Back With A Bang As National League Football Returns!

The FA Trophy took centre-stage last Saturday and with the FA Cup and freezing conditions meaning many sides weren’t in league action at the start of December, it’s high time we offered a little refresher.

You won’t need a guide to Chesterfield’s season with the table toppers boasting a healthy lead as they still fight on three fronts going into the New Year.

The gap is already eight points but those hoping to turn it into a real fight in 2024 will look at their trip to Hartlepool United with hope that an eighth win in nine league matches may not be forthcoming.

Southend United are the only side to defeat them for months and the Spireites will be thinking they can repeat that trick and take down their nearest challengers. Bromley are at Roots Hall and their away form is starting to pick up as they slipped nicely into second spot.

There’s a big live TNT Sports game as two big play-off contenders collide. Gateshead and FC Halifax Town take on the screen test after both have differing FA Trophy fortunes. The Heed hit Rochdale for five while holders Halifax went out to Altrincham.

Barnet had a Tuesday night to forget in the FA Cup, Newport County picked the Bees apart at the Hive. They’ve not won in the league since October and they need to show everyone they are up for the promotion fight at Ebbsfleet, who one minute thrash the big hitters then the next come unstuck against the bottom club.

Micky Mellon knows Oldham Athletic can’t let them gap between themselves and the top seven lengthen. It currently stands at five points, meaning their visit to Solihull Moors is already crucial with a busy festive period looming.

Rochdale are one place outside the play-off places and host York City as they try to put their Trophy humbling to Gateshead to the back of their minds.

Maidenhead United sit second in the six-game form guide but Kidderminster Harriers are finding a bit of rhythm at last and climbed off the bottom last time out.

AFC Fylde have had a year of mixed emotions but don’t want to end a great 2023 bottom of the table. They hope their climb begins at Altrincham, who have only lost once at home this season.

Dagenham must do without Myles Weston, who has agreed a move to Bromley. Ben Strevens’ team take on Wealdstone in a London derby and just a point separates the two sides.

Woking’s season got even worse on Tuesday. Leading Weston-super-Mare 2-0 in the FA Trophy, they bowed out of the competition the club loves and the managerless Cards have now lost seven in a row. They could find themselves in the bottom four unless they win at Dorking Wanderers.

Aldershot’s reward to stunning Stockport County is a heated Hampshire derby - and they owe Eastleigh one after their nightmare back in front of the TNT Sports cameras back in August.

There’s three precious points on offer down the bottom as Boreham Wood host Oxford City with both looking to pull away from trouble in the weeks ahead.

For all Saturday’s fixtures, click here.