Your Weekend Starts Here! So What's In Store On Saturday?

By Sam Elliott

There’s no doubt about it - the National League title race is the most exciting anywhere right now.

From Solihull Moors in first place to close season title favourites Salford City in fifth, there’s very little to choose. It’s anyone’s to win!

So where will the headlines be made this weekend and will we see someone make a big statement?

The team of the moment are undoubtedly Solihull. They went top of Tuesday, a year on from sitting in the division’s bottom four.

Could they even extend their two point advantage on Saturday? They are at home to a Barnet side who haven’t won in the league this calendar year.

Leyton Orient’s long stay at the top came to an end in midweek - they carry on their fight with a home game against Maidenhead, their manager Alan Devonshire returning to East London up the road from where he made his name.

Wrexham are right back in it after two wins in a row - if they win at Havant & Waterlooville this weekend they will really start believing. But Lee Bradbury’s Hawks are no fools on home turf and don’t lose often at Westleigh Park.

Salford aren’t scoring and that’s a real concern for manager Graham Alexander.

They face Dover Athletic, whose recovery has hit the buffers and they now haven’t won in five. Back in the bottom four, the Whites need a reaction as two out-of-form sides meet at the Peninsular Stadium.

They are level on points with AFC Fylde, themselves very much still in it.

Dave Challinor’s Coasters come up against Chesterfield who are up and running under John Sheridan. Looking tight at the back, they are out of the relegation zone but must be at their best to keep freescoring Fylde quiet - they’ve netted ten times in their past three games in all competitions.

Even sixth place Sutton United are still in sight of the leadership.

They have won six of their last eight in the National League and now have two home games in four days which could thrust them into the race. They start with the visit of Barrow on Saturday.

At the other end, Braintree Town will really begin to believe if they can knock Eastleigh off their stride in Hampshire.

Maidstone United must start winning. John Still is back on the sidelines when they go to Bromley, while Ebbsfleet United look to bounce back from their recent dip with a win at Harrogate Town.

Boreham Wood
still aren’t safe but they can go a long way to securing their status with a home with over improving Hartlepool United.

Aldershot Town haven’t won now for 16 matches - they are stuck in a rut and Gary Waddock says they’ve got to try and find a win from somewhere quickly.

Will it be their day at the Shay? FC Halifax await, and an away win could really drag Jamie Fullarton’s side into the mire.

Gateshead are only a point off the top seven and they take their play-off push to Dagenham.

Saturday’s National League fixtures:
AFC Fylde v Chesterfield
Boreham Wood v Hartlepool
Bromley v Maidstone United
Dagenham v Gateshead
Eastleigh v Braintree Town
FC Halifax Town v Aldershot
Harrogate Town v Ebbsfleet
Havant v Wrexham
Leyton Orient v Maidenhead
Salford City v Dover Athletic
Solihull Moors v Barnet
Sutton United v Barrow

Where next?

Sports And Howell Go Their Separate Ways Eastbourne Borough have parted company with manager Jamie Howell.
So What's In Store In The National League North On Saturday? The fixtures have fallen kindly in the National League North to give us a massive weekend of action.