Your Weekend Starts Here! So What’s In Store On Saturday?

By Sam Elliott

The snow’s cleared, the ice has thawed and the temperature is rising in the National League.

After last weekend’s near wipe out, stand by for a red hot programme this Saturday.

The most open title race in many years sees five teams kept apart by only four points. There’s sure to be twists ahead.

Can leaders Leyton Orient stay the pace? They need to pick things up away from home as they go to Hartlepool United, on a high since Craig Hignett returned to their dug-out.

Sitting in second are Salford City but they have already failed to beat Braintree once this season. Can the bottom club do the rest another favour?

Wrexham, for all their off-field trouble and their big dip in form, are still just four points off top spot.

The club’s third new manager inside a year is Bryan Hughes - can he put down a marker when Dagenham visit the Racecourse?

Solihull Moors would be even closer to the summit if they didn’t fall flat against AFC Fylde last time out. They aim to make amends by winning at Ebbsfleet, while the very much in-touch Coasters are at relegation strugglers Maidstone.

John Still already knows time is running out and the task is a big one - they can make a survival statement on Saturday.

Aldershot fans may soon start fearing similar as the clock ticks down.

Third from bottom and winless since the first week of November, Gary Waddock knows how crucial their home match with Eastleigh is this weekend.

Barnet’s FA Cup exploits have hit the headlines but Darren Currie wants their adventure to inspire an upturn in National League form. It’s Sutton at home next for the Bees.

Chesterfield went back to square one after Brackley bettered them in the FA Trophy.

But the positive mood will return if they manage to secure a much-needed win against Jamie Fullarton's FC Halifax at the Proact.

Harrogate are back at Dover a few weeks after winning there in the FA Trophy.

Gateshead think they can make the play-offs and that will be put to the test against a Havant side who won away for the first time in ten attempts on their last outing.

Bromley pack their bags for Barrow, while Alan Devonshire’s Maidenhead United look to put distance between themselves and the bottom four with a home victory against Boreham Wood.

Saturday’s National League fixtures:
Aldershot v Eastleigh
Barnet v Sutton United
Barrow v Bromley
Braintree v Salford City
Chesterfield v FC Halifax
Dover Athletic v Harrogate
Ebbsfleet v Solihull Moors
Gateshead v Havant
Hartlepool v Leyton Orient
Maidenhead v Boreham Wood
Maidstone v AFC Fylde
Wrexham v Dagenham

Where next?

Live Updates: More Weather Issues In National League Just as we thought the bad weather had left us behind, this week it's the rain causing issues with today's games.
Saturday's Big Preview: The National League North The National League North couldn't be any better poised as we dive into another action-packed weekend.