After last weeks truncated schedule, the National League returns with a full programme on Saturday with plenty of action at both ends of the table…

Macclesfield Town vs Wrexham @ 12:30

The game of the day kicks off at 12:30 as 3rd placed Macclesfield take on 2nd placed Wrexham.  Both sides could top the table come 3pm, and indeed teatime, as is the nature of the tightness at the top.  The hosts are undefeated in five in the League, but will be disappointed in the three draws picked up in that period.  The visitors have four wins from the last five National League games, with four clean sheets, no surprise for the side that have conceded the fewest goals in the division (14).  However, scoring at the other end has been a problem with only the bottom four having scored fewer League goals.

Aldershot Town vs FC Halifax Town @ 15:00

Aldershot sit 4th and are one of four teams who could top the table at 5pm. They are undefeated in five in the League with four wins and four clean sheets in a row.  The visitors will have to be aware of The Shot’s prolific attack as well, with the joint highest number of goals scored in the division (37) alongside Dagenham & Redbridge.  The visitors have gone 11 League games without a win, taking only five points from a possible 33 and 10 from 33 away.

Barrow vs Dagenham & Redbridge @ 15:00

The hosts have undergone a change in fortunes under the guidance of Ady Pennock and find themselves 18th following a run of four League wins in six matches, but have taken a step back having lost the last two without scoring. As mentioned previously, John Still’s Dagenham are prolific going forward, and return after a break hoping to build on three straight League victories, sitting 6th.

Boreham Wood vs AFC Fylde @ 15:00

The two sides return to National League action with Boreham Wood sitting just outside the playoffs in 8th. The hosts are in the middle of a run of 10 undefeated in the League but will be disappointed with 6 draws in that run.  After their impressive draw with Wigan last Friday, The Coasters are aiming to build on their last two League wins and two clean sheets, but have one eye on their FA Cup replay on Tuesday. The visitors have struggled on their introduction to the National League, sitting in 16th, but have three games in hand on many.

Chester vs Solihull Moors @ 15:00

Chester return after a break from action with boss Marcus Bignot taking on his former charges.  This is a real six pointer with the hosts 22nd and the visitors bottom.  Chester are six without a League win, with three points from a possible 18 and only two League wins at home. Solihull may be bottom, but are only two off their opponents, albeit having played a game more.  They will look to build on last week’s win against Leyton Orient, but boss Mark Yates will have concerns at both ends of the pitch with no team having conceded more National League goals (41) and only Chester, Torquay and Guiseley having scored the same or fewer (21).

Dover Athletic vs Hartlepool Utd @ 15:00

The Whites come into the weekend in 5th and are looking to get back on track following four League games without victory, including last Saturday’s derby draw with Bromley.  Defence is the host’s strength with only Wrexham conceding fewer than Dover’s 17 League goals, but Chris Kinnear will be worried about only scoring three in the last four National League matches. Opponents Hartlepool are the definition of middle of the road, having an away record of won four, drawn four, lost three in the division and a goal difference of zero across all League matches (24 scored, 24 against).  They will be looking for a little bit of relief after losing their last two in the League.

Eastleigh vs Bromley @ 15:00

The Spitfires have struggled this season and are 19th, having gone six without a League win, with three draws. Visitors Bromley arrive on the back of last week’s draw with Kent rivals Dover and are 7th, with only one loss in the last six in the division.  However, this hides a mixed bag of results with only two wins in that period, both against teams in the bottom seven.

Ebbsfleet Utd vs Guiseley @ 15:00

The Fleet sit in mid-table, and face lowly Guiseley after a break from action following their 3-0 victory against Hartlepool.  The hosts have only lost twice at home in the League this season, but the headline stat is 10 draws in their 22 matches.  Visitors Guiseley return to the nitty gritty of a relegation battle following last week’s FA Cup exploits, looking to recover from three National League losses in a row, which stemmed a good run of results.  The visitors sit four points off safety with two games in hand on 20th placed Leyton Orient, but must be worried about winning only one League game away, with six points from a possible 30, and the lowest number of goals scored in the division (19 from 21 matches).

Gateshead vs Woking @ 15:00

Gateshead fell foul of the Football League’s heavy scorers Luton in the Cup last weekend, and return to the bread and butter sitting 15th as Steve Watson’s side look to bounce back from disappointing results against Barrow and Solihull, which followed a run of three wins in four League games with four clean sheets.  Woking were a National League success story in the FA Cup, earning a replay with Peterborough, but potentially have conflicting priorities with Tuesday’s replay to consider along with some poor League form that has seen The Cards record only one win in seven League games, threatening to derail playoff hopes.  Away League form has also been less that desirable with seven losses from 11 matches.

Leyton Orient vs Sutton Utd @ 15:00

Justin Edinburgh takes charge of The O’s at home for the first time, with the Brisbane Road side now winless in 15 League games, taking only five points in that period.  The run was made worse by a loss to bottom placed Solihull last time out, and Orient will want to seal up a defence that has conceded 40 League goals, only one fewer than Solihull’s 41. Things don’t get any easier with top of the table Sutton in town.  The Ambers have four wins in their last five League games, with two clean sheets in a row and Paul Doswell’s side only losing two away in the National League all season.

Maidenhead Utd vs Maidstone Utd @ 15:00

Alan Devonshire’s side are 14th, six without a League win and home form in the division reading won four, drawn four, lost three. Visitors Maidstone return to League action following their loss to MK Dons in the FA Cup, and will be looking to rectify a couple of 4-0 losses against Boreham Wood and Tranmere.  The Stones are amazingly yet to draw away in the National League this season, with six wins and four losses.

Tranmere Rovers vs Torquay United @ 15:00

Tranmere are finally showing some promise and come back from a break with three wins in the last five League matches, also picking up a draw in that time.  A stingy defence is the order of the day with only 18 National League goals conceded.  Also showing defensive solidarity are visitors Torquay who arrive on the back of three consecutive League clean sheets and impressive results against Sutton, Aldershot and Leyton Orient. The Gulls are now only three off safety, unthinkable in the first couple of months of the season, but boss Gary Owers will be concerned about only scoring 21 in 23 National League matches.