Paullow

2 fantastic results in the NPL East for both Heaton and particularly Ashington (against 2nd in the league), 0-3 and 3-1 respectively. I was thinking their match against each other on Easter Monday might have determined the final relegation spot, but there's so many more teams involved now, including Consett, unfortunately, who were looking relatively safe a few weeks ago. Just 5 games to go. Liversedge and Sherwood also won to make things even more congested.

They lost one in the league cup this season... Unless it was FA Cup?

The FA Cup quarter finals look great on paper. Hopefully every team will be going for it since there is no clear and obvious favourite. 3 very well matched ties, and at least Preston are at home - they also got a big win just before the intl break so shouldn't really have much relegation worries. Any preference who goes through from an NUFC perspective, like if we were to play a Villa, Brighton, Palace a few days before, or after, a potential semi final, or offering more of a distraction to a particular team. I guess if Forest or Man City won the cup then more chance a league spot opens for the Europa, should we finish 7th, than say if Fulham, Palace (or Preston) won it.

As others say, you can use pretty much any metric to support a case, but I think the above list looks reasonable. It's hard to gauge where Rangers and Celtic fit in because of the league they play in and current finances but their respective positions seem fine. In terms of England, I think most would have this top 3 as their top 3 and in that order. I'd have Man City and Chelsea next in any order you want, then Spurs a level below that, but also above the next group and then Aston Villa, Everton and Newcastle 7-9 in any order you want, followed by West Ham and Leeds a level below that.

Good away win for Dunston tonight in the NPL East and they are now second. Very hard for them to catch the leaders and go up automatically, but like Jarrow 2 leagues below, they are looking good for a home playoff semi final and possibly the final as well. Dunston beating Sheffield was great for Ashington and Heaton as well as Sheffield are currently bottom, but had been getting a few results recently.

It seems they have been guaranteed a play off place for a while now. Tonight was a cup match anyway. Jarrow surely won't catch Horden as it will likely take a 3 game swing and there's only 3 games left, but they are guaranteed a home playoff semi final match, but the main thing for them in the final 3 games will be to try and catch Yarm to get a potential playoff final at home as well.

Yeah, I saw that from the forum and about lots of the town considering themselves Scottish. Obviously in Scotland, if they did sort themselves out and had a potential backer as you were suggesting then they could potentially work themselves back into the league (and maybe 3rd tier as they have in recent memory), and with that more of a shot at a cup giant killing, like when they beat Rangers, but IF the 6th tier was going to be their level going forward then you'd think Northumberland derbies against some of the aforementioned sides would be more interesting generally than playing the likes of Luncarty, Jeanfield Swifts, St Andrews United etc. but yeah, not that much difference when you consider the likes of Guisborough, Northalleton, Redcar, Marske etc. in the Northern League, but from a complete outsider perspective, the English system would seem more appealing / attractive if that was going to be their level, and it is hard to get back into the Scottish football league as shown by the likes of East Kilbride who have been going for it for years, and then lots of former league sides like Albion, East Stirling, Cowdenbeath etc. not setting the world alight when they drop into non league. Brechin are doing a bit better in the Highland League, as they often do, but they still have to pass Brora, then beat East Kilbride, and then beat whoever comes bottom on League Two, so it is really hard to get back in once you drop.

Canada vs USA could be OK at 10pm UK. It's just a 3rd-4th place playoff match rather than the final (Panama vs Mexico), but quite interesting with both sides hosting the world cup, bragging rights, and a few familiar players on show - Davies and David for Canada as well as Johnston from Celtic, and quite a few playing in the big 5 European leagues, and then Adams, McKennie, Pulisic, Weir etc. for the States as well as Turner and Carter Vickers who have played in England.

There looks to be a few good games in the Nations League quarter finals, but the coverage here isn't great. Even if it's not that much, paying £2.50 PPV on top of an Amazon subscription is a joke, and the other 2 matches are free on Viaplay's YouTube channel, but without commentary. I know some people actually prefer no comms, or some make jokes like they wish there wasn't comms on typical matches, but not having comms can quickly make it become very background stuff. Lots of goals, and 3 of the 4 matches have gone into extra time.

It's a bit confusing relegation from that league. Seems like there could be 0, 1, or 2 that go down. I see Gretna finished 2nd bottom last year on 12 points, but stayed up, but all depends on the playoffs into the Scottish football league. I know the club and large parts of the town consider themselves Scottish, but if they were to be relegated into the 6th tier, and even then, still travelling over 100 miles to the likes of Luncarty then you'd think it would be better to move down to the Northern League (and eventually NPL at a push), with the option to play the likes of Alnwick, Bedlington, Ashington, maybe Morpeth down the line, and a Blyth team etc. I was reading the Berwick thread on the Pie and Bovril forum the other day after your post about you going to this match, and it's quite an interesting read and have just saw that you occasionally post on there as well.

The stream hasn't been much better in terms of stop start.

Feels like there should have been 8 or 9 mins injury time. This second half has been nothing but stop start. Not complaining though if they see it out.

Another great win for Stockton in the league above, and in front of 1135. They beat 6th place Ilkeston 1-0 and are now 7 points clear in the playoff places (with just 6 games to go), a proper 6 pointer.

I was just about to do a NPL East round up, but aye, not a great set of results for the local sides. I was going to go to the Heaton match, but sacked it off as the weather didn't look great, but will definitely try and get to one of their games before the end of the season. Heaton and Bridlington were both on 36 points, so a massive win for the visitors. Consett also lost at home to a team in and around the drop zone, Brighouse, so another disappointing result down there. Ashington were away to the league leaders, but another defeat for them. Thankfully the bottom 3 all lost (including Liversedge at home to Bishop Auckland), but it really is starting to look like Ashington vs Heaton on Easter Monday will be pivotal in terms of avoiding the 4th and final play off spot(12pm kick off).