A full set of eleven Blue Square Premier fixtures took place at the weekend, and the title race and a relegation spot look to be sealed because of the results.
After nine consecutive wins, Luton were only able to come away from Tamworth with a 1-1 draw, allowing Stevenage to extend their lead at the top of the division to four points with a game in hand. They saw off Forest Green 2-0 at The Lamex Stadium, and could be crowned champions on Wednesday.
Luton host Histon on Tuesday and a defeat would allow the title to be wrapped up with a Stevenage win at Altrincham. If Luton only draw then Stevenage require four points from four games. Even if Luton win every remaining game, Graham Westley's side need only two wins to secure a Football League place for the first time.
The four sides who will contest the playoffs have already been decided. Whoever ends as runner up in the title race will be joined by Oxford, Rushden and York in the season-ending contest to decide the second promotion place. James Constable's winner should secure Oxford third place after a 1-0 win at Altrincham, while Rushden saw off Ebbsfleet 2-0. York fell to a surprise defeat at Eastbourne after conceding three times in the first half hour before ending up on the end of a 3-1 reverse.
Those two results has also had a big impact upon the relegation battle. Ebbsfleet looked doomed to the drop after their Rushden reverse, sitting four points from safety and with only two games to play for Liam Daish's side. Eastbourne's win lifts them to four points above the final relegation spot, although they have played a game more.
Forest Green's loss at the champions-elect leaves them three points adrift with three games to play, with Gateshead immediately above them after a 2-0 home defeat against Kidderminster. Eastbourne have one game less to play and are a further point ahead, and their first half flurry against York may be crucial when the season ends in two weeks. Forest Green travel to Grays on the final day, so if they remain in touch until then they may remain confident of beating the drop.
Histon aren't safe yet and their 1-0 home loss against Crawley will leave The Stutes' fanbase worried going into the final games, especially with Luton away to come on Tuesday. Phil Bolland's second goal inside three days for Barrow earned his side a point at Hayes to go with Thursday's win against Kidderminster, so The Bluebirds look set to stay up for a second consecutive year. Salisbury City also look safe after Matt Tubbs' late penalty earned a 2-1 win over a young Cambridge United side.
The final two matches saw clashes between sides with nothing to play for. Bottom club Grays fell to a 2-0 home defeat against Wrexham, who climbed two places into the top half as a result. Elsewhere at Field Mill the clash between two sides who have come up short in their bids to make the top five saw Wimbledon come away from Mansfield with three points. Danny Kedwell's early goal decided things, while their opponents missed two penalties inside the final moments. Less than a week after Jon Shaw missed in stoppage time against Cambridge United, Jake Speight and Kyle Perry were both denied by Seb Brown in the Dons' goal to preserve the points.
Matt Ramsay
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