National League South midweek preview as Havant play St Albans in big clash

By Jerry Levington
High-flying Havant & Waterlooville have shown little respect for their National League South opponents this season, and manager Lee Bradbury will be hoping for the same tonight as the Hawks travel to sixth-placed St Albans where three points could see them steal top spot.
Bradbury’s National South new boys have proved an increasingly tough nut to crack this season after promotion from the Ryman League last season – and victory at Gloucester City on Saturday pushed them up to second in the table before they dropped to third last night courtesy of East Thurrock’s win at Chelmsford City.
With 12 points taken from their last 15, The Hawks will be looking to lay down another marker at Clarence Park against a St Albans side that has stuttered in recent outings – with two defeats and one draw from their last three games.
The Saints need a response after letting slip a two-goal advantage on Saturday against Eastbourne Borough, dropping two points when Sergio Torres grabbed the equaliser in a 2-2 draw in the 93rd minute.
Another side riding against expectations is Truro City, who will welcome Chippenham – promoted as winners of the Southern League last season – to Treyew Road tonight off the back of a 7-2 mauling of bottom-placed Whitehawk at the weekend.
Lee Hodges side sit fifth in the table, but they have the form behind them to be top, winning their last four games.
Chippenham, meanwhile, will be reasonably satisfied with their start to the season.
But they will know that three points tonight will be a welcome boost as they look to edge away from the drop zone, where rooted firmly at the bottom are Whitehawk, who have endured a thoroughly miserable start to the league campaign – still winless with only two points from a possible 30. A visit to Welling tonight gives them another opportunity to break their duck.
Oxford City welcome West-Super-Mare to Marsh Lane in a match that is already taking on six-pointer proportions. And there are home clashes for Concord Rangers and Hemel Hempstead against Braintree and Bognor Regis respectively.