Preview: Vanarama National League

By David Richardson

There's a full set of Vanarama National League fixtures this Saturday - we've inspected the action coming up...

In-form Maidstone United host Mark Yates' new side Solihull Moors at the Gallagher Stadium. The Stones have won their last three league matches and sit fifth while their visitors are rock bottom of the division.

All is not well at John Still's Dagenham and Redbirdge, who have lost their scoring touch and won once in their last six. The same would have been said for their opponents Guiseley a couple of months ago but since the arrival of Paul Cox, their season is beginning to be turned around. They moved out of the relegation spots last week and beat Accrington Stanley on penalties in the FA Cup on Tuesday.

Leaders Dover Athletic are unbeaten in nine National League games and head to managerless Leyton Orient after they parted ways with Steve Davis in mid-week. Ross Embleton and Dean Brill will take charge of first team affairs while their search for a new boss continues.

Macclesfield Town returned to winning ways last weekend and now they face a resilient Boreham Wood side currently unbeaten in seven league games.

Wrexham return to action against Ebbsfleet United following an extended break after beating rivals Chester on BT Sport ten days ago. The Blues travel to Neil Smith's sixth-placed Bromley.

Paul Doswell hasn't seen his Sutton United lose in the National League for eight games which has kept them up at the top in fourth. In contrast, they'll be visited by a FC Halifax Town side winless in their previous seven.

There's a big clash in the bottom half as Barrow, one place inside the relegation zone, visit Eastleigh, in 17th.

Improving Tranmere Rovers will hope Wednesday's 5-0 home drubbing by Peterborough United in the FA Cup won't effect them when they head to Steve Watson's Gateshead.

The National League's top scorers Aldershot Town make the trip to the division's fourth best defence in Hartlepool United while local rivals Woking, fresh from winning 3-0 at League One's Bury on Tuesday, host Maidenhead United.

Second from bottom Torquay United will hope for a much better first-half performance than last week which infuriated manager Gary Owers on their trip to AFC Fylde.

Saturday's National League fixtures:
Bromley v Chester
Dagenham v Guiseley
Eastleigh v Barrow
Fylde v Torquay
Gateshead v Tranmere
Hartlepool v Aldershot
Leyton Orient v Dover
Macclesfield v Boreham Wood
Maidstone v Solihull
Sutton v Halifax
Woking v Maidenhead
Wrexham v Ebbsfleet

For more coverage, reaction and some of the best moments from games going throughout the season, head to our social media channels on Twitter, Facebook and now Instagram.

Where next?

Saturday’s Round Up: Vanarama National League In Ross Embleton’s first game in charge as interim head coach, Leyton Orient held leaders Dover Athletic to a 1-1 draw at the Matchroom Stadium on Saturday.
Preview: National League North There is a full fixture list in the National League North with plenty on the line going into these matches.