Four teams are tied on 17 points at the top of the National League.
League leaders Gateshead will almost certainly be knocked off top spot by the time they kick-off this evening at Dagenham & Redbridge. Heed have a game in hand having not featured in the week, hosts Dagenham will be galvanised following a 3-0 home win over Sutton United on Tuesday night, their first victory since the opening day.
Rochdale and Forest Green Rovers are level on points with Gateshead, and both have home fixtures today on the back of four successive wins. Dale host Solihull Moors while Forest Green Rovers take on Wealdstone, who are still looking for their first away win.
York City are the other side joint top. Three wins in a row has seen them keep up with the leaders, they’ll be looking for another today against AFC Fylde, who have lost their last three and not one since day one.
Hartlepool United have won three of their four in the road to push them into the top seven. It’s a different story for Ebbsfleet United, who are the only side without a win in Step 1. They host Pools with Harry Watling in charge for the first time having succeeded Danny Searle in the week.
Having won their first four, Eastleigh have only picked up maximum points once in the next quartet of fixtures. They’ll be hoping to bounce back to day at FC Halifax Town, whose matches have contained a joint league low 12 goals thus far.
Back-to-back 3-0 defeats has led to Sutton United dropping down the table. Having lost in Essex on Tuesday at Dagenham, they’re back in the county today at Southend United, who sit four placed above them in ninth but only one defeat in their opening seven contests.
The big match at the bottom sees Tamworth face Maidenhead United. Tamworth were without a game in the week while Maidenhead lost at high-flying Rochdale. Alan Devonshire’s side have conceded seven in their last two matches on the road, the Lambs won their last home game on Bank Holiday Monday against Aldershot Town. The Shots are away to Boston United – having scored 15 in their first six matches they’ve failed to net in the last two, while Boston have collected just one point at home from five games.
Yeovil Town‘s home form has been a concern too, losing three of their four at Huish Park by a goal to nil. They host Altrincham, who’ll go above the Glovers if they win. Barnet have been flawless at the Hive, four successes from four, with manager Dean Brennan’s comments about the home support going viral in the week. They host Braintree Town who have scored a joint league low four goals, with just one in their last four outings.
Woking host Oldham Athletic in the remaining fixture of the day. Oldham’s last four games have all ended 1-1 while Woking are just outside the play-off places following Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Wealdstone.
Tonight’s fixtures (KO 3pm unless stated):
Barnet v Braintree Town
Boston United v Aldershot Town
Dagenham & Redbridge v Gateshead (5.30pm)
Ebbsfleet United v Hartlepool United
FC Halifax Town v Eastleigh
Forest Green Rovers v Wealdstone
Rochdale v Solihull Moors
Southend United v Sutton United
Tamworth v Maidenhead United
Woking v Oldham Athletic
Yeovil Town v Altrincham
York City v AFC Fylde
An overview of these games will be in Sunday’s NLP!
