A thrilling conclusion is destined in the 2022/23 National League, and it’s not just right at the top where the excitement lies.
Wrexham and Notts County’s title shootout is poised to go down to the wire, as is the race for the play-offs. The National League play-offs are structured differently to the EFL’s, with six teams as opposed to four competing in the ‘post-season’.
There are quarter-finals as well as semis, and here’s everything you need to know about the state of play heading into the final period of the season.
Each season, two teams are promoted from the National League to League Two, with the champions always going up automatically.
The clubs that finish second and third go straight through to the play-off semi-finals where they play the two winners of the quarter-finals, which the teams from fourth to seventh contest; the winners of those semis meet in a final at Wembley, with the victor being promoted. All ties consist of a single leg.
The bottom four teams in the league are relegated to the National League North or National League South depending on their geographic location, with two from each of those coming up to replace them.
Wrexham and Notts County have far and away been the best two sides in the National League this season but only one will earn automatic promotion into League Two. Whoever fails to lift the title will qualify automatically for the play-off semi-finals.
Woking are on course to be the other semi-finalists, but Barnet and Chesterfield, who have each played a game less, are hot on their heels. Eastleigh are well placed to qualify for the quarter-finals at least, but Boreham Wood’s position in seventh is more precarious.
Southend currently sit two points adrift Boreham Wood having played a game fewer. Back-to-back wins for Bromley has put them back in the mix, while Dagenham & Redbridge’s blip has come at the wrong time. Wealdstone’s recent indifference means they’ve also got a lot of work to do, but they’ve got a game in hand on some of their rivals.
|
Position |
Team |
Played |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
Goal Difference |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
Wrexham |
35 |
26 |
7 |
2 |
56 |
85 |
|
2. |
Notts County |
36 |
25 |
9 |
2 |
57 |
84 |
|
3. |
Woking |
35 |
19 |
8 |
8 |
23 |
65 |
|
4. |
Barnet |
34 |
18 |
5 |
11 |
8 |
59 |
|
5. |
Chesterfield |
34 |
17 |
7 |
10 |
15 |
58 |
|
6. |
Eastleigh |
35 |
17 |
6 |
12 |
6 |
57 |
|
7. |
Boreham Wood |
34 |
14 |
13 |
7 |
12 |
55 |
|
8. |
Southend |
33 |
15 |
8 |
10 |
11 |
53 |
|
9. |
Bromley |
35 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
8 |
52 |
|
10. |
Dagenham & Redbridge |
35 |
15 |
6 |
14 |
-3 |
51 |
|
11. |
Wealdstone |
34 |
13 |
10 |
11 |
-5 |
49 |
As of Monday 6 March
Here are some of the most important remaining National League fixtures that could determine how they play-offs shape up:
It’s poised to be a rather enthralling conclusion to the National League season with nine or so matchdays being packed into eight weeks. Each play-off hopeful has huge games on their calendar, and it’s hard to pick out anybody with a distinct schedule advantage.
Every matchday is significant from now until the end of the season, but there may not be a bigger day than 15 April. Ten of the current top 11 are in action against one another on that day.
Wrexham host Notts County five days earlier in a potential title shootout, too. That’s a contest no National League fan can afford to miss.
The 2022/23 National League campaign will end on April 29, with the team gaining automatic promotion and those that will contest the play-offs being confirmed that day.
The play-off quarter-finals will then be played on the evenings of May 2 and May 3 before the semi-finals both take place on May 7.
When is the 2023 National League play-off final?
The 2023 National League play-off final will take place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday May 13 and will most likely start in the afternoon.