Saturday Preview: Vanarama National League South

After the FA Cup break, it’s back to business for clubs on Saturday and there’s a fantastic programme in store for a division that has started as it means to go on!

Top on goal difference is Dartford. Tony Burman is worried by the amount of draws his side have been getting and he wants three points from their trip to Weston-super-Mare.

“Weston have picked up a bit lately in the league and had some decent results,” Burman said. “We know they’ve got some good players and we’ve always had good games down there.”

But game of the day no doubt comes in Essex where East Thurrock United, in third, welcome second place Truro City.

There is no doubt that these two are the surprise packages of the division and the winner knows they will go top if the Darts don’t win in Somerset.

Steve King’s first league game as Whitehawk manager is a tough one and St Albans City, also joint leaders with 22 points, visit Sussex.

Just a point off the pace is Chelmsford City and thanks to a fantastic offer, fans can pay whatever they wish to see the game at Tatnum.

Poole boss Tom Killick said: ““If we can replicate the performance we produced at Salisbury against Chelmsford then hopefully we are capable of getting a positive result.”

Braintree in sixth host Hungerford, while Havant & Waterlooville need to get their home form to where it should be - they welcome Welling United.

Bath City’s first league game without manager Gary Owers sees the Romans play at home to a suddenly in-form Wealdstone.

“We knows this is going to be our biggest test for quite a few weeks,” said Stones boss Bobby Wilkinson.

City lost striker Marvin Morgan to Hampton & Richmond and Beavers manager Alan Dowson can’t wait to see the forward in his club’s colours.

He won’t have to wait long after doing the deal last night - Hampton are at home to struggling Concord Rangers.

Five league defeats from six has Bognor Regis Town a bit concerned but they can begin their climb back up the table by beating Gloucester City at Nyewood Lane this weekend.

Elsewhere, Eastbourne Borough meet Oxford City and Hemel Hempstead know they could well be sitting in a place off place at 5pm on Saturday night if they manage to come away from Chippenham Town with three points.