They finished rock bottom of League Two last season winning just seven of their forty-six games played and they are in danger of suffering two successive relegations as they are currently bottom of the Vanarama National League.
Even last weekend when they won 2-1 against play-off chasing Barrow thanks to a 90th minute winner it coincided with three out of the four teams above them also winning with the other (Woking) having their game postponed. It was only their second victory in their last twenty-one league games played.
If we take a look at the amount of points teams have needed to finish in 20th place to just avoid the drop zone over the last five seasons it averages out at 48 points with a high of 52 and a low of 46. Taking the lower figure of 46 they would have to achieve a figure of 1.24 points per game in their final seventeen games played which is clearly above their current figure/average of 0.86.
Its not all doom and gloom for The Minstermen as they are still on the Road To Wembley in the Buildbase FA Trophy which is a competition that has been kind to them in the last few years - they won it in their previously last season as a non-league club in 2012 beating Newport County 2-0 at Wembley - it was a lucky stadium for them that season! They go to Vanarama North Nuneaton Town in the Third Round Proper.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE
CURRENT TABLE - BOTTOM NINE ONLY
| POS | TEAM | P | GD | PTS | PP | FORM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | SOLIHULL MOORS | 28 | -7 | 34 | 88 | LWDDWWLD |
| 17 | BRAINTREE TOWN | 29 | -17 | 31 | 82 | WDWWLLWD |
| 18 | TORQUAY UNITED | 29 | -10 | 30 | 81 | LWDWDLLL |
| 19 | SOUTHPORT | 29 | -24 | 30 | 81 | LWDLWLWL |
| 20 | MAIDSTONE UNTED | 29 | -21 | 29 | 80 | LWLLDLLW |
| 21 | GUISELEY | 29 | -12 | 28 | 79 | WDDDWLWW |
| 22 | WOKING | 28 | -13 | 27 | 81 | LWWDLLLW |
| 23 | NORTH FERRIBY UNITED | 30 | -27 | 27 | 75 | LWWLWLLW |
| 24 | YORK CITY | 29 | -20 | 25 | 76 | LDLDWLDW |
As you can see from the current form of all of the teams involved at the bottom of the table there is a real battle to stay out of the bottom four - only title chasing Tranmere Rovers and Lincoln City have a better record then Guiseley over the last eight games played! They have won 53.57% of their points total over the last eight games played which is pretty impressive.
The team with the worst record over the last eight league games played in the bottom nine is Maidstone United who after making a decent start in their debut season at non-league's top table* have dropped down the table and are now fighting to keep hold of their status in the Vanarama National.
* the old Maidstone United did, of course, play in the Conference
* the old Maidstone United did, of course, play in the Conference
The Stones had a record of 1.29 ppg over their first fourteen games played compared to just 0.73 over the next fifteen played. Five of their eight wins came in the first fourteen games played. Their 2-1 home win over fellow struggler's Toquay United in their last game played could be a pivotal result for both sides.
SOME FACTS AND STATISTICS ABOUT THE SEASON SO FAR
23rd placed North Ferriby United have won more games away from home (4) than play-off chasing 7th placed Aldershot Town (3). 5th placed Barrow have also only one four times away from home.
North Ferriby United have only scored 18 times in their 30 league games played which equates to 0.60 goals per game. York City and Wrexham on 0.93 gpg are the closest to them.
York City, Gusieley and Sutton United have only won once away from home. York's came against North Ferriby United on Boxing Day (0-1), Guisley's came on Saturday 21st January when they won 1-2 at Macclesfield Town and Sutton United's came way back on Saturday 13th August when they recorded an excellent 1-3 victory at title challenger's Lincoln City.
Braintee Town have the worst home record in the league with just three wins in fourteen games played at Cressing Road.
Southport have the worst defensive record conceding 2.07 goals per game - they are the only side to have a record of letting in over 2 goals per game.
WHAT THE BOOKMAKERS THINK?
they don't get it wrong often do they?
the current odds for a finish in the bottom four or outside available at skybet.com
| TEAM | IN | OUT |
|---|---|---|
| SOLIHULL MOORS | 8/1 | 8/13 |
| BRAINTREE TOWN | 5/1 | 1/8 |
| TORQUAY UNITED | 6/4 | 8/15 |
| SOUTHPORT | 5/4 | 8/13 |
| MAIDSTONE UNITED | 4/5 | 1/1 |
| GUISELEY | 10/11 | 5/6 |
| WOKING | 11/8 | 4/7 |
| NORTH FERRIBY UNITED | 1/20 | 8/1 |
| YORK CITY | 4/9 | 7/4 |
The bookmakers currently rate the bottom four to be made up of North Ferriby United, York City, Maidstone United and Guiseley - although on current form the 5/6 odds of Guiseley finishing outside looks a good bet to me!
WEEKEND FIXTURES FOR THE CURRENT BOTTOM NINE ONLY
odds available at skybet.com
Aldershot Town (7th) v York City
A really difficult game for The Minstermen who travel to the current best form team of the division who have won ten of their fourteen home games played. York City are rated at 3/1 to pick up what will be an all important three points.
North Ferriby United v Macclesfield Town (10th)
To have any chance of staying up The Villagers will need to start to pick up wins especially at home. NFU are rated at 7/2 for the win.
Eastleigh (12th) v Woking
The home side only have one win in their last six games played. Woking are available at 16/5 for the win.
Solihull Moors v Maidstone United
A real six-pointer game. The Stones will not want to lose this one so it could end all square? A home win is rated at 6/5 with an away win at 21/10 and the draw at 23/10.
Bromley (14th) v Southport
It's been a mixed bag of results for Southport since the turn of the year. They have a 3-2 home win versus Wrexham and a good away win at Barrow along with defeats at Aldershot Town (2-1) and at home to Wealdstone (1-2 in the FA Trophy) and North Ferriby United (2-4). Like Maidstone United above I think Southport would be glad to take a point in this game. Southport are 23/10 to take the three points here.
Torquay United v Gateshead (8th)
The Gulls had two amazing games against Forest Green Rovers over Christmas - they won 4-3 at Plainmoor followed up by an amazing 5-5 draw at The New Lawn. Unfortunately they have followed this up with three defeats at home to Boreham Wood (0-1) and Woking (1-2) along with away at Maidstone United (1-2). The Heed have play-off aspirations and are unbeaten in five league games - three of which have been draws. A home win is rated at 23/10.
Braintree Town and Guisley are not in action due to their scheduled opponents Sutton United and Lincoln City being in FA Cup action.
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