National League midweek preview as Macclesfield look to extend lead

By Matt Badcock
Macclesfield Town can make it six National League wins in a row tonight and keep up their charge at the top of the table – but they’re up against a Dagenham & Redbridge side smarting from two defeats on the spin.
John Askey’s in-form Macc lead the way at the summit and can boast four clean sheets in their last five outings.
On Saturday they beat Leyton Orient 1-0 and stretched the gap over second-place Dover Athletic to three points.
They face another long trip to London this evening to take on a Daggers side that have slipped down the table recently to ninth place.
Perhaps the most appetising game of the evening takes place at Crabble where second-place Dover welcome fourth-place Woking.
After five wins in six, Woking suffered defeat at the weekend when they lost 2-0 at Bromley. Dover have won three and drawn three of their last six matches.
The Whites’ Kent rivals Maidstone United returned home from AFC Fylde empty handed on Saturday and facing a rearranged fixture after the game was abandoned partway through following a heavy downpour.
Jay Saunders’ side are at FC Halifax this evening – the Shaymen drew their third game in a row at the weekend with a 1-1 stalemate against Torquay United.
The Gulls are away at Ebbsfleet United, who have won four of their last five games. They suffered an injury blow last week when it was confirmed striker Darren McQueen is likely out for the season with a knee injury.
But Fleet boss Daryl McMahon has dipped into the market and signed former Walsall and Sheffield United forward Febian Brandy to bolster his forward line.
Wrexham have been inching their way up the table in recent weeks and now sit third. The Welsh club are at Fylde hoping continue their fine form. Dean Keates’ side lost three of their five opening games of the season, but haven’t tasted defeat since.
There’s also battle between two sides occupying a spot in the play-offs as Sutton United make the short journey to Aldershot Town, while Bromley have the chance to make it four wins in a row against Maidenhead United, and Boreham Wood are away at Guiseley.
But it’s not only about the sides chasing promotion – teams are trying to ensure they don’t go out of the league through the trapdoor.
Struggling Chester and Barrow face off with both desperately needing a morale-boosting three points. Chester boss Marcus Bignot signed Jordan Archer from Stourbridge yesterday to give him more forward line options.
Bottom side Solihull Moors have a long trek to the south coast to take on Eastleigh and Gateshead are also facing a long trip down to Leyton Orient.
And Tranmere Rovers face Hartlepool United with both hoping to bounce back from late goals at the weekend. Pools drew with Sutton after a Tommy Wright’s 90th-minute equaliser and Rovers fell to Aldershot when Jim Kellermann popped in a winner at the death.