The 2024/25 National League season took a compelling twist over the weekend with a couple of intriguing results that left things delicately balanced at both ends of the table.
One of the most shocking results came at the Jakemans Community Stadium, where relegation-battling Boston United held table-toppers Barnet to a goalless draw.
It wasn’t enough to lead the Pilgrims out of troubled waters, but it was another huge step in the right direction, building on their equally surprising 3-1 victory over third-placed York City.
Bottom-placed Ebbsfleet United also grabbed their share of the spotlight after pinching a point off promotion hopefuls Rochdale, although it may not make any real difference in their battle against relegation.
They have taken just 13 points from 31 games and sit 16 points off safety having played two more games. Here are three talking points from an absorbing round of games in the National League.
Oldham Boost Ambitious Promotion Charge with Narrow Win
Oldham Athletic travelled to fellow promotion hopefuls Solihull Moors looking to keep pace with the top three and they did just that.
The Latics bolstered their promotion bid with a narrow 1-0 victory to maintain a six-point gap to third-placed York.
Billy Waters broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time to give Oldham a precious lead, and their resilient defence did the rest.
Oldham have one of the better backlines in the National League, which has helped them record a morale-boosting three-match winning streak.
The Latics have now kept back-to-back clean sheets, and Australian right-back Reagan Ogle once again played a starring role in this latest victory.
Ogle has been consistent over the past four games, helping to establish Oldham as a popular pick for sports bettors in his native Australia.
His sterling performance would undoubtedly have delivered plenty of winning returns for punters who backed the Latics on betting apps in Australia to keep a clean sheet.
The 25-year-old recorded 46 touches, two blocked shots and one interception. He also won three out of four aerial duels and completed four out of eight long balls with an 83% pass accuracy.
If he maintains his current form, Aussie bettors will back him to spearhead Oldham’s ambitious promotion charge. The Latics are ten points off the summit with two games in hand.
Barnet Draw Blows Title Race Wide Open
Barnet blew the promotion race wide open when they failed to get the better of Boston, who sit second from bottom in the National League standings.
The table toppers went into the game brimming with confidence. They were riding the high of a four-match winning streak and a 15-game unbeaten run in the league stretching back to October.
They were odds-on favourites to swat aside a Boston side that had previously gone six games without a league win, although their 3-1 home win over York should have been enough warning for the leaders.
Barnet were very much in control of the game until Danny Collinge was sent off five minutes before half time, turning the match on its head.
The hosts looked the more likely side to break the deadlock every time they poured forward on the attack. However, Boston failed to threaten Barnet’s goal well enough to muster a winning goal and were made to rue their toothlessness in the final third.
Barnet’s failure to secure a win opened the door for title contenders Forest Green Rovers and York to close the gap, with both sides claiming crucial wins against Eastleigh and Woking, respectively.
The Bees may have forgotten what defeat feels like after stretching their unbeaten run to 16 games, but they’ll be looking nervously over their shoulders with just four points now separating the top three.
Hartlepool Boost Play-Off Hopes with Victory Over Sutton
The race for a top-seven spot took an exciting twist over the weekend as Hartlepool United edged out Sutton United in a crucial play-off six-pointer at the VBS Community Stadium.
On a weekend where several teams dropped points in the top seven race, the onus was on these two sides to take advantage.
After cancelling each other out in the opening 45 minutes, the hosts drew first blood merely seconds into the second half as Will Davies converted a cross from Dillon De Silva at close range.
Sutton looked set to extend their unbeaten streak to seven league games when Gary Madine drew Hartlepool level in the 76th minute.
Desperate to avoid going five league games without a win (D3, L1), the Pools pushed for a winner and were rewarded for their attacking endeavours as Jack Taylor turned a corner into his own net.
Taylor’s own goal helped Hartlepool complete a league double over Sutton and close the gap to seventh-placed Altrincham.
The top seven race remains delicately poised with just four points between Altrincham and 11th-placed Sutton.
