Luton, Vale and Aldershot all on the brink
By Nathan Jackson
April 5 2008
Aldershot, Luton Town and Port Vale are all on the verge of being in League 2 next season, whereas Mansfield blew a chance to move within a point of safety. They blew a two goal lead against Barnet after all of their relegation rivals had lost. Peterborough now also have one foot firmly in League One.
Mansfield Town were close to a win over Barnet thanks to goals from players who are rumoured to have already agreed to join the Imps next season. Boulding gave them the lead before Hamshaw doubled the lead. However, Barnet pulled it back to 2-2 with Adam Birchall scoring against his former club
Yet another defeat for Notts County means they are now three points above Mansfield. Dagenham and Redbridge are just four points above the drop zone following a 1-0 defeat at Accrington on Tuesday night, they have also played a game more than either County or Mansfield.
Wrexham now look well and truly doomed with just 34 points all season. Their latest failure to win sees them 7 points from safety with just 6 to play. Their game in hand over everyone else is away at MK Dons and it's looking more and more likely that they will already be relegated when they travel to Sincil Bank on the final day.
Peterborough United gave their promotion push no harm. A draw at Wycombe means is a very respectable result. However, they can't gain promotion for just yet due to Stockport and Rochdale still have enough games in hand to potentially catch and overtake them. The Posh could still mathematically finish 7th but it'll take a huge collapse to "achieve" that.
That draw for Wycombe saw them slip down a place in the table due to Rochdale winning and moving up to 6th. Hereford's gap to 4th increased with a draw whilst Darlington could only lose at Stockport County.
They're all aiming to replace the sides coming down from League One but no sides are yet to confirm relegation. Port Vale's late effort to avoid the drop continued with a surprise win at Brighton and Hove Albion. They would have gone down if they'd lost and Crewe had picked up a point, neither happened though.
That also meant that Luton couldn't be relegated today despite losing at Northampton Town. Bournemouth won at Swansea and now need 6 points from their final 4 games to have a chance of avoiding relegation.
Aldershot moved closer to a return to the League with yet another win. They beat Salisbury 2-1 and that win now guarantees them at least a Playoff place. They could just be a few days away from automatic promotion after results went their way.
It's more than likely they'll now win automatic promotion because Torquay and Burton both failed to win. Burton's draw could have cost them a Playoff place as well. They remain in the playoff places but will have to hope that Stevenage do them a favour against Exeter in the evening kick off.
So, next week could finally see some movement.
RELEGATIONS POSSIBLE IN THE NEXT 7 DAYS
Luton will be relegated if they don't beat Brighton.
Port Vale will be relegated if they lose and either Crewe or Gillingham picks up a point.
PROMOTIONS POSSIBLE IN THE NEXT 7 DAYS
Aldershot will win promotion if they gain 4 points over the next 7 days. They could potentially be promoted on Tuesday night. For that to happen they would have to win and hope that Torquay lose. That would mean Aldershot would be 19 points clear of Torquay with just 18 to play for and they'd be back in the Football League after 17 seasons.