By Mark Stillman
Five of the top seven figure in the NLP‘s Star Games for tomorrow.
Adam Hinshelwood’s York boast the best defensive record in the league with only six conceded, only one in the last five. They’re looking for a fourth successive clean sheet in the league, something they last achieved in March-April 2014 in League Two.
Scoring goals hasn’t been an issue for the Minstermen either. Seven of their 18 netted have arrived from the 76th minute onwards – a divisional high.
While York have been watertight, Eastleigh have been more suspectable at the back, with 10 conceded in their last four games. They’ve let in two or more in a match on six occasions and have the joint worst defence in the top half.
Fortunately they’ve made up for it with 19 goals for, the joint second highest in the division. Twenty goals witnessed in the first half is the most in the National League.
Forest Green Rovers v Hartlepool United
Forest Green’s defeat at Oldham Athletic on Tuesday night ended their seven game unbeaten run, but they’re yet to lose at the New Lawn since their return to the National League.
While Steve Cotterill’s side have faced four of the top seven away, they’re yet to play anyone higher than 11th at home. That trend continues this weekend with 18th placed Hartlepool arriving in Gloucestershire.
The visitors are on a poor run, losing three in a row and have only netted in one of their last six contests. If they fail to score tomorrow, it’ll be fourth successive league matches without a goal for the first time since November-December 2016.
Rochdale v Braintree Town
Tomorrow is the first meeting between these two and both will arrive confident after morale-boosting midweek wins.
Rochdale saw off Hartlepool United 3-0 and have netted in their last seven matches, scoring a joint high four in the first 15 minutes of games.
Braintree picked up their second win of 2024/25 against FC Halifax Town thanks to Inih Effiong’s added time penalty. They’re still yet to win away since promotion, the Promotion Final glory at Worthing in May remains their last success on the road.
Effiong’s spot-kick was just their third goal in the last seven games and the Iron have netted a league low six. But they’ve shown enough resilience to frustrate teams – Tuesday’s clean sheet was their fourth this term, the same number as league leaders Barnet.
Southend United v Gateshead
Both teams have scored in eight of Southend United’s 11 games, a league high, and the Shrimpers have only failed to score once, a 0-0 at Hartlepool last month.
This is the sixth home game for Southend and fifth against a team in the current top nine.
Thirty goals witnessed across their 11 games is hefty, though Gateshead’s 33 in 10 games is a National League high. Eight of them were in their last trip to Essex – a 7-1 crushing at Dagenham & Redbridge two weeks ago.
The Heed have only collected 25% of their points away from home but will remain in the top seven whatever the result at Roots Hall.
Woking v Sutton United
Woking head into Saturday’s contest having drawn their last two – they last drew three in a row in September 2019.
Lewis Walker is also looking to net for a third successive game, which would leave him just one behind his tally from last season.
The Cards sit a point behind Sutton United, who are unbeaten in three after five without a win. They’re looking for back-to-back away wins after a 3-1 success at Southend United last week.
The U’s have also won on their last two visits to Kingfield without conceding.
Tomorrow’s fixtures (KO 3pm unless stated):
Barnet v AFC Fylde
Boston United v Maidenhead United
Dagenham & Redbridge v Solihull Moors
Ebbsfleet United v Oldham Athletic (5.30pm)
FC Halifax Town v Wealdstone
Forest Green Rovers v Hartlepool United
Rochdale v Braintree Town
Southend United v Gateshead
Tamworth v Altrincham
Woking v Sutton United
Yeovil Town v Aldershot Town
York City v Eastleigh
Read up on all the games in Sunday’s NLP!
