Action in the FA Trophy means that there are only five fixtures in the National League on Saturday, but there promises to be plenty of entertainment on show as the season moves into February…

AFC Fylde vs Eastleigh @15:00

A clash between two sides prolific in front of goal, Fylde are the League’s top scorers with 54 in 31.  After shock defeat away to Woking last Saturday ended a run of seven undefeated in the division, with six wins, The Coasters sit 9th, two points off the playoffs.  Fylde will be difficult to beat on home territory, only losing two at Mill Farm in the League.  Visitors Eastleigh are joint second, alongside Aldershot, in the National League scoring charts, having scored 49 in 31, but have conceded almost as many.  The Spitfires are 12th, five points off the hosts, following a great run which has seen them undefeated in seven National League games since Andy Hessenthaler took charge of the first team, picking up 17 points.  Away form in the division reads five wins, five draws, five losses.

FC Halifax Town vs Dagenham & Redbridge @15:00

Halifax’s loss at home to Leyton Orient on Tuesday extended their winless League run to six, with only two points gained.  The Shaymen slipped to 19th, with manager Billy Heath departing the club soon after.  The hosts are four points above the drop zone, and have a division record of five home wins, four draws and six losses. Visitors Dagenham have now suffered three League losses in a row, culminating in a 3-1 home loss to resurgent Solihull last weekend.  The Daggers, so recently in the playoffs, are now down in 10th, five points away, and will have to improve their away record with only three League wins.  The visitors score a lot of goals (48 in 31 League games), but have conceded 40 – defence may be even more of a problem with Kevin Lokko recalled by Stevenage.

Guiseley vs Wrexham @15:00

Hosts Guiseley are 23rd, nine points off Barrow in 20th and will need to improve a record of three League losses in a row and five without a win if they want to pull themselves closer to safety.  Home hasn’t been a fortress for The Lions, with only two League wins, but they are difficult to beat, with only four losses and seven draws.  Guiseley have problems at both ends of the pitch, tied 2nd last on League goals scored (27) and conceding exactly double, a division high.  As a result, The Lions are tied with Torquay for the worst goal difference in the National League. Visitors Wrexham pose a massive challenge, sitting 3rd, three points off top spot, with superior goal difference to leaders Macclesfield.  In fact, with the top two not in action on Saturday, The Dragons could pull themselves to top of the pile.  Back to back League draws, including going scoreless at Gateshead on Tuesday, makes it seven undefeated in the League.  The visitors have conceded a League low 24 in 31 matches and have improved their goals scored to 35, with 12 in the last six.  Guiseley’s hopes rest on the visitor’s less than stellar away record in the division, winning six, drawing four and losing five.

Torquay vs Barrow @15:00

A real relegation six pointer if ever there was one!  Torquay are rock bottom of the National League, 10 points off visitors Barrow in 20th, but with The Bluebirds having two games in hand.  Two points taken from the last six matches, with only two home League wins in 15 (with eight losses) point to a team who will need to have a massive turnaround to survive.  The Gulls have scored a League low 25 in 31 marches, sharing the worst goal difference with Guiseley by virtue of conceding a massive 52.  The hosts will also have to do without first choice goalkeeper Ryan Clarke who was substituted last weekend with an injury that will keep him out for a couple of weeks – Gary Owers will hope that Vincent Dorel will be a capable replacement.  Visitors Barrow are a point above the relegation zone with two games in hand on Solihull in 21st.  The Bluebirds have only played two League games this year due to postponements, drawing both against high flying Tranmere and Wrexham.  However, it is four without a win in the divison, and only four away League wins from 14.

Tranmere Rovers vs Ebbsfleet Utd @15:00

Tranmere are 5th, only in the playoffs by a point, but equally only five off top spot.  Rovers are four undefeated in the League after being shocked by Fylde on New Years Day, and boast an imperious home League record with 10 wins, two draws and only three losses.  The hosts also have the best goal difference in the division, having scored 48 and conceded only 30 in 31 matches.  Visitors Ebbsfleet are 11th, eight points off the hosts, and seven off the playoffs.  Five points from the last six matches tells the story of a Fleet side that have fallen away of late – last week’s loss at home to Boreham Wood caused Daryl McMahon to write off their playoff hopes.  A few more away wins would have seen them in a better position, with only three away League victories from 15, but equally only four losses.