National League South Previews

With 10 clubs exiting the FA Cup from National League South, nearly half the division will be keen on righting their wrongs this weekend.

League leaders Hemel Hempstead Town suffered their first defeat of the season, surprisingly losing at home to Southern Premier Central side Bishop’s Stortford. Farnborough also lost to lower league, in their case Walton & Hersham. The two meet at the Focus Community Arena with Farnborough on the back of three successive away losses in all competitions.

Torquay United’s loss at Step 4 Bishops Cleeve made last week’s NLP front cover. They’ll be hoping to stay out of the limelight this weekend against St Albans City, who progressed at Needham Market but are bottom of National League South with a mere two points from eight matches. They won 4-0 at Plainmoor last season.

Luke Garrard’s second spell at Boreham Wood got off to a dream start last week with a win at Eastbourne Borough in the FA Cup. His league return begins at home to Welling United, who are winless away in nine since a 3-1 win at Yeovil Town in March. Boro’ will be looking to bounce back against Slough Town as second take on fifth at Priory Lane.

Enfield Town, like Chesham promoted from Step 3 last season, can’t buy a win at present. Seven losses in a row, including nine points lost from winning positions away, has kept them in the relegation zone in their maiden National League South campaign. They’re away to Bath City who’ve only lost one of their last nine at Twerton Park stretching back to last term.

Aveley have had a torrid week, losing in the FA Cup to Royston Town and seeing captain Harry Gibbs depart for former employers Hornchurch. While his new club host in-form Chelmsford City in an Essex derby, Truro City make a 300-mile trip to Aveley’s Parkside home hoping to recover from three straight defeats where they’ve failed to score.

Another derby sees Salisbury and Chippenham Town face off. They scored 13 between them in comfortable FA Cup successes against Step 5 sides last weekend but find themselves in the bottom seven of the division.

Dorking Wanderers are winless in four, far from ideal preparation for a trip to Weston-super-Mare who have won six of their last seven. Their rise from losing the first two has been stand-out, moving them level with third placed Tonbridge Angels, the only side in the division unbeaten in all competitions. Jay Saunders’ men haven’t conceded a goal in their last five Step 2 outings.

Weymouth’s win at Dorking a fortnight ago saw their first goals since defeat at Tonbridge on day one. They host Worthing, who are away for the eighth time already this campaign.

Today’s fixtures (all matches KO 3pm):
Aveley v Truro City
Bath City v Enfield Town
Boreham Wood v Welling United
Eastbourne Borough v Slough Town
Hemel Hempstead Town v Farnborough
Hornchurch v Chelmsford City
Maidstone United v Chesham United
Salisbury v Chippenham Town
Tonbridge Angels v Hampton & Richmond Borough
Torquay United v St Albans City
Weston-super-Mare v Dorking Wanderers
Weymouth v Worthing

Read up on all the games in tomorrow’s NLP!