Saturday Preview: National League South

None of the top six were successful in midweek, even if all the sides looking for top spot didn’t play.

Chelmsford City almost were but after coming unstuck against Hampton late on, manager Rod Stringer saw the point as a positive - but he won’t this weekend when the Clarets welcome Weston-super-Mare.

“We didn’t do enough to win,” the manager said. “But it’s still early in the season and we’re top of the table. We need to win our home games and we’re looking to get back on track on Saturday.”

Dartford did win in midweek, 4-0 at Whitehawk, and their challenge comes in the form of Chippenham Town at Princes Park on Saturday. The Darts are now up to 6th in the table.

Havant manager Lee Bradbury will be wondering what if. His team’s late collapse at home to Truro has the boss cursing Westleigh Park.

But the Hawks are the best in the league away from home and thankfully for them they are on the road on Saturday as they go to Gloucester City.

Hemel Hempstead grabbed a much needed win in midweek but now Dean Brennan is demanding they follow that up by beating Braintree Town.

Wealdstone’s new manager Bobby Wilkinson is already seeing how tough the job is.

After crashing 5-1 at Weston on Tuesday he has demanded a response - and he says his players will be fully motivated to beat Bognor Regis Town this weekend.

St Albans City didn’t play on Tuesday and for the Saints players that little break may have come at the right time.

Having won their first six league games, they have now lost their last two. But they are still in third place and they can get things back on track if they are good enough to beat improving Eastbourne Borough at Clarence Park.

Concord Rangers are in the bottom three and they need to get a run together quickly according to manager Adam Flanagan.

He won’t need anyone to tell him how important it will be to get a result against Bath City on Saturday as the club looks to push themselves out of the bottom three places.

Hungerford, by contrast, are in great form as they have recovered well from the loss of manager Wilkinson and a number of their senior players.

They will want to make it four wins from four when Hampton & Richmond Borough face the first of two away games in 48 hours.

Truro City have had a great start to the season but Lee Hodges is demanding his players keep their eye on the ball.

Bottom markers Whitehawk visit - and if it goes to form the White Tigers will be pushing even closer to the top of the table but their manager Hodges knows his side must get the job done.

Welling United and Poole go to battle in a match that both sides really do need to win.

The pair are too close to comfort to the bottom as they both respect what three points could do to the outlook.

East Thurrock United are in second place and watched on with a smile as the midweek results filtered through.

But they need to keep winning themselves - John Coventry’s team travel to Oxford City looking to go top of the table should results again go their way.

National League South fixtures:
Chelmsford City v Weston super Mare
Concord Rangers v Bath City
Dartford v Chippenham
Gloucester City v Havant & Waterlooville
Hemel Hempstead v Braintree Town
Hungerford v Hampton & RB
Oxford City v East Thurrock United
St Albans City v Eastbourne
Truro City v Whitehawk
Wealdstone v Bognor Regis
Welling v Poole Town