AFC Fylde v Guiseley (National League North)

Things haven’t gone all too well for AFC Fylde of late. The Lancashire club have won just three of their last eight, including three defeats and an end to their previously perfect home record. However, that run was ended by clubs currently sat second and fourth in the league table. And Fylde still have an immaculate home record against sides fifth or lower and have lost just once overall against sides in the bottom half of the table. They have also scored in every home fixture this term.  

Guiseley, meanwhile, are struggling. Marcus Bignot and Russ O’Neill are finding it tough with a pretty young group struggling to haul themselves away from the drop zone. Goals have been the issue. No side in the league has scored less than Guiseley’s 15 and while they have scored in seven of their nine away matches, they have never scored more than once. Guiseley are yet to beat a side higher than 15^th in the division, recording just three points from a possible 39 against sides 14^th or higher including one point from a possible 18 away from home.  

While Jim Bentley’s Fylde haven’t been in great form lately, their 2-0 victory over Leamington was typical of a side that are strong against the division’s lesser lights and the signing of Tom Walker from Stockport County should only add to that.  

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Bradford Park Avenue v Kettering Town (National League North)

For much of this season, Kettering Town’s joy came against the lesser lights of the division, a group that they would normally be considered a part of. However, they have won three of their last four league matches, including 3-1 and 3-0 victories against Brackley Town and Curzon Ashton which has sent The Poppies into the top half of the table. Those two victories have sent a signal that Paul Cox’s side are finding their feet at this level and are comfortable taking on the better sides, especially having proven they can beat the sides below them – they have won six out of 10 matches against sides 13^th or lower in the table, including four out of six away from home.  

That potentially spells trouble for Bradford Park Avenue who have struggled for much of this season. Similar to their opponents this Saturday, they have performed well against the sides in the lower reaches of the table, losing just one of eight matches against teams 14^th or lower and winning three of their four home matches. Against sides in the top half, they have recorded just one victory and two draws with the victory coming all the way back in early September.  

While Kettering aren’t a perfect side, they are the side in form going into this one and will fancy their chances of recording a fifth away victory in ten.  

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Gateshead v Leamington (National League North)

The North East outfit currently sit top of the table but their position came under threat after back-to-back defeats against Blyth Spartans and Chorley during the Christmas period. Since then, they have beaten Bradford Park Avenue, Hereford and AFC Telford United, all by more than one goal and scoring 10 goals. While The Heed are strong away from home, it’s their home form that is catching the eye, winning eight of their nine league games and averaging 2.33 goals per game.  

For Leamington, the early promise of their season has disappeared quickly with the Warwickshire club now winless in their last nine matches. To add to the disappointment, six of those matches have been at home but their away form isn’t much better, Paul Holleran’s side winning just one of their 10 away matches – against a Blyth Spartans side that were second from bottom in the league table at the time.  

In fairness to the visitors, their games have been quite tight on the whole with Leamington only losing by more than one goal twice during their run – home defeats against Kettering Town and AFC Fylde. However, if Gateshead are on their game, they could easily record a fourth consecutive victory by two goals or more.  

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AFC Telford United v Darlington (National League North)

It’s been an abysmal season for AFC Telford United, a side who always felt like they were a good run away from the play-offs now sat dead bottom of the league table, praying that Paul Carden can produce a minor miracle to take them away from danger. The Shropshire outfit are now without a win in 11 matches and were thumped 4-1 in midweek by league leaders Gateshead to further dent confidence.  

Darlington are faring much better on the whole but they have hardly been in great form lately themselves, winning two, drawing three and losing three of their last eight matches. A 6-0 victory away at Farsley Celtic was certainly one way to end a three-game winless run away from home but the feel-good factor was lost quickly with a home defeat against Kidderminster Harriers.  

One notable aspect in recent games of both of these sides is goals. Darlington have scored in eight of their ten league matches away from home this season and conceded in nine with Telford scoring and conceding in six of their nine home matches. Telford have scored in six of their last seven league matches while Darlington are averaging nearly two goals per game on the road. Also, 80% of their away matches have seen three or more goals scored. It’s difficult to say with any certainty whether Telford’s long winless run will come to an end on Saturday but their fans may find themselves entertained with a few goals.  

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Dorking Wanderers v Ebbsfleet United (National League South)

Goals, goals, goals.  

Dorking Wanderers are averaging 3.95 goals per game overall and that figure increases to a whopping 4.33 goals per game total at home, of which only 3.11 of those are being scored by the hosts. There have been three goals in 89% of their matches this season and in each of their last ten matches overall. In fact, seven of their last ten have seen four or more goals scored.  

Ebbsfleet United are averaging 3.53 goals per game and that figure increases to 3.78 goals per game away from home. There have been over 2.5 goals in 67% of their away matches and they have scored in 67% and conceded in 78% of those games. As for recent form, seven of their last ten matches have involved at least three goals and three of their last four away matches.  

Of course, there is the element of this being league leaders taking on their closest challengers and generally, these would be tighter and cagier affairs. Perhaps there is something in that with Dorking playing out 2-0 and 1-0 victories against sides third and fifth in the league table while Ebbsfleet United won and lost 1-0 against fourth and fifth. But in recent fixtures, Dorking also beat fourth place Oxford City 4-2 and Ebbsfleet played out a 3-2 loss against Maidstone United. And it’s hard to imagine Dorking and Ebbsfleet taking a back step when their attack-first approaches have so clearly reaped rewards so far.  

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Dulwich Hamlet v Concord Rangers (National League South)

Neither Dulwich Hamlet or Concord Rangers are going into this game in particularly great form.  

That’s perhaps expected of Concord Rangers who are sitting in the bottom half of the division. They have won two of their last eight and their only away victory in their last six came against Billericay Town, who sit bottom of the table. Meanwhile, Dulwich Hamlet are without a win in four and have won two of their last eight despite continuing to occupy a play-off position. While recent results against Dorking Wanderers and Dartford can be excused, there will have been disappointment that a 5-2 victory against Ebbsfleet United was followed up by failing to beat Tonbridge Angels and Welling United.  

While predicting the winner of this game won’t be easy, it’s fair to assume that both sides will score. For starters, Concord Rangers have scored and conceded in every single away league match this season and that’s despite playing sides at both the bottom and top of the table. They have also conceded in both halves in 80% of their matches which means Dulwich, who tend to start and finish halves well, should feel confident enough. The hosts have scored in 70% and 80% of their home matches and both sides total an average of 3.3 and 4 goals per game on average home and away, respectively.  

There is little to go on as far as form is concerned but it’s fair to suggest that both sides will score in this one.  

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