The relegation battle has looked the same for the majority of the season: Farsley, Altrincham, Weymouth and Halifax fighting to stay up, with Droylsden, Stafford and Northwich. But what’s this?

Anyone who had not checked the league table for some time will be forgiven for thinking there is a misprint. Northwich in 19th?! How did that happen?!

But it is indeed true. Dino Maarmia is orchastrating the great escape in South Cheshire. After 30 games, the Vics had just 17 points, dreadful to say the least. However, a ten-match unbeaten run has seen them bag 22 points, and the club are now situated one point and two places above the drop zone.

The form can be put down to the SAS partnership up front – Lee Steele and Darren Stamp. The strikers have been instrumental in Northwich’s run of form (the run coincides with Stamp’s arrival on loan from Halifax). Stamp has recently been recalled by Halifax, who hope he can perform similar heroics in their battle, but the star of the show is Steele.

The former Leyton Orient man has plenty of experience, and his 10 goals in 10 games have been at the focal point of the revival. He scored again in Saturday’s 4-3 thriller against Stafford, a result that saw the Vics move out the relegation zone for the first time this season.

Maarmia and Steele bagged the manager and player of the month awards respectively, and they will need to keep up their high standards to make sure survival is achieved.

With Halifax in free-fall since their 10-point deduction for entering administration, Weymouth faltering badly and Farsley and Altrincham increasingly inconsistant, the form team and form striker have enough to stay up, and I think they will do so, despite a tough run in (including Exeter, Torquay, Stevenage and Cambridge).

And with a run-in like that, it will make the escape even greater.

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