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- Torquay
Over the half way mark, and things finally look like they are beginning to heat up near the bottom. For most teams anyway..
24th place: Kidderminster Harriers P26 | W2 | D8 | L16 | GD(-20) | 14 PTS
Kiddy are in a lot of trouble, being honest. Just two wins out of 26 league matches so far, both of which came inside a three game spell at the end of October-mid November. Since then, it has been defeat after defeat, after defeat for the Harriers. Dave Hockaday has not improved fortunes since his arrival, and with 45 points needed for a shot at survival, he will need to improve results drastically in the last 5 months of the season, if Kiddy are to survive.
23rd place: Torquay United P27 | W4 | D8 | L14 | GD(-24) | 20 PTS
We are also in a fair bit of trouble, but performances over the Christmas period have given fans and players confidence that we can get out of the mess we are in. January is absolutely pivotal for Kevin Nicholson - we need more bodies desperately, as our squad continues to get thinner and thinner. With just 19 games left, the Gulls need to turn Plainmoor into a fortress for the remainder of the season. Injuries to key players haven't helped the club, nor has the dire financial situation, but relegation again would be an absolute disaster.
22nd place: Halifax Town P26 | W6 | D6 | L14 | GD(-20) | 24 PTS
Halifax have really picked up in recent weeks, making much more of a fight of this than the majority of other clubs. The turning point seemed to be in mid-November, after a 6-3 home defeat to Braintree. Since then, the Yorkshire outfit are unbeaten in 6, picking up 14 points from 18. This run of form has really propelled them into the battle, just when they looked out of it. Progression under new boss Jim Harvey is still required, but the last six games will have given them plenty of confidence going into the final few months of the season. If they continue this form, they will be able to relax by February.
21st place: Welling United P25 | W6 | D6 | L13 | GD(-10) | 24 PTS
Welling have played the least amount of games of all the teams in the bottom four, which gives them a slight advantage. However, it is worth noting that their form negates that. With no win since 13th October, Welling have just 3 points from 24. Home form is average for the South East side, while their results on the road have been pretty terrible. All round improvement is required if the Wings are to survive, I think.
20th place: Altrincham P25 | W7 | D5 | L13 | GD(-17) | 26 PTS
Altrincham, like Welling, have only played 25 games so far, giving themselves an advantage over a lot of other teams at the bottom. Three back to back defeats at the end of 2015 have not helped Alty. They have failed to score in 40% of their away matches so far this term, including those final three defeats. This is where I see the problem lying for the northern outfit. Should they improve their goalscoring, they'll give themselves a much better chance of survival.
19th place: Boreham Wood P27 | W6 | D8 | L13 | GD(-6) | 26 PTS
Boreham Wood's first season in the Vanarama National has been a bit of a struggle so far, but that was to be expected. Generally, they are doing okay. Defensively they are quite solid, conceding just over a goal a game (30 against in 27 matches). Offensively, they are slightly worse off, with just 24 goals scored. They seem to be averaging one win a month, which is not ideal form. However, results have improved a lot since September, where they lost five of six games (prizes for guessing the only team they didn't lose to...). Since September, Boreham Wood have lost just four times, all of which have been by a single goal. If they keep this level of results up, they should be on for another year in the division.
18th place: Guiseley P27 | W7 | D9 | L11 | GD(-17) | 30 PTS
Guiseley; another side enjoying their first season at this level. With 30 points from 27, they are looking okay at the moment. However, should Welling pick up results in their games in hand, then Guiseley would be dragged right into it. Form hasn't been the best, with 5 losses in the last 7 matches. The Lions will need to improve their goal difference over the second half of the season, if they do get seriously involved in the dogfight.
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That's who I see being involved so far. I could have kept going, but I don't see Barrow or Aldershot getting dragged right into it, nor do I see Southport slipping up dramatically (those 5 wins on the trot have done wonders for them!).
Based on current form, my tips would be Kiddy, Torquay, Welling and Altrincham, but we all know how much things will change over the next few weeks and months!
