The Best Of Boxing Day In The National League South

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any more exciting, chuck in a number of local derby games, a meeting of two of the league leaders and big Boxing Day crowds and you’ll get a flavour of what’s ahead.

We’ve picked out what we think are the three big games from another fantastic programme.

It’s almost as exciting as Christmas Day itself!

Braintree Town v Chelmsford City

It’s fair to say these two clubs aren’t the best of friends. Like all good healthy rivalries, it stretches way back. It’s more than just a county thing. Much more.

But finding themselves playing in the same league for quite some time will just add even more spice to this one. That’s before you factor in Rod Stringer returning to Cressing Road for the first time since taking the Iron out of the league in 2011.

Then there is the small matter of the league table. Forgetting there are three others for one moment, these are two joint leaders.

Braintree had the same situation on Saturday, and claimed a valiant draw with Dartford. Now it’s the Clarets, who are back in form and seemingly over their rocky spell. This could be very entertaining.

Hampton & RB v Wealdstone

If two is company, but three’s a crowd, just what is five sitting atop the National League South? The Beavers’ failure to win at Oxford City on Saturday means they missed the chance to take the Christmas number one slot.

What Wealdstone would give to be joint the joint leadership party. Bobby Wilkinson’s team look excellent one minute, and substandard the next. Beating leaders Braintree before losing to Concord and St Albans sums up their December thus far. Which Stones side will turn up at the Beveree?

Well Hampton will take some beating. They have won eight from nine league games and are undefeated since late August. Alan Dowson will want to carry that incredible run on.

Gloucester City v Oxford City

This game doesn’t automatically scream out Boxing Day big one but there prize of offer for the winner is better than anyone sitting under a tree.

Three points for either side will give their survival hopes a big shot in the arm. Both are hovering just outside the bottom three.

Gloucester and their new manager Marc Richards took a point from their trip to Truro City on his bow and they need to follow that up at Evesham United.

Oxford fended off a Hampton side looking for league win number nine in a row and the goalless draw was “proof they can cut it against the top sides” according to their manager Mark Jones.

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