Barrow vs Sutton
Barrow’s match at Guiseley was postponed last weekend so Ady Pennock’s players are fresh ahead of this home clash with high-flying Sutton. On their current form, they would prefer to be on the road as their away form has been nothing short of sensational in recent weeks. They are the 9/4 outsiders for this clash with 888Sport and understandably so but it would be dangerous to underestimate this side.
Sutton were victorious in front of the BT Sport cameras last weekend as they squeezed past Dagenham and that result keeps them third in the National League table. Paul Doswell’s side drew 0-0 on their only previous visit to this ground although they did win 3-2 in the reverse fixture. They can be backed at 21/20 with Boylesports.
Barrow haven’t kept a clean sheet at home in any competition since mid-September but they are in decent spirits and should be able to get on the scoresheet against Sutton. Both Teams to Score? Yes is priced at 4/6 with Paddy Power.
Bromley vs Halifax
Bromley have been fairly consistent this season but they remain on the fringes of the play-offs and although it’s a competitive top half of the table, they stand every chance of making it into the end of season shake-up. They have now netted four times in two of their last three games including a dominant and ruthless performance against Torquay last weekend. They will full of confidence after that display and are 19/20 favourites with Betfred for this tie.
Halifax are another side who fell victim of the weather last weekend with their game against Leyton Orient called off. They make the long journey south to Hayes Road and will be desperate to turn their poor recent form around. The Shaymen are slipping down the table and have netted just twice in four matches. They will happy with a draw here and that outcome is priced at 12/5 with Betfair.
Halifax aren’t defending well at the moment and they need to drastically improve. Bromley are in confident goal-scoring mood and Over 2.5 Goals is priced at 8/11 with 888Sport.
Dagenham vs Solihull Moors
Dagenham have dropped out of the play-off places in recent weeks and this has been mainly caused by their inconsistent form on the road. John Still’s side slipped up at Sutton last weekend but they can generally be relied upon at Victoria Road. They have the third best home form in the league and can be backed once again at a short price of 4/6 with Boylesports for success in front of their own fans.
Mark Yates has undoubtedly improved Solihull Moors and they’ve become much tougher to beat since the former Cheltenham manager took over the Midlands club. They’ve won three of their last four including holding leaders Macclesfield to a goalless draw at the Moss Rose. They might be able to get something from this game and are a huge 3/1 with Betfair in the Draw No Bet market.
Crucially, Solihull Moors have only conceded three times in their last five matches and keeping it tight has allowed them to move out of the relegation zone. Another low-scoring affair would suit them just fine. Under 2.5 Goals is available at Evens with Paddy Power.
Dover vs Guiseley
Struggling Guiseley were given extra time to regroup last weekend as their home match with Barrow was called off. They’ve since added some experience in the shape of Sean St.Ledger although the former Middlesborough defender is now 37 and not as mobile as he used to be. It’s a long trip for the strugglers and they are likely to be up against it. They can be backed with a goal start (+1 Handicap) at 7/5 with Betfred.
Dover have been inconsistent recently but got back to winning ways last weekend with an unexpected 3-2 win at Boreham Wood. They need to reignite their play-off push and this is the kind of match in which they will be expected to pick up three points. The home side can take advantage of their visitors’ away day blues and have been priced up as 6/11 favourites for this game with 888Sport.
Eastleigh vs Hartlepool
Eastleigh have improved immeasurably under Andy Hessenthaler and the former Gillingham man has moved the Spitfires safely clear of the relegation zone. They picked up their third consecutive win last weekend and that sees them firmly entrenched in mid-table. They have an outside sniff of the play-offs on current form but fans will be aware that new manager bounces don’t last forever. They can be backed for this match at 20/23 with Boylesports.
Craig Harrison’s Hartlepool picked up a point against Chester in midweek which wasn’t bad considering they were on the road but they would have hoped for more against a struggling opponent. They are out-of-form and clearly off-the-field issues aren’t helping them. They are 29/10 to get back to winning ways here.
Most new managers tighten up their side upon arrival but Hessenthaler has got his side playing eye-catching attacking football and they are a joy to watch at the moment. There have been at least three goals in four of their last five National League matches and Over 2.5 Goals can be backed at 3/4 with Paddy Power.
Ebbsfleet vs Boreham Wood
Ebbsfleet weren’t expect to pick anything up last week against high-flying Aldershot but they emerged with a goalless draw and very useful point in their hunt for the play-offs. They currently sit 11th and Daryl McMahon has praised the strength and willingness of his squad. Their home form is decent with seven wins from 15 and just three defeats so far. They start as the 5/4 favourites with 888Sport for this tie.
Boreham Wood surprisingly tripped up last weekend at home to Dover in a topsy-turvy fixture and they must regroup ahead of this difficult looking away tie. That was their first defeat in five and they remain four points ahead of today’s hosts. They can be backed at 2/1 with Boylesports to pick up three points here.
