NON-LEAGUE expert Paul Maddison (@LouthBigDog) shares his favourite fancies from the weekend’s National League action.
Chester v Tranmere | Saturday 7th April 2018, 15:00
Chester could easily be the first team to be relegated from the National League this weekend and they look like doing so without so much as a whimper.
They have lost 11 of their last 14 matches, failing to score in nine of them. They have already agreed that Marcus Bignot will not be managing them next season.
The league’s joint-lowest scorers take on Tranmere with the joint-fourth best defence this term. Tranmere haven’t had the season they would have liked but still have it all to play for.
The league title looks out of reach but they will look to keep applying pressure and will be aiming for a top three finish, at very least.
Tranmere have looked very good when going forward, for the last two-thirds of the season at least. They have scored more goals than every of team in the league apart from AFC Fylde and have two players in the league’s top five goalscorers.
When Tranmere win they usually do it in style, and I can’t see them losing here. Six of their last 12 victories have been by three or more goals and with Tranmere -1 on the Asian Handicap at 13/17 with 888, that looks good value, to me.
If Tranmere win by just one goal the stake will be returned, if they win by two or more then the bet wins.
Bromley v Gateshead | Saturday 7th April 2018, 15:00
I like the look of goals in this game and have deliberated for a while whether Over 2.5 Goals or Both Teams To Score was the way to go.
I’m going for the latter here, purely because Bromley have been involved in three 1-1 draws in their last 10 matches.
This bet would have landed in 10 of the last 14 Bromley home games, and 10 of the last 12 Gateshead away games.
I don’t usually pay much attention to head-to-head records due to the massive turnover of players every season at this level, but this will be the fourth time these two sides have met this season (and third time in a month) and all of the three previous encounters have seen Both Teams To Score pay-out.
BTTS is available at 83/100 with Marathon.
Leyton Orient v Barrow | Saturday 7th April 2018, 15:00
Leyton Orient boss Justin Edinburgh has spoken recently about wanting to finish the season well to set them up for next season. His side will look to be backing that up by making it three wins in a row as they take on relegation-threatened Barrow at the Matchroom Stadium.
The hosts netted three against both Woking and Guiseley in recent weeks to pull themselves out of the relegation dog fight and a win here will all but guarantee their place in the National League next season.
The O’s should be fresh for this game having had their Easter Monday clash with Maidenhead called off due to the weather, whereas Barrow had a game on Tuesday night, which they lost 3-1 to AFC Fylde.
Barrow are one place clear of the relegation places at the moment, but only on goal difference. The two teams directly below them are in much better form at the moment though so it looks like it’s going down to the wire.
Over the last 10 games, only the bottom two have scored fewer goals than Barrow and over the same period, Leyton Orient have had the second best defensive record.
I think Orient should have too much quality here and look a decent price at 10/11 with Sportingbet.
TOPICS Football League Tips Non-League TipsBest Bets
Chester v Tranmere – Tranmere -1 Asian Handicap (13/17 888)
Bromley v Gateshead – Both Teams To Score (83/100 Marathon)
Leyton Orient v Barrow – Leyton Orient to win (10/11 Sportingbet)
