Orient are top of the table with an impressive 50 points from the first half of the season.
Big spenders Salford are hot on their heels, that’s not to mention impressive sides in the chasing pack like Wrexham, Solihull Moors and Harrogate who will all be trying to force their way into contention for automatic promotion.
Whilst Orient and Salford have set the pace so far, anything could happen in the next few months. This time last season Sutton were top with 42 points, joint with Wrexham. In the end the Dragons dropped out of the playoffs, and Sutton finished third. Three teams who were outside the top seven at the halfway stage ended up in the playoffs, including eventual Wembley winners Tranmere who were 11th with just 31 points.
So don’t rule out the likes of Eastleigh, Ebbsfleet, Sutton, or even Daggers to string a run of form together and make the playoffs.
There are 15 vital points up for grabs between now and the 5th of January, and some Titanic clashes at the top that could change the face of the National League promotion chase.
The Christmas Crunch
1st - Leyton Orient
The O’s are top of the league with 50 points and the best goal difference in the division. Justin Edinburgh will be looking forward to the chance to bounce back from defeat at Boreham Wood with a game against Martin Allen’s enigmatic Chesterfield, who went 19 games without a win - but unbeaten - and then defeated Salford in the same week as half the first team was released. Orient carved out a 1-0 win against the Spireites in September and will be looking to overpower them again this weekend.
Orient then face Dagenham twice, with Andy Hessenthaler’s Dover visiting Brisbane Road in between the two derbies. Both sides have turned a corner after miserable starts to the season, so Orient will have to be prepared for stiff contests from their local rivals, and their ex-manager.
As the last of the Turkey sandwiches are polished off, Orient face Salford on 5th January 2019 in a critical promotion six-pointer at Brisbane Road. Victory there could be decisive!
WATCH OUT FOR: Orient standing up to the pressure of multiple sides who have transformed their fortunes of late. This period will be a stern test of Justin Edinburgh’s team.
2nd - Salford City
The League’s big spenders saw their 20 game unbeaten run ended by Chesterfield, and they will be looking to respond after missing the chance to steal top spot from the O’s.
With Orient just a point ahead of City the Christmas period will be crucial. Salford have a tough run of games over Christmas and New Year playing Wrexham twice. They also host a resurgent Dagenham and Redbridge and travel to Barrow and Orient.
O’s fans will be hoping Wrexham and Salford cancel each other out in their games on Boxing Day and New Years Day.
WATCH OUT FOR: If Wrexham get a result against City it could give O’s a huge boost ahead of the meeting at the Breyer Group Stadium.
3rd - Harrogate Town
This year’s surprise package, the team that scored 100 goals and won the National League North last season made an excellent start, going 11 unbeaten until they lost to Orient in North Yorkshire.
They currently sit third, three points behind Salford and four behind orient. They are the league top scorers with 49 goals so far this season.
With Orient and Salford playing each other in the next month there is a chance for Harrogate to make up some ground. They play Yorkshire rivals Halifax twice and fellow playoff hopefuls Fylde, Sutton and Eastleigh. A good run for Harrogate and results going their way could see them joining Orient and Salford in the battle for top spot.
WATCH OUT FOR: A good run against their playoff rivals could see Harrogate putting the pressure on Orient at the top.
4th - Wrexham
Fourth place Wrexham are as desperate as Orient to get out of this league and back into the EFL. They are level on points with Harrogate, but below them on goal difference.
The biggest problem Wrexham seem to have is a long-term shortage of goals. They are very solid at the back but score goals at a mid-table rate. That lack of firepower led to a limp finish outside the playoffs last season, and the same could happen again, especially now that they have lost manager Sam Rickett’s to Shrewsbury Town.
Wrexham play injury-stricken Aldershot this weekend, before facing Salford twice over Christmas, in what will be decisive clashes for both sides - and possibly helpful to Orient. They also have tough games against Solihull Moors and a steadily improving Dover. If they hold their nerve they will be right back in the title chase.
WATCH OUT FOR: If Wrexham can grind out two good results against Salford then it could put them right back into contention for automatic promotion.
5th - Solihull Moors
Solihull Moors have been quietly grinding out results and sit six points off the top of the table in fifth.
Moors’ run-in over Christmas and New Year looks like it could go either way, a blaze of glory or a damp squib. This week they agonisingly lost 3-2 to Blackpool in the FA Cup, to a soft late penalty.
In the League they face Barrow, who are a few results away from pushing for the playoffs themselves. I’d say nobody can predict what Chesterfield will be like to play now they’ve beaten Salford; and I wouldn’t be able to tell you who to put your money on in Moors’ games against Wrexham and Eastleigh. On their day they can cause teams real problems, but they were fragile against Orient at Brisbane Road and lost 3-0.
This run of games looks difficult for Solihull, they may struggle to keep up the intensity they need to sustain their current good run of form.
WATCH OUT FOR: Solihull Moors struggling against a series of tough opponents, but still in the playoffs come the end of the first week of January with a few good wins under their belts.
6th - AFC Fylde
The Coasters still have one of the best defensive records in the league, despite Orient putting three past them at Mill Farm. In Danny Rowe they have one of the most talented forwards in the league.
Eight points off the top, they may struggle to get into serious contention for automatic promotion but look to be secure of getting into the playoffs.
Their Christmas run provides them an opportunity to consolidate their position with two games against Barrow, Ebbsfleet, Bromley and Harrogate. You would expect them to pick up nine to twelve points from that run, and if other teams slip up they could be pushing for third place.
WATCH OUT FOR: Fylde creeping up the table and tightening their hold on a playoff place.
7th - Gateshead
Part timers Gateshead are well organised and put up a very solid fight against Orient at Brisbane Road, despite losing 2-0. They are the kind of team that might be in contention for a play off place come May, but could just as likely miss out by the odd point - or even on goal difference, as Dover did last year. There is always a real logjam of teams trying to get the final playoff spot.
They have a congested Christmas period but there are quite a few points for the Heed to pick up against strugglers Maidenhead and Maidstone, and two games against out-of-sorts Hartlepool. If they can make those results count then they could consolidate their play off position - otherwise the chasing pack will pile on the pressure.
WATCH OUT FOR: Gateshead piling on the points and looking secure in the playoffs.
The Chasing Pack
Sutton are a tough team to break down and in with a strong chance of breaking into the top seven, especially if any of the clubs above them falter.
Ebbsfleet have all sorts of off-field problems, but have been on a good run lately, and could make progress in the second half of the season.
Eastleigh might be another one to watch if they can sustain a good run, but questions arise about their consistency.
Dagenham have turned their season around and could be dark horses to push on into the playoffs.
Basically anyone can beat anyone in the middle of the table, and a couple of good results strung together might be all it takes to get the momentum together for a playoff push. That ought not to trouble Orient though.
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