#DROPWATCH - THE RACE TO AVOID RELEGATION FROM THE VANARAMA SOUTH DIVISION

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH DIVISION

CURRENT TABLE - BOTTOM EIGHT

SHOWING HOME & AWAY RECORD 

P	W	D	L	TEAM	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
23	4	0	8	WELLING UNITED	3	3	5	36	33	+3	24
24	2	4	6	TRURO CITY	4	2	6	30	55	-25	24
23	4	2	5	GOSPORT BOROUGH	2	4	6	27	54	-27	24
21	3	3	5	WHITEHAWK	3	1	6	29	35	-6	22
23	2	3	6	CONCORD RANGERS	3	4	5	31	40	-9	22
23	2	3	7	WESTON SUPER-MARE	4	1	6	27	42	-15	22
23	4	1	6	MARGATE	1	0	11	17	49	-32	16
23	1	0	11	BISHOPS STORTFORD	3	2	6	15	53	-38	14

There are still nineteen games left to play for both Margate and Bishops Strotford in the Vanarama South Division but it's looking increasingly likely that both teams will finish in the bottom three at the end of the season. 

Following their financial problems the fans of Margate will be probably just be pleased they still have a club to support albeit probably at Step Three of the non-league ladder for the 2017/18 campaign. It was reported back in September The Gate were six weeks from going bust but following some new appointments behind the scenes they have been able to keep going after struggling since former owner Bob Laslett (who had reportedly ploughed up to £2,000,000 of his own money into the club since taking over in 2012) left the Kent club in March 2016.

Manager Nikki Bull has turned over many players during the season as the wage bill has been substantially cut compared to this time last year. They have lost their last ten league games in a row! 

Bishops Stortford parted company with Gordon Boateng in earlier October - He had only been in charge of the club since the summer. Former Chelmsford City boss Mark Hawkes has taken over and includes former Heybridge Swifts boss Cliff Akurang as coach in his backroom staff. 

Since taking over The Blues poor form has continued with just two wins in ten league games, only six goals scored and thirty-one conceded. They were also well beaten 4-2 by Ryman Division One (South) side Hythe Town in the Buildbase FA Trophy. 

Hartsdown Park sees a real relegation six pointer on Saturday as the two bottom sides clash. What a tough game to predict? 

Above The Gate and The Blues are a clutch of teams on 22 points (Weston Super-Mare, Concord Rangers and Whitehawk) and 24 points (Gosport Borough, Truro City and Welling United). 

Concord and Welling have the best form over the last ten games winning 16 points which has lifted them both away from the relegation zone. 

The Wings will be on the look out for a new boss as Jamie Day left the club yesterday to join Ady Pennock at League Two side Gillingham. Pennock had been football consultant to the club helping Day who only re-joined Welling United in October 2016 as player/coach and then had stepped up to replace Mark Goldberg as Manager in November.  

A RELEGATION SIX-POINTER WEEKEND

Not only is the game in Kent massive the Concord Rangers v Weston-Super-Mare is another huge relegation six pointer. The Beachboys have got two well earned points in their two local derby games against East Thurrock United over the Christmas and New Year period with Weston winning both of their games agianst Truro City 2-1 and 4-2. 

SATURDAY 7th JANUARY FIXTURES 

CONCORD RANGERS v WESTON-SUPER-MARE 

CHELMSFORD CITY (4TH) v WHITEHAWK 

GOSPORT BOROUGH v HUNGERFORD TOWN (8th)

HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN (12th) v WELLING UNITED 

MARGATE v BISHOPS STORTFORD 

TRURO CITY v OXFORD CITY (16th) 

A HUGE WEEKEND IN THE RACE TO AVOID RELEGATION FROM THE VANARAMA SOUTH