The National League action for 2024/25 is well underway, so ahead of match day six, our Football Writer Tom Williams has prepared the team, player, hot prospect and game to keep an eye on across Saturday.

National League Match Day 6 Team to Watch: Woking

What a turnaround it’s been for the Cards. They lost both of their opening games, fixtures which were bizarre in themselves; both games saw all 22 men on the pitch for just a combined 25 minutes. Woking failed to score a goal in either of those games, one in which they had a man advantage, so it was forgivable to think that the Cards would struggle in front of goal last season. After all, they had scored just 49 goals last season, the 2nd fewest in the whole division. And yet, the arrival of mercurial winger Matt Ward seems to have breathed fresh life into the Woking attack. Suddenly they can’t stop scoring. Forward Charley Kendall has hit form, scoring twice already, and the aforementioned Ward, who arrived in the summer from Premier League Ipswich Town, has already tormented opposition defences.

Seven goals in their last three games has seen them rise into the top four, with three wins on the bounce setting them out as one of the most inform sides in the whole division. They travel away to Rochdale this weekend, who have had a mixed start to the season, and with the form Woking are in, you’d back them to do well again.

There are some concerns about Woking’s firepower this season…

But with Charlie Kendall scoring goals like that, their attack may be slightly better than we thought 🔥pic.twitter.com/uTAYC4Q13l

— tomhwilliams23 (@tomhwilliams23) July 28, 2024

National League Match Day 6 Player to Watch: Christian Doidge

Rumours are rife that Forest Green are in the market for another striker, but their current forward Christian Doidge is doing a good job of leading the line by himself. The 32 year old is in his second spell with the club, and has managed to find the net four times so far this season in just five games. He’s also recorded an assist in that time too, leaving him on a goal contribution a game; a very impressive start to the season.

An instructive finisher, Doidge uses all of his experience to find the right positions in and around the box. Forest Green have been in strong form early this season, finding themselves inside the playoffs, and Doidge’s performances have been instrumental. In fact, his goals have directly contributed to three points for Rovers so far this season, and if they continue to create chances at the rate they are, you’d fancy him to earn them a few more before the end of the season. His last season at this level with Forest Green he fired in 27 goals, and he backed that up with 20 in League 2. Doidge and Forest Green are a very happy partnership.

Christian Doidge: Forest Green🟢

Doidge & FGR is a match made in heaven.

He grabbed two goals and an assist during a 4-0 victory against Boston United.

Managed an 8.8 match rating and 3 duel wins in 78 minutes. pic.twitter.com/CVKVI1oSer

— Callum Moseley 💻 (@CallumTDUK) August 19, 2024

National League Match Day 6 Hot Prospect: Jake Burger

Outside of his excellent name, 19 year old Jake Burger has already shown himself to be a very capable midfielder. A new arrival at Rochdale, Burger cut his teeth at Luton, who produce a lot of players who ply their trade at this level. Burger made the decision to move a long way North, at a relatively young age, but thus far it seems to be paying dividends. An energetic runner, Burger has played to the right of the front 3 in Rochdale’s 3-4-3 formation, but he also has the ability to come inside, such are his technical qualities.

He’s yet to register a goal yet, but with the amount of possession that Rochdale have, he won’t be short of chances to get off the mark. Burger, unlike a lot of young players, actually made the permanent move to the National League, which speaks of his desire to prove himself in senior football. If he continues to trend in the direction he is so far, then it won’t be long before he does so.

National League Match Day 6 Game of the Week: Gateshead v Eastleigh

After five games, Gateshead and Eastleigh find themselves second and first respectively. It felt natural therefore to select this as our game of the week. Gateshead have made a fast start, perhaps a little quicker than expected, but playing the same free flowing football that has become synonymous with the side from the North East. Eastleigh have to travel from the opposite end of the country, but will be in better spirits than the last time the sides met early on in the season; Gateshead won 6-0 away at Eastleigh in September of last season, almost a year prior to this fixture.

The Spitfires have been the surprise package so far this campaign however, with most tipping them for a relegation dogfight. But they’ve set down a market early, looking vastly improved defensively from last season, whilst retaining the same attacking threat. Talisman Paul McCallum is off the mark already, with 4 goals in 5 games, after he recorded a tally of 35 in 43 games last season. Gateshead themselves have an in-form forward, with new signing Owen Oseni already finding the net twice. This promises to be a really high quality game, with Gateshead likely to control the ball, but Eastleigh carrying real threat from set pieces.

🥈🤝🥇

A big test to come at the GIS this weekend 👊🏁

🎟️ https://t.co/7AHYFQ7lvC#WorClub ⚪️⚫️ pic.twitter.com/hvpUfJb4AX

— Gateshead FC (@GatesheadFC) August 27, 2024