National League Tips for Gameweek 7 - 18/09/21

A huge clash in the Vanarama National League sees two early promotion hopefuls lock horns. Wrexham entertain Dagenham & Redbridge at the Racecourse Ground in one of the many 3pm Saturday kick-offs. Much has been made of the incredible story of Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElenney taking over as owners of the Welsh side earlier this year, with dreams of a rise up the football pyramid in mind.

The Red Dragons haven’t started well and gone about achieving those dreams so far though, winning just two of their opening six league games. Dean Keates’ side lost last time out, away to Grimsby on Tuesday. As for the visitors, the Daggers have enjoyed a great start to their National League campaign this season. The East London outfit sit top after six games, unbeaten so far with five wins.

Daryl McMahon’s men beat Weymouth 4-2 during the week to make it two wins on the bounce, we think they have the momentum heading into the weekend’s crunch tie that could stun Wrexham.

Notts County will be hoping they can finally earn promotion from the National League this year. The Magpies welcome Maidenhead to Meadow Lane this weekend looking to continue their decent start to the season. Ian Burchnall’s side sit fifth after six games, winning three. They’re also yet to lose a league game so far, one of the five that are unbeaten.

Their midweek tie saw them beat Wealdstone 3-2 at home, with Kyle Wooton getting the second for Notts County on Tuesday, taking his tally up to five goals in six league appearances.

We can see the 24-year-old adding to his tally and leading his team to a victory over a Maidenhead that are on a poor run of form. The midweek 2-0 home defeat to Stockport was tier third consecutive loss.

A big match at the bottom end of the National League sees Bromley and Barnet go head-to-head at Hayes Lane. The hosts go into Saturday’s tie in 18th spot on four points, albeit having only played four league games so far.

Their last match was a 3-2 home defeat to Boreham Wood last Saturday, after a late penalty earned the Ravens a fantastic point away to a strong Chesterfield team. Barnet find themselves second from bottom in the Vanarama National League, with six games played and not a single win so far.

The London outfit have lost four of those last six, with just two points on the board. They were on the wrong end of a six-goal thriller in midweek with the 4-2 defeat to Chesterfield, and they could be in line to be on the end of another goal fest this weekend with both teams scoring.

FC Halifax welcome Stockport to The Shay Stadium on Saturday, as two teams that have hopes of a promotion in mind, meet in one of the 3pm kick-offs.The Shaymen are in a top-seven spot after their opening six games, seeing them win three of their last five in the Vanarama National League.

They got a good point away from home against a strong Boreham Wood side on Tuesday, after the West Yorkshire side cruised to a 3-1 home win over Southend last Saturday. The visitors also won in midweek, seeing off Maidenhead away from home on Tuesday for what was Stockport’s second victory of the campaign so far. County were well beaten last weekend at home to Yeovil, conceding a 3-0 defeat to the Glovers. FC Halifax have scored 11 goals in their six league games so far, as well as conceding eight.

Stockport have only managed the four goals scored, with eight goals going against them. It could well be a high-scoring contest, and we fancy the Pete Wild’s Shaymen to take the three points.

Another side hoping to return to the Football League and earn promotion from the National League this season is Grimsby. The Mariners will be looking for another win against Eastleigh on Saturday that would aid their fightback to League Two, following their relegation from the fourth-tier last season. Paul Hurst’s men have got off to a great start, unbeaten in their opening six Vanarama National League matches.

The North East outfit are in top form, winning four of their last five, including Tuesday’s home tie that saw them come from a goal down to beat Wrexham 3-1 at Blundell Park. Eastleigh also managed a win on Tuesday, hammering Dover Atheltic 4-1 at home. It got the Spitfires off the mark with their first victory of the season, following a slow start which leaves them in 15th spot in the table. They’ll likely struggle against an in-form Grimsby side.

The home side have won each of their last three, despite conceding in each one. They beat Barnet 4-3 as well as Torquay and Wrexham both 3-1, respectively. We can see that trend continuing this weekend.