The National League is back this weekend and we’ve previewed some of the key matches in the fifth tier, picking out some possible bets.
Sutton United vs Dagenham
The weekend’s TV clash comes from Gander Green Lane with high-flying Sutton taking on Dagenham. Sutton boss Paul Doswell says his side don’t fear anybody in this League when asked about his team continuing to punch above their weight in the National League. Sutton have a decent record on TV this season winning each of their last three games in front of the BT Sport cameras and they will be aiming to continue that run here. They are 6/5 favourites with Betfred to win again here.
Dagenham sit just outside the play-off places but their problems have largely arrived on the road. John Still’s men have a woeful record on their travels with just three wins in 14 although they have drawn on 7 occasions. It’s 11/5 with Betfair for this clash to end all square.
The visitors have netted six times in their last two matches and have found their scoring touch. Michael Cheek and Dan Sparkes have both been in fine form and the latter is priced at 15/4 with Betfred to continue his excellent goalscoring run.
Aldershot vs Ebbsfleet
Everyone is chasing down the leaders Macclesfield and that charge is led by second place Aldershot. The Shots have been in good form winning three of their last four games and they will be confident of picking up three points here. They will be without Bernard Mensah, who was sold to Bristol Rovers but they still have enough quality about them and can be backed at Evens with Boylesports.
It wasn’t a good weekend for Ebbsfleet, who were beaten in the FA Trophy by Warrington and they also lost defender Kenny Clark to a season-ending knee injury. They are holding their own in the league however sitting in 10th position and will fancy their chances of getting something from this match. It’s 23/10 with Paddy Power for this match to finish in a stalemate.
Aldershot’s recent outing have been full of goals and Both Teams to Score has landed in each of their last five National League matches. Ebbsfleet have netted in each of their last two away ties and this could be an entertaining affair. It’s 4/5 with Betfred for both sides to find the net.
AFC Fylde vs Macclesfield
AFC Fylde have been in excellent form recently and it’s helped them climb the table. The Lancashire club left it late to beat Guiseley 2-1 at Mill Farm and they now face a tough task against the leaders. Dave Challinor’s men have won four of their last five and will make it tough for the in-form visitors. They can be supported at 7/6 with 888Sport.
Macclesfield are the side to catch at the top of the table and although many pundits have written off Jon Askey’s men, they have tremendous firepower in their squad but have also conceded just once in their last three National League clashes. They were beaten 1-0 in the FA Trophy last weekend but that now allows them to concentration on their quest for promotion. It’s 11/5 with Betfair for them to make the short journey home with all three points.
Whilst Scott Wilson has been firing in the goals for the leaders, Danny Rowe tops the goalscoring charts with 15 to his name. The potent frontman is 5/4 with Betfred to hit the back of the net once again.
Boreham Wood vs Dover
A clash between two sides who are jostling for position in the National League play-offs. Boreham Wood sit one place and two points above their visitors going into this game and with them being in better form, it is understandable that they are the 13/10 favourites with Boylesports going into this match.
Dover were associated with their excellent home form last season but that has flipped this campaign and they’ve been terrific on the road losing just twice on their travels although they are now winless in five away games. They are have drawn four of their last five matches including against Bromley, Leyton Orient and Wrexham. It’s 21/10 with 888Sport for this game to end level.
Bruno Andrade is one of the top scorers in this league and netted twice during the clubs emphatic 3-2 away victory against Dagenham and he is 11/5 with Betfred to find the net once again here.
Chester vs Gateshead
Chester are in big trouble at the bottom of the National League and have a crucial run of games coming up which starts with a home match against Gateshead. They also face Hartlepool and Maidenhead and are desperately hoping for a shot in the arm for their survival hopes. A positive set of results could see them leap out of the relegation zone but it won’t be easy. They are unbeaten in three games coming into this clash and are the 9/4 outsiders for this game with 888Sport.
Gateshead are in poor form and Steve Watson needs to reverse the trend. The North East outfit will see this as a highly winnable game and will be hoping for three points. They are 5/4 with Betfred to get the job done.
The hosts have tightened up at the back and prevented AFC Fylde from netting more than a single goal. They should keep Gateshead at bay here and it’s 4/6 with Paddy Power for Under 2.5 Goals.
Guiseley vs Barrow
An interesting battle between two sides struggling down the bottom of the table sees Barrow make the journey across the Pennines to face Guiseley. Paul Cox faces his former club at Nethermoor and will be hoping to get one over on his former employers. The West Yorkshire side have drawn three of their five home matches but desperately need to start turning these draws into wins. They are 13/8 outsiders to win this clash with Betfred.
Barrow’s away form has been mightily impressive under Ady Pennock and they’ll be hoping it’s business as usual on the road. They have won four of their last five on away from Cumbria and their impressive 3-3 draw with Wrexham was notable. Barrow will be fancied by many here at 31/21 with 888Sport.
