Grimsby Town faces a defining Christmas time as it tries to get its season back on track.

The Mariners have fallen in the National League standings after losing seven in their last eight games, including six in the league.

It’s a worrying race ahead of more tricky matches, which will happen quickly over the next few weeks.

With a division tighter than ever, Town’s opponents will at least retreat on points – and it’s up to them to capitalize.

Here’s a breakdown of how the Mariners ‘promotion rivals’ matchlists will look over the next few weeks.

Chesterfield

Notts County (H) – December 21

City of Halifax (H) – December 28

King’s Lynn Town (H) – January 1

A very happy Christmas for league leaders James Rowe, who do not have a Boxing Day game and do not have to leave North Derbyshire.

Their encounters against Notts and Halifax give Town a chance to regain some ground.

Boreham Wood

City of Grimsby (A) – December 21

Barnet (A) – December 26

Wealdstone (H) – December 28

Barnet (H) – January 2

Besides their trip to Blundell Park, Boreham Wood will enjoy their Christmas program.

Barnet is stuck in the middle of the board while Wealdstone stays at the bottom of the division.

Bromley

Southend (H) – December 26

Maidenhead (A) – December 28

Southend (A) – January 2.

Landes de Solihull (H) – January 8

One game less for the team currently in third place, with two games against a club battling relegation.

Fans of the city know very well how a trip to Maidenhead doesn’t always go as planned.

Wrexham

Landes de Solihull (H) – December 26

Altrincham (A) – December 28

Notts County (A) – January 2.

Not the prettiest fixtures for the high-spending outfit. Two tough away games, while Altrincham proved they can cause nosebleeds as well.

City of Halifax

Town of Grimsby (H) – December 26

Chesterfield (A) – December 28

City of Grimsby (A) – January 3

Without doubt the most delicate of the lot, with two big clashes against Paul Hurst’s team.

A trip to the league leaders could also make for another miserable year.

Notts County

Chesterfield (A) – December 21

King’s Lynn Town (A) – December 26

Wrexham (H) – January 2

No fixture sandwiched between Boxing Day and New Years for the county, giving them a nice break.

Two difficult encounters ending their three-game series.

Landes de Solihull

Wrexham (A) – December 26

Stockport County (H) – December 28

Bromley (A) – January 8

Neal Ardley’s side don’t have a midweek game before Christmas, nor a New Years game.

Overall, however, a very difficult trio. All three clubs hope to complete the play-offs this season.

City of Grimsby

Boreham Wood (H) – December 21

City of Halifax (A) – December 26

King’s Lynn Town H) – December 28

City of Halifax (H) – January 3

Three tough opponents for the Mariners, especially in their current form.

Realistically, seven points is the minimum they need to reverse the current course.

To analyse

All in all, it looks like Town, Solihull, Halifax and Wrexham have the toughest series of games.

Things are pretty quiet for Chesterfield and Boreham Wood.