Non-League Predictions > Aug 25th & 26th

[StevieDay1983]

A full schedule of non-league fixtures coming up this weekend. I was hoping to attend Merthyr Town's home game against Farnborough but it now looks like I'll have to delay my first visit of the season to Penydarren Park until the Royston Town game in September. I'm still hopeful that the Martyrs can get all three points after an encouraging win in their last game.

@GazBlades, @Gidds, @tictok, @allthethings, @Tanktop, @amtopm, @sammydubs, @the bastardian, @bromsgrovegreen, @Woodgate, @Carl Iles, @dawwe92, @Kenton Schweppes, @TastesLikeTuna, @atish29, @MuineBheag, @Bronxie, @misky, @Cheltenhamwhite, @canaries91, @HastGill1, @Foinavon, @Neubs, @Duty281, @Jack A, @sap, @addpea, and @Marc Kearney, what do you think for these games guys?

[Darran]

Macclesfield v Dover

Must admit I am not sure why this game takes place on Friday night, but hopefully it can give me a good start to the weekend. My tip for Dover to go down is already looking pretty bad given their strong start to the season. Their only defeat so far came against Bromley when in fact they were by far the better team and should really have won rather than suffering a 2-1 defeat. They got a solid draw against Barrow last Saturday and they look over priced to beat a Macclesfield side who look pretty average so far this season. Their only win so far came against Wrexham on the first day of the season, but they were fortunate to pick up the 3 points that day. Since then they have drawn at home to Hartlepool and Bromley before conceding two late goals against Sutton and then being well beaten 3-0 by Gateshead last weekend. Dover have looked the better side of the two so far and William Hill’s 11/5 looks too big.

Dagenham & Redbridge v Bromley

When John Still won the league with Luton he set them up to be very hard to score goals against in the early part of the season. It worked well although they scored very few, but he then worked on that once they were solid defensively. It is then surprising to see how bad Dagenham have defended so far this season. They have conceded in every game so far including two 2-2 draws and a 3-3 draw. At the other end, as those 3 results show, they don’t have any issues either and given their other 2 results were 2-1 victories that obviously means they have scored at least twice in all 5 matches so far this season. To be fair to Bromley they have only conceded twice this season, but that was against teams who haven’t exactly been prolific in their other games this season and I think they will find it much harder to keep Dagenham out. Bromley have scored 10 goals so far and although 6 did come against Lincoln it does show they have goals in them and they are sure to get a few chances against Dagenham’s dodgy defence. The bet I like here is for there to be over 2.5 goals and both teams to score which is even money with Coral and Stan James. That bet will have won in every Dagenham game this season.

Hartlepool v AFC Fylde

Two sides who have yet to win this season, but the away team have looked the better side to me. In my ante-post preview I was concerned about Hartlepool’s choice of manager and I really do think his lack of knowledge when it comes to this league has been a big issue as to why they have only 2 points on the board. I also talked about how Padraig Almond was going to be a key player for them and he left for Newport this week. That is a big blow for them especially as they have only scored 3 goals so far this season. Amazingly Fylde have drawn 4 of their 5 games so far with the only blip the 4-1 defeat to Maidenhead when Dave Tarpey scored all 4 goals. The last two Saturday’s they have conceded 90th minute equalizers and they aren’t far away from getting that crucial win. They have conceded 12 goals so far, but given Hartlepool’s lack of fire power hopefully that shouldn’t be too much of a concern and they do have goals in them so even if Hartlepool did manage 1 I would still be pretty hopeful Fylde could score at least 2. Marathon have them a shade bigger than 5/2 and that looks huge. They are my Nap of the day.

Tranmere v Boreham Wood

It is hard to know what has gone wrong so far this season for Tranmere and although it is early stages I am worried about my ante-post bet on them. They have only won once so far and that 3-1 victory over Woking are the only goals they have scored so far. That is a big concern as they should really be a team full of goals. On paper they also had a pretty easy start to the season so the fact they have only picked up 5 points is disappointing. Obviously for ante-post reasons I hope they can get 3 points on Saturday, but I have to back Boreham Wood here at 23/5 with Marathon. Wood certainly have had no issues with scoring goals and they are the leagues joint top scorers on 13 with Aldershot, who they beat 2-1 last Saturday. There may have been a bit of fortune in both their goals, but they were the better team and deserved the win. I would still have Tranmere as favourites for this game, but there is no way that Wood should be that big given the current form of both sides and they are worth a bet.

