After last weekend’s near whiteout, there are a feast of fixtures this weekend with key games at both ends of the table…
AFC Fylde vs Aldershot Town @15:00
Fylde enter March hoping for an improvement on February, where they lost a little momentum. It means The Coasters are 8th, five points off Wrexham in 7th, with two wins in the last six League games. The hosts can rely on a good home League record with eight wins, seven draws and three losses, but they have picked up only four points from the last three at Mill Farm. Danny Rowe continues to impress, top scoring in the division with 19, amongst a League high 61 in 36 for the hosts, but they did go scoreless for two National League matches before putting three past Dover last time out. Left sided midfielder/defender Jordan Flores became the club’s 4th loan from Wigan this season when he signed this week. Aldershot will be hoping to continue a run of nine away games unbeaten in the National League, and will hope for a repeat of their 2-1 win in the reverse in November. A win for The Shots could take them second as they stay in the title picture with 11 points from the last 18 available. The visitors have won nine, drawn six and lost just three away League games this season and can boast the second highest goal difference in the division, scoring 57, conceding 38, in 36 matches.
Bromley vs Guiseley @15:00
These two sides had their matches postponed on Tuesday, so will no doubt be itching to return to action. Bromley have slipped to 10th, eight off Wrexham in 7th, following a run of three without a League win. However, The Ravens have got two in hand on The Dragons and did face the sides in 3rd and 4th in the last two. Goals are still the order of the day, with 56 in 34 National League matches, Louis Dennis netting 14 times to Josh Rees’ 12. Visitors Guiseley are drinking in the last chance saloon. Bottom of the table, 11 points from safety, with a sizeable goal difference deficit to Barrow (who have two games in hand), it couldn’t be much worse. The Lions have only won two away League games all season, drawing three and losing a massive 13, last winning on the road in the division on Boxing Day at Chester. The visitors have scored the fewest League goals (30) and conceded the most (66), a 4-0 loss away to Sutton last time out summing that record up. On the positive side, Guiseley did beat Fylde a couple of games back, so there is still hope.
Dagenham & Redbridge vs Tranmere Rovers @15:00
Recent wins for Dagenham against lowly Chester and Torquay have stemmed their recent poor run, despite losing five of the last seven, and The Daggers are only nine points off Wrexham in 7th with a game in hand. Only visitors Tranmere have won more home League games this season, Dagenham’s record reading 10 wins, two draws and six losses, but the Daggers have lost three of the last four. Both sides have a lot riding on this game, with Tranmere seven points off leaders Macclesfield (having played a game more) and six clear of Fylde in 8th. Rovers’ away League record has held them back this season, with five wins, eight draws and five losses, but the visitors are undefeated in their last five on the road, with two wins. Tranmere have the best goal difference in the division, scoring 57 and conceding only 37 in 36 matches, Andy Cook and James Norwood scoring 28 between them.
Eastleigh vs Dover Athletic @15:00
Eastleigh have stuttered after their great start under Andy Hessenthaler. It is now five without a League win, with only two points taken in that time, for the 13th placed side. The Spitfires have won five, drawn nine and lost four home League games and will be keen to avenge Dover’s 2-0 win in the reverse in November. The hosts concede heavily, 58 in 36 League games, but also score at a similar rate. Dover arrive on the back of a good week, two wins without conceding, extending their record to three wins in the last four League games, conceding only once. This is no surprise for a side which has conceded only 33 in the division (only Wrexham have allowed fewer), and with Ryan Bird scoring at the other end, The Whites are a danger for any side. The visitors have a good away League record, winning seven, drawing seven and losing only four, but have lost two of the last three, so will be keen to get back on track here.
Gateshead vs Maidenhead United @15:00
Gateshead moved into the FA Trophy semi-finals with victory over Leyton Orient on Tuesday night. However, it is back to the bread and butter as they host fellow mid-table Maidenhead. Both sides aren’t doing much to change their middling positions, Gateshead winning two, drawing two and losing two of their last six in the division, Maidenhead splitting theirs down the middle with three wins and three losses. Gateshead’s home League record reads six wins, six draws, five losses, not too dissimilar to Maidenhead’s won five, drawn five, lost seven away. In fact, it’s pretty difficult to split these two, with the visitors three points above the hosts having played a game more.
Hartlepool United vs Boreham Wood @15:00
If they aren’t careful, Hartlepool could be repeating the exploits of York City and doing an unwanted relegation double. Still without a permanent boss, the troubled Pools are 19th, three points clear of the relegation zone, having played a game more than Solihull in 21st. The hosts have only picked up four points from the last 18 available, with three League losses in a row, scoring one and conceding five. With one win in the last 15 in all competitions, even a repeat of November’s 0-0 draw would be welcomed by Matthew Bates’ side, especially when you consider the record of the visitors. Boreham Wood are 5th, five undefeated in the League, with four wins, and eight points off the top. They are five clear of Fylde in 8th with a game in hand, and have won seven, drawn nine and lost only two of their away League games. With 50 scored in 35 League matches, Bruno Andrade scoring 16, and conceding only 33, Hartlepool will do well to get anything from this match.
