With most teams now having 10 or fewer games left in their National League season, we are truly coming to the crunch, with titles, playoffs and survival all still up for grabs…
AFC Fylde vs Hartlepool United @15:00
Fylde seem to be building up a head of steam again, back-to-back home league wins seeing them score 10 and concede only two, including last Saturday’s 7-1 humiliation of fellow playoff chasers Aldershot. The Coasters are 8th, just two points off the playoffs and boast a home league record of won nine, drawn seven and lost only three. The hosts are the division’s top scorers with 68 in 37 (conceding only 46) and have an in-form league-leading scorer – Danny Rowe scoring four in the last two National League matches among a tally of 22 for the season. It’s looking pretty good then for Fylde to at least repeat their 2-0 win in the reverse fixture in August, especially when you consider that visitors Hartlepool have only one victory in their last 16 in all competitions. The Pool are 19th, three points clear of the relegation zone, four without a win in the league, but will have some positivity after holding Boreham Wood to a 0-0 draw at Victoria Park last time out, playing with 10 men for nearly half an hour. The visitor’s away league record is pretty dire, four wins, six draws and eight losses, and they last won on the road at Torquay at the end of October.
Boreham Wood vs Tranmere Rovers @15:00
A disappointing 1-1 draw with Maidenhead on Tuesday made it three league draws in a row for Wood, and they are looking over their shoulders, sitting 6th, four points clear of Fylde. However, it is seven undefeated in the competition for a side which has gone on a couple of decent runs this term. They play well at home with a league record of nine wins, four draws and five losses and rely on a good defence, having conceded only 34 in 37 league games this season, a trend which has continued with only two conceded in the last seven in the division. Scoring has been a problem of late, though, netting only once in the last three league games. Visitors Tranmere are 3rd, seven points off top spot having played a game more than league leaders Macclesfield – equally, they are only two points above the hosts, so will be looking to pick up a good result at Meadow Park. Rovers have only one loss in the last 10, but that was a damaging 4-1 defeat at home to Macc, and the visitors can look to the road for where they have fallen down this season, a record of winning six, drawing eight and losing five league games improved of late by going undefeated in their last six, with three wins. Tranmere can boast the best goal difference in the division, scoring 61 in 37, conceding only 37, but they did let in seven in the two previous games prior to Saturday’s 4-0 demolition of Dagenham. The game against Dagenham saw braces scored by Andy Cook and James Norwood, who now sit on 17 and 15 respectively in the league campaign, surely the most deadly partnership in the division.
Chester vs Aldershot Town @15:00
Chester need to make a move soon if they are to seal their survival. Sitting 23rd, six points from safety with Barrow in 20th having significantly better goal difference and three games in hand, on a run of four consecutive League losses with seven in the last 10, inspiration has to come from somewhere. Could Neil Young, legendary former boss, help turn the tide after arriving at the club this week to help Marcus Bignot? Picking some points up at home would help, the league record reading won four, drawn four and lost 10 and The Blues have lost the last two without scoring. In fact, Chester have netted only 32 times in their 37 League games this season, conceding 61. Aldershot arrive looking for redemption after being humiliated 7-1 away at Fylde in their last league game. The Shots have two wins, two draws and the same number of losses in their last six in the division and are now eight points off top, Macclesfield having a game in hand. The visitors have had a tough run of late, five of the last six league games against teams in the top half, but it does mean that Aldershot are now only five points clear of Fylde in 8th. The away League record is good, nine wins, six draws, four losses, but The Shots have gone winless in the last two, scoring three and conceding nine! Considering the relative positions of the two sides, it is surprising to think that Chester won the reverse 2-1 in August.
Dover Athletic vs Macclesfield Town @15:00
Dover are still in and around the playoff picture, 7th and two points clear of Fylde. The Whites have split their last six league games down the middle with three wins and three losses, but have back-to-back wins in the division with clean sheets. This is typical of a side which has conceded only 33 in 37 league games, and the home side carry a goalscoring threat as well, Ryan Bird scoring 13 in the division this season. The Crabble has been a good hunting ground in the league with nine wins, five draws and five losses and Dover have won the last two by 1-0 scorelines. Standing in their way are the league leaders Macclesfield. Macc are two points clear of Sutton with a game in hand and arrive on a run of five league wins on the bounce, scoring 12 and conceding only four. They boast an away league record of 11 wins, two draws and four losses, no team have won more away, and won their last two at Tranmere and Aldershot by an aggregate 6-2 scoreline. The visitors are strong at both ends of the pitch, conceding only 37 in 36 League games, with Scott Wilson alone has netting 12 in the division.
