The top two meet today in the stand-out clash of the weekend.
Gateshead and Eastleigh both drew on Bank Holiday Monday, leaving Eastleigh two points clear at the top of the National League. With eight goals scored in two home games, Gateshead will be in confident mood. But they’ll have to keep Paul McCallum quiet – the 35-goal talisman from last term scored the Spitfires’ leveller at Oldham to maintain their unbeaten start.
The early evening fixture sees Sutton United and Forest Green Rovers meet for the first time since both were relegated from League Two in May. Both home teams lost this fixture 1-0 last season. Sutton are unbeaten but have drawn their last two, Forest Green recorded their second win of the campaign on Monday against Altrincham.
Woking are on the rise. Having lost their opening two, three wins on the spin has pushed them up to fourth. They travel to Rochdale, who beat Yeovil Town 1-0 on Monday thanks to an added time fine strike from substitute Connor McBride, his first for the club.
A Manchester derby sees Altrincham home to Oldham Athletic. The Latics currently sit outside the play-offs on goal difference while Alty, play-off semi-finalists last term, are two points but eight places below in 16th.
Newly promoted Braintree Town and Boston United have overcome tough starts. Braintree make the long journey to Hartlepool United, hoping to make it four unbeaten. Boston host Yeovil, who’ve lost their last two.
Ebbsfleet United are the only side looking for their first win. They host FC Halifax Town, who’ll be keen on revenge having been knocked out by the Kent outfit in the FA Cup in 2022.
Essex rivals Southend United and Dagenham & Redbridge sit in mid-table, with the Shrimpers edging ahead on goal difference. Dagenham host York City on Saturday, the visitors were surprisingly beaten by Boston on Bank Holiday Monday. Southend are away to AFC Fylde, who haven’t won since the opening day.
That victory was against Solihull Moors. Andy Whing’s men had lost their first two home games but put things right five days’ ago with a win at Halifax. They’ll be looking to add to it against Wealdstone, who picked up four points across the weekend.
Barnet were surprisingly beaten at Maidenhead United on Monday, their first ever defeat to the Magpies. They host Tamworth, buoyed by their first win back at this level, seeing off Aldershot Town 3-2 five days’ ago. Aldershot play Maidenhead this weekend.
Today’s fixtures (all matches KO 3pm unless stated):
AFC Fylde v Southend United
Aldershot Town v Maidenhead United
Altrincham v Oldham Athletic
Barnet v Tamworth
Boston United v Yeovil Town
Dagenham & Redbridge v York City
Ebbsfleet United v FC Halifax Town
Gateshead v Eastleigh
Hartlepool United v Braintree Town
Rochdale v Woking
Solihull Moors v Wealdstone
Sutton United v Forest Green Rovers (5.30pm)
Read up on all the games in Sunday’s NLP!
