Best bets and predictions for the 2024-25 National League playoffs: Minstermen can hold their nerve

Best bets for National League promotion

York to win promotion
2pts 11-8 general

Southend to win promotion
1pt 12-1 bet365

Andrew Wilsher's National League playoff predictions

The National League playoffs get underway with six teams vying to reach the Football League.

York will feel hard done by having amassed 96 points yet still not won the league but they can make amends by winning the playoffs.

The Minstermen finished the campaign like a train, picking up 22 points from their final eight games, but crucially earned a bye through the first round by finishing second and will have home advantage in their semi-final.

Striker Ollie Pearce comfortably won the division’s Golden Boot with 31 goals as York found the net 95 times this season – the second-most in the league and 19 more than third-best Gateshead.

The Minstermen will host either Oldham or Halifax, both of whom look well out of form. Oldham won just four of their last 17 National League matches, while Halifax won just two of their last ten. Neither of those sides should cause York any problems.

Forest Green also stumbled over the finishing line after looking excellent for most of the campaign. They do have the experience and ability to win promotion but look too short in the betting.

Rochdale could be a threat, having been consistent all season and boasting strong attacking options in Devante Rodney and Kairo Mitchell. Rodney has found the net eight times in Dale’s last nine games.

But it could be worth a small investment in seventh-placed Southend winning promotion as they look much too big at 12-1. The Shrimpers struggled early in the campaign but eventually figured it out and have lost just twice over the last three months.

Impressively they kept clean sheets in each of their last four games and could be hitting form at the right time. If Southend can get past Rochdale they could have a decent chance.

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