The National League Season Review Part Nine: April

Leyton Orient secured their first league title for nearly 50 and returned to the Football League at the second time of asking on the final day.

Orient got the point they needed to make it safe against Braintree, one of four teams to drop with Aldershot, Havant and Maidstone also relegated.

But tragedy was to strike weeks later. Heroic manager Justin Edinburgh, the man who masterminded their return, collapsed and later died after a cardiac arrest. His death stunned the world of football.

Solihull Moors’ fantastic season saw them end in second place - they joined Salford, Harrogate, Fylde, Eastleigh and Wrexham in the play-offs but it was to be the Ammies who went up at Wembley.

Two of the National League’s longest serving managers departed before the end of the season.
It was goodbye to Paul Doswell after 11 years at Sutton United. He resigned on the same day as Lee Bradbury left Havant & Waterlooville.

It wouldn’t take long for Doswell to return to football.

The Hampshire-based manager went in at Westleigh Park - he will be attempting to win the National League South again next season.

National League North:

If it was time for the clubs to show what they were made of, the challenged was certainly accepted by Stockport County who landed a crushing body blow on Chester’s play-off hopes with a 6-0 win while at the same time laying down the gauntlet to Chorley.

Incredibly, the pair met each other on the with three games to go and it looked for all the world like Chorley would take home the title after despatching the Hatters 2-0. But Easter Monday proved a huge turning point as Glen Taylor downed Chorley at Brewery Field meaning the Hatters’ win over Curzon Ashton left them needing a win at doomed Nuneaton Borough on the final day to win the league.

Despite losing their final two games, Bradford (Park Avenue) held off the challenge of AFC Telford United to snatch the final play-off place. A win for Stockport County on the final day meant Chorley also had to settle for a play-off place as Jim Gannon’s side claimed glory.

Brackley Town, Spennymoor Town, Altrincham and Blyth Spartans completed the play-off line-up while FC United of Manchester and Ashton United suffered the ignominy of relegation to join Nuneaton Borough in Step Three next season.

National League South:

Gary Johnson masterminded Torquay United’s huge finish to their season by claiming the title after a late fightback saw them claim a vital point at Woking. The Cards picked up just one win in their final four games as the Gulls ended the season ten points clear.

But of course Woking would eventually go up via the play-offs.

Hungerford Town headed into their final game of the season needing just a point over already relegated East Thurrock. They got just what they needed meaning Truro City joined the Rocks and Weston-super-Mare in the final bottom three.

Welling secured third place while Billericay Town’s final day slump meant they missed out all together.

Bobby Wilkinson and Wealdstone capped a fine season with a final day win over Hemel Hempstead to confirm their place in the top seven.

It was one of five sides to clinch the final spot on the last day of the season and it was hard luck for Billericay, Slough, Dartford and St Albans.

Champions Torquay set two records this month - their first ever league title and the fastest goal in their history on the final day at Clarence Park.