NLS | Playoffs race continues as Hamlet aim to keep pace

The National League South is extra competitive this year - as seen in the battle for the NLS playoffs, where the five sides in positions 6-10 are covered by one point.  Read on for your preview of today’s key games with match odds courtesy of Betfred. 

By Steven Oldham 

NLS playoffs contenders Hamlet jockeying for position 

Dulwich Hamlet’s poor recent form has seen them slip out of the NLS playoffs - with Gavin Rose’s side picking up just one win in seven games.

Hamlet were among the early leaders, but have faded in recent weeks - and will look to put that right in their home game against Chelmsford City. A repeat of the 2-0 win they recorded in the reverse fixture would keep them in the chasing pack.

Chelmsford have pulled away from relegation danger in recent weeks and have an eight point buffer to the dropzone. Despite this, they are without a win in four having previously won three games back-to-back. 

Match odds: Home 3 /4, Draw 5/2, Away 11/4 

Hawks host league neighbours St Albans 

Havant & Waterlooville host St Albans City at The Westleigh as eleventh plays tenth. 

The hosts cannot overtake their visitors with victory but will bring themselves back into the playoff race should they do so. 

Paul Doswell’s side do need the points - with no win and only three points taken from the last available 18.

St Albans continue to be the joker in the pack with up to five games in hand on their rivals and could consider tenth to be a false position. 

Nevertheless, they need to make those games count - and aren’t in sparkling form themselves, with two wins in six.

Match odds: Home Evens, Draw 12/5, Away 21/10

Eastbourne travel to Essex 

Eastbourne Borough head to Braintree Town as one of the division’s form teams, with only leaders Dorking Wanderers and Maidstone United picking up more points in the last ten games. 

This form has seen them rise to a season’s high of sixth place, with Danny Bloor’s side averaging just short of two goals per game. 

Relegation-threatened Braintree are one point clear of Billericay Town in the division’s sole dropzone spot.

As with all the sides at the bottom, The Iron have improved in recent weeks and come into this game unbeaten in three. 

Match odds: Home 17/10, Draw 12/5, Away 6/5 

Chippenham favourites against Concord 

Chippenham Town will be aiming for a sixth home win of the season as Concord Rangers visit Hardenhuish Park. 

The inconsistent Bluebirds have won half of their last ten fixtures - but none of these have come back-to-back.

Mike Cook’s side currently hold the final playoff spot and will be quietly confident of holding onto it against out-of-form Concord. 

Rangers are without a win in six and have shipped 14 goals in that time. 

The game earlier in the season was a 3-0 win for Chippenham.

Match odds: Home 10/11, Draw 23/10, Away 12/5 

Hungerford Town take on Slough 

Hungerford Town are only outside the NLS playoffs on goal difference - and will look to change that in their visit to Slough Town.

There’s some pleasing symmetry in Hungerford’s last ten games.  They’ve won and lost five games apiece.  There’s also parity in the goals scored and conceded - with 15 in both columns. 

Slough are without a win in four, including a heavy 6-1 defeat at Chippenham Town. They risk their season ending aimlessly unless their form improves soon - eight points shy of the playoffs, yet 11 clear of danger.

Match odds: Home 23/20, Draw 9/4, Away 19/10

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