Football at the Step 2 level is basically a war of attrition. Honestly, if you aren’t keeping an eye on the national league south standings right now, you’re missing the most chaotic promotion scrap in years. As of mid-January 2026, the table looks like a jigsaw puzzle that someone’s half-finished and then stepped on.
The Chaos at the Top: Worthing vs. The World
Worthing sits at the summit. For now. With 49 points from 25 games, they’ve managed to carve out a slender lead, but it’s far from comfortable. They’ve bagged 61 goals—comfortably the best attack in the league—but their defense is, well, leaky. 30 goals conceded isn't exactly "shut the door" material.
Brad Dolaghan is the man of the hour there. He’s already notched 18 or 19 goals depending on which stat-sheet you trust more, and he’s the main reason the Rebels are dreaming of Step 1. But look at the chasing pack. Weston-super-Mare is only a point behind with a game in hand. One win for the Seagulls and the whole hierarchy flips.
The Play-off Logjam
It’s getting crowded. Torquay United and Hornchurch are both sitting on 46 points. Torquay, led by Paul Wotton, has that "big club" feel, and they’ve finally started to find some consistency after a shaky start to the winter.
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Then you’ve got:
- Hemel Hempstead Town: 45 points.
- Dorking Wanderers: 44 points.
- Horsham: 42 points.
Horsham is an interesting case. They’ve played 27 games—more than anyone else in the top ten—which means they’re likely to slide down when those games in hand are actually played. They’re also distracted by a massive FA Trophy run, having just drawn Scunthorpe United in the fifth round.
Understanding the National League South Standings Middle Ground
The middle of the table is where dreams go to die, or where late-season surges begin. Maidstone United and Ebbsfleet United are hovering just outside the play-offs. Ebbsfleet is particularly dangerous because they’ve only played 23 games. If they win those games in hand, they aren't just in the play-offs; they’re challenging for the title.
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Maidenhead United, relegated from the National League last year, hasn't quite found the "bounce back" factor yet. They’re sitting 10th. It’s a tough league to get out of. Just ask Torquay or Yeovil from previous seasons.
The Relegation Scrap: Who's Going Down?
At the bottom, it’s getting grim. Chippenham Town is currently propping up the table with 20 points. They did manage a 2-1 win over Slough Town on January 13th, thanks to goals from Tom Owen-Evans and Billy Phillips, which gave them a tiny glimmer of hope. But they’re still four points adrift of safety.
Eastbourne Borough and Enfield Town are also stuck in the mud on 21 points. It’s a long way back. Hampton & Richmond Borough currently occupies the last relegation spot (21st) with 24 points.
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One thing people often get wrong about the national league south standings is assuming the bottom four are doomed by February. In this league, a three-game winning streak can move you from 22nd to 16th.
Why the Points Gap Matters
The gap between 12th place (Dagenham & Redbridge) and the relegation zone is only 9 points. That sounds like a lot. It isn't. Not when there are still 20 odd games to play for some teams. Dagenham, another team that dropped down recently, has struggled for identity. Even with Andy Carroll leading the line and chipping in with 6 goals, they haven't been able to string results together.
What to Watch For Next
The upcoming fixtures on January 17, 2026, are going to shift things again.
- Worthing vs. Horsham: A massive Sussex derby. If Worthing loses and Weston-super-Mare beats Chelmsford, we have a new leader.
- Torquay vs. Maidstone: This is a heavyweight clash. Both teams have the resources of National League clubs.
- Hornchurch vs. Eastbourne Borough: A classic "top vs. bottom" tie that usually ends in an upset.
If you’re tracking the national league south standings for betting or just pure fandom, watch the "Games Played" column. It’s the most deceptive part of the table right now. Ebbsfleet and Weston-super-Mare are the ones with the real power because they have the matches in hand to leapfrog the frontrunners.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep a close eye on the injury reports for Worthing’s Brad Dolaghan and Torquay’s Jordan Young. These individuals are carrying their teams' promotion hopes on their backs. If either of them hits a dry spell or picks up a knock, the standings will look very different by the time March rolls around. Check the official National League website every Tuesday and Saturday night—it's the only way to keep up with the madness.