Anything can happen at the business end of the National League South season

There are plenty of knowledgeable people who believe that the National League South, as well as other divisions around this level, is more ‘competitive’ than ever.

With only a handful of games to go this season, the arguments get more and more pointed.

Proving the theory is not an exact science, of course, and how you nail it down is open to debate. Do you judge it purely on points won?

In that case, it’s unlikely that anyone this season will match the 89 points that Truro City and Torquay United amassed 12 months ago.

Do outstanding champions raise the bar?

If that’s your criteria, then surely the Torquay and Yeovil Town teams that won in 2019 and 2024 leave everyone else behind.

The Gulls under Gary Johnson finished ten points clear, breaking all manner of records along the way, and Mark Cooper’s Glovers were 12 points clear.

Or, if you don’t think that players are any more skilful, quicker or stronger now than they were in the past, do you insist that teams are better coached, more organised and more professional these days.

After all, nearly half the NLS this season would describe themselves as ‘full time’. Although how long long that will continue in an increasingly tough financial climate remains to be seen.

It’s also worth pointing out the big difference between the NL South and North this season.

Dorking Wanderers head into Easter on 78 points with five games to go, six clear of Worthing (not counting Weston-super-Mare v Hemel Hempstead last night) and a gaggle of clubs all with their sights set on second or third place.

Contrast that with runaway title-chasers AFC Fylde and South Shields in the NL.

With six matches left before some rearranged fixtures this midweek, Fylde already had 88 points, one more than South Shields, who were EIGHTEEN points clear of Kidderminster Harriers in third place.

Incidentally, Fylde’s three top scorers – Danny Ormerod, Luca Thomas and Jonathan Ustabasi – had scored 61 goals between them!

Does that make Fylde better than anyone in the NLS? Or is the NLN simply less competitive?

Anyway, we’re very much at the business end of the NLS campaign.

Dorking’s 2-2 draw at Plainmoor last Tuesday and a 2-1 home win over Hemel at the weekend means that the title is theirs to lose.

But, and it’s a real BUT, they do still have a huge game to come at home to Worthing on Easter Monday, Maidstone away and a last-day trip to Weston-super-Mare.

Hornchurch also have a difficult run-in, and Weston have an extra game in hand and several at home.

What of Torquay? With a new manager in Jimmy Ball? With several players back from injury? And with a clutch of new signings in Deon Moore, Reece Evans and Charlie Osborne?

If they’re to have any chance of second or third spot, with a home Play-Off Semi-Final, United must surely beat bottom-half sides Bath at Plainmoor next Monday, Slough away and Tonbridge away on the last day.

The two six-pointers are Weston away on Friday and Hemel home (Apr 18).

It may take 81 or 82 points to finish second or third, in which case the Gulls will need at least 13 points from their last five matches.

There’s nothing to say that they can’t do it, especially playing the football that we know they’re capable of.

But, whichever way you look at it, Friday’s game at Weston is as big as they come. Win or even draw there, and who knows what the next few weeks might hold...

The remaining fixtures for the leading clubs are (HOME games in capitals):

Dorking Wanderers – Horsham, WORTHING, AFC Totton, BATH, Weston-super-Mare.

Worthing – EASTBOURNE BOROUGH, Dorking, DAGENHAM, Maidstone, EBBSFLEET.

Hornchurch – DAGENHAM, Maidstone, EBBSFLEET, CHELMSFORD, Chippenham, MAIDENHEAD.

Hemel Hempstead Town – Weston-super-Mare (Mar 31), CHESHAM, Enfield, EASTBOURNE BOROUGH, Torquay, SALISBURY.

Torquay United – Weston-super-Mare, BATH, Slough, HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, Tonbridge.

Ebbsfleet United – Tonbridge, DOVER, Hornchurch, HAMPTON & RICHMOND, Worthing.

Weston-super-Mare – HEMEL HEMPSTEAD (Mar 31),TORQUAY, Salisbury, ENFIELD, HORSHAM, Dagenham, WORTHING.

Maidenhead United – BATH (Mar 31), Slough, HAMPTON & RICHMOND, Chelmsford, DOVER, Hornchurch.

Maidstone United – Dover, HORNCHURCH, Horsham, WORTHING, Bath.

Chelmsford City – AFC TOTTON (Mar 30), ENFIELD, Dagenham, MAIDENHEAD, Hornchurch, Chesham, EASTBOURNE BOROUGH.