2 weeks Ago
THE four sides that will contest the Northern Premier League Midlands playoffs have now been mathematically confirmed. With one game left of the season, Quorn have ran away with the title while Sporting Khalsa and Darlaston Town cannot catch up in time. The four sides that will contest the playoffs next week are: Corby Town, Anstey Nomads, Long Eaton United, and Worcester City.
Corby Town and Anstey Nomads will both play their semi final on home soil, by virtue of their second and third-placed league finishes. They are too far ahead to fall out of these spots at this stage of the season. Meanwhile, Long Eaton United and Worcester City will travel away for the one-legged semi finals - however who will face who is yet to be decided ahead of the season's final game.
Worcester News looks at each of the four sides and what their form is looking like going into the playoffs. Corby Town Last five results: WWWLW Final game before playoffs: Boldmere St Michaels (A) Currently occupying the second place position in the league, as things stand Corby Town would likely be many people's favourite to win the playoffs. They go into the playoffs in strong form, having won four of their last five, bagging 20 goals in the process.
The only loss in that time came against their potential opponents in the semi finals, Worcester City, where Corby lost a 3-1 lead to ultimately walk away with a 4-3 loss. The highest scoring side in the playoffs at present, with only four losses at home all season, Corby will undoubtedly be a formidable opponent in the playoffs. Anstey Nomads Last five results: WWDWW Final game before playoffs: Coventry Sphinx (A) Another side in impressively strong form ahead of the playoffs, Anstey haven't tasted defeat since mid-February, when Long Eaton netted five against them.
The side have an even more impressive home record than Corby, having only lost on three occasions all season at Mark's Electrical Arena. However all three of those losses came either against league victors Quorn, or other sides that will contest the playoffs. Their 11-match undefeated streak is the best of any of the four sides going into the playoffs and a win in their final match (alongside a fortuitous result in Corby's) could see the side steal second-place at the last.
READ MORE: Comeback win "a testament" to character of Worcester City players says boss READ MORE: Kyle Belmonte: Last-minute winner "best and most crucial goal" of my career READ MORE: Every word Chris Cornes said on the Corby comeback win and the playoff race Long Eaton United Last five results: WLLLW Final game before playoffs: AFC Rushden and Diamonds (A) The only side Worcester City could move above in the table ahead of the playoffs, Long Eaton are in more struggling form than the two sides already mentioned. An impressive pair of months which saw the side win every league match they contested in both February and March has derailed of late, seeing them take three straight losses to Racing Club Warwick, Coleshill Town and Sporting Khalsa in April. Guaranteed an away semi final, Long Eaton will be hoping they can take momentum from their most-recent 4-0 triumph over relegated Grantham Town into the lottery of the playoffs.
Worcester City Last five results: LDLDW Final game before playoffs: Loughborough Students (H) Some fantastic games since the turn of the new year, including a 6-1 win over then promotion-hopefuls Sporting Khalsa and a comeback win over Corby Town has seen City guarantee their playoff place. However form has been somewhat up-and-down of late, as the side have taken wins over the likes of Coventry Sphinx, Boldmere St Michaels and Corby but losses against sides such as Darlaston Town and AFC Rushden and Diamonds. Chris Cornes' side will hope they can build on the momentum of their dramatic victory over Corby last Saturday and take it into the Loughborough game - the incredible performance could have come at just the right time to propel to side into playoff competition.
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