North Ferriby (A) – Match Preview

And here it is. One last match preview for one last match. 138 goals scored in the league, 37 conceded, and 102 points reached.

I’ve written a fair few of these match previews, focusing on our stats throughout the season. However, this time around, I want to run through the other permutations, not just in our league, but also the ones that feed into the one we will play in next season.

Firstly, with the NPL East, Blyth Town and Bishop Auckland will be relegated if they lose. Only one will stay up if they draw, but that also requires Ossett to lose by at least 14 goals. A win will see them leap above Ossett, and, depending on the scores, potentially nip above Silsden, and, though insanely unlikely, Blyth Spartans too.

At the other end, a win for Pontefract is the only option if they want to enter the play-offs, with Bradford Park Avenue sat on 72 points, and Emley on 74

However, due to goal difference, the one-point gap between the Colls and Bradford PA can be treated as a two point gap (+13 vs +32)

Current standings would have Matlock host Bradford first, then one of Dunston or Emley second, with the winner joining us in the NPL Prem.

In the NPL Prem, one of Hebburn and Hednesford will be sealing automatic promotion, with the other side joining FC United of Manchester, Warrington Rylands, and then one of Stockton Town, Lancaster City, or Gainsborough Trinity in the playoffs.

Stocksbridge Park Steels have already been relegated, whilst Morpeth and Prescot will need to win to have a chance at survival, whilst also hoping Whitby Town lose their final match.

In the NPL West, it is one of Bury and Avro who will be automatically promoted, with the unsuccessful ones joining Stalybridge Celtic, Runcorn Linnets, and either Lower Breck, Bootle, or Vauxhall Motors in the play-offs.

Finally, in the National League North relegation zone, we would likely be joined by Alfreton Town and Curzon Ashton, though 7 teams can take up the final 2 relegation spots, so that will be one to keep an eye on.

(There is also the NPL Midlands, but that is looking like a league where some promoted sides could be transferred to a different league)

Now, onto North Ferriby and us.

Adam Boyes, barring a miracle from either Cameron Wilson, Louis Johnson, or Brad Fewster, will be the league’s top scorer.

He will more than likely be Step 4’s top scorer too, with Albie Hall sitting 5 goals behind Bosh.

Josh Mazfari made his 49th appearance this season against Blyth Town, with the shot-stopper keeping 22 clean sheets in those matches, with his other 23 meaning he has hit the 50 clean sheet mark.

His reward for that, along with a highly successful season? A new contract, for not only himself but also Nathan Guru, Oscar Fletcher, JJ Bartliff and Owen Burns, as we look to keep on some vital players from our title-winning season

Our +100 goal difference is still intact, too, and as long as we don’t lose by two goals, then we will hold onto that tally as well.

If we score 12 against our opponents, we will hit the 150 league goals scored mark, too, though I do doubt the possibility of that one.

As for our opponents, they are one of 9 sides with nothing to really play for, with survival confirmed, but the play-offs being unattainable.

They can, however, finish the season in 7th, with a win for them and a defeat for Heaton Stannington, meaning the Humberside team would leapfrog the Tyneside squad.

Lewis Dennison is North Ferriby’s only real goalgetter, with 11 goals scored all season.

Josh Thacker is second in their rankings, having scored eight times, and after that, there is a pretty heavy drop as their third-highest goalscorer is on just 4

In terms of goals scored, they do sit right in the middle of the league table, scoring fewer than Consett and Bridlington.

As for their home performances, they have been pretty neutral, winning just 6 times, but drawing the most of anyone in the league, with 10 of their home fixtures ending even.

As for us, we have failed to win just 5 of our 20 away matches, and hopefully that stat remains the same come Saturday evening.

There is probably some major stat I have failed to mention here, but I am going to leave this preview here. I have no idea what I am going to put for our first one next season, but I promise that they won’t be going anywhere.

See you tomorrow, for one last time, and, as always

UP THE STEELMEN!!