Chesterfield will look to maintain their position at the top of the National League table when they travel to Grimsby Town in a mouth-watering clash this weekend.
By Amos Murphy
In what is this weekend’s standout National League matchup, leaders Chesterfield will have their credentials tested by Football League dropout Grimsby Town.
Chesterfield, who have an FA Cup Third Round tie away to Chelsea to look forward to, have lost one match all season and are in the midst of an 11 game unbeaten run across all competitions.
By contrast, Grimsby have tailed off in recent weeks, falling from top spot themselves, right the way down to sixth ahead of this weekend’s action.
A Chesterfield victory is the most likely outcome in this one, with the Spireites to win with both teams to score coming in at 4/1 with Betfred.
No team in the National League has taken more points from their previous 10 matches than Stockport County and the Hatters will be targeting another win when they travel to Torquay United this weekend.
If things had gone differently for Torquay they may be halfway through a League Two campaign, instead they are hovering around mid-table in the National League with one win in their last four matches.
Meanwhile for Stockport, last week’s FA Cup loss to League One leaders Rotherham United was the first Dave Challinor has suffered as County boss and the former Hartlepool United man will switch his full attention to earning promotion yet again.
Looking to take a win in his first game against Torquay since last season’s playoff final, Challinor’s Stockport are priced at 10/3 to score over 2.5 goals on Saturday.
Despite some stuttering form of late, Bromley remains within touching distance of leaders Chesterfield and the Ravens will travel to Altrincham with three points in mind.
It’s not been a bad campaign for Altrincham themselves, who will start the weekend just seven points off the playoff spots.
Phil Parkinson has rightly earned plaudits for his side’s performances this season, but he will be eager to see his Altrincham put an end to their 10 game winless streak.
Bromley will likely be a step too far for the Robins, with Andy Woodman’s side 29/20 to take three points in Greater Manchester on Saturday afternoon.
Two sides who couldn’t be more desperate for a win in the National League will face off this weekend, when second-bottom King’s Lynn Town face rock bottom Dover Athletic.
Without a win all season, Dover look set for a return to the National League South for the first time since earning promotion from the division in 2013/14.
Despite being just one place below their weekend opponents, Dover sit a whopping 16 points behind King’s Lynn, who themselves have lost their last eight National League matches.
Expect an edgy affair at the King's Lynn Stadium, with both teams to score at 8/15 looking like a sensible bet.
Two former Football League stalwarts will battle it out for three points this weekend, in the first meeting between Notts County and Southend United outside of the top four tiers.
Southend have not taken to life in non-league well, with the Shrimpers currently sitting outside the relegation zone by virtue of goal difference.
Back to back to back relegations beckon for Southend unless they improve their results, whilst in contrasting fashion, Notts County are dreaming of a return to League Two.
It’s one defeat in the last seven National League games for Notts County, who are priced at 8/5 to win both halves.
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