Saturday's Preview: National League Final Day

By Sam Elliott

So it all boils down to this - and although things may look straight forward, you never know if a season of twists and turns may still have one more surprise to throw up.

As we know, a point is enough for Leyton Orient to be crowned National League champions.

A big preview of their last day meeting with Braintree can be found here.

They can even do it with a defeat, meaning Salford City would require a healthy - but not unachievable - win at Hartlepool United.

Solihull Moors will have to win very well at Dagenham but even if things don’t go their way across East London there is the carrot of finishing as runners up to play for.

We know who is in the top seven but we don’t know in what order they will finish - and of course who faces who in the play-offs.

AFC Fylde, Harrogate, Wrexham and Eastleigh will all go into battle on Wednesday in the Eliminators.

Fylde, at home for sure, want to warm up for that with a win over FC Halifax after they did a job on Salford City on Monday.

Wrexham
need momentum. They welcome Harrogate Town on Saturday and the question is will they be doing that a few days down the line?

Eastleigh have had a great season and aim to finish on a high at Boreham Wood.

Chesterfield manager John Sheridan will consider a top half finish as significant progresses after taking over a team third from bottom.

A point at Maidenhead United achieves that, while Bromley need to win at home to Ebbsfleet and hope to get in the top 12.

Same goes for Barnet who have improved massively in the final few months. Darren Currie’s team are at Havant & Waterlooville who won’t be managed by Lee Bradbury for the first time in six years.

Nobody had Maidstone United vs Aldershot down on the final as a relegation wake. The Stones will finish bottom regardless but Gary Waddock’s team will want to win and avoid being the side ending the year just above them.

Dover Athletic are throwing a survival party and can enjoy their home game with Sutton United.

Ian Evatt has just signed a new three year deal but will be desperate to end the year in 11th. Barrow go to Gateshead, who can finish as high as 8th.

National League fixtures (12.30pm)
AFC Fylde v FC Halifax
Boreham Wood v Eastleigh
Bromley v Ebbsfleet
Dagenham v Solihull Moors
Dover Athletic v Sutton United
Gateshead v Barrow
Hartlepool United v Salford City
Havant & W v Barnet
Leyton Orient v Braintree Town (BT Sport)
Maidenhead v Chesterfield
Maidstone United v Aldershot
Wrexham v Harrogate Town

Where next?

Orient Are At The Ready For Their Big Date With Destiny! It looks a done deal from the outside. The open top bus on order and private areas in East London’s finest night-time hot spots reserved in preparation.
Saturday's Preview: National League South Last Day One game to go and we still have five teams fighting for the final play-off place - not forgetting two sides battling the drop.

Match centre

Vanarama National League North
Vanarama National League South

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