Post by dbbn on May 16, 2023 12:50:17 GMT
They think it's all over, it is now!
Sunday saw Oxford City claim the second promotion spot into the National League following their 4-0 thrashing of St Albans City, joining run away champions Ebbsfleet United.
With more teams in the VNLS this season, more points were on offer, as were more relegation places with 24 teams compared to last season's 21 teams. Maidstone and Dorking who had finished in the top two places in 2021/22 saw the latter fare better in non-League's top flight as Wanderers finished 16th and 9 points clear of the drop. Meanwhile former Iron boss Hakan Hayrettin's Stones would make an immediate return to the VNLS finishing bottom with a paltry 25 points, this also saw Hakan sacked in January only to take up the reins at Dulwich Hamlet and relegate them, well done Hak!
The relegated teams that joined the VNLS this season didn't do particularly well with both Dover and Weymouth just escaping a second successive relegation on goal difference. The new boys however did fairly well especially Worthing who finished fourth making the play-offs and ending Braintree's hope of promotion, before falling themselves to eventual play-off winners Oxford City. Farnborough had a comfortable season finishing in mid-table with a flirtation with the play-off places with Taunton also comfortable in 14th place. Sadly Cheshunt found it too big a step and were relegated in 23rd place.
So who exceeded expectations and who failed to deliver?
Interestingly, the sides that finished third to fifth in 2021/22 would finish first to third this time round with Dartford again blowing their play-off hopes by surprisingly losing to St Albans City. The most improved team picking up 37 more points than they did in 2021/22 was Chelmsford City, they also has the most number of different goal scorers with 28 different players finding the net. The second best improvers were Angelo Harrop's Braintree Town who gained 29 more points than the previous season.
In 2021/22 the other play-off places had gone to Eastbourne and Chippenham, this time round Borough slipped to 8th having only accrued 11 more points form their 6 extra fixtures whilst Chippenham improved their tally by just 3 points. Tonbridge Angels were the next most improved side finishing 9th up seven places on 2021/22 with 25 more points whilst St Albans City's extra 23 points got them a play-off spot after their 9th placed finish the season before. Bath and Welling also did better avoiding a relegation scrap with City seven places higher in 11th and United four places better off in 16th.
The biggest fall came from Hungerford Town who had finished 12th in 2021/22 but this time picked up nine points less to finish bottom of the League on 40 points and last season's highest performing Essex team (14th) - Concord Rangers would also get relegated having secured 5 points less than last season. The only other team to end up with less points were the remaining relegated team - Dulwich Hamlet.
Top scorers for the VNLS (Leage, F. A. Cup/Trophy only) were - Dominic Poleon (Ebbsfleet) - 38, Ollie Pearce (Worthing) - 27, Shaun Jeffers (St Albans C) -24, Bradley Ash (Weymouth) -23, Joshua Parker (Oxford C) - 22, Jordan Greenidge (Hemel & Tonbridge) - 22, Scott Wilson (Bath) - 21 Mo Faal (Havant & W) - 21. It would appear that goal scorers were in short supply with eight sides in the VNLS not having anyone in double figures for the season.
For the Iron, loanee Aaron Blair would end up top scorer with 12 goals, Alfie Matthews, Baris Altintop and Kyran Clements on 8, Levi Amantchi 7, Lamar Reynolds 6.
Looking forward to more improvement or at least more of the same form the Iron in 2023/24.
Sunday saw Oxford City claim the second promotion spot into the National League following their 4-0 thrashing of St Albans City, joining run away champions Ebbsfleet United.
With more teams in the VNLS this season, more points were on offer, as were more relegation places with 24 teams compared to last season's 21 teams. Maidstone and Dorking who had finished in the top two places in 2021/22 saw the latter fare better in non-League's top flight as Wanderers finished 16th and 9 points clear of the drop. Meanwhile former Iron boss Hakan Hayrettin's Stones would make an immediate return to the VNLS finishing bottom with a paltry 25 points, this also saw Hakan sacked in January only to take up the reins at Dulwich Hamlet and relegate them, well done Hak!
The relegated teams that joined the VNLS this season didn't do particularly well with both Dover and Weymouth just escaping a second successive relegation on goal difference. The new boys however did fairly well especially Worthing who finished fourth making the play-offs and ending Braintree's hope of promotion, before falling themselves to eventual play-off winners Oxford City. Farnborough had a comfortable season finishing in mid-table with a flirtation with the play-off places with Taunton also comfortable in 14th place. Sadly Cheshunt found it too big a step and were relegated in 23rd place.
So who exceeded expectations and who failed to deliver?
Interestingly, the sides that finished third to fifth in 2021/22 would finish first to third this time round with Dartford again blowing their play-off hopes by surprisingly losing to St Albans City. The most improved team picking up 37 more points than they did in 2021/22 was Chelmsford City, they also has the most number of different goal scorers with 28 different players finding the net. The second best improvers were Angelo Harrop's Braintree Town who gained 29 more points than the previous season.
In 2021/22 the other play-off places had gone to Eastbourne and Chippenham, this time round Borough slipped to 8th having only accrued 11 more points form their 6 extra fixtures whilst Chippenham improved their tally by just 3 points. Tonbridge Angels were the next most improved side finishing 9th up seven places on 2021/22 with 25 more points whilst St Albans City's extra 23 points got them a play-off spot after their 9th placed finish the season before. Bath and Welling also did better avoiding a relegation scrap with City seven places higher in 11th and United four places better off in 16th.
The biggest fall came from Hungerford Town who had finished 12th in 2021/22 but this time picked up nine points less to finish bottom of the League on 40 points and last season's highest performing Essex team (14th) - Concord Rangers would also get relegated having secured 5 points less than last season. The only other team to end up with less points were the remaining relegated team - Dulwich Hamlet.
Top scorers for the VNLS (Leage, F. A. Cup/Trophy only) were - Dominic Poleon (Ebbsfleet) - 38, Ollie Pearce (Worthing) - 27, Shaun Jeffers (St Albans C) -24, Bradley Ash (Weymouth) -23, Joshua Parker (Oxford C) - 22, Jordan Greenidge (Hemel & Tonbridge) - 22, Scott Wilson (Bath) - 21 Mo Faal (Havant & W) - 21. It would appear that goal scorers were in short supply with eight sides in the VNLS not having anyone in double figures for the season.
For the Iron, loanee Aaron Blair would end up top scorer with 12 goals, Alfie Matthews, Baris Altintop and Kyran Clements on 8, Levi Amantchi 7, Lamar Reynolds 6.
Looking forward to more improvement or at least more of the same form the Iron in 2023/24.
