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

By Sam Elliott

There was plenty of havoc caused in the title race last weekend - so what have we got to look forward to this time around?

With the FA Trophy quarter finals taking the attention of a number of challengers on Saturday, opportunity really knocks for the others.

Wrexham will be all too aware that victory at fellow promotion-chasers Gateshead could enhance their title chances considerably.

They went top in midweek for the first time since December as new manager Bryan Hughes’ impact is already felt.

Should they win at the International Stadium, all talk of this being just a new manager bounce will evaporate - there’s a big afternoon ahead for the Red Dragons and victory stretches their lead to four points.

Salford City manager Graham Alexander says the talking simply has to stop.

Unfortunately for the out-of-sorts title contenders, their next assignment is against the division’s in-form club over the past six games.

Eastleigh head to the Peninsular Stadium having taken 15 points from a possible 18. Ben Strevens’ side are now level with the play-off places.

Two of the struggling clubs who caused such chaos at title hunters last Saturday meet.

Dover Athletic go to Maidenhead United with both teams aware three points at York Road could fire them away from the bottom four.

How Braintree and Aldershot Town could do with that reward being on offer to them.

Gary Waddock’s side’s last victory came in the reverse fixture - at the start of November.

These are worrying times at the EBB and for both teams it’s a dare-not-lose game at Cressing Road.

Chesterfield can pull away even further if they build on John Sheridan’s fantastic start.

It’s played four, won three, drawn one with no goals conceded since he took the job - and a win against Harrogate Town should give them daylight at the bottom.

FC Halifax’s win at Maidstone took the pressure off at the Shay and they can make the gap eight points if they win at home to troubled Havant, whose last success came five games ago.

Hartlepool are on the rise and Craig Hignett looks a perfect fit for the Pools.

They have two wins and two draws in their last four games and a home game with Bromley offers them the chance to keep the feel-good factor going.

Ebbsfleet
are still in the play-off mix but go to a Barrow side who have kept nine clean sheets in 13.

Sutton
haven’t been at their best for the past few games but neither have Dagenham. The two meet in East London.

Saturday’s National League fixtures:
Barrow v Ebbsfleet United
Braintree v Aldershot
Chesterfield v Harrogate Town
Dagenham v Sutton United
FC Halifax v Havant & W
Gateshead v Wrexham
Hartlepool United v Bromley
Maidenhead United v Dover Athletic
Salford City v Eastleigh

Where next?

Sheridan Tells Spireites Fans To Expect Winning Feeling John Sheridan has told Chesterfield fans to expect a winning feeling when they visit the Proact Stadium.
What's In Store In The National League North On Saturday? Not all our teams are in action this weekend but we've still got eight tasty looking games coming your way.