Aldershot have one foot firmly in League 2

By Nathan Jackson
March 4 2008

Aldershot look set for a return to the Football League after they defeated Torquay 2-1 at Plainmoor on Monday evening, moving them 11 points clear of the Gulls. The sides have been battling out the top spot in the BSP for several months but now Aldershot have one step firmly back in the League after the victory. Torquay still remain in with a great shout of promotion though.

Aldershot have had an impressive season so far, winning 25 of their 34 games, drawing 2 and losing just 7. That puts them on 77 points and they now seem to become the latest club to win the division by some considerable way. Ironically, must like Dagenham and Redbridge they now seem destined to win the BSP 5 seasons after losing the Playoff Final.

Dagenham and Redbridge lost 3-2 to Doncaster in the 2002/3 Playoffs and went on to win promotion last season. Aldershot lost the final a year later to Shrewsbury Town. If that trend continues then Stevenage will win the Conference next season.

The currently playoff group are starting to pull away. Torquay, Cambridge, Stevenage and Exeter are all in the current playoff places and will hope to be fighting out for a place in League 2 next season. Burton Albion are the only side with any realistic chance of joining them

Other teams looking at League 2 football next season could be further in trouble soon. Port Vale are currently 14 points off of safety, Luton are 11 points off and Bournemouth 26. Realistically all 3 are preparing for life in League 2 next season. All 3 have difficult games this Saturday as well. Port Vale travel to 3rd placed Hull, Bournemouth go to Leeds and Luton go to Southend. Port Vale are likely to be relegated before the month of March is up.