Something For The Weekend: National League South

OK, we’re all weather watching right now. It’s cold. Very cold in fact. But with a big weekend of football on the horizon let’s have faith that the thaw will set in and we will get a full compliment of matches.

Saturday’s National League South programme is all about reactions.

Can leaders Dartford recover from being taken apart at St Albans City? Will Hampton put on a show of strength after their incredible unbeaten run was ended last time out?

We have picked out three matches to warm you up as - hopefully - a full programme returns on Saturday.

Big games at the top and the bottom mean it’s hotting up. Now let’s hope the temperature does the same! Here's our three to watch this weekend.

Chippenham Town v Bognor Regis

This ticks all the boxes of a relegation six pointer. The winner will feel their season is kick started - the loser knows the long cold winter will be extended even further.

Bognor’s season isn’t what they expected having finally made it back after winning the Ryman Premier play-offs. They haven’t won in the National League South since the middle of November and only once since September.

Chippenham’s form isn’t an awful lot better. They are fourth from bottom and despite claiming good points from Dartford and Braintree in January, Mark Colliers’ team are winless since the Whitehawk victory in early December. It’s a very big game for both.

Dartford v Chelmsford City

After saying goodbye to a wretched January, Chelmsford hope victory over Chippenham last weekend has helped them turn a corner.

These two were hotly tipped to slog it out for the title but it is Dartford who lead the way. Victory for Chelmsford at Princes Park would throw the cat firmly amongst the pigeons.

All eyes will be on Tony Burman’s team as the rest of the league look for mental scars from last weekend’s 4-0 thrashing at St Albans City. Let’s see what they are made of.

Hampton & RB v Whitehawk

It’s not only Dartford who are looking for a reaction on Saturday. Alan Dowson knew this day would come.

Hampton’s incredible undefeated run of 21 matches was ended at Bath City last Saturday. For manager Dowson, whenever that moment arrived, it was all about what happened next. He feels the team’s response to a first defeat since August will offer clues to what’s ahead.

Bottom of the league maybe, but the Beavers really don’t want to be playing Whitehawk. After putting five past Weston-super-Mare last week and starting 2018 like a team going for the title, the greatest of escapes suddenly has legs. It’s a feature game across our social media platforms.

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