Saturday Preview: Vanarama National League South

Dan Harding will be hoping things begin to turn on Saturday and the temporary boss enjoys a home start. The Hawks want to climb off the foot of the table but they won’t be able to achieve that even if they do beat Poole Town at the Enclosed Ground with second from bottom Weston four points ahead of them.

The Seagulls will hope to fare better than Whitehawk did against Havant and Waterlooville on Monday.

Lee Bradbury’s team have yet to let in a goal away from home so Weston know they will have to be at their best.

Wealdstone are under a new manager also but they are in the bottom three and need three points to get their season started.

But they couldn’t have picked a more demanding fixture with East Thurrock United, on their own pitch, sitting pretty in third place.

Manager Bobby Wilkinson said: “We’ve got to go there and battle like our life depends upon it.”

The Rocks could go top of results go their way – but leaders Chelmsford will surely have something to say about that and they play Bognor Regis while second place St Albans have been urged to react instantly from the loss of their winning run.

Ian Allinson’s team play Gloucester City in what will be an emotional day at Clarence Park.

Hungerford Town face Concord Rangers with both sides knowing three points will push them further towards the top seven.

Bath City are the league’s inconsistent side and know they need to beat Welling United to set the record straight.

Can Hampton build on their success over the Wings? The Beavers are at home to Dartford who need to answers the questions a first defeat brings.

Eastbourne Borough are improving and Chippenham manager Mark Collier will know his side are in for a tough game when they head to Priory Lane.

Truro City, along with St Albans City and East Thurrock, are another surprise package.

Dean Brennan’s Hemel Hempstead await tomorrow and the Tudors will leapfrog them into the playoff places if they are successful at Vauxhall Road.

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