Cup football takes a break and it`s back to the bread and butter of league action.
The top game in the Premier Division South sees leaders Farnborough welcome fifth-placed Salisbury to the EastAsHGV Stadium.
Farnborough had their lead at the top cut to five points after Gosport Borough`s draw at home to Kings Langley on Wednesday night, while Steve Claridge`s side recovered from their shock Buildbase FA Trophy defeat at Division One South side Plymouth Parkway by beating struggling Merthyr Town at the Ray Mac on Tuesday night.
On the same evening, Spencer Day`s men were involved in a top-of-the-table clash at the SKYex Community Stadium against a now third-placed Hayes & Yeading United which the hosts triumphed 4-2 in a cracking encounter.
Claridge, who has strengthened his squad by bringing in defender Calvin Brooks to join his brother Marvin, will be keen to ensure the gap between his side and Farnborough doesn`t get much wider, especially having played a game more.
Farnborough`s loss at Hayes & Yeading was their first in all competitions since September 21st when Metropolitan Police knocked them out of the Emirates FA Cup.
The two other teams in the top five, Hayes & Yeading and the Met Police, play at Tiverton Town and at home to Dorchester Town respectively.
Tivvy have been inconsistent so far this season but made it back-to-back wins on Tuesday when they won 1-0 at Hartley Wintney to follow up their Trophy success at Isthmian League South Central outfit Bracknell Town last weekend.
Gavin Macpherson`s Met side enjoyed a cracking 4-1 win at Earlsmead against Harrow Borough in midweek, while Dorchester have begun to climb the table since the arrival of Glenn Howes as manager.
They won the battle of the Magpies against Wimborne Town on Tuesday night and are unbeaten in three as they head to Imber Court.
Gosport, who are now second, travel west to Taunton Town on Saturday, with the hosts looking to return to winning ways after losing their derby at the Optima Stadium to Weston-super-Mare in midweek.
Rob Dray`s side need to recover quickly if they are to maintain a top five challenge.
Another interesting encounter takes place at the Black Gold Stadium where sixth-placed Poole Town welcome a Chesham United side who are currently just a point and a place behind their hosts in the table.
In the Premier Division Central on Saturday, Coalville Town, who hold a three-point lead at the top of the table, entertain fifth-placed Leiston at the Mander Cruickshank Solicitors Stadium.
It`s probably fair to say that there would have been few pundits who would have chosen Leiston as one of their tips for a top five spot.
However, Darren Eadie and Chris Wigger`s young team have maintained their form when assumed they would fade away.
After a blip of losing at struggling Hitchin Town last midweek, the Blues beat Harrow in the Trophy and then won 2-1 at Victory Road against AFC Rushden & Diamonds on Tuesday night.
The management will admit that the Suffolk side have conceded too many goals – 26 from their 17 games – and if they can tighten up at the back, there`s no reason why they can`t maintain their play-off challenge.
Coalville have only lost once in the league to date and continued their fine form with a 2-0 win at Keys Park against Hednesford Town in midweek.
Adam Stevens` side have been one of the unfortunate sides over the lockdown periods as in each of the three previous seasons since being switched from the Northern Premier League, the Ravens have looked likely promotion contenders, so will be hoping it`s fourth time lucky!
Peterborough Sports, most pundits choice as champions, got themselves back on track with a comfortable 3-0 Bee Arena victory over Royston Town on Tuesday night after the shock of losing to Isthmian League North Division outfit Felixstowe & Walton United in the Trophy last weekend.
Dean`s side aren`t used to losing. Their only two league defeats to date have come against Leiston and Coalville and Dean wouldn`t expect fourth-from-bottom St Ives Town to add their name to that list when they welcome the Turbines to Westwood Road on Saturday.
Banbury United put their unbeaten record on the line again when they entertain a Lowestoft Town side who head to the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium in 17th spot.
The Trawlerboys shared a 2-2 home draw with fellow strugglers Hitchin on Tuesday night, while at the same time, Andy Whing`s Puritans were enjoying a comprehensive 4-0 success at Tamworth which kept them in third spot, four points behind Coalville, but having played three fewer games.
The other side in the top five, Rushall Olympic, travel to an out-of-sorts Stratford Town, who have struggled before and since their FA Cup defeat by Shrewsbury Town in front of the live BBC cameras.
It`s five defeats in a row now for Paul Davis` side, two either side of the cup loss, including Tuesday`s 4-0 loss at Barwell which lifted the Canaries above the Bards, who are now 15th in the table.
Liam McDonald`s Pics returned to winning ways themselves on Tuesday against St Ives, having lost in the Trophy last Saturday and against Banbury in the league the previous midweek.
Hitchin, currently bottom and two points from the safety mark, will want to cancel out that deficit when Alvechurch head to Top Field on Saturday.
Thankfully for the Canaries long-serving boss Mark Burke, results have picked up of late, with Tuesday`s point at Lowestoft following that win against Leiston and a 0-0 draw at Biggleswade Town on November 6th.
Alvechurch brought an end to a three-game winless run by beating Stratford last weekend and will be looking to narrow the gap on the top five which has suddenly stretched to seven points.
Division One Central leaders Bedford Town are the only side in the top five playing a team outside the bottom half of the table on Saturday.
Gary Setchell`s Eagles take on tenth-placed Waltham Abbey at The Eyrie.
Bedford are top of goal difference after they won 2-1 at Harlow Town in midweek, while joint leaders North Leigh didn`t have a game, having played more games than any others in the division.
On Saturday though, the Millers travel to a Kempston Rovers side who are 16th after suffering a 6-1 hammering at Welwyn Garden City in midweek.
Ware are third, two points back, and they are also on their travels as they head to Yarnton Road to play third-bottom Kidlington, who lost 3-0 at Aylesbury United on Wednesday night.
Berkhamsted, currently fourth, host Biggleswade FC, who are 14th after they also lost on Wednesday by the same scoreline to Thame United.
AFC Dunstable, who dropped to fifth after a 2-1 home defeat to Didcot Town on Tuesday night, are at bottom-markers Colney Heath, whose only win came back on 18th September against Hertford Town.
Frome Town have a five-point lead at the top of Division One South after both they, and second-placed AFC Totton had single goal victories in midweek.
This weekend, Frome head to seventh-placed Highworth Town looking to maintain their unbeaten league record.
The Stags are also away as they make the journey down to Bolitho Park to take on a Plymouth Parkway side who lost to Frome on Tuesday in a very tight affair.
Third-placed Sholing, who won at Larkhall Athletic on Wednesday night, have second-from-bottom Mangotsfield United heading to the Hampshire coast buoyed by their 3-2 victory over Evesham United in midweek – their second successive win.
The game of the day in the division though takes place at The Creek where fifth-placed Bristol Manor Farm welcome fourth-placed Cirencester Town.
Manor Farm will still be heaving a massive sigh of relief after just avoiding becoming the first side to drop points against bottom side Barnstaple Town`s, edging a best-of-nine-goals at Mill Road on Tuesday night.
Indeed, Lee Lashenko`s side haven`t been in the best of form in recent weeks, having lost three of their previous four games.
Cirencester dropped points on Tuesday after being held to a goalless draw at Lymington Town, leaving John Brough`s side level on points with Manor Farm and seven adrift of Frome.
Winchester City, who head the chasing pack in sixth, three points behind Manor Farm, make the long journey to Devon to play third-from-bottom Bideford AFC, who were beaten at Mangotsfield last weekend.
Barnstaple`s quest for that elusive first point of 2021/22 sees them making the opposite journey as they head to Hampshire to play Lymington.
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