NLS | St Albans City look to bounce back after FA Cup exit

The National League South returns to a full fixture list this weekend, with St Albans City looking to recover from their FA Cup exit to rivals Boreham Wood.  Read on for your weekend preview and match odds courtesy of Betfred. 

By Steven Oldham 

It’s tight at the top of NLS 

Dartford are still top of the table and are back in form having recorded back-to-back wins over Hemel Hempstead Town and Billericay Town. 

Oxford City are keeping up the pressure in second place, one point behind Dartford and unbeaten in ten games.

Dulwich Hamlet have moved up to third after last weekend’s important 5-2 win over fellow promotion chasers Ebbsfleet United. 

If results go their way, any of these three sides could lead the division by Saturday evening. 

St Albans City vs Hampton & Richmond Borough 

St Albans’ FA Cup adventure is over for another season having exited the competition in a 4-0 loss to near neighbours Boreham Wood on Monday.

Ian Allinson’s side will need to put that result behind them as they host Hampton & Richmond at Clarence Park. 

The Saints are off the boil at the minute, with no win in three league games and they’ve dropped from second to seventh in the highly-competitive league in recent weeks. 

They do however have at least one game in hand on all of the sides above them.

Hampton & Richmond would overtake St Albans if they picked up an away victory, and have won three of their last five league games. 

They lost last time out to Hemel Hempstead however, and failed to score for only the second time this season to date. 

Match odds: Home win 11/8, Draw 12/5, Away win 6/4

Maidstone United vs Dartford 

Steve King’s league leaders will face a tough test as they travel to the Gallagher Stadium. 

Following a six-game winless streak, Hakan Hayrettin’s side have won back-to-back games to move themselves back into playoff contention.

The Stones will also be fresh having not played a game for two weeks, although their home record is average this season. They’ve both won and lost three games, with one draw.

Meanwhile Dartford have the best away record in the division, picking up 16 points from their travels to date. 

Over the last eight games for both teams, Dartford have failed to score in half of them.  Maidstone were even more shot-shy, with five blanks in eight.  It’s unlikely to be a goalfest, but both sides have picked up a 3-2 victory in their recent upturn in form.

Match odds: Home win 11/8, Draw 23/10, Away win 6/4 

Ebbsfleet United vs Concord Rangers 

Both of these sides suffered surprise defeats in the FA Trophy two weeks ago, and both need a win to get back on track.

Promotion contenders Ebbsfleet are wobbling and are on a run of three straight league defeats - shipping nine goals in the process.

Following their 5-0 Trophy thrashing at the hands of AFC Totton, Concord picked up a point against Braintree Town last week.

Ebbfleet’s sharp dip in form continued last weekend with a heavy 5-2 defeat at Dulwich Hamlet - a result that saw Dennis Kutreib’s side drop to fourth.

A win for Concord would draw them level on points with Ebbsfleet - as a sign of how tight the league is this season, three points covers the teams from fourth down to eleventh in the table. 

Match odds: Home win 9/20, Draw 3/1, Away win 9/2

Saturday’s other action  

Bath City vs Hungerford Town (Home win 6/4, Draw 12/5, Away win 11/8)

Billericay Town vs Chelmsford City (Home win 7/4, Draw 9/4, Away win 5/4)

Dorking Wanderers vs Welling United (Home win 4/9, Draw 16/5, Away win 9/2)

Eastbourne Borough vs Havant & Waterlooville (Home win 8/5, Draw 12/5, Away win 13/10)

Hemel Hempstead Town vs Slough Town (Home win 7/5, Draw 12/5, Away win 29/20)

Oxford City vs Chippenham Town (Home win 4/7, Draw 11/4, Away win 18/5)

Tonbridge Angels vs Dulwich Hamlet (Home win 8/5, Draw 23/10, Away win 13/10)

Will you be building an NLS acca? Let us know on social media.