AS the Vale of Lune move into the final two months of the season, they still find themselves in something of a parlous state – the portcullis is clanging up and down but the route to safety has not yet been blocked off by the ironwork, writes Stuart Vernon.
Five games still remain to prevent it dropping, but the big question remains, will the Vale be on the inside or on its outside?
The spectre of relegation from North Two West still hangs around Powder House Lane like an unwanted suit in the wardrob
e. Whatever way the league table and the last five fixtures are studied the stark reality of the situation is brought into focus. The Vale still have a long way to go before they can breathe easily.
This time last season with five to go, Stoke-on-Trent were adrift at the bottom with two points, next were Wilmslow with nine, followed by Winnington Park and Bowdon respectively, with 11 points; hovering above them were Tyldesley with 14.
After the final games, Stoke were relegated with three points, Wilmslow with 11 and Bowdon, who had the same 15 points as Winnington Park, but an inferior points difference. Tyldesley ended the campaign with 18.
At this stage of the season, it would appear that the Vale or Northwich will join Winnington Park and Tyldesley in pastures new next season.
If Park should win all their remaining games they will have reached 15, while five victories for Tyldesley will bring them 10; such a rich harvest is unlikely, but hope springs eternal.
The Vale will be keeping half an eye on Northwich's results as the games count down, but it would appear that the child-like philosophy of Northwich's opponents doing the Vale a favour is clutching at straws.
Avoiding relegation is entirely in the Vale's hands, no looking around, listening to score flashes, no hand-outs, 10 points are up for grabs, and there is little room for manoeuvre.
There is a real possibility that the outcome will not be resolved until the final round of fixtures on April 19.
So how do the remaining fixtures stack up for the Vale and Northwich?
Vale appears to have a slight advantage because they have three home games beginning with Winnington Park on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.
New Brighton will be the visitors at the end of March and Lymm on April 12. The away games are at Rochdale on March 8 and Sandbach on the last day of the league season.
Northwich's remaining home games are against Stockport on March 8 and Rochdale on April 12. They are at Broughton Park on Saturday and on March 28 they will play neighbours, Winnington Park. Their final game is at Leigh.
These fixtures for both clubs are going to be character testing, they are going to make interesting viewing, as were the exploits of Harry Houdini, and will ensure that the 2007-08 will turn out to be a season to remember, hopefully for all the right reasons for the Vale of Lune.
In the meantime, the fat lady is running through the scales but the stage is not yet set for her grand entrance.
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