National League South: Five things to watch

WHEN last season was cut short, so was a title race that looked to be shaping up into a thriller.

Photo: Edmund Boyden.

This year promises to be even more of a cracker with some of clubs making some excellent summer acquisitions.

Dorking Wanderers and Dartford will expect to be in the thick of it again.

Marc White’s big investment at Dorking has been clear to see as the Meadowbank club catapulted up the National League System from park pitches to the bring of the National League’s top flight. We’ll never know how last year would have panned out with fewer than ten games played, but White will expect to be pushed by even more clubs this time round.

Dartford have added serious firepower and clout to their frontline with the likes of Jake Robinson and George Porter, while the addition of Keiran Murtagh will add steel and creativity in midfield.

If Eastbourne, Oxford City and Hampton can replicate their form from 2020-21, it’s all set to be a cracker.

■ EXPECT a familiar face to be up there again. Havant & Waterloovile were off the pace a touch last time out.

They will be looking to change that. Paul Doswell’s Hawks have a fresh feel about them with some excellent signings. Abdulai Bell-Baggie has plenty of experience, as does Scott Rendell who was still scoring goals at this level with Maidstone last season.

Joe Newton was highly-rated at Royston when he landed his move to Coventry City and, still young, will have a real energy to show what he can do.

But it’s the signing of James Roberts that really sticks out. The name on everyone’s lips last season as he hit 11 goals in 15 games at Oxford City.

■ EBBSFLEET UNITED were relegated from Step 1 at the end of the terminated 2019-20 by 0.002 of a point after points-pergame was applied.

There was a real sense of injustice in Kent at how lean the margins. Having explored the legal process, Fleet looked to put it right on the pitch. They stayed full-time, made a bold appointment of German manager Dennis Kutrieb and then had more frustration when the 2020-21 campaign went up in smoke.

The signing of Chris Haigh stands out. The keeper was excellent for Concord Rangers and shone in the delayed FA Trophy final against Harrogate.

■ BE HONEST, nobody expect Hungerford Town to put themselves in the early promotion running last season.

The Crusaders defied predictions they would be in for a season of struggle with an excellent start.

Manager Danny Robinson, who made the step up from Thatcham Town where he won the Hellenic League and FA Vase double, really got his side playing.

How they fare this season will make for fascinating viewing.

■ THE CLASS of 92 at Salford City, Robbie Savage with the new Macclesfield…the list of former Premier League players getting involved in Non-League clubs seems to ever grow.

Step forward Peter Crouch at Dulwich Hamlet, the club where the ex-England striker enjoyed a spell at the start of his career.

Crouch has joined as a director, insisting his arrival is no gimmick as he aims to help the south London club.