Leyton Orient vs Ebbsfleet United @15:00
Leyton Orient have had a disappointing week. Knocked out of the FA Trophy at Gateshead on Tuesday, it is now three without a win in all competitions, the loss to Dover last weekend ending a run of four undefeated in the League with three wins. The O’s are 16th, eight clear of Solihull in 21st, but have played a game more and could be missing a number of key players, with Craig Clay, Alex Lawless, George Elokobi and Jobi McAnuff facing a race against time. However, Macauley Bonne is expected to play and build on his 16 goals in the division, and may be key as Orient aim to win at home for the first time since Boxing Day. When the two sides met on November 11th, a 2-1 win for Ebbsfleet saw the end of Steve Davis’ tenure at The O’s, and Daryl McMahon will be keen to again get one over on his old side and at the same time avoid the curse of winning Manager of the Month for February. His side are 9th, five points off the playoffs with four League wins in a row. Fleet have won five, drawn eight and lost five of their away League games, but will want to get back on track after losing the last two against Halifax and Hartlepool. Danny Kedwell could be the man to watch with 13 National League goals so far this season.
Macclesfield Town vs Barrow @15:00
Macclesfield are top by two points, after Tuesday’s game at Maidstone fell foul of the M25. However, the hosts have a game in hand on 2nd placed Sutton, and will be keen to extend a run of five undefeated in the League, with four wins in a row. The Macc have won nine, drawn six and lost just three at Moss Rose in the League, and are nine undefeated there. They also boast the Player of the Month for February, Elliott Durrell’s key contributions during the month seeing him pick up the award. Barrow sit above the relegation zone by just two points, but do have a game in hand on Solihull. With Tuesday’s game postponed, in addition to a postponement this coming Tuesday, the visitors are going to have a very busy run-in and will hope to continue a run which has seen them pick up seven points from the last six games. Macc won the reverse 2-0, but Barrow have been better away this season.
Maidstone United vs Torquay United @15:00
Maidstone’s last League win came against Torquay, when they won 1-0 on November 11th. You have to go even further back to find their last home League win, that coming on 9th September against Woking. It is no surprise then that The Stones are 18th, only five points clear of the relegation zone, having played a game more than Solihull in 21st. The hosts have only picked up one point from the last 18 available and are in freefall. Torquay are also in major trouble, 23rd and nine points from safety, with Barrow in 20th having significantly better goal difference and two games in hand. It is now or never for The Gulls – they have lost their last two in the League, but were undefeated in the three before that, with two wins. Their away League record is three wins, four draws and ten losses, but they are undefeated in their last two on the road.
Sutton United vs Solihull Moors @15:00
Sutton are on a great run of form, winning their last three League games and four of the last six. They are undefeated in nine League games and last lost a National League home game against Tranmere on 23rd December. No surprise then that a victory at home to Woking on Tuesday put The Ambers two points off top spot, having played a game more than Macclesfield, and they could go top by 5pm if the leaders slip up. Solihull are a different team to that which lost 2-0 in the reverse fixture in November. They are now two points from safety having played a game more than Barrow in 20th, and have won three of their last five League games, losing only one. They may have only won four away League games, but have picked up four points from their last three.
Woking vs FC Halifax Town @15:00
Woking are 15th, nine points clear of the relegation zone, having played two more than Solihull in 21st. It is four without a League win after encouraging back-to-back victories against Fylde and Chester going into February, so The Cards will be keen to improve on the 0-0 earlier in the season. Home form has been their saviour, with nine wins, four draws and five losses in the League, and two wins from the last three. Jamie Fullarton is settling into the hot seat at Halifax, but will have to work quick with only one win in the last 10 League games, and only five points clear of the relegation zone having played a game more than Solihull. The Shaymen will be keen to pick up a win on the road, their first in the League since 9th December, which was only their third of the season.
Wrexham vs Chester @12:00 (SUNDAY)
Last, but by no means least, the derby. Dean Keates predicts his Wrexham side will need to win all 10 of their remaining League fixtures to have any chance of lifting the title, as The Dragons are now 7th, eight off top, having played a game more than Macclesfield. The hosts are also in danger of slipping out of the playoffs, only five clear of Fylde in 8th, and have been massively hampered by draws – undefeated in the last 12, but nine of those stalemates. Home is where the heart is, with eight League wins, nine draws and one sole loss, but the last three games at home have all been draws. The side are hard to beat, conceding a League low 28 in 36, but will need goals from more than just Chris Holroyd, top scorer for Wrexham in the League with 13. This is the start of a tough run for Chester, facing three of the top seven in the next three. The Blues are six points from safety having played three more than Barrow in 20th, and with significant goal difference to make up. Marcus Bignot’s side have lost five of their last six League games, and three in a row after beating Eastleigh. They have only won two away League games all season, the last coming against Ebbsfleet on 6th January, and have scored just 32 in 36 League games, conceding 59, no surprise for a side which has conceded six in the last three. But, derbies are a great leveller, and with Dominic Vose returning to his former club, who knows what will happen.
