The National League has moved into the last two months of the season, a frantic time at both ends of the table.  However, the British weather has intervened, meaning half of Saturday’s scheduled games have already fallen foul of the conditions by Thursday.  Opportunities about as some teams aim to steal a march on their rivals…

Boreham Wood P-P Macclesfield Town @12:30

Aldershot Town vs Hartlepool United @15:00

A few games ago Aldershot were putting considerable pressure on leaders Macclesfield.  However, it is now three without a League win (albeit those games have been against teams in the top 10), seeing The Shots drop off the pace and into 4th, eight points off top spot.  The hosts have scored an impressive 55 in 35 League matches, conceding 37 and have a home record in the division of won seven, drawn six and lost four.  The Shots will be keen to do the double over the visitors after beating them 2-0 in the reverse in November and boast two players in Paul Fairclough’s England C squad for the upcoming match against Wales C on March 20th – Jim Kellermann making the main squad, with Jake Gallagher in the contingency.  Hartlepool are 19th, three points clear of the relegation zone and are still without a new boss after parting company with Craig Harrison.  The Pool have only won once in the last 14 in all competitions, coming against Woking on 17 February, and have lost the last two in the League without scoring.  In terms of away form, the visitors have only won four League games, drawing six and losing seven, and last won an away game on October 28th at Torquay.  Stranger things have happened this season, but this is a tough ask for Hartlepool.

Barrow vs Eastleigh @15:00

Barrow are sitting just above the relegation zone in 20th, two points better off than Solihull in 21st with a game in hand.  The Bluebirds have picked up one victory in their last 10 in all competitions and last won at home in October against Aldershot – no surprise for a team with only three home League wins, nine draws and five losses. However, Dan Jones should be confident having received recognition in Paul Fairclough’s England C squad and the hosts can look to their 2-0 win in the reverse in November.  Eastleigh were going so well under the new management of Andy Hessenthaler, but have now stalled, going five without a League win, conceding 10 and scoring only four.  A 0-0 draw with Halifax last time out may give hope that the tide is turning for the 13th placed side, sitting 10 points off the playoffs and 11 above the relegation zone.  Only the bottom two have conceded more League goals that The Spitfires’ 58, but the visitors have scored 53 in their 36 matches.  The away League record reads five wins, six draws and seven losses.

Chester P- P Bromley @15:00

Dover Athletic vs Leyton Orient @15:00

If this game is anything like the FA Trophy tie at the beginning of February, we are in for a treat.  In that game, Orient went 3-0 up before conceding three, David Mooney scoring the winner for the visitors late on.  Leyton Orient arrive with a similar story to tell in their last fixture, leading 3-0 at home to Gateshead before again shipping three goals, the FA Trophy replay postponed until Tuesday.  The O’s are 16th, eight points clear of the relegation zone, having gone four undefeated in the division with three wins.  In those four games the O’s have conceded only two, so Justin Edinburgh will want his side to return to that defensive solidity.  Orient have been stronger away from Brisbane Road, winning six, drawing four and losing seven in the League, and are undefeated in their last eight away games in all competitions, winning seven.  There are a number of danger men to look out for including Sam Ling, who has been selected for England C, Josh Koroma, who has made the contingency squad and Macauley Bonne, scorer of 16 National League goals this season.  Contrast the visitor’s unbeaten February with that of Dover.  The Whites lost three of their four League games last month and find themselves 9th, a point outside the playoff places with a game in hand on 7th placed Fylde.  The hosts have eight home League wins, five draws and five losses and can normally rely on a defence which has conceded only 33 in 35 League games, scoring 47.  However, 10 goals have been conceded in the last six League games.  Ryan Bird is the man to watch with 13 National League goals and Dover have also received England C recognition, with Mitch Pinnock selected for the contingency squad.

Ebbsfleet United P-P Wrexham @15:00

FC Halifax Town vs Sutton United @15:00

FC Halifax are floating dangerously close to the relegation zone, sitting 17th, five points clear, but with Solihull having a game in hand.  The Shaymen are desperately out of form with one win in the last 10 League games and will not be able to rely on home form to save them, where they have won six, drawn four and lost seven in the division.  Sutton will be hoping to do the double after winning the reverse 3-2 in November.  The Amber are on the charge, undefeated in eight League games, winning five and gaining victories in the last two by an aggregate 7-2 scoreline.  As a result, the visitors are in 2nd, five points off leaders Macclesfield and have a favourable upcoming run – the next six League games against teams in the bottom half.  Only the League leaders have won more than Sutton’s 10 away games in the division, drawing four and losing the same amount, and with England C’s Louis John and the contingency squad’s Tommy Wright in action, it will be a tough day for the hosts.

Guiseley P-P Dagenham & Redbridge @15:00

Maidenhead United P-P Woking @15:00

Solihull Moors vs Maidstone United @15:00

Solihull are one of the League’s in-form sides, taking 11 points from the last 18 available, including great results against Wrexham, Dover, Dagenham and Macclesfield.  The Moors are 21st, two points from safety, but with Barrow (20th) having a game in hand and a goal difference cushion. Despite the fact that the stats read only five home League wins, with five draws and seven losses, the fact is the hosts are undefeated in eight at Damson Park in all competitions, picking up five wins in that run.  Maidstone, on the other hand, are in a terrible run of form.  The Stones last won a National League game on November 11th and have taken a single point from their last six games, scoring five and conceding 12.  As a result, the visitors are 18th, only five points above Solihull, having played a game more.  A repeat of the 1-1 draw in the reverse may seem an attractive proposition, but Stones fans will hope for more from a side that are better away in the League with six wins, five draws and seven losses.

Torquay United vs AFC Fylde @15:00

Torquay are 23rd, a massive nine points from safety, with Barrow having two games in hand and significantly better goal difference.  The Gulls have lost their last two in the League, conceding three in each, no surprise for a team that have conceded 60 in 35 League games.  They have only scored 32, but have netted seven times in the last four, including valuable wins against Barrow and Maidenhead.  Torquay have only won three League games at Plainmoor, drawing five and losing 10, but did beat Barrow there three games ago. Fylde have struggled a little of late after their great recent run, taking seven points from the last 18 available.  As a result, The Coasters are 7th, but only above Ebbsfleet on goal difference.  The visitors won at home to Dover last time out, ending a run of consecutive 1-0 League defeats against sides from the bottom 9.  Fylde have won seven away games in the division, drawing three and losing eight, but lost their last away game to lowly Guiseley, so will be happy to get back on track with a repeat of their 2-0 win in the reverse.  The Coasters have an incredible scoring record, netting 61 in 36 League games, conceding 45. Danny Rowe has scored 19 of those goals in an incredible season, but also watch out for James Hardy and Jordan Tunnicliffe who have received England C recognition this week.

Tranmere P-P Gateshead @15:00