With just a handful of games left in the National League the pressure is cranking up — and this weekend’s fixtures could prove decisive at both ends of the table. Altrincham vs Rochdale is a crucial clash in the playoff race, with both sides knowing a defeat could derail their top-seven hopes.
Boston United, one of the form teams in the division, look to take another big step toward survival as they host Wealdstone, who may already have one eye on a looming relegation six-pointer. Meanwhile, Tamworth are still chasing an unlikely playoff spot and face a badly out-of-form Solihull Moors side sliding dangerously down the table.
With everything to play for and momentum swinging in multiple directions, here are the best betting angles to back this weekend.
Tamworth vs Solihull Moors
Tamworth are still very much in the hunt for a playoff spot, sitting just four points off the pace with four games to play. They boast the sixth-best home record in the league, with a solid return of W9-D8-L4, and have only failed to score in three home matches all season.
Against the bottom nine sides at home, Tamworth have been dominant — W8-D1-L0, scoring 2+ goals in all eight wins. Those victories have come by an aggregate score of 24-9, highlighting both attacking efficiency and defensive control.
Their recent form is strong: W6-D1-L1 over their last eight league games, and just two defeats in their last 13. At home, they have been tough to beat, with a record of W7-D7-L2 across their last 16 at The Lamb Ground — one of those losses coming against runaway leaders Barnet.
Only three teams have collected more points than Tamworth over the last 13 matches, underlining their late-season surge.
In contrast, Solihull Moors are in free fall. Over the last 13 games, no side has earned fewer points (W2-D4-L7), and no team has scored fewer goals during that span. Defensively, they have not been much better — only four sides have conceded more in that period.
Their away form stands at W7-D5-L9, but they have kept just six clean sheets and failed to score in five of those matches. It is a big fall from grace for Solihull, who were sixth in the table after 25 games, just nine points behind Barnet. But in the 17 matches since, they have picked up just 13 points, while Barnet have earned 42.
Now sitting 17th, Solihull are just seven points clear of the relegation zone, having won just twice in their last 16 matches — one of those wins coming against bottom-of-the-table Ebbsfleet, who have only 22 points all season.
With form, momentum, and a strong home record all in Tamworth’s favour — especially against struggling sides — this looks like a prime opportunity for them to keep their playoff hopes alive with another big result.
- Best Bet: Tamworth win at 2.0 with William Hill
Boston Utd vs Wealdstone
Boston United have been one of the form sides in the National League over the second half of the season. Across the last 20 games, they have collected the third-most points in the division — only Barnet and York have picked up more. It’s a remarkable turnaround considering where they were earlier in the campaign.
After 22 games, Boston sat 22nd in the table, firmly in the relegation zone with a record of W3-D6-L13, and having conceded 37 goals. Promoted from the National League North last season, their early struggles led to the sacking of Ian Culverhouse in October. Graham Coughlan took over in late November, and although he won just one of his first seven games, the turnaround since then has been impressive: W9-D3-L4.
During that run, Boston have picked up wins against strong opposition — including York, Rochdale, Southend, and Altrincham, as well as earning a draw with high-flying Barnet. Now sitting outside the bottom four, their survival is in their own hands. A win here could open up an eight-point cushion above the drop zone with just three matches to play.
Their opponents, Wealdstone, sit 20th — one place above Boston, but five points clear of the relegation zone. With a huge clash at home to Maidenhead (currently 22nd) looming on Easter Monday, they could already be looking ahead to that crucial six-pointer.
Away from home, Wealdstone have struggled all season, keeping just two clean sheets on the road. Their record against the bottom six away from home is W0-D1-L3, conceding 2+ goals in all four of those matches.
Their recent home form — four wins from their last six — is likely to be key to survival, but away from Grosvenor Vale, they have been poor. Against teams currently in the top half, Wealdstone’s record reads W1-D5-L5, suggesting they often fall short against in-form sides like Boston.
While Wealdstone have only failed to score in four of their away games, and could get on the scoresheet here, Boston’s recent form, momentum, and growing confidence suggest they have well positioned to take another important step toward safety.
Rather than backing the straight win, the -0.25 Asian Handicap offers a safer approach — returning half your stake in the event of a draw, while still profiting from a Boston win.
- Best Bet: Boston Utd -0.25AH at 1.90 with Bet365
Altrincham vs Rochdale
It is a massive clash in the National League playoff race as Altrincham host Rochdale — a game that neither side can afford to lose.
The hosts sit eighth on 60 points, while Rochdale are currently sixth with 64 points and a game in hand over the chasing pack. With just three matches left after this weekend, a defeat for Altrincham could leave them seven points adrift of the playoff places, which may prove too much to claw back, especially with a tough run-in that includes games against teams in seventh, eighth and tenth. In a tightly packed race that also involves Southend and Tamworth (both level on points with Altrincham), this fixture is must-win for the home side.
However, Alty’s recent form is cause for concern — just two wins in their last 11 matches, with seven defeats in that stretch. Their home record stands at W9-D7-L5, though they endured a rough patch with four straight home defeats between February and mid-March. Since then, there have been signs of recovery with a win and a draw in their last two at Moss Lane.
Having lost in last season’s playoff semi-final to eventual winners Bromley, Altrincham remain in the mix but manager Phil Parkinson has admitted the team is still a way off from being genuine promotion contenders. Still, this is a defining moment in their season — and a win could reignite their campaign.
Rochdale, meanwhile, have hit a rocky patch of their own. They have won just two of their last eight, though they remain in a strong position for a playoff berth. On the road, their record is W6-D7-L7, but they have struggled for consistency — failing to score in six away games, though they have also kept six clean sheets.
Against top-half sides away from home, their record is underwhelming: W2-D5-L4, with only two clean sheets across those games. That said, they have scored in 10 of their last 12 overall, and both teams have scored in five of their last seven away fixtures — a trend that looks likely to continue here.
With so much riding on this result for both sides, expect a fiercely competitive game. Both teams need a win to keep control of their playoff fate — and with attacking urgency likely on both sides, goals at both ends look highly probable.
- Best Bet: Both teams to score at 1.75 with Bet365
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