Aldershot Town produced a big victory in midweek but I’m backing them to fall short at the weekend when they travel to Bromley.

The Shots beat Solihull Moors during the week, a 2-1 win away from home that followed up a 4-1 victory over seventh tier Leiston in the FA Trophy. However, that midweek victory was one they were fortunate to hold on to, scoring twice in a couple of minutes but otherwise being second best. They had lost their previous four and seven of the previous nine in the league and their record against sides in the top ten reads two wins and ten losses, including losing every away match. They also have a small squad and this will be their third game in a week whereas Bromley didn’t play in midweek.

The Ravens have had an up and down season to date, still very much in the battle for the top seven but lacking consistency. What they are good at is winning football matches at home against lesser outfits. They have won five of their six home matches against the bottom six and their only two home defeats came against top five opposition. While they have lost Ethan Coleman, there is positive news. James Vennings and Billy Bingham have both returned, their first-choice central midfielders, and Omar Sowumni is available again too. Bromley haven’t conceded more than one goal at home against a side tenth or lower in the table.

A rematch between two sides involved in over 200 goals in their 92 league matches last season and they have taken their attacking approaches into the top tier of non-league football.

Dorking Wanderers have been involved in more goals than any other side in the league, an average of four goals total scored in their league matches to date. Both teams have scored in 74% of their league matches and over 2.5 goals have been scored in 76%. Marc White has been managing the workload of his players and finally has the majority of his first-team squad fit again, meaning he has gone back to putting his side out in their traditional, attacking 3-5-2 system. They beat Kidderminster Harriers 3-2 in the FA Trophy last weekend with a strong XI out.

Gateshead similarly play a brave style of football, a game designed to bring the opposition onto them and move the ball through the thirds quickly, the type of football that could cut through Dorking’s man-to-man press with so many forward runners. They beat Oldham Athletic 3-1 in the FA Trophy at the weekend, following up on four points against York City and a 1-1 draw with Barnet that deserved another goal or two. Williamson has finally been able to select a consistent XI which is leading to higher chance creation, necessary for a side that have kept two clean sheets all season. Both teams have scored in 76% of their matches and over 1.5 goals have been scored in 92% of their games.

My prediction of Solihull Moors to win in midweek didn’t come off but there were continued signs that they are on the right track and I’m backing them again this weekend to beat Scunthorpe United.

The frustration around Solihull Moors rose with a seventh defeat in eight league matches. However, Neal Ardley has finally been able to field a consistent team with the additions of Oisin Smyth and Tom Whelan boosting the midfield while left-back Ben Coker is available again. They performed well in the FA Trophy against high-flying Barnet while they were the dominant side in their fixture with Aldershot Town, undone by a couple of minutes of madness. The Moors remain one of the most stylish outfits in the division in terms of their play and patterns and their defeat in midweek was a first home loss against a bottom half side since the third matchday of last season.

A home fixture against Scunthorpe United could be perfect for them. The Iron come into this game having lost nine of their 11 league matches and performing abysmally last time out against Woking, mustering three shots all game. They remain bottom of the league table and their record against sides in the top 15 reads zero wins, three draws and 14 losses. Furthermore, the deal involving a much-needed takeover fell through this week, only adding to the dismay felt by all involved at the club. They remain bottom of the league table with an interim manager for the foreseeable.