The Chesterfield train keeps chugging towards what would be a maiden National League crown for the club as we approach the midway mark in the 2021-22 campaign.
After a hugely promising first year at the club, James Rowe has shown he’s got the means to build on last season’s sixth-place finish in pursuit of the Holy Grail—promotion to League Two.
But the current two-point gap separating the leaders from second-place Halifax Town—even with one game in hand—is hardly conclusive with so much National League drama still to come.
Likewise, there’s plenty of time for a change in the pecking order when it comes to this season’s Golden Boot chase, with Spireites striker Kabongo Tshimanga currently leading the chase.
A return of 18 goals in the first 20 games of the campaign—four more than any other player in the division—has fired Tshimanga ahead, but that means more opportunity for the less fancied contenders.
Here we dissect the current favourites for the National League title, its top-scorer prize and who may cause an upset in those races, along with a selection of free bets for UK customers.
Spireites soaring but Boreham Wood bring the value
As far as title chases go, pace-setters Chesterfield look every bit the natural selection when it comes to whom most non-league fans would pick to pinch the crown come the end of the season.
Not only do the Spireites boast the joint-second-best attack in the division (38 goals), but they’ve practically perfected that knack for avoiding defeat that so often defines champions.
Save for a wobble away to Woking at the end of September, Rowe’s men are pristine this season and are currently unbeaten in 14 games, their longest run without recording a loss since 2006.
And while we’re counting positives, it could end up playing into Chesterfield’s favour that a number of games have been delayed until later in the year, as noted by Liam Norcliffe of the Derbyshire Times:
Chesterfield's postponed home match against Notts County has been rearranged for Tuesday, March 1. This means the #Spireites will have FIVE home games in a row at a crucial stage of the season.
Still, there’s no major value to be gleaned from their 11/8 odds as things stand—but the same can’t be said for 9/1 Boreham Wood down in fourth place.
While Luke Garrard’s side haven’t set things alight up top—their 28-goal haul is the lowest of any team among the current top eight—few teams can come close to their league low of just 13 goals conceded.
Most teams in the top half have played at least one match more, but winning their next fixture in hand would position last season’s 14th-place finishers just one point behind Chesterfield.
Fourth in the table but with just the fifth-best odds despite their domineering defence, the Wood could prove a dark horse as they chase a place in the Football League for the first time in their 74 years.
Underdogs capable of upsetting top-scorer Tshimanga
It’s that time of year when the National League can often be considered a key resource for Football League clubs looking to beef up squads, and Tshimanga was always going to attract interest.
That appears to be the case considering the Nottingham Post‘s suggestion that Championship clubs are circling, but with few clear indications of anyone making a concrete move.
Nevertheless, it’s a potential deal that could have far-reaching implications on the top-scorer race, with Chesterfield’s main man currently streaks ahead at 4/6 to collect the ‘Golden Boot’.
The Kinshasa-born crowd-pleaser netted 22 in 47 for Boreham Wood last season prior to his move to the Technique Stadium, and he’s now just four off that tally in 27 fewer games.
And yet rumours of a swift departure are enough to flag interest in Michael Cheek, who could become the first player to win back-to-back top-scorer prizes since the National League was reformatted:
2️⃣8️⃣ National League goals for Michael Cheek in 2021!
The Bromley frontman hasn’t quite been able to maintain his pace after stating the season with six goals in his first five games—and who can blame him—though he could still best last term’s winning tally of 21.
That’s not to suggest the 13/2 underdog is a shoo-in—particularly if Tshimanga sees out the season in Derbyshire—but he’s a natural alternative leading one of the league’s most capable attacking outfits.
2021-22 National League Outright Winner: Odds Leaders
Mark Bradshaw believes Curzon Ashton’s pre-season tour to Spain will ultimately prove to have been invaluable in helping his side compete with the National League North big-hitters.
