Something For The Weekend: National League South

The National League South bursts back into the scene this Saturday, and how we’ve missed it.

Midweek wins for Hemel, Gloucester and Wealdstone kept things ticking over but there should hopefully be a full programme to get our teeth into this weekend.

Dartford still lead the way and will fancy their chance of seeing off Poole Town, but they face a side sitting third from bottom and who need the points.

As always, we like to start the build-up early and offer you the three games to keep an eye out for.

What’s going to happen though is anyone’s guess. We’ll keep you fully up to speed on Saturday.

Oxford City v Havant & Waterlooville

When two form sides come together, there’s often a predictable outcome. But with confidence flowing in either camp there’s little chance of a draw being played for.

Havant with ten points from their last two games have the title firmly in their sights. With just one defeat now since September, if the Hawks win their games in hand they will be leading the way.

But their rivals with this this is a game they can drop points in. Oxford City have won their last three in the National League South - all against promotion hopefuls with Truro City, Chelmsford and Hemel Hempstead falling by the wayside.

Braintree Town v Wealdstone

If - and it’s a big if - Wealdstone are going to do what they have been threatening all season long and burst into the play-offs, then one of the sides they will need to dislodge they meet on Saturday.

Braintree hold the final promotion spot and their form isn’t good. Just a four point return from a possible 18 is not what Bradley Quinton’s team would have predicted at the turn on the year.

The Stones are 12th but victory at Cressing Road changes the view. Bobby Wilkinson says he wants the talking to stop and for his team to put together the kind of run which can carry them into the top seven in the final two months. A win this weekend and tongues will be wagging.

Hampton & RB v Weston-super-Mare

Weston-super-Mare have quietly gone about their business in the past few month. Now they’ve gone from a team meandering the lower half of the table to one with a genuine shot of the play-offs.

They don’t seem to have been hindered by the sale of top scorer Dayle Grubb, either. Within a win of the top seven and with a game in hand, even with iffy February results, means they can’t be discounted.

For Hampton, they know they need to keep the pressure up. Not at their sparkling best lately, a narrow home win over Bognor is their only three point haul since the end of January. They need a win to keep the heat of Dartford and Havant.

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