Non League Thread: 12th August

[A.M.P]

The same team played against Horley (also 5 leagues below I think..) in a cup game earlier in pre-season and were taken to 120 mins....

Last night a punter had this to say about their performace:

"Although hardly Conference quality, I thought the team looked much sharper last night than at the Horley match. Scott Marshall in particular seems much improved. Thanks. If it’s our last ever game, it was a worthy performance, I thought."

[bromsgrovegreen]

great info AMP, gonna put some more on right away!!

[mrmuzeman]

Hollins said: "To put the Crawley Town supporters at ease, there will be a team to start the season.

"As far as I know, we have met the deadline and we will be allowed in the Conference.

"That is what they told me to do so it means we will kick-off the season with 11 players in place.

"But none of them are the contracted players, like Lee Blackburn and Ben Judge, who have contracts and want to renegotiate. They all have to be non-contracted players."

So they can play non contract players but not ones with contracts? Why

[A.M.P]

Well, here's some more for you Brommie...

(Unfortunately Crawley have been both my specialist subject and the bane of my punting life over the last 6 months)

(It was Rugby R & D d!cked and as some of you who read my conference previe will know I rate them this season)

If we play Rushden on Saturday (very big if, I know) then it's likely to be a real 'in at the deep end' experience.

"I saw Rushden win 6-1 at Rugby on Saturday, and they are looking a strong side (and there was no obvious CTFC presence there to see their likely starting line-up). They have apparently worked harder in pre-season than before, which isn't surprising given a coaching team that includes Paul Hart, Ian Woan, Ian Bowyer and Tony Godden, and they did look physically strong.

Up front they have league experience, including Fortune-West, and I was most impressed with the midfield - playing a kind of diamond formation (I guess they have to!), the front man linked up well with the strikers and got ahead of them to score a couple of goals, whilst their holding player, Jon Ashton, looked solid.

There were glimmers of hope at the back though - a couple of times balls through the channels saw them exposed by pace..

And note for MC - Greg Pearson came on as a sub, and despite being ridiculed by most of their fans, scored with a delightful 20 yard lob....

[bromsgrovegreen]

rushden ht,ft 3-1 corals

[A.M.P]

No book for if the game will actually go ahead yet then???!!!!!

[bromsgrovegreen]

[choban]

Hello,I'm not much into English soccer,but I see that Weymouth has 6 players out for the weekend fixture against Taworth....Odds ~2.5 for home win are nice in my eyes...what do u guys reckon....?
Are these 6 players important?

THX for the answer

[mrmuzeman]

In all honesty Choban I wouldnt like to pick any outcome in that game. Tamworth are a struggling side I couldnt back them with any confidence. Im never one to put anyone off a bet unless I totally am against it though and the 13/8 about Tamworth at Betfred is a chunky price so good luck if you do take it. Weymouth are a bit of an unknown quantity for me at the moment, id like to see how they go for a bit before backing for/against them. Only thing I will suggest is minimal stakes

[mrmuzeman]

Aside from Rushden at Crawley I shant be having any bets this weekend in the Conference. Still gona talk a bit about some of the games though. For the record its 6pts on Rushden for me, stakes as always are 1-20pts but you will rarely see me utilizing the top end of that.

If Stevenage are to be league champions games away at strugglers Altrincham is the sorts of games theyll be looking to make more use of this season. Theyve always been a bit of a home side for me and if they wana wind it up they should be looking to change that. At 5/4 its not bad but Ill be looking for some proof before backing them away from home this season. Interesting to see how they get on.

Grays are woefully short at 8/13 for Staffords first game in the conference. They were always struggling at home last season and blistering away. Will this continue? Im not so sure as theve a different manager now and who can say if theyll play the same way. As this is their opener I shant be laying them but I would say to anyone they shouldnt be backed.

I think York are a decent price at 11/8 against Exeter. They were pretty solid last season and thats some decent odds for a team in their opener. Exeter were right off the boil in the second half of last season and it wouldnt suprise me to see them go down here at a reasonable price.

[mrmuzeman]

What of the Conf North and South?

Well to my eye its a total minefield in the Conf North coupon there. Theres nothing I can see as a potential bet and im not even gona look further, just see how the results go.

Theres some interesting ties in the South though altho again I shant be betting . There was 2 games in particular I had my eye on but neither of the prices are setting my soul alight unfortunately. Those 2 were Eastleigh away at Bedford and Havant at home to Cambridge.

These are 2 sides that have strengthened well and I like both their chances to go well this season. I especially like Havant though and I think theyre a decent shout at 8/1 on the antepost, one I may well take if they lenghten to 10s at some point for whatever reason. Havant were a good side last season anyway and their team has got some quality names at this level within it. Anything against odds I would have taken with great pleasure but at 5/6 im not gona bother. I was hoping the books would price it accordingly as both teams were not too different in terms of league positon/points last season but have gone in opposite directions in the pre season, but theyve got it about right I think. Still think Havant will win though.

Eastleigh similarly have strengthened and will be hoping for more consistency than their blow hot and cold season of last. Bedford, newly promoted in the playoffs, have had both of their excellent strike partnership of Dillon and Howe nicked away from them so may really struggle this season, cos for me that was the real reason they were any good anyway. Still they were a fine home team last season and Eastleigh have a few injury doubts and bookies are pricing them favourites unfortunately. I was hoping for an even book here and its best priced 5/4.

I wouldnt put anyone off either of those though, they are both sporting plays imo.

Ill be interested to see how Braintree do at home to Sutton. Braintree were shit hot last season but can they produce the same in the Conf South? At odds on its not one for me but will be liking to see how they go.

Eastbourne and Yeading both underachieved last season imo, Eastbourne were home draw speciaists and Yeading shite at home, sweet away. Wouldnt like to predict that one as such.

[A.M.P]

Fisher is another one to add to the "not quite enough" list. A bit more than 4/5 and I'd been on against an injury ravaged Newport.

I've talked myself of taking Barrow at 6/5 against Worcester. Both teams have trouble scoring but the visitors have both main strikers out. More a bit later...

[jetpilot]

it seems that things are going well in Farnborough:

http://www.aldershot.co.uk/sport/200...ro_hold_woking

[A.M.P]

Yeah, I was gonna oppose farnorough but I've seen they've sorted their mess out.

*******Newsflash****

Majeed Offer accepted in principle and manager John Hollins is now talking to the Conference in order to sign players for Saturday!!!!!!

****Message Ends*****

[choban]

Does this mean that youngsters are playing Saturday's game????