We have reached the 3rd round of fixtures in this season’s National League already! Only Aldershot and Dagenham have collected the maximum six points from their first two outings as the table slowly begins to take shape. There’s another exciting round of games this weekend:
Maidenhead United v Hartlepool
It’s not been a dream start to life in the National League for Maidenhead having collected just a single point from their opening two matches in the fifth tier.
The market doesn’t expect them to collect three points here in the televised tie with 31/21 the best price available on the hosts with 888Sport.
They have shown they have the capabilities in front of goal having netted against Maidstone and Wrexham but keeping the opposition out is proving an issue. Both Teams to Score is unsurprisingly odds-on at 7/10 with Bet365
Hartlepool haven’t got to grips with this level under new boss Craig Harrison just yet but they fought back well to collect a point at Moss Rose in Midweek and they have been priced up at 9/5 with 888Sport for this contest.
They have some long journeys to undertake this season and this is one of the many treks south they face throughout the campaign and they’d likely to content enough with a Draw which is priced at 9/4 with Betfred.
Aldershot v Guiseley
Back to back home games at this stage of the season are always enjoyable for sides like Aldershot at the Electrical Services Stadium. They are 4/7 with Bet365 to win again here after seeing off Torquay 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Gary Waddock’s side are looking classy and at this early stage, they are justifying their role as one of the promotion favourites. They are 6/4 with Sky Bet to win with ease here on the -1 Handicap. They’ve hit five goals already and are looking lethal in front of goal. Shamir Fenelon has netted in both matches and is 8/5 with Bet365 to score during the 90 minutes.
Guiseley have a lot of travelling on their hands this week and arrive back from Gateshead with nothing to show for it. They battled well but lost 1-0. They’ll try and restrict the damage here and Under 2.5 Goals is available at Evens with Paddy Power.
Barrow v Woking
Most people expected Barrow to clinch all three points in Cumbria on Tuesday night as they took on a newly promoted Halifax side. They had a goal chalked off but left home fans disappointed with a goalless draw. It leaves Paul Cox’s side with an underwhelming one point from their opening two games. They are the odds-on favourites to collect three points at the third attempt here with Sky Bet offering 7/10 on a home win.
They appear to be missing the firepower of Byron Harrison who remains on the sidelines for at least another week and their lack of a clinical goalscorer could point towards a low scoring affair. Under 2.5 Goals is a generous looking Evens with Betfair.
Woking were full of confidence following some positive pre-season results and got off to a perfect start beating Gateshead seven days ago. They were defeated on the road by Tranmere in midweek but did give last year’s beaten play-off finalists a good run for their money. They’re 11/4 to grab a draw here with Betfred and on recent form they look like they can compete admirably here.
Boreham Wood v Solihull Moors
All the action happened in the opening 18 minutes of the game with Dagenham on Tuesday as the side from Victoria Road left with all three points. Bruno Andrade’s penalty continued the hosts knack of scoring in every game and they will be hoping for three points here.
They haven’t won any of their last four home matches stretching back into last season but each of those games have featured at least three goals and Over 2.5 Goals is 10/11 to land again here with Paddy Power.
There is the expectation that Boreham Wood will finally pick up three points in front of their own fans here as they’ve been priced up at 3/4 by 888Sport
Solihull Moors have only played one match this season after their opening game was called off. It ended in disappointment as they bumped into a rejuvenated Leyton Orient and were defeated 3-1. They are 3/1 with Bet365 to salvage a draw here.
Chester v Halifax
Similar to Solihull Moors, Chester have played just one game so far this season and come into this game much fresher than their opposition. The hosts played out a hard fought 1-1 draw with league newcomers AFC Fylde on Tuesday night.
They’ve had to re-shape their squad after losing some key players and they are once again expected to flirt with relegation at various points throughout the campaign. They are 17/10 with Bet365 to pick up their first three points of the season here.
Halifax picked up a very creditable point on Tuesday night and continue their tour of the North West with a trip to Chester. The newcomers will be relying on away points this season to keep them afloat and another draw could be in the offing here 9/4 with Betfred.
They showed resilience in defence throughout the 90 minutes and survived a scare with Barrow having a first half strike chalked off. More rearguard action could be required here and Under 2.5 Goals is available at Evens with Sky Bet.
Dover v Wrexham
Much was made of Dover’s home form last season but they came undone on Tuesday night as the home crowd witnessed a rare defeat at the Crabble Athletic Stadium. Bromley are a potentially dangerous opposition but the Kent club didn’t defend well-enough and were exposed at the back.
They will be punished by Wrexham if they don’t tighten up here with the 3/4 available at Bet365 for Both Teams to Score looking like a decent proposition.
Dover can’t be trusted after Tuesday’s performance and Wrexham arrive full of confidence. The Welsh side were tipped as longshots for the title this season and their 2-1 win at Maidenhead is a signal of their intent. They are a huge 12/5 with Betfair to make the long journey back with three points here.
The draw is a distinct possibility here and the two sides drew 1-1 back in February when they met here. Three of the last five meetings between these sides have ended all square and the same outcome can be backed at 9/4 with 888Sport here.
