Huge weekend for Linnets and Downham Town

With the National League North having seen remarkable levels of inconsistency throughout the last nine months or so from those teams towards the top of the table, it is no surprise to many of you, I’m sure, that it appears that the chase for a play-off place and all important final finishing place is going to go until the final week of the regular season.For those of us who can maintain quite a neutral stance, the season has been an exciting one with more twists and turns than a traditional Norfolk country lane.For those with their colours nailed to a particular mast, the constant nail biting and mood swings will have been unbearable, I’m sure.And somehow, after all of the above and more, the Linnets arrive at the penultimate weekend of NLN action in the knowledge that they are now in control of their destiny.Easter weekend wins over Scunthorpe United at The Walks on Good Friday, Needham Market on Monday and Chester on home soil on Saturday week would secure a play-off place for Adam Lakeland’s men, only a year or so after the Lynn boss had performed, in his own words, his greatest achievement in football to date, and saved Lynn from almost certain relegation back to the Southern or Northern Premier.It sounds so simple put like that, but a close look at the latest NLN table puts a different slant on things and the sizable challenge that lays ahead.Scunthorpe United will arrive in town on Friday afternoon as league leaders by a single point over Kidderminster and Brackley, desperate for a win to keep them at the top of the table, thus avoiding the play-off lottery. Lynn are expecting the visitors to bring support northwards of 800 for what is a massive game for both sides. The visitors won the first meeting on home soil comfortably on the final day of 2024, but they will do well to remember their last visit to West Norfolk in November 2023 when the hosts, battling to stay in the league, ran out 3-1 winners under The Walks floodlights.On Monday, it’s the relatively short trip to Needham, who may, at that stage, find themselves relegated following Friday’s results.At the time of writing, they are very much still alive, albeit with the odds looking to be heavily stacked against them. I think that Lynn will need to be wary of Needham, whatever the situation is with the hosts when they arrive on Monday afternoon. Remember, they shocked the Linnets by snatching a point in the reverse fixture and have gone toe-to-toe with most of the big teams in the league throughout the season.Ultimately, it looks as if their poor start back in August will be the major factor if they are relegated, but regardless, they will still be very keen to put on a show for their supporters in what will be their final home game of the season. If that little conundrum wasn’t enough, fourth-placed Chester will be in Town in just over a week where, and it’s a very if, they could be going for automatic promotion if a whole series of results had gone their way and they had won their two games as well.That is a real longshot but one certain thing is that the Seals will be looking for as many points as possible to ensure a higher finishing place as possible that would help with the likes of home advantage in the play-off games. If the Linnets drop points, then Fergie’s ‘squeaky bum time’ will roll into operation.I’m sure for those of a blue and gold persuasion, with regular phone checking for the latest scores and league standing becoming second nature to hundreds for a week or so.When the dust finally settles in a week or so’s time, the reflections will begin on the season that has just passed and where things could have gone better if the play-off chase is over – if not it will wait until the final outcome is known.Until then though I’d suggest you enjoy (as much as you can) this fascinating end to the football season. Best wishes to all at Downham Town who play their two remaining Eastern Counties League, Premier Division fixtures this weekend in the knowledge that with a couple of wins and other results going in their favour, they could be crowned league champions.The point secured on Saturday in the game at Walsham Le Willows has guaranteed Dale Stokes and Danny White’s side a play-off place, which is the very least they deserve from another excellent season.I probably saw them put in their worst performance of the season when they were well beaten by Heacham over the Christmas period.But since then, the squad have kept their heads down and turned in some good performances, which culminated in them being in with a chance of a championship on the last weekend of the season. Whatever the outcome, it’s been another memorable season of progress for the club, both on and off the pitch, which has been pleasing to see.Finally for this week, I thought it only right that I kept comment on Lynn’s off-field situation to a minimum ahead of a huge weekend for the club on the pitch.The situation looks to be an ongoing one with, it appears, initial contact has been made between relevant parties with no firm news to report.Chairman Stephen Cleeve was involved with Radio Norfolk’s coverage of the win over Farsley and even he seemed unsure of what involvement he would be having at the football club next season, saying that it depended on a few factors that needed to be resolved.It is a story that has an awful lot of mileage left in it and I suspect one that will continue into the summer months.