The Shrimpers now know for certain that they will not face York City in the League next season. The Bootham Crescent outfit’s already slender hopes of survival were vanquished by Leyton Orient’s 2-1 win over the Minstermen after coming from behind. The victory also ensured the O’s place in Division Three next year.
Meanwhile, the unbelievable has happened – Carlisle United have been relegated! After numerous last-day escapes and even goalkeepers scoring injury time winners, the Cumbrians’ 1-1 draw at home to Cheltenham Town meant that they had timed their comeback surge – from having just five points the week before Christmas – just too late. As a result, Rochdale need not have drawn today against the Shrimpers, whilst Scunthorpe United and Darlington, money troubles notwithstanding, are also cleared to start 2004/5 in Division Three.
Hull City defeated Yeovil Town at the other end of the table to end their exile in the Football League’s basement division and earn promotion alongside Doncaster Rovers. Torquay United will be promoted next week if they defeat Southend and Huddersfield fail to gain three points from their clash. Mansfield Town and Lincoln City will compete alongside the losers there in the play-offs, with Northampton Town holding a one-point advantage over Yeovil for the final position in the end-of-season lottery.
With Notts County and Wycombe Wanderers already joining Blues in Division Three next year after relegation from the Second Division, any one of four clubs can join them. Grimsby Town’s 1-0 win over Brentford lifts them out of the drop zone at Rushden & Diamond’s expense after the Northamptonshire side lost 2-0 to Colchester United. Chesterfield’s 2-0 defeat to Oldham Athletic means that they are also two points adrift in the drop zone.
Peterborough United would need to lose in double figures to feature in the battle to beat the drop, and Brentford require just a draw against AFC Bournemouth to realistically remain in Division Two. Grimsby travel to Tranmere Rovers needing all three to be absolutely certain of survival, and if both of those results materialise then Port Vale’s visit to Nene Park and Luton Town’s to Saltergate will be meaningless to the home teams.
Finally, in the Nationwide Conference Play-Offs, the second legs, to be played on Monday, will see Hereford United, who have an away goal after a 1-1 draw at Aldershot Town, and Barnet, who lead Shrewsbury Town 2-1 after the Underhill leg of their clash, go in as favourites to join Chester City in Division Three next season.
The fixtures for 2004/5 will be unveiled on Thursday June 24th, with The Little Gazette, of course, bringing you the all-important dates for your diary, with Football League regulations prohibiting us again from handing out the full list.
Coca-Cola League Division Three 2004/5 – The Confirmed Competitors
Notts County (relegated)
Wycombe Wanderers (relegated)
Oxford United
Boston United
Swansea City
Bristol Rovers
Cheltenham Town
Southend United
Bury
Cambridge United
Leyton Orient
Macclesfield Town
Kidderminster Harriers
Rochdale
Darlington
Scunthorpe United
Chester City (promoted)
Coca-Cola League Division Three 2004/5 – The Contenders
Two from:
Brentford, Grimsby Town, Rushden & Diamonds and Chesterfield
Four from:
Huddersfield Town, Torquay United, Mansfield Town, Lincoln City, Northampton Town, Yeovil Town
One from:
Hereford United, Shrewsbury Town, Barnet, Aldershot Town
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com