Maidenhead United host Dorking Wanderers in the National League on Saturday afternoon, with both sides enjoying comfortable starts to their fifth-tier campaigns as the season heads towards its festive schedule.
Only two points and a single position separate the two clubs going into their clash in Berkshire this weekend, with hopes of unlikely playoff pushes still alive amongst both camps.
Match preview
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Since their promotion from National League South in the 2016-17 season, Maidenhead have become part of the furniture in England's fifth tier, enjoying mid-table finishes in most of their seasons back at this level.
The same looks to be true for this campaign, with The Magpies sitting 13th in the league standings, having collected 27 points from 21 matches so far, a record that if continued would see them improve on their 17th-placed finish last term.
Since a first-round FA Cup loss to divisional rivals Dagenham & Redbridge in early November, Maidenhead have got back on track in the National League, collecting seven points from their four most recent games, leaving them just three points behind Solihull Moors who occupy the lowest of the playoff positions.
Alan Devonshire is approaching eight years in charge at York Road Stadium, quite the achievement considering the nature of professional football even at non-league level in the modern day, with the club's hierarchy believing that the ex-Braintree Town boss is the man to take The Magpies to the upper reaches of the National League in the near future.
Dorking managed to keep a clean sheet for the first time in 12 matches in all competitions last weekend as they narrowly beat struggling York City at Meadowbank Stadium courtesy of a first-half strike from James McShane.
That goal against York was McShane's 13th of the season, meaning the Englishman has already equalled his tally in the sixth-tier last season and sits third in the National League scoring charts behind Notts County's Macaulay Langstaff and Wrexham's Paul Mullin.
The fifth tier has been able to largely tame a Wanderers side who netted an incredible 101 times in National League South as they earned promotion last season - that win against Tim Ryan's men was their first in seven matches, form that had them slipping towards the relegation places in the league standings.
Manager Marc White was delighted with that shutout last weekend, which is very understandable considering his team's defensive record so far this campaign, with the Wanderers conceding a league-leading 45 times in 20 league fixtures, a rate that would make climbing up the fifth-tier standings extremely difficult for any club.
Dorking will leapfrog their hosts on Saturday with a win, a maximum that would represent only their third on the road so far this season and a first on their travels since September.
Team News
Maidenhead are hopeful central defender Will De Havilland will be available for selection after he missed the loss at Maidstone United, a game in which the Magpies conceded three goals for the first time since a heavy defeat at Notts County on the opening day of the season.
Emile Acquah has earned the trust of the fans and most importantly his manager after some exceptional performances in the last few matches, and should start when White's side visit on Saturday afternoon.
Alfie Rutherford is a long-term absentee for Dorking after rupturing his ACL in the win at Notts County in September, with the midfielder set to miss the remainder of the season, an injury that will increase the workload for the likes Niall McManus and Bobby-Joe Taylor in the middle of the park.
Jasper Pattenden could make a return to the Wanderers' matchday squad this weekend after missing out in the win against York due to concussion protocol, whereas winger Seb Bowerman is likely to remain sidelined with an Achilles injury.
Maidenhead United possible starting lineup:
Gyollai; Asare, De Havilland, Smith; Clerima, Massey, Nathaniel-George, Barratt; Ferdinand, Adams, Acquah
Dorking Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Walsh; Fuller, Harris, Cook; McManus, Moore, Taylor, McShane, Wheeler; Ottaway, Seager
We say: Maidenhead United 1-2 Dorking Wanderers
Maidenhead were on a good run of form until a trip to Maidstone last time out ended in defeat, and now face a Dorking side who can cause problems for any team at this level.
Dorking and star man McShane have made the step up to the National League with relative ease this season, and could be on for consecutive league wins this weekend.
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Top tip
Carter White
