As March continues, the Non-League has started to reach its climax with lots now up for grabs in the battles for Promotion, Playoffs and Relegation.
There’s a crunch match at the top of the table in the National League as Forest Green Rovers travel to York City live on DAZN for a 5.30 pm Kick-Off. The Gloucestershire-based side have only won one of their last five league games and now sit in third place, 12 points off league leaders Barnet with a game in hand. Steve Cotterill’s side knows that a win against York City is their last hope of clinging onto automatics.
Gloucester City travel to Hungerford Town on Saturday off the back of a defeat to fellow playoff-chasing side Walton & Hersham last weekend. They had won three in a row before that match and currently sit fourth in the Southern Premier Division South table, ten points behind Merthyr at the top of the table.
There are three Gloucestershire-based sides in the Southern League Division One South all now with different aims for the season. Evesham United know that any hopes of becoming champions do seem to be slipping away as they now trail Saturday’s opponents Yate by nine points and have played two more games, so that game does feel like a last-gasp opportunity. Bishops Cleeve sit in the playoff places by two points and take on 11th placed Bashley, whilst bottom side Cinderford Town host Exmouth United who are one place ahead of Cleeve.
Longlevens, who are only three points above the drop, are hopeful of extending that gap when they play fellow Gloucestershire side Fairford Town in the Hellenic Premier League. The latter will still hope that playoffs are possible, despite likely needing to win out to achieve that goal.
18th-place Lydney Town are also embroiled in a relegation scrap with themselves two points behind Longlevens, but they do have three games in hand. This weekend they take on Highworth Town who sit in the last playoff place as they attempt to cling on to that spot.
All four Gloucestershire Hellenic League Division One sides playing this weekend are away from home. Newent Town have seen an uptick in recent form as they look to complete a masterful relegation escape for the second season in a row. They will travel to Clanfield 85 who currently hold a playoff spot in fifth place. One team that will be looking over their shoulders is Cheltenham Saracens, and they travel to second place Wantage Town.
Shortwood United’s hopes of a playoff place are not over yet and they’ll hope that a win at Kidlington Reserves can close the four-point gap. Another side even closer to the playoff places is Stonehouse Town and they take on 14th place Wellington.
Also in action are Hellenic Premier League leaders and FA Vase Semi-Finalists Hartpury University who travel to Hellenic Division One’s top side Droitwich Spa in the semi-finals of the Hellenic League Marsh Challenge Cup.