Halifax vs Leyton Orient
It’s been a peculiar season for Halifax who started the season like a house on fire before sees those flames extinguished around late November. They’ve embarked on a dreadful run of form although the 4-0 thumping of Chester gave them some brief hope. They did win in the FA Trophy last weekend but they need to start picking up three points to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle. The men from the Shay are priced at 11/8 with Paddy Power to take three points.
Orient have improved under Justin Edinburgh although arrive here without a win in three matches. The former Newport boss proved incapable of getting both Northampton and Gillingham out of a rut and time will tell whether he can turn things around at Brisbane Road. His side are 17/10 with 888Sport to head back south with all of the points here.
Orient haven’t scored for three National League games but have maintained back to back clean sheets and could be quite hard to break down once again. Under 2.5 Goals is certainly a possibility at 4/5 with Boylesports.
Hartlepool vs Wrexham
Hartlepool have been in the news for all the wrong reasons this week and their off the field troubles continue to remain unresolved. It’s not much better on the pitch with the side creeping closer to the relegation zone and arriving here winless in five. This isn’t a particularly easy assignment for the Monkey Hangers and they will be hoping for a point for this fixture. They have drawn two of the last three and it’s 17/10 with Betfair for them to take a point from this game.
Wrexham have drawn three of the last four games and remain tough to beat. They will fancy their chances in this game against the struggling outfit and they can be backed at 17/11 with 888Sport to take all three points back to Wales.
Chris Holroyd bagged a hat-trick in their recent 4-0 thumping of Torquay and he has 11 for the season. He is the 2/1 favourite with Betfred to find the net inside 90 minutes here.
Maidstone vs Eastleigh
Andy Hessenthaler has made a decent start to life at Eastleigh and they come into this clash off the back of successive victories. Their 2-1 win against struggling Torquay helped put some distance between themselves and the relegation zone and it’s 13/5 with Betfred for ‘Hess’ to make it a hat-trick of victories here.
Maidstone never make it easy for any opposition and will be determined to get back to winning ways after failing to take maximum points from any of their last five matches. Their home record has seen them win just three times here but seven draws suggests they will get something from this clash. Betfair have priced the draw at 12/5.
The Spitfires are netting plenty of goals since the new manager took over and are adventurous in the final third. Over 2.5 Goals is available at 8/11 with Betfred.
Solihull Moors vs Woking
It’s not been a good week for Solihull Moors who suffered a cup upset at the hands of Spennymoor Town. Mark Yates admitted it should act as a wake-up call for his side as they get back to their battle for survival. They arrive here in fairly decent form with recent wins over Barrow and Maidenhead giving their hopes of staying in the fifth tier a real boost. They are back on home soil here and will be fancied by many at 5/4 with Boylesports.
Woking are reasonably safe for now in 15th position but can’t afford to get complacent as many of the sides below them in the side are seeing a noticeable upturn in results including today’s opposition. Anthony Limbrick’s side couldn’t find a way past Tranmere last weekend and that is just two points from a possible 15 which is concerning. Paddy Power have installed them as 2/1 outsiders to collect all three points here.
Torquay vs Bromley
Things are looking for Torquay who remain rock-bottom coming into this tie and it’s looking ominous for the Gulls. They’ve netted just a single goal in their last three matches and conceded eight times. Gary Owers desperately needs his side to turn things around and they can start with three points here. Surprisingly the strugglers have been priced up as 11/8 favourites for this tie with 888Sport.
Bromley are just outside the play-offs and will see this as a winnable game. They’ve win two of their last four matches in the National League including an impressive looking 1-0 win at Leyton Orient. They will fancy their chances of inflicting further damage on the bottom side and are priced at 9/5 with Betfair.
Louis Dennis is a man in form and he has netted in four of the last five Bromley games. The prolific player has 11 for the campaign and is 7/4 with Betfred to find the back of the net in Devon.
Tranmere vs Maidenhead
After an inauspicious start to the campaign, Tranmere have crawled back into the play-off picture and put in a superb collective effort with a 1-0 success against Woking last weekend. Mickey Mellon’s side are unbeaten in four of their last five and will be looking to continue that fine run of form against visiting Maidenhead. The hosts can be backed at 8/13 with Paddy Power.
Maidenhead sit comfortably mid-table and have an outside chance of the play-offs. They will need to improve upon their recent form however with four draws in their last five matches. They will fancy their chances of frustrating their much-fancied hosts and its 29/10 with Betfair for these teams to play out a stalemate.
Connor Jennings has been in excellent form for Tranmere in recent weeks and netted in their recent success here. He is priced at 5/4 with Betfred to continue his goalscoring habit.
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