Match preview by Leon Higgins

After 45 games it all comes down to the final day that is guaranteed to cause drama, heartbreak, jubilation, tears and nail biting moments as the race for automatic promotion and next week’s play offs concludes.

After Easter Monday’s 3-0 win at Farsley Celtic, the Nash kept their play off hopes well and truly alive going into the final day.

Leamington come into this game 16th after losing 4 of their last 5 games with only a 0-0 draw against Radcliffe in the middle of defeats to King’s Lynn, Peterborough Sports, Hereford and Brackley.

 

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Table:

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Race for Promotion Fixtures:

Brackley v Farsley Celtic
Buxton v Warrington
Hereford v Scunthorpe
Kings Lynn v Chester
Rushall Olympic v Chorley
Southport v Kidderminster
Spennymoor v Oxford City

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Play off permutations:

Curzon will secure play offs IF:

• The Nash win and one of Chorley or Hereford drop points
• The Nash could also finish above Kings Lynn and get play offs if they lose and Curzon win with the Nash having the better goal difference.
• If Curzon, Hereford and Chorley all win and Kings Lynn get a point, Curzon would need to better Hereford’s goal difference with both tied on +18 but the Bulls in the last play off places by virtue of more goals scored.

Promotion permutations:

• Kidderminster know a win should be enough unless Brackley win and overturn a 22 goal difference swing
• Brackley will win the league if they win and Kidderminster don’t win
• Scunthorpe will win the league if they win and Brackley and Kidderminster draw and can overturn a 5 goal difference swing to Kidderminster

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Play off dates:

Eliminator A (5th v 6th) – Tuesday 29 April
Eliminator B – (4th v 7th) – Wednesday 30 April
Semi-Final (2nd v Eliminator A Winner) – Saturday 3 May
Semi-Final (3rd v Eliminator B Winner) – Sunday 4 May
Promotion Final – Saturday 17 May/Sunday 18 May

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Head to Head:

The Nash and the Brakes have faced off 11 times with 10 of those games being in the National League North. In the clash between the sides just before Christmas it was a 4-1 defeat for the Nash at Harbury Lane with Callum Stewart the hero that day. The Brakes are now without Stewart who transferred to EFL side Shrewsbury Town in January.

The Nash have never beaten Leamington at the Tameside Stadium in the National League North, with the first ever meeting between the sides in the Quarter finals of the FA Vase when Curzon were in the North West Counties league and Leamington were in the Midland leagues. Curzon won 4-1 that day at the Tameside Stadium.

Curzon Ashton:

• After his 2 goals on Monday, Adam Barton made the National League North team of the Bank Holiday.
• Bobby Jones kept his 20th clean sheet on Monday which has only been bettered by Kidderminster’s Christian Dibble (23) and Scunthorpe’s Ross Fitzsimmons (26) who broke a 101 year clean sheet record for the Irons
• Only Brackley’s Connor Hall (10) and Kidderminster’s Ashley Hemmings (9) have more match winning goals than Stefan Mols (6)
• Only Leamington, Radcliffe (4) and Kidderminster (3) have less points than the Nash (6) when falling behind.

Leamington:

• Callum Stewart remains Leamington’s top goalscorer and the joint 8th highest in the league with 14 goals in 23 matches.
• Along side Radcliffe and Kidderminster, The Brakes are yet to win when falling behind in a game.
• Leamington alongside South Shields, Oxford City, Southport and Farsley Celtic are the only teams yet to score a Freekick.
• The Brakes are the only team yet to score a 90th+ minute goal
• Leamington and Curzon both have had 13 different goalscorers this season with only Kings Lynn (12) having less.

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