BATTLEHYMNS

Bromley v Southport
Bromley have finally stopped the rot with a draw against Eastleigh (were 2 up) and a win against Dover although that was helped by Dover going down to ten men. They do have the advantage of having had nearly two weeks off, but Southport's great run under their new manager shows no signs of stopping. Only Eastleigh have managed to beat them since he took over and they have won every other league game including beating Wrexham twice over Christmas. Included in that run was a 5-3 win in the reverse fixture and I think the fact there were eight goals in that game leads us to the best bet in this game. Neither team keeps many clean sheets and both have goals in them as that match shows so given I think Southport will win I think the value play is backing them to win and both teams to score which is 17/4 with Stan James.
 
Macclesfield v Halifax
Another side who are flying for a change of manager are Halifax and they look a completely different side under Jim Harvey. They won at Lincoln on Boxing Day and were unlucky not to do the double of them as they were much the better team on Saturday in the revers fixture. In between that they beat Wrexham. Now Macclesfield moved up into the play-off places after beating Tranmere last weekend, but they had fortune on their side as Tranmere should have got at least a point and had a goal disallowed which should have stood. I am not sure they are playing as well as their form suggests and although they are rightly favourites the 100/30 on offer with William Hill on an away win is too big give their current form.
 
Wrexham v Woking
Woking have had a bizarre season. They had a great start and were the first team to beat Forest Green, but after that they couldn't buy a win and dropped so far down the table that it looked like they would be in a relegation scrap. However they have managed to turn it around and they have won six of their last eight games and losing just once. Losing Dan Holman is a bit of a blow, but they have plenty of confidence at the moment which can't be said about their rivals on Saturday. As I point out above they have lost their last three games and they have actually lost four of their last five with their only win in the league coming against Torquay. Woking are actually four points clear of them in the table now and although they have played two games more it would have been near impossible to think those positions would have been possible a few weeks back. Marathon go a rather bizarre, but big price of 37/13 on an away win and that is well worth taking.
 
Bath v Maidstone
Maidstone had a poor run a few weeks ago as they lost four out of five games, but they have managed to bounce back with a couple of 2-1 victories over Eastbourne and Margate. Although they have lost their last two away games, there away form up to that point had been very strong and they had better form on their travels than at home. They go to a Bath side on Saturday who are in woeful form. They have lost five of their last seven league games and although their only win in that time did come against Champions elect Ebbsfleet, that is looking like a bit of a fluke result. If Maidstone hadn't lost their last two away games I would have been tempted to make them a max bet, but even so at 7/5 they are the best bet of the weekend.
 
Chelmsford v Weston-Super-Mare
The home side here are currently bottom of the form table having not won in their last six games although only a late Dartford goal stopped them getting the three points on Saturday. Even so they are struggling at the moment and have only won three times at home this season. Weston on the other hand are in good form at the moment and are unbeaten in their last five matches. I just can't understand why Chelmsford are odds on in places to win this especially when you consider Weston's form has been better away from home this season. Again Marathon are the best price and again it is a strange on of 54/19.

Altrincham v Chester
  I don't understand the prices for this game and Altrincham look a big price at 23/10. Chester have struggled away from home this season. They have only won once away in their last six and that came at Southport who were in terrible form at the time. Granted they have travelled to the top two in that spell, but they could only manage a point at Boreham Wood and lost to Gateshead. Altrincham have managed some strong results at home this season and although they have dipped a little in their last six homes, there is nothing to suggest that Chester should be such strong favourites for this game. Overall Chester's only win in their last six was last Saturday against Torquay and although it was an easy win, Torquay are one of the poorer sides in the division. Altrincham performed with great credit at Cheltenham last week and I would make them slight favourites to win this game so the 23/10 is a must take.   Bromley v Eastleigh   Not surprisingly Eastleigh have already been backed, but as odds against is still available I think they are still a bet. I am not going to rewrite my thoughts on Eastleigh again, but their superb form continues. It is hard to know what has happened at Bromley given the superb form they were in has turned into losing their last five games. They have conceded 14 goals in their last five games and their defending has become a real issue. Given Eastleigh's strength in attack I find it hard to see Eastleigh not adding to their woes on Boxing Day.   Wrexham v Southport   Wrexham have only lost twice at home all season and have only lost once in their last six league games. However they have had a pretty kind fixture list of late so I am not sure the good run of form is as good as it looks. Dino Maamria has really turned Southport around since taking over and they have won four out of their five league games and won in the FA Trophy on Tuesday night at Worcester. They have beaten Macclesfield in this run and although Wrexham are the right favourites there is noway that Southport should be 6/1 shots.   Bradford Park Avenue v FCUM   Bradford are on fire at the moment. They are unbeaten in their last six league games and beat Lincoln in the FA Trophy on Monday night. They have only lost once at home all season and as long as the game gets the go ahead I think they can gain another three points. FCUM have really struggled to get to grips with the league since promotion and after being unbeaten in three they then suffered a poor loss to Gloucester City last weekend. 13/10 about the home side looks a decent bet.