24th place: Kidderminster Harriers P26 | W2 | D8 | L16 | GD(-20) | 14 PTS
Kiddy are in a lot of trouble, being honest. Just two wins out of 26 league matches so far, both of which came inside a three game spell at the end of October-mid November. Since then, it has been defeat after defeat, after defeat for the Harriers. Dave Hockaday has not improved fortunes since his arrival, and with 45 points needed for a shot at survival, he will need to improve results drastically in the last 5 months of the season, if Kiddy are to survive.
23rd place: Torquay United P27 | W4 | D8 | L14 | GD(-24) | 20 PTS
We are also in a fair bit of trouble, but performances over the Christmas period have given fans and players confidence that we can get out of the mess we are in. January is absolutely pivotal for Kevin Nicholson - we need more bodies desperately, as our squad continues to get thinner and thinner. With just 19 games left, the Gulls need to turn Plainmoor into a fortress for the remainder of the season. Injuries to key players haven't helped the club, nor has the dire financial situation, but relegation again would be an absolute disaster.
22nd place: Halifax Town P26 | W6 | D6 | L14 | GD(-20) | 24 PTS
Halifax have really picked up in recent weeks, making much more of a fight of this than the majority of other clubs. The turning point seemed to be in mid-November, after a 6-3 home defeat to Braintree. Since then, the Yorkshire outfit are unbeaten in 6, picking up 14 points from 18. This run of form has really propelled them into the battle, just when they looked out of it. Progression under new boss Jim Harvey is still required, but the last six games will have given them plenty of confidence going into the final few months of the season. If they continue this form, they will be able to relax by February.
21st place: Welling United P25 | W6 | D6 | L13 | GD(-10) | 24 PTS
Welling have played the least amount of games of all the teams in the bottom four, which gives them a slight advantage. However, it is worth noting that their form negates that. With no win since 13th October, Welling have just 3 points from 24. Home form is average for the South East side, while their results on the road have been pretty terrible. All round improvement is required if the Wings are to survive, I think.
20th place: Altrincham P25 | W7 | D5 | L13 | GD(-17) | 26 PTS
Altrincham, like Welling, have only played 25 games so far, giving themselves an advantage over a lot of other teams at the bottom. Three back to back defeats at the end of 2015 have not helped Alty. They have failed to score in 40% of their away matches so far this term, including those final three defeats. This is where I see the problem lying for the northern outfit. Should they improve their goalscoring, they'll give themselves a much better chance of survival.
19th place: Boreham Wood P27 | W6 | D8 | L13 | GD(-6) | 26 PTS
Boreham Wood's first season in the Vanarama National has been a bit of a struggle so far, but that was to be expected. Generally, they are doing okay. Defensively they are quite solid, conceding just over a goal a game (30 against in 27 matches). Offensively, they are slightly worse off, with just 24 goals scored. They seem to be averaging one win a month, which is not ideal form. However, results have improved a lot since September, where they lost five of six games (prizes for guessing the only team they didn't lose to...). Since September, Boreham Wood have lost just four times, all of which have been by a single goal. If they keep this level of results up, they should be on for another year in the division.
18th place: Guiseley P27 | W7 | D9 | L11 | GD(-17) | 30 PTS
Guiseley; another side enjoying their first season at this level. With 30 points from 27, they are looking okay at the moment. However, should Welling pick up results in their games in hand, then Guiseley would be dragged right into it. Form hasn't been the best, with 5 losses in the last 7 matches. The Lions will need to improve their goal difference over the second half of the season, if they do get seriously involved in the dogfight.
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That's who I see being involved so far. I could have kept going, but I don't see Barrow or Aldershot getting dragged right into it, nor do I see Southport slipping up dramatically (those 5 wins on the trot have done wonders for them!).
Based on current form, my tips would be Kiddy, Torquay, Welling and Altrincham, but we all know how much things will change over the next few weeks and months!