Fast Starters Clash As Giants Meet Too On Exciting Weekend

By Sam Elliott

September starts with some very big matches but which of the teams at the top will kick-off the new month the way they ended the last?

It seems like heartache won’t be a barrier for Gateshead - and they’ve got another promotion hunter in their sights this week.

Despite losing inspirational Greg Olley to an expected season-ending injury so early, the club who are trying to get over their play-off pain at the end of last season are showing no signs of lasting damage.

Top after six games, much-fancied Barnet are arriving this weekend, the third place Bees firing a seven-goal warning to everyone last weekend.

Sandwiched between them are Eastleigh - a game at the Silverlake hardly ideal for Tamworth, who were shaken and shattered at the Hive last time out.

Two giants of the division come together but as yet, neither are in the top seven.

Oldham Athletic started brightly, but winless in four they have drawn three of those games 1-1. Southend United’s first five games may have been a little underwhelming but three Boundary Park points changes all that.

There’s another enhanced DAZN game and as the rain falls, those watching on hope the goals haven’t dried up. Aldershot Town are the division’s top scorers and Jimmy McNulty’s Rochdale know where the net is too.

Is this the weekend where Ebbsfleet claim their first win? Danny Searle takes his team to Altrincham, who have seven points on the board.

Wealdstone manager Matt Taylor says his new look team are finding their feet - the Stones showed back in March that they can get the better of York City, and now it is their time to host.

AFC Fylde are well rested after the cancellation of their home match with Southend last Saturday. Yeovil Town will hopefully encounter no travel issues as they make the long trip to the north west coast.

Braintree Town manager Angelo Harrop is content with his team’s first month in new surroundings and a home game against Woking is an opportunity to put more points on the board.

Hartlepool United and FC Halifax Town have been hamstrung by inconsistency but have also shown how good they can be. They come together at Victoria Park.

It’s another away game for Forest Green Rovers, with manager Steve Cotterill praising his squad’s togetherness ahead of a demanding trip to Solihull Moors, who have yet to hit the heights of last season.

Sutton United manager Steve Morison is positive about his team’s first four weeks despite a late set-back last time out. They welcome Boston United while it is five without a win for Dagenham who clash with Maidenhead United.

National League fixtures

AFC Fylde v Yeovil Town
Aldershot Town v Rochdale
Altrincham v Ebbsfleet United
Braintree Town v Woking
Eastleigh v Tamworth
Gateshead v Barnet
Hartlepool United v FC Halifax Town
Maidenhead United v Dagenham & Red
Oldham Athletic v Southend United
Solihull Moors v Forest Green Rovers
Sutton United v Boston United
Wealdstone v York City

Where next?

Head Still Head The Table After Another Eventful Afternoon The three leaders all help their positions on another busy Saturday around the grounds.
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