A pivotal weekend awaits in League Two, with third playing fourth and two potential promotions on the line.
Stockport County have the chance to go up and take a huge step towards the League Two title this weekend, while Wrexham can join them in the third tier next season. The third and final spot is much more open, with the two candidates meeting today in what promises to be an afternoon that means so much at the top of the division.
Below is a look at some of the permutations, and who faces who in the final weeks of the campaign…
1st: Stockport County
P:42 GD:42 Pts:83
Final 4: Morecambe (H), Notts County (A), Accrington Stanley (H), Wrexham (A)
County require just a point against Morecambe to complete their incredible rise from the National League North to League One in five seasons. Results elsewhere could also see them win promotion regardless of their scoreline against the Shrimps at Edgely Park.
If not, then the Hatters may only have to wait until Tuesday at Meadow Lane against Notts County. The title lift, should that accolade have been secured, will take place against Accrington on the penultimate fixture of the season. What looked like a tremendous final day fixture at the Racecourse against Wrexham now may be a dead rubber encounter, barring a turn of events that mean both aren’t already promoted.
2nd: Wrexham
P:43 GD:27 Pts:79
Final 3: Forest Green Rovers (H), Crewe Alexandra (A), Stockport County (H)
A combination of results including a win over Forest Green will see Wrexham secure consecutive promotions. The likelihood is that they will have to wait until their outing at Crewe the following week, facing an Alexandra side looking to build momentum before the Play-Offs.
The celebrations should be in full flow against Stockport on the final day, as both teams are likely to be celebrating promotion side by side to the third tier, following their epic battle for the National League title two campaigns ago.
3rd: Mansfield Town
P:42 GD:38 Pts:76
Final 4: Milton Keynes Dons (A), Accrington Stanley (H), Gillingham (H), Barrow (A)
Mansfield face a must not lose encounter against MK Dons this afternoon. A draw will keep the gap at two points, while victory will leave them on the cusp of promotion. The Stags game in hand comes against Accrington in midweek, before they host Gillingham in the final game at Field Mill.
Barrow await on the final day. They’ll likely be preparing for the Play-Off by that point, but the celebrations could be in full flow in the away end at least. If not, the sides could meet in the Semi-Finals, although that appears unlikely.
4th: Milton Keynes Dons
P:43 GD:16 Pts:74
Final 3: Mansfield Town (H), Harrogate Town (A), Sutton United (H)
Everything is on the line tomorrow at Stadium MK. Three points will only do against Mansfield, a results which would see Mike Williamson’s side leapfrog their opponents into the automatic places. A draw would leave their chances hanging by a thread, and a loss to the Stags would mean Mansfield are in the driving seat for promotion.
If MK do keep their chances alive, then they need to follow it up against Harrogate the following week, before Sutton visit on the final day. The U’s League Two status may be at risk, depending on the results over the next fortnight.