Hungerford v Gloucester City

My team Gloucester have had a very slow start to the season and only had a point on the board prior to a really good 1-0 win over Hemel last Saturday. That was a much improved performance and hopefully that will kick start Gloucester’s season. On the back of that I can’t really understand why Marathon have an away win priced up at 100/30 especially as Hungerford have the same points tally as City. Hungerford picked up their 4 points in their first two games and have lost their following 3. They also lost their manager last weekend who resigned after the Welling game saying he had already made up his mind to leave and then a couple of days later ended up as Wealdstone manager despite the fact he said in a statement that he was going to take a break! Why he just couldn’t have been honest I don’t know, but he has also taking his coaching team with him which has left two senior players in charge at Hungerford. That has to have had some sort of affect on the players and although they should still be favs these two sides should be much closer in the betting.

Dorking Wanderers v Staines Town

Staines have made a really good start to the season. They played well at Dulwich in their opener when getting a 1-1 draw and then they have scored 11 without reply when beating Tooting 6-0 and Kingstonian 5-0. Promoted Dorking did win their only home game 4-1 against Met Police, but they have lost their other two games and this looks their toughest test yet. I certainly am not saying Staines are going to score in big numbers again, but after such a promising start to the season they should be capable of picking up three more points. BetVictor are biggest at 11/8.

[doverwhite]

Sutton v Maidstone @ 15/4 I thought Jay Saunders recruited well in the close season with the captures of Reason, Sam-Yorke & ter Horst, any one I would of welcomed here at Dover. Other than the draws v Maidenhead & Aldershot results have for me, have gone pretty much as expected. When the fixture list was announced Saunders would of eyed up the Sutton game as maybe a point there, maybe if we go after them all three, as after Sutton, they've got another month of tough matches, so I think Maidstones mind set must be to win. Yes Sutton are top of the league, do have a formidable record at GGL but the pitch will not be as much of an advantage to the home side. Over confidence in the home side could well be there downfall, after all its only Maidstone. h2h suggest a home win, but games arent played on paper and results are not based on last season .At nearly 4/1 (far too big) I'm willing to stake a risky 1pt on the Stones upsetting the apple cart. 

Ebbsfleet 11/10 v Gateshead, Patience here will be the key here for the Fleet, they've shown remarkable resilience in coming back to draw in a couple of matches, most notably v D&R. Ebbsfleet are a attacking/gung-ho side at times, but I feel they've got to temper that mindset with as I've already said, patience. In Darryl McMahon they have a fairly inexperienced manger but one who speaks well I think when interviewed. If they can play out the first half, score a goal if presented, regroup and attack those areas identified by Darryl whilst maintaining shape and balance they've got a great chance. Neil Aspins side Gateshead usually don't perform well against Kent sides. Three points from nine last season, none this season at all away and looking at all the overall results perhaps flattering. For me the Heed are going to have be at their very best all season so far to get anything out of this. 2pts 11/10 Ebbsfleet

North Ferriby U v Darlington @4/7. NFU I believe have been subject of a winding up order, as such I will be all over Darlo. 5pts on the away   NAP

Stockport v Gainsborough. 20 goals scored/22 against over five games roughly equals 4-4ish, which means of course it'll be...0-0? Under 2.5 could be a value bet, 27/20 A cautious half a point. 

Whitehawk v Braintree @ 13/10 away win. Far too bigger price on the away side here not to be ignored. Whitehawk have a nearly new squad.whilst several of their former players have joined NL teams, they dont seem to have gelled at all yet and having been tipped for relegation, that prediction is becoming a real possibility given 5 games in they've are bottom with zero points and only two goals scored. Braintree in the summer have brought in players from lower divisions and they seem to have brought into the ideas that manager Quinton has laid before them. Indeed Quinton himself made the step up himself managing Enfield Town last term losing to Dulwich in the play off final. His side are amongst the early pace setters scoring about two goals a game, I can see them having too much for the Hawks. 2pts on the away. 

[doverwhite]

#addpea 

Macc v Dover as to why being played on Friday evening. Engineering works on the trains, hence why being moved. Unluckily for Dover fans it means they can't get home, as the connection in London...ahem well its too late. It does mean however Macc & Dover do get an extra 24hrs off and looking ahead to Monday, I wont be on either anyway.

Edited August 25, 2017 by doverwhite

[Darran]

To be fair to north ferriby they did win their first game after the winding up order came through.

[sap]

anyone knows why the price of royston is so hot favourite?

[Darran]

Because Dunstable are bottom conceded a lot of goals and Royston are possible title contenders 

[sap]

Thanks@addpea.

Not much time to write review.I do fancy bradford PA,poole town,st albans.

[Darran]

So close to all five landing this afternoon! Another big price nap goes in though.

[Darran]

So close to all five landing this afternoon! Another big price nap goes in though.

[doverwhite]

So close for me too, a couple of goals would of seen me in profit,  Just about evens for me on the day with Hereford (which I didnt disclose) coming in