There have been 19 goals in Boreham Wood’s last four matches across all competitions and even though the reverse fixture between these two sides finished 0-1 to the Kent side, this should be far more entertaining. Over 2.5 Goals can be backed at 11/10 with Paddy Power.
Gateshead vs Maidstone
It’s a difficult week of away trips for Maidstone who were soundly beaten in Lancashire on Tuesday night. They are strangely out-of-sorts at the moment, evidently not helped by the sale of Joe Pigott to AFC Wimbledon. Fylde put three past them in midweek and although few sides enjoy visiting this stadium, The Heed are struggling for form under Steve Watson. Prior to their hammering, Maidstone had drawn each of their four previous away games and the same outcome can be backed at 5/2 with Betfair.
Gateshead started at short odds-on favourites to beat an out-of-form Woking side in midweek but needed an 80th minute equaliser to secure something for the fixture. They haven’t won any of their last four at home but they will be confident of bouncing back and can be backed at Evens with Boylesports.
Despite struggling for form, Maidstone are scoring plenty of goals and they should be able to find a way past Gateshead’s generous defence. Both Teams to Score? Yes is 4/7 with 888Sport.
Leyton Orient vs Aldershot
Justin Edinburgh’s arrival has produced mixed results so far but they have only lost one in five and have a comfortable enough cushion between themselves and the relegation zone. They could do with getting back to winning ways although following last weekend’s postponement, they now have a game in hand. They’ve conceded just two goals in four matches here at Brisbane Road and should be difficult to beat on their own patch. The O’s are 7/4 with Betfred.
Aldershot were left frustrated last weekend as they weren’t able to find a way past a solid Ebbsfleet outfit. The Shots had plenty of the ball but weren’t able to find their killer touch and they will have working on their finishing in training this week. They are the favourites for this away trip and are 6/4 with Boylesports to take all three points back home.
Macclesfield vs Torquay
A game between two sides who were heavily beaten last weekend. Macclesfield were surprisingly hammered by AFC Fylde at Mill Farm and couldn’t even get on the scoresheet against the hosts. Jon Askey has put it down to bad day at the office but he couldn’t hide his anger at the end of the 90 minutes. His side have defended reasonably well this season but they were torn apart by the Coasters. This is the ideal chance to bounce back against a side who are struggling at the bottom of the table. Macc are 7/10 with Paddy Power to bounce back.
Torquay are marooned at the bottom of the table and have taken just 20 points from their first 30 matches this season. They were dreadful at the weekend conceding four times and they don’t look well-equipped to stay up. A draw would be considered a decent result and that outcome is 13/5 with Betfair.
The hosts will fancy their chances of bagging a few goals here and it is 20/23 with Boylesports for Over 2.5 Goals.
Maidenhead vs Chester
Maidenhead aren’t in good form having failed to win any of their last four matches although they have faced two of the league’s form sides during that run. They will fancy their chances of bouncing back and getting an important three points on board against struggling Chester. At home, they’ve been defeated just four times and they remain unbeaten in four of their last five. They are priced up as the 4/5 favourites for this match with 888Sport.
Marcus Bignot has a big job on his hands to save the club from relegation and his side look bereft of quality. He was pleased with the reaction from his side after they came from a goal down against Hartlepool in midweek but they will be expecting to win home games and they need to force their way out of the relegation zone. They have been marginally better on the road and can be backed at 16/5 with Betfred for a victory here.
Woking vs AFC Fylde
This is a long journey for AFC Fylde but given their current form, they won’t mind one bit. Dave Challinor’s side have now scored nine times inside the last seven days and are coming into this fixture in a confident mood. They are on the fringes of the play-offs and it looks set to be an interesting latter half of the season for the Coasters. They are Evens with 888Sport to add three more points to their tally here.
In contrast Woking are struggling and it’s a long time since they last picked up three points. Anthony Limberick’s side weren’t helped by the sale of top scorer Inih Effiong to Ross County but they are slipping down the table and unlikely to pick up all three points here. They’ve lost three of four here and if they can pick up a draw, they’ll be happy enough. It’s 5/2 with Paddy Power for the points to be shared.
AFC Fylde are scoring goals for fun at the moment and even though they’re on the road, they will fancy their chances of bagging a couple. Over 2.5 Goals is priced at 8/11 with Betfair.
Wrexham vs Tranmere
A huge game in the National League at the Racecourse Ground as Wrexham and Tranmere are both looking to strengthen their respective promotion credentials. The hosts won comfortably 2-0 at Hartlepool last weekend and have conceded the fewest goals in the league with just 22 shipped so far. They also have the second best home form in the league so it’s surprising to see them chalked up as 19/10 outsiders with Betfred.
Tranmere’s slow start to the season feels like a long time ago and they are back to form and firmly rooted in the play-off positions. Mickey Mellon’s side have won their last two games and three of their last five and will be confident of getting something from this game. They are the 23/17 favourites for this battle of the heavyweights.
Both sides are defending exceptionally well this season and have conceded just 50 goals between them this season, which is fewer than each of the bottom two. Under 2.5 Goals is likely to be popular at 4/6 with Paddy Power.
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