Eastleigh v Dagenham
Eastleigh arrive here unbeaten in three matches and their confidence is high. Richard Hill’s side have made a decent start to the campaign after adding some savvy additions to their side in the summer. They’re 6/4 with Bet365 to make it seven points from a possible nine here but they face another side riding high in the early stages of the season.
The Hampshire outfit have proved watertight at the back so far and have yet to concede. They won 1-0 against Sutton in midweek and will be looking to spring a surprise on one of the promotion favourites.
Dagenham have been getting the job done under John Still but have conceded in each match and they are likely to be the first side to open up that Eastleigh backline. Both Teams to Score can be backed at 8/11 with Betfair.
The visitors will be hoping to maintain their 100% start to the season but away trips won’t come much harder than this and they may have to settle for a draw which is priced at 11/5 with Paddy Power.
Ebbsfleet v Fylde
The battle of two newcomers to the National League as the two big-spending outfits meet at Stonebridge Road. Ebbsfleet were excellent in midweek picking up a 2-0 win against Maidstone maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign. Confidence will be high and they are priced at 5/4 with Bet365 to land the spoils here.
They’ve now hit four goals across their first two fixtures and they certainly have the firepower to compete in this division. Danny Kedwell and Luke Coulson were the scorers in midweek and they’re 39/40 with 888Sport to notch two or more goals in this encounter.
It’s not been quite as fruitful for AFC Fylde but they are unbeaten after two matches. Draws against Chester and Boreham Wood may have provided a low-key start as they find their feet at this level. They have scored and conceded in each of their matches so far and it’s 4/6 with Sky Bet for Both Teams to Score here.
Gateshead v Torquay
Gateshead got off the mark for the season at the second attempt with a narrow success over Guiseley in midweek and they have been priced up as 7/10 favourites for this encounter with the Gulls.
It’s an unenviable journey for Torquay who also have to visit Hartlepool at some stage this season too but they’ve shown resilience so far and they are 13/5 with Paddy Power to battle their way to a draw in the North East.
The Devon outfit have held much-fancied Tranmere to a goalless draw at Plainmoor before narrowly losing out to Aldershot in midweek. They notched twice in that encounter showing that they aren’t shy in coming forward. They haven’t fared badly here on their last two visits drawing 0-0 last season and winning 2-1 on their previous trip. Torquay Draw No Bet is available at around 5/2 with Betfred.
Danny Johnson didn’t manage to get on the scoresheet in midweek but he is 11/10 favourite with Bet365 to grab his second of the season.
Leyton Orient v Maidstone
The O’s are off the mark for the season after winning 3-1 against Solihull Moors. Steve Davis’ side looked decent going forward and it’s no surprise to see them priced up as 3/4 favourites with Bet365 for this encounter.
A mixture of experience and youth has been the philosophy for Davis so far and he’ll be hoping they can grab a second successive win at the Matchroom Stadium. David Mooney got off the mark for the season in midweek and his know-how will be key this season. He’s 11/8 with Bet365 to score anytime.
They haven’t managed to keep a clean sheet yet and it’s 7/10 with Boylesports for Both Teams to Score here.
Maidstone have got a season at this level under their belt and they will be keen to pull off a few surprises this season. They are 14/5 with Sky Bet to leave East London with a point. It’s early doors of course but taking anything from this encounter would help propel them out of the relegation zone.
Macclesfield v Bromley
Macc’s woes at home continued in midweek as they dropped points from a leading position against Hartlepool. Danny Whittaker’s strike was not enough for all three points and this is a potentially tricky encounter at the Moss Rose. They are priced up at Evens with Bet365 but they were only victorious in one of their last seven matches here in the league. It’s 13/5 for a second successive draw for John Askey’s side and that will tempt many punters.
These two sides sit next to one another in the table and both have four points. They’ve each scored twice and conceded once. Both Teams to Score is available at 4/6 with Paddy Power.
Bromley held an impressive Eastleigh side to a goalless draw on the opening weekend before surprisingly toppling Dover on Tuesday and could be dangerous here. They’ve 11/4 with Sky Bet to nick all three points.
Tranmere v Sutton
Mickey Mellon grabbed his first maximum haul of the season as he watched his side beat Woking at Prenton Park on Tuesday and they’ve been up at 4/7 favourites with Bet365 for this encounter. Andy Cook faced a late fitness test in midweek but he managed to find the net and he is 10/11 also with Bet365 to score during the 90 minutes here.
The Merseyside outfit have kept the majority of last season’s squad and added to it sensibly this summer. They will be popular on the handicaps this year and the best price of 13/8 is available with 888Sport on the -1 handicap.
Sutton don’t travel well and were defeated on the road in midweek. They only conceded once to Eastleigh as they held their own for long periods of the game. They really struggle for goals away from home however and it’s Evens for Both Teams to Score? No, with Paddy Power. They’ll be relieved to get back to Gander Green Lane where they have already beaten Leyton Orient this season.
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