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).

Pennywell...

Just about to stick Italy vs Germany on, and it's bloody PPV (as is Ireland and Netherlands matches). £2.50 isn't extortionate I guess, but definitely not paying it. Scotland it is... The above 'TBC' matches are on Viaplays YouTube channel, which are free, but you don't get commentary.

I see Amazon Prime have picked up some of the international matches over the weekend. Quite a few decent looking matches tonight. Think I'll go for the Italy match tonight, especially with Sandro involved.

This didn't sound amazing from a week or so ago regarding Frank Nouble and Yeovil. Yeovil's manager discussing from 3.10 onwards.

Just saw Gateshead lost again tonight, a 4th league defeat on the trot, a second successive home one to a side in the bottom 8, and only 2 points from a possible 18. Still in the playoffs, but won't be for much longer if that form continues, although if they did get taken over that might provide a spark, unless it was that Winners Worldwide Blyth bloke Spennymoor won in the league below and with two favourable looking matches to come, especially Saturday, they could maybe make a late surge for the playoffs, unless the Trophy semi final proves a distraction.

Is that the Anichebe one you were saying the other week?

I'm thinking of going to the Heaton match with it being 18th vs 19th and pretty crucial in terms of relegation. I used to always go to Scarborough for my hols as a young lad and we always did a day in Bridlington during the week, so maybe a tiny bit more relevance / notability there with the opposition than against say a Brighouse or something, but I'll definitely be wanting Heaton to win. I would have considered doing Stockton with that being a big match in terms of playoffs places and the end carrot being a potential place in the National North next season, but I got the train from Tynedale to Newcastle for the final on Sunday and that was long enough in itself, and I noticed the train to Stockton was another 70 minute journey after Newcastle on top of that, so it's probably too far, and it's not really 'local' to me. Maybe I'll go next year if they get promoted and play the likes of Spenny, Darlington, Shields etc.

Gateshead vs Tamworth (Gateshead currently 6th, in playoffs but in poor form) Darlington vs Rushall Spennymoor vs Farsley Hebburn vs Guiseley Stockton vs Ilkeston (5th vs 6th, 5th is final play off place) Consett vs Brighouse Dunston vs Bradford PA (Dunston in 3rd place) Heaton vs Bridlington (18th vs 19th, 19th place gets relegated) Newton Aycliffe vs Stocksbridge (NA in 4th place) Then obviously a whole host of Northern League (and below) matches. Plus Carlisle vs Bromley in League 2. Anyone planning on going to a match on the Saturday with it being 'Non League day' and England not playing that day?

I'd imagine yesterdays result could add a couple of thousand regardless of whether the cup was there, due to the feel good factor and people wanting to be in SJP, but it would cool if the trophy was on show. Regarding the match, it's obviously still a big local derby, the first home league meeting with them possibly ever? and likewise, the first time to finish above them probably ever as well, but just from a match POV it is a bit of a shame that it is basically now a mid table match. Obviously the league was extremely tight and it was still relative early days, but back in mid January with Sunderland 3 points off top and us 2 points further back, but with a game in hand (presumably to lowly Blackburn), it looked like one, or both, could have been in genuine promotion contention, but both have stuttered since then, especially Sunderland who lost to lowly Portsmouth yesterday, and London and Birmingham seem to have pulled away a but. In terms of adding numbers though, the cup final result was probably more important than both sides winning their respective matches yesterday rather than losing.

You've left off arguably the best one as well, Sheffield Wednesday vs Sheffield United at 12.30pm. Huge game in terms of both playoffs and automatics promotion. It might be somewhat telling that Celtic vs Rangers is on Sky Sports 'Main Event' at the same time, but other than bragging rights (albeit a lot of them, ha), there's very little else riding on that match and absolutely no jeopardy whatsoever. Celtic are definitely finishing 1st, Rangers 2nd. I'll be getting the train into town at that time, but I'd have definitely been watching the Sheffield match if I was having my usual lazy Sunday.