Preview: Vanarama National League South

The Iron are three points clear in the Vanarama National League South thanks to back-to-back 3-0 wins over Poole Town and Bognor Regis.

They will fancy their chances against a side who haven’t had much to shout about on the road this season, Weston-super-Mare.

But Braintree manager Bradley Quinton warned: “People will look at the table and perhaps expect a home win but this division is about so much more than just turning up and winning. We will have to be totally on our game as Weston always score goals.”

Second place Dartford know they need to pounce on any mistake - a home game with Gloucester City, fresh from the Tigers’ victory over Whitehawk, will “present a very big challenge” according to their manager Tony Burman.

Top of the form guide are Hampton & Richmond Borough, they face Poole Town knowing a victory is likely to result in a play-off place on Saturday night for the first time this season. Can the Beavers make it six from six?

Truro City are now up to third after they got back on track in fine fashion with a fantastic win over Dartford. Now they face the challenge of a trip to Hungerford, still hurting from a very late loss at Wealdstone to former manager Bobby Wilkinson.

The Stones themselves face an Oxford City team suddenly thriving - what a difference two weeks make in football.

Hemel Hempstead and Welling United are two of the surprise packages and we will be at Vauxhall Road to see who comes out on top between the teams in the top seven places.

Ahead of winless Whitehawk’s game with Chelmsford manager Steve King said: “We think we are getting closer and closer to that first victory and when we finally get it we feel we can build some serious momentum.”

St Albans City and Bognor Regis aren’t having a good time of it lately but a win for either at Clarence Park could set their season off on the right path.

Saints manager Ian Allinson has already called it a “big, big match” as the one time leaders look for a result.

Eastbourne Borough also need to get things going again if they want to be involved in the race for promotion.

Victory at home to a Bath City side who secured their first win under the stewardship of Jerry Gill last weekend would be most welcome - but they won’t have it their own way after what the new boss called “a near perfect performance” last week.

Bath defeated East Thurrock 4-0 of course and their manager John Coventry will demand a reaction to that when they host Havant & Waterloooville... but as everyone knows the Hawks are one of the country’s best sides away from home and are chasing win number six already on the road.

Finally, Concord Rangers face Chippenham Town with both teams looking for points for different reasons.

The Essex club will be happy with survival but Mark Collier’s Bluebirds may fancy their play-off chances having settled in nicely following their Southern League title success.

For more news, reaction and action from across the National League, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

PHOTO BY ED BOYDEN