Sides separated by two divisions last season headline this weekend’s matches in the National League.
Boston United’s first home game at this level in 22 years is against Forest Green Rovers. It’s successive home contests for the newly promoted Lincolnshire outfit, who opened with a 3-0 loss to Rochdale last week. Steve Cotterill’s side are playing their first four matches away due to their pitch being relayed. Rovers suffered back-to-back relegations from the EFL and opened with a 3-3 draw at Aldershot Town, a game they trailed 2-0 before staging a recovery.
Gateshead are the early pacesetters. Having demolished Ebbsfleet United 4-1 last August, they went one better last week, hitting five against Danny Searle’s men with Greg Olley recording a 15-minute hat-trick. They make the long journey to Woking on Saturday, who ended a man down in a 1-0 loss at Altrincham.
Dale Gorman’s dismissal left it 10-a-side at Moss Lane, with Eddy Jones already dismissed. They’re away to Sutton United, who were relegated from League Two in May. Sutton’s Josh Coley scored in added time to rescue a point at Tamworth.
Barnet‘s new-look side suffered a day one loss at Halifax, all the goals arriving in a 10-minute spell after half-time. They’ll be hoping to kickstart their campaign at home to Ebbsfleet United, still smarting from their opening day mauling.
Braintree Town and Yeovil Town both won promotion from National League South last term. They meet at the Rare Breed Meat Co Stadium having suffered defeats on the opening day, each failing to score. It’s Braintree’s first home game at this level since 2019 and they lost midfielder Dom Odusanya to Eastbourne Borough yesterday.
Like Olley for Gateshead, Nick Haughton notched an opening day treble for AFC Fylde in a 3-2 win over play-off finalists Solihull Moors. Chris Beech’s team travel to Eastleigh next, two first half goals for them were enough last week to overcome Maidenhead United. Solihull and Maidenhead face each other tomorrow.
Oldham Athletic brushed aside Braintree 3-0 last Saturday. Tomorrow sees them travel to Wealdstone, where Matty Taylor’s reign for the Stones began with defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge. The Daggers head to a Rochdale side with the evergreen Ian Henderson marking his 23rd season in the game by netting at Boston.
FC Halifax Town held off Aldershot Town for a play-off spot last season. They meet at the Shay.
Hartlepool United started with a win at Yeovil Town, next up is a home fixture with Southend United. The Shrimpers, who experienced an eventful summer off the pitch, drew with York City last week. The Minstermen kick-off their home campaign against Tamworth, who play their first National League away game since 2014.
Saturday’s fixtures (all matches KO 3pm):
Boston United v Forest Green Rovers
Braintree Town v Yeovil Town
Eastleigh v AFC Fylde
Ebbsfleet United v Barnet
FC Halifax Town v Aldershot Town
Hartlepool United v Southend United
Rochdale v Dagenham & Redbridge
Solihull Moors v Maidenhead United
Sutton United v Altrincham
Wealdstone v Oldham Athletic
Woking v Gateshead
York City v Tamworth
