie and two of which are against play-off chasing teams.

Tomorrow sees Gary Setchell’s side take on bottom side Wantage Town, who are virtually doomed to finish in a relegation spot.

But the Freds showed last week at third-placed Welwyn Garden City that they are no pushovers and may be able to play in a more relaxed manner than Bedford.

The Eagles must go to Herns Way to play the Citizens and host another top five side, county rivals AFC Dunstable, on Easter Saturday.

Bedford:

Home:
AFC Dunstable (16th April)
Aylesbury United (23rd April)

Away:
Wantage Town (2nd April)
Welwyn Garden City (9th April)
St Neots Town (Monday,18th April)

Berkhamsted have two successive away games, starting tomorrow at Waltham Abbey, and they make the relatively short journey to play-off chasing Ware on April 9th.

They go to Chesham to take on Aylesbury on Easter Monday and sandwiched between are their two home games.

Berkhamsted:

Home:
Harlow Town (16th April)
St Neots Town (23rd April)

Away:
Waltham Abbey (2nd April)
Ware (9th April)
Aylesbury United (Monday, 18th April)

Currently in third spot are Nick Ironton’s Welwyn Garden City, but only three points separate them from sixth-placed North Leigh.

Tomorrow sees the Citizens have a tough test at fellow top five side AFC Dunstable’s Creasey Park but then they have three of their other five remaining games at home – including playing Bedford next weekend.

Welwyn Garden City:

Home:
Biggleswade FC (5th April)
Bedford Town (9th April)
Barton Rovers (Monday, 18th April)

Away:
AFC Dunstable (2nd April)
Hertford Town (16th April)
Kidlington (23rd April)

Ware are a point behind City having played a game more and have a big game tomorrow when they make the trip to Oxfordshire to play another contender, North Leigh, at Eynsham Park.

Paul Halsey’s side then face title-chasing Berkhamsted at Wodson Park before welcoming neighbours Colney Heath, who are seemingly doomed to return to Step 5 football next season, in their only other home game left.

Ware:

Home:
Berkhamsted (9th April)
Colney Heath (Monday, 18th April)

Away:
North Leigh (2nd April)
Thame United (16th April)
Didcot Town (23rd April)

AFC Dunstable are level on points with Ware in fifth and have also played 33 games.

The OD’s have three of their final five games at Creasey Park, including tomorrow’s big encounter with Welwyn Garden City.

And then all eyes will be on their trip to The Eyrie on Easter Saturday!

AFC Dunstable:

Home:
Welwyn Garden City (2nd April)
FC Romania (9th April)
Thame United (Monday 18th April)

Away:
Bedford Town (16th April)
Hertford Town (23rd April)

North Leigh trail the top five by two points and gained a great point from a 0-0 draw at Bedford last weekend.

And apart from the game at Ware tomorrow, the Millers face teams in the lower end of the table in their remaining matches.

North Leigh:

Home:
Ware (2nd April)
Hertford Town (9th April)
Didcot Town (Monday, 18th April)

Away:
FC Romania (16th April)
Colney Heath (23rd April)

Thame United are seventh and are six points behind North Leigh on level games played.

It would need Mark West’s men to win all five of their remaining games and receive help from teams above dropping points for them to sneak into the play-offs, but they do face two of the top five in the run-in, so cannot be discounted quite yet.

Thame United:

Home:
Ware (16th April)
Harlow Town (23rd April)

Away:
Colney Heath (2nd April)
St Neots Town (9th April)
AFC Dunstable (Monday, 18th April)