Notts lose yet again and Chesterfield are one point away

Notts County's time in League One seems to be coming to an undignified end after the club suffered their ninth straight defeat on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, Chesterfield are all set to replace them and are just one point from promotion after beating Macclesfield.

Last season Notts County stormed to the League Two title after a long unbeaten run that was full of win after win after win, their return to League Two seems increasingly likely. A 2-0 lunchtime defeat to Bournemouth condemned the Magpies to a ninth straight defeat in League One and although they're only one point from safety, it'd take a brave man to put money on them not being in League Two next season given that they are the most out of form team in the county. Infact, their poor run has seen eleven defeats in the last twelve games.

Plymouth now appear doomed, now seven points from safety with five to play and they are set to return to League Two in time for the tenth anniversary of their title winning season at this level. A 2-1 defeat at Peterborough has left them needing a minor miracle and Swindon will also need luck to stay up. Although the Robins are only five points from safety, only one win in their last twenty games is more than enough to suggest why they are more than likely heading back to League Two.

Bristol Rovers complete the bottom four after a defeat Southampton. Walsall and Dagenham are the only other teams likely to still be involved in the battle to avoid the drop for the remainder of the season, everyone else should be safe.

Replacing them in League One will almost certainly be Chesterfield, the Spirites' 2-1 win over Macclesfield leaves them needing just one point to win promotion. Chesterfield left the fourth tier ten years ago and it looks an almost certainty that they will be leaving again. bury, the third longest serving team in the division, are also likely to go up after a 2-0 win over Barnet left them five points clear of the Playoffs with four to play.

Wycombe are the other team in the top three but they now need to hope that the chasing pack doesn't continue to close the gap. They had to come from 2-0 down at home to Northampton to get a draw and they kept them clear of Shrewsbury, who head the Playoff places that also contain Torquay, Stevenage and Gillingham.

Crawley continue their long unbeaten run as they prepare for League Two next season and a 4-0 win at Southport leaves them just two points from the 100 point mark. AFC Wimbledon confirmed their place in the Playoffs with a 4-0 win at relegated Histon.

Luton drew 0-0 at Mansfield and Wrexham beat Kettering 2-0. Fleetwood gained a vital advantage in the Playoff places as a 3-1 win over Altrincham left them four points clear of Kidderminster, although the Harriers do have games in hand.

Only Kidderminster, York, Newport and Darlington can still break into the Playoffs, although all of them know that they will realistically have to win all their remaining games to stand even a small chance.

Also, in other non-league news, Grimsby threw away a 2-0 lead at home to Bath to draw 2-2, it's the fifth home draw in six games for the Mariners (the other was a defeat) and they have been ahead in all five of those draws, three of which were two goal leads.....and they didn't win a single one of them. Infact, Grimsby are a fine example of a team that just assumed that the Conference would be easy and will now be in their for another year.