The race for promotion from EFL League Two is certainly an interesting one, so, over the final third of the season, we’ll take an occasional look at how the runners-and-riders are getting on, in what is a tight, top ten, and Stuart Maynard’s Notts County are right in the mix.

Saturday would see County without a game, they having dropped a 1-0 reverse away to Port Vale last Thursday night, so sides around them in the league standings had the chance to make moves in what is a fantastic, game of chess.

At present there’s seven points splitting second place AFC Wimbledon, and ninth place Grimsby Town, Chesterfield and Bromley pulling up the rear a further seven back and out of the picture, for now at least.

With Walsall holding an eight-point advantage at the top, getting back on track with a 3-1 home win over Chesterfield, following a mixed run of late, Johnnie Jackson’s AFC Wimbledon (unbeaten in ten, back to 21 December loss to Chesterfield; 55pts) side are into second place, with a game in hand, following a fourth successive clean sheet, and sixth in eight outings this year.

Owen Goodman and his well-marshalled defence holding court at one end, Matty Stevens (pictured, courtesy of Isa Dabrowska) continues to fire the Dons to an increasingly expected promotion, League Two’s top scorer netting his sixteenth of the season (twenty in all competitions), dribbling into the opposition box and drilling home, low, into the net of promotion rivals, Salford City (one win in last six), sealing a 1-0 win.

Graham Alexander’s Bradford City (two defeats in their last dozen, to Wimbledon and Notts County; 54pts) slipped into third place, despite finishing with ten-men, in their goalless draw away to Newport County; on the plus side, the Bantams have not conceded in their last three outings (two wins and a draw) after their narrow loss, at Wimbledon, at the start of the month.

County (53pts) slipped to fourth, a point behind the Bantams, and two off the Dons, whilst Port Vale (unbeaten in last seven; 52pts) are into sixth after their narrow win over their promotion rivals on Thursday.

Grant McCann’s Doncaster Rovers (lost last two; 52pts) are in sixth place after losing 2-1 at home to a Grimsby Town (won last three; 48pts) side who strengthened ninth place on Saturday; Rob Street headed a late consolation for the hosts after Justin Obikwu, and an own-goal, either side of the interval, gave the Mariners maximum points.

Crewe Alexandra (six without a win; 49pts) have played a game or two more than those around them, Lee Bell’s side sitting in the last play-off spot, in seventh place; Saturday would also see them involved in a goalless draw, this at home to Gillingham.

On the fringes of the play-offs are the pairing of Salford City and Grimsby Town, Karl Robinson and David Artell’s respective sides tied on 48pts apiece.

Of their fellow promotion rivals, Maynard’s high-flying County side, will play the Dons, and the Mariners, away, in the middle of March, before that however, it’s a pair of back-to-back home games to close out February.

Tuesday (18 February) will see mid-table Colchester United (unbeaten in their last six) travel to Meadow Lane, whilst Saturday (22 February) sees the visit of third bottom Tranmere Rovers (winless in their last eight), as the Magpies look to re-enter the automatic promotion places.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @Official_NCFC Alassana Jata has scored vital goals in Notts promotion push this season.