NON-LEAGUE expert Paul Maddison (@LouthBigDog) shares his favourite fancies from Saturday’s action.
Ebbsfleet v Havant & Waterlloville | Saturday 22nd September 2018, 15:00
It’s been a bit of a mixed start to the season for Ebbsfleet (W4-D2-L5) – their home form will be the main concern for them having lost four of the five games they have played at Stonebridge Road.
That’s not good enough for a team who will be aiming for a play-off place at the very least. Even so, a home game against the league’s leakiest defence might just be the opportunity to start putting things right for Daryl McMahon’s men.
It’s still a small sample size at this stage of the season, but Havant & Waterlooville have conceded an average of 3.40 goals per-game away so far. Ebbsfleet have got some decent options going forward who should be able to take full advantage of the Hawks defensive problems.
For all their problems at the back, Havant have still been scoring plenty of goals, on the road only league leaders Harrogate have scored more times, and they have played a game more.
Nicke Kabamba is in decent form, netting five times so far this season, including the opening goal in each of the Hawks last two fixtures.
I wouldn’t be confident backing either side here, but I do like the look of goals. Over 2.5 Goals is available at 87/100 with Marathon.
Harrogate v Leyton Orient | Saturday 22nd September 2018, 15:00
Only two teams can boast that they remain unbeaten 11 games into the campaign and they lock horns at Wetherby Road this weekend as top of the table Harrogate take on third-placed Leyton Orient.
This should be a decent game too – both these teams have looked great going forward so far, and have scored plenty of goals between them.
Harrogate have an extremely strong home record – they have won 20 of their last 24 on home turf, scoring two or more all but once. Fifteen of those victories saw Harrogate score three or more goals, while this season the hosts have scored two or more in nine of their 11 matches.
Summer signing Jack Muldoon has settled in well for Harrogate after making the move across the Pennines from AFC Fylde. He’s found the net six times already, just one in front of strike-partner Domonic Knowles.
Leyton Orient look like serious title contenders. Justin Edinburgh has got his men well-organised and playing good attacking football. Macauley Bonne has netted five times already and has been backed up well with plenty of goals spread around the team.
The O’s have scored in every game so far but they have only kept three clean sheets.
I really fancy this to be an end-to-end game with plenty of chances. Both teams have got plenty of talent in attacking areas and hopefully this will lead to plenty of goals.
I’m backing Over 2.5 Goals here at 93/100 with Marathon.
Solihull Moors v Bromley | Saturday 22nd September 2018, 15:00
Solihull’s strong start to the season continued last weekend as they won 2-0 away at Dover. They have won every game against lower half opposition so far so will fancy their chances here, especially at Damson Park where they have an excellent record.
The home side have lost just three of their last 20 here, one of those was a friendly, one was the last game of the season where they had nothing to play for and the other they played more than 70 minutes with 10 men.
Their three victories at home this term have all been ‘to nil’, including an impressive 1-0 win against Wrexham.
After just missing out on the play-offs last season, Bromley have made a quite poor start to the season. The visitors have won just twice in their opening 11 matches, both of those victories coming at home. Away from home they have drawn two and lost three, both those draws required injury-time equalisers.
I’d have had the home win slightly odds-on here so the 53/50 at Marathon looks an excellent price.
TOPICS Football League Tips Non-League TipsBest Bets
Ebbsfleet v Havant & Waterlloville – Over 2.5 Goals (93/100 Marathon)
Harrogate v Leyton Orient – Over 2.5 Goals (87/100 Marathon)
Solihull Moors v Bromley – Solihull Moors to win (53/50 Marathon)
