Altrincham and Maidenhead United take on one another in midweek in a clash of styles that should provide some entertainment.

Alty come into the game five unbeaten and have found some real rhythm since the returns of Toby Mullarkey and Isaac Marriott and the additions of Stockport County pair Elliot Newby and Conor Jennings. Maidenhead United are without a victory in three and their away form is generally poor but they remain a side that can turn it when they need to – just ask Chesterfield, Aldershot Town and Bromley.

Both sides come into the game having seen both teams score in each of their last five matches and a combined total of three or more goals in four of their last five matches. The hosts have kept just three clean sheets this season while the visitors have kept just four.

There is definitely an avenue of attack for the visitors, who have scored at least 13 of their 25 league goals from crosses or set-piece situations, a weakness for the hosts who have conceded from six of those situations in their last six matches, as well as conceding a penalty from one. The hosts, meanwhile, have Ryan Colclough and Elliot Newby in excellent form – they have scored and assisted 11 goals in their last five matches.

A meeting between the two sides promoted from National League South last season.

Dorking have won one of their last nine matches and have struggled to name a consistent XI, losing both of their wing-backs ahead of their game at the weekend and also experienced pair Barry Fuller and Luke Moore to injury during the game.

Maidstone have had long-standing issues with injuries, unable to keep centre-backs, Jacob Mensah, Kodi Lyons-Foster and Joe Elull fully fit while also losing right-back Justin Hoyte as left-back Jerome Binnom-Williams returned to fitness. They have also lost goalkeeper Ryan Sandford.

The continued issues both sides have faced mean there should be goals here. For starters, they are the first two sides in the division to concede 50 or more goals. The hosts are seeing an average of 3.96 goals per game be scored (highest in the division) and 78% of their matches finish with three or more goals being scored.

The visitors aren’t far behind, placed fifth for total goals (3.39 per game) and fourth for games with over 2.5 goals (65%). Both sides have conceded three goals in each of their last two matches and their meeting earlier in the season finished 4-2.

I’m anticipating a routine away victory in midweek as Woking travel north to take on Scunthorpe United.

Scunthorpe United picked up a much-needed point at the weekend and even kept their first clean sheet of the season. However, they could not have faced Yeovil Town in better circumstances and still came away without victory. Their hosts at the weekend had just two outfield substitutes, a number of players playing through illness and The Iron still couldn’t find the breakthrough.

Despite the takeover, not much has changed with interim manager Michael Nelson losing leading scorer Joe Nuttall and choosing to start youngsters Owen Foster, 17, and Finley Shrimpton, 20, in goal and central midfield, respectively.

Woking come into this game on the back of a surprise home defeat against York City but Darren Sarll, who is very honest in his post-match assessments, chose to praise York City for the number of blocks they made and the togetherness of their team. Sarll will be able to call upon first-choice right-back and left-winger Dan Moss and James Daly for this one, Rhys Browne is fully fit and captain Josh Casey could return, having sat the game at the weekend on the bench.

Woking’s record against sides in the bottom six reads six played, six wins. Scunthorpe’s record against sides in the top half reads 11 matches, ten defeats, one draw and no points at home.

A contender for one of the most difficult to watch games of the season could potentially take place at Roots Hall in midweek.

It’s been a weird period for Southend United, Kevin Maher’s side conceding seven goals in their last three games despite being a side so often built upon their ability to defend and deny the opposition. They had conceded four goals in the preceding 11 matches. As key to their defensive structure as good defenders was forwards that could look after the ball.

One or two of those are close to a return and it was suggested that if they could play against Boreham Wood at the weekend, Henry Sandat would then be able to play for the U18’s. He played for the U18’s, so expect changes to the front line. Over half of Southend’s matches have finished with two or fewer goals having been scored.

FC Halifax Town are in unbelievable form. Chris Millington was on his way out on 1st October with the side rooted the bottom of the table. They have since picked up 23 points from 11 matches – only Notts County and Wrexham have a better record.

Key to their form has been defensive solidity – they have conceded just eight goals in 11 matches, and three of those were away at Wrexham. Only three of those 11 matches have finished with over 2.5 goals scored, including that game at Wrexham and another against Dorking Wanderers.