By Nathan Jackson
April 9 2011

If Lincoln City do stay in League Two the chances of a local derby next season took a major boost after Notts County entered the League One relegation zone. In a day where a long trip entered the division, a short trip to Meadow Lane would be very welcome.

Notts County have certainly struggled this season and could easily become the first previous season's League Two Champions since Rushden in 2004 to come straight back down. Although generally midtable most of the season, Paul Ince left the club in a relegation battle before leaving during the week (although as usual, it'll be claimed by some that it wasn't results as to why he left the club) and a 3-1 defeat Dagenham and Redbridge has sent the Magpies into the drop zone.

With the three local games in League Two going, a trip to Meadow Lane would be very welcome if the Imps do stay in League Two. Elsewhere in the drop zone Swindon avoided beating their record for longest period without a win, securing a 1-0 victory at Brentford, whereas Plymouth also gave themselves a slight hope with a win over fellow relegation zone strugglers Walsall.

Bristol Rovers' recent recovery was halted at home to Exeter, whereas Tranmere gained a shock win at Bournemouth, and Yeovil lost 3-1 at Hartlepool. Everyone else in League One should be safe from the drop.

Whilst Crawley were securing their place in the Football League, Wimbledon effectively secured their Playoff place with a win at Cambridge, whereas Luton hammered Southport. Wrexham remain in the Playoff places despite again failing to win, whereas Fleetwood complete the top five after a 6-0 away win at Eastbourne. Kidderminster sit just outside of the top five after a 3-3 draw at Grimsby, who will finally have to resign themselves to another season in the Blue Square Premier as they would have to win all their remaining games and hope that everyone above them loses all their's.

York are the only other side who have a realistic chance of the promotion places after they continued their fine form with a 2-1 win over Newport in a result that ends the Welsh team's realistic hopes of a top five finish.

This is where I would normally end these reviews, but given that we're now back in our own relegation battle in League Two, we're going to look elsewhere in the non-league. City will have quite a few derbies if they go down as only pedantic mathematicians would deny that both Grimsby and Mansfield aren't certain of another season in the Blue Square Premier. Kettering and Rushden (left) are also both relatively certain to be in the division next year, and Cambridge isn't that far away, although they are in the relegation battle.

Histon went out of the League in the week and Eastbourne are as good as gone. Altrincham and Southport complete the bottom four, but Tamworth, Forest Green, Hayes, Cambridge and Barrow are also looking over their shoulders.

If City do go down then they can be consoled with a few derbies coming up from the Blue Square North as Boston won at Telford and Alfreton, although in Derbyshire, isn't that far away. Nottinghamshire based Eastwood are also on the verge of the Playoffs after initially struggling earlier this season.

In the Blue Square South Braintree still have the title in their own hands with a four point gap over Farnborough. Ebbslffet, Welling and Chelmsford complete the top five.

Crawley up, Swindon and Plymouth win, Notts in zone

Discussion started by theimps.ka (IP Logged), 09/04/2011 22:51

theimps.ka
09/04/2011 22:51

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