Hereford current favourites to win play-offs

Hereford United are the current favourites to win the Conference play-offs and take a place in Division Two next season. This from Square Football:

The participants for the Conference play-offs are now decided and it will be two ex-League clubs taking on two sides trying to join the Football League for the first time. Hereford United and Halifax Town are the ones trying to return, while Grays Athletic and Morecambe aim to go higher than ever before.

Hereford are the favourites but the Bulls have bad memories of the play offs. Two seasons ago they were a distance ahead of anyone else after a dogged pursuit of champions Chester City but still exited at the semi-final stage. The same happened last season when Stevenage took them out.

Their opponents Morecambe were the last team to book a place in the play-offs and this is their first crack after two 7th place finishes in the previous two campaigns. The Lancashire club have been building for League status for some time and are unlikely to be overawed by the occasion, having finished the season with five wins out of six.

Halifax are attempting something unique as this would be the second time they have clambered out of the Conference - the Shaymen have twice dropped out of Football League since 1987 when automatic promotion was introduced.

The Yorkshire side face the current kings of knockout football Grays Athletic. Holders of the FA Trophy and once again in the Final, the Essex club have an exciting climax to their season and a promotion/FA Trophy 'Double' would be an amazing feat in their first season at this level. Their odds for promotion certainly seem the most attractive given their goal power.

Prices from Betfair:

Hereford United 15/8
Grays Athletic 2/1
Halifax Town 10/3
Morecambe 7/2

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