Completely agree about Burton. 2.05 is not available anymore, so if you got that price that was a good job. 1.90 available still looking good.

Bristol City @2.50 also looks good. Rotherham ended 4-games losing string with a win at Leeds, but their defense is joke and Robins look as better equipped for this match.

Carlisle are pretty unpredictable, but they look as a good bet at home against Crawley at 2.50.

Boreham Wood v AFC HornchurchThis game is the one which might well see the biggest shock of the weekend as step 4 side Hornchurch travel to step 1 side Boreham Wood. The home side have been struggling in the league for a while now although they were probably slightly unlucky not to win at Guiseley last Saturday. There main problem has been scoring goals and the pressure will be on them on Saturday as for the first time this season they are playing a game they are heavy favourites to win and they might well choke. Hornchurch are having a great season and they should be playing Ryman Premier football again next season. Confidence will be high and I always like it when an in form team plays an out of form team even at different levels. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if there is only one league between these two sides next season so at BetVictor's 8/1 the away side are a sporting bet. Harrogate Town v Grimsby TownI have always been very uncomplimentary about Harrogate's manager, but to be fair this season he seems to have finally got his expensive squad playing really well and they are bang in promotion contention. Now obviously Grimsby are doing well in the league above and have only lost twice this season. Away from home though they have only managed to win twice and I just wonder how seriously they will take the FA Cup this season. Given how close they have gone in the last few seasons promotion to the Football League is all that matters this season and I don't think Paul Hurst will mind too much if they get knocked out here. Obviously Grimsby are rightly favourites, but 9/2 about a home win is higher than it should be. Maidenhead v WokingWoking have really struggled since being the first team to beat Forest Green Rovers. They have only managed to win once since then and that was against a dreadful Halifax side. Backing Maidenhead at 80/1 to win National League South has proven to be a decent move given they are currently in 5th place and not surprisingly Alan Devonshire has turned the clubs fortunes around. They have only conceded five at home and lost just once, so I think they have a fair chance of beating an out of form Woking. Marathon are biggest at 36/17. Salford City v SouthportGiven Salford have won just once at home, but are eight from eight away from home in a funny way I would have fancied them more if this game was at Salford, but given the nature of this game I do expect Salford to bring a much improved showing at home. These two teams could well be in the same league next season as Southport have looked a pretty poor side this term. They did beat Kidderminster last weekend, but it was a poor game which they didn't really deserve to win. This game looks ripe for an upset in my view and Marathon are 26/11 about a home win. Wealdstone v Bognor RegisAgain another two teams who might end up playing in the same league next season either by Wealdstone going down or Bognor going up and you couldn't rule out them swapping places. Granted Wealdstone are unbeaten in six, but they haven't had the hardest set of fixtures and at Marathon's 41/13, which is miles bigger than any other bookie, Bognor are worth a small play as they look a good side in the Ryman Premier this season. 

Full time 1-2. Pick won

Well Leamington haven't been that prolific at home which would be a concern although Slough and for that matter Frome are quite leaky on their travels. Chances are though if you are going for over 2.5 goals that you are relying on the home sides to win at least 3-0 in each case

Good spot that. Wouldn't go over the top on this one though. Bare in mind that Met Police haven't played in a week so they do have that in their favour even if they did lose 6-0. Apparently Whitehawk should have beaten Dulwich much easier than they did although MP are no Whitehawk, but it would have been a tough game and always the danger they could tire quicker. Also consider the fact three of those 10 might play and they might have added to the squad which their manager mentions although he wasn't sure if they would be done in time. I have watched Dulwich 3 times this season and they haven't played as well as they can for me and they need to be more consistent in their games. So yes worth a bet as Dulwich should probably be odds on, but certainly not a max bet or anything like that.

It is amazing that Poole and Kings Lynn are in the same division at Step 3 given how much of a trek it is. Poole should win but offer no value at such short odds away from home. Weymouth do have the edge over Histon although again the price is a bit skinny. Wingate have a very tough game and my feeling is they are over achieving at the moment.

2pts BTTS Double @ 2.93 Sutton v Concord Gratham v Marine 1pt BTTS Treble + Bromley v Gateshead @ 4.86

Tips for me this weekend : Barrow v Eastleigh – National League Bet: Eastleigh to beat Barrow 2.05 Bet365 Hemel Hempstead Town v Basingstoke Town – National League South Bet: Basingstoke DNB 3.25 at Bet365 Curzon Ashton v Nuneaton – National League North Bet: Nuneaton to beat Curzon Ashton 1.9 at Bet365 Eastbourne Boro v Truro City – National League South Bet: Eastbourne Boro to beat Truro 1.83 at Bet365 Treble: Leamington to beat Dunstable – Southern League Blyth Spartans to beat Stamford – Northern Premier League Bognor Regis Town to beat Enfield Town – Isthmian League 4.66 at Bet365.