Eastleigh vs Leyton Orient @15:00
Eastleigh boss Andy Hessenthaler will be keen to welcome his former charges Orient to the Silverlake Stadium, but perhaps would have wanted to meet in better circumstances. The Spitfires have stalled after starting so well under their new boss and are now five without a league win, taking only two points, scoring four and conceding 10. The home league record does not make for good reading with only five wins, but equally there have been only four losses and only one in the last eight. Orient arrive in 16th, only two points behind the hosts, but are in the middle of their first wobble under Justin Edinburgh – three without a league win and five in all competitions after Tuesday’s home humiliation at the hands of Torquay. They are not yet safe, eight clear of Solihull in 21st, having played a game more, but have been good on the road, a loss at Dover ending a run of five without a league defeat, with four victories. Expect a tight scoreline, there have only been eight goals in the last six National League games The O’s have been a part of, Orient scoring four, a contrast with their two FA Trophy games against Gateshead which saw 11 scored between the two sides.
Guiseley vs FC Halifax Town @15:00
Guiseley are 24th, rock bottom, 11 points from safety, with Barrow in 20th having two games in hand and significantly better goal difference. A miracle is required, especially when you consider that The Lions have lost nine of the last 10 in the league, have only won three times at home in the division (albeit they did beat Fylde in the last home league game) and have the worst goal difference in the divison – no side has scored fewer and conceded more – illustrated by conceding 12 in the last six league games, scoring four. Halifax, then, will be confident of doing the double over the hosts, and have really picked up under new boss Jamie Fullarton. The Shaymen are undefeated in the last four league games, with three wins and are unbeaten in the last three away games in the division, although the record does read four wins, eight draws and seven losses. As a result, Halifax are 15th and 10 points clear of Solihull, having played a game more than Moors, and feel a little bit better about themselves.
Maidenhead United vs Barrow @15:00
Maidenhead are 13th and are a solid mid-table side. It is three without a league win, although The Magpies will probably be happy with a 1-1 draw at Boreham Wood on Tuesday, especially considering Saturday’s 7-1 humiliation at Gateshead. The home side have won seven and lost five of their 18 home league games this season, winning the last against Eastleigh, but losing the previous one to lowly Torquay. Barrow are facing a busy run-in with two to three games on those around them. The Bluebirds are 20th, a point above Solihull with two in hand. The visitors have only one win in the last 11 in all competitions, but have picked up six points from the last six league games, including great results against Tranmere and Sutton, a loss to Torquay causing some damage. Barrow have only won three away league games this season, but the last of those did come recently, winning 1-0 at Maidstone on 17th February.
Maidstone United vs Sutton United @15:00
The relief was palpable for Maidstone after they won a league game for the first time since 11 of November, doing the double over Torquay on Saturday, and The Stones now face another side they have conquered this season, winning the reverse 3-1 in August. The hosts are 18th, seven points clear of the relegation zone, but have been terrible at home, winning four and drawing seven of 18 league games, the win at home to Torquay on Saturday their first in the division since 28th October. Sutton arrive 2nd, two off top spot having played a game more than Macclesfield in 1st. They have four league wins on the spin with three consecutive clean sheets and seven scored in those matches. Going on the road will be a bit of a novelty (the last three league games have all been at Gander Green Lane), but will not be anything to fear, the visitors have won 10 away league games this season, only Macclesfield winning more. The Ambers have only conceded 39 in 37 League games, scoring 57 and are undefeated in the last 10 in the division.
Solihull Moors vs Torquay United @15:00
Solihull will be disappointed to only come away with a point at Gateshead on Tuesday, having had a man advantage for 79 minutes, but will be satisfied with their work since the turn of the year. They may be three without a league win, but Moors have picked up eight points from their last six matches and are now only a point off Barrow in 20th, having played two games more than The Bluebirds. The hosts are undefeated in the last eight at Damson Park in all competitions, with five wins, so can pose a challenge for any side, but may be concerned with a goals for column which shows only 37 in 36 league games this season, and only two in the last three. Torquay will arrive in positive spirits, their win at Orient on Tuesday ending a run of three league defeats, and it is now three wins in the last six. The Gulls are five points behind the hosts , having played a game more, and are looking to repeat the heroics of the last couple of seasons, two wins in the last three away league games defying a record of only two previous victories on the road all season.
Woking vs Wrexham @15:00
Woking are 17th, eight points clear of Solihull in 21st, but they have played a game more and, with no wins in the last five league games, four of those losses, will be looking with concern at the drop zone. A home league record of won nine, drawn four and lost six has saved their campaign so far, but The Cards only have two home wins in the last 10 in all competitions. Wrexham are 4th, but only five clear of Fylde in 8th. Draws have been their downfall, last weekend’s win at home to Chester ending a run of four consecutive league stalemates, and it is six draws in the last eight in all competitions. This trend has also been repeated away with three draws in the last four in the division. Defence is certainly not the issue, as The Dragons have conceded the fewest goals in the division, 28 in 37, and only four in the last six, but Wrexham will need to start picking up wins now that they have fallen eight points off Macclesfield having played a game more.