[Kop66]

..or the Blue Square Premier as it is now known.

I’m going to be backing in this league this coming season, it’s a good league, promotion to the Football League makes it a little bit special with clubs trying to get back in and clubs trying to make it for the first time in their history.
Another one of those Kop in the whatever threads. Last one.

Stakes will be varied between 2.00 and 50.00 based on strength of confidence.

I'll just plough straight into my Ante post bets..

BSP Outright
Oxford 10.00 Win @ 11/2 (S.James)
Torquay 5.00 Win @ 12/1 (Betdirect)
Crawley 4.00 E.W. @ 50/1 (Blue Sq)
Each-way bets on 4 places at 1/4 odds

23.00 Staked

BSP Handicap Coupon.
(All 3.00 E.W @ 18/1, )
Forest Green Rovers + 26pts
Crawley + 27pts
Stafford Rangers + 31pts
Each-way bets on 4 places at 1/4 odds

18.00 staked

First ever BSP goal - FGR - 2.00 @ 66/1

That’s my lot for now, bring on the 11th August

[Kop66]

I best leave a reminder of the handicap.

Oxford United (Scratch)
Stevenage Borough (+1)
Exeter City (+6)
Torquay United (+9)
Burton Albion (+10)
York City (+10)
Rushden & Diamonds (+11)
Kidderminster Harriers (+12)
Cambridge United (+16)
Aldershot Town (+17)
Ebbsfleet United (+20)
Halifax Town (+20)
Grays Athletic (+22)
Weymouth (+22)
Woking (+23)
Histon (+23)
Droylsden (+26)
Northwich Victoria (+26)
Forest Green Rovers (+26)
Salisbury City (+27)
Crawley Town (+27)
Altrincham (+30)
Stafford Rangers (+31)
Farsley Celtic (+34)

[Kop66]

Another handicap ante post bet .

Weymouth (+22) 5.00 E.W @ 18/1

I’ve liked what I’ve read about Weymouth.
Player Manager Jason Tindall helped steady the club when they could of easily gone into freefall and slipped out of the league last season, financial difficulties meant that the best paid players had to go and after a promising start they plummeted but then rallied and finished a respectable 11th. From what I’ve read Tindall has a fair bit of respect amongst his team mates and has support from new Weymuff owner Mel Bush (Tindalls father in law). Bush comes across as being a some one who will make the club work financially off the pitch.

Pre season for the ‘muff has seen nothing but positives imo, several players have re-signed new contracts and there’s a good mix of experience and youth in the team.
They have also signed 27 yr old Paolo Vernazza on a 12 month contract who played for Arsenal before making over 100 appearances for Watford and more recently at Dag and Red who he helped become champions with last season. I think he will settle in well down on the south coast and is a very good player at this level. Other signings have included two strikers, former Luton player Stuart Douglas and former league player Jefferson Louis.

Douglas scored two in a 3-0 win over league one Bournmouth last week and although nothing to much should be read into the game the fans seem to be impressed……

It was not just the score. Our defence looked solid and we always seemed capable of making openings. JT has a problem as who to pick for his 1st team. The Yeovil forward on trial looked quite good, Challis and Vickers commanding. Bernard v. good. S Douglas would be a good choice to start with

I know not much can be read into pre-season results, but you can judge the style of play and how they look as a team. Those players looked like they had been together for some time. We could also have found a Ben Smith replacement in Vernazza, especially how he played first half.


While I’m here I’ll just mention that this bet...

First ever BSP goal - FGR - 2.00 @ 66/1

.....although taking place on the 1st day of the BSP season will be settled in here as an Ante post bet as it was put on 5 weeks before the season starts and no longer fits in with my staking plan this season.

I’m changing my staking plan slightly to having 4 different levels to help make my confidence in the bets clearer. Stakes (non Ante post) for the season will either be 4.00, 12.00, 20.00 or 50.00. Some stakes may be split as part of backing to win and laying the other team.

Total Ante post bets now = 53.00

[Kop66]

Blue Square Premier Top Goalscorer

I probably wouldn’t of backed in this market if I hadn’t had a decent weekend gambling elsewhere but the season can’t come soon enough and I’m starting to get impatient now

Tim Sills @ 28/1
Stuart Beavon @ 33/1
Stuart Fleetwood @ 50/1
Daniel Carey-Bertram @ 50/1
Tony Bedeau @ 66/1

5 x 2.00 wins @ Blue Square

Total Ante post bets now = 63.00

[Kop66]

I toyed with the idea of backing Exeter, Ebbsfleet, Weymouth and Torquay on the opening day but none of the prices looked good enough value in the end so I’ve been left with 3 bets here this coming weekend

I agree with Pydoom’s shout and reason on Rushden and was surprised that 15/8 was on offer at Betdirect. I’ve a feeling Rushden will be a top 6 team this season so worth a small stake at those odds.

Crawley will be relieved to have now paid off the CVA agreement following £1.4M debts but it might take them a while to get things going on the pitch. They host 2nd fav’s Stevenage on Saturday who have had a decent amount of pre season games. 6/4 at Stan James was big enough for a bet.

The big outsiders of the day are Forest Green Rovers for their short trip across to Oxford. FGR have been in good form pre season including a 4-1 home win to a decent strength Bristol City team and although I get the impression FGR aren’t defensively strong they certainly have a bit of firepower upfront. If Oxford fail to put away their chances a shock away win could be on the cards. A few firms are going 11/2 for the away, I’d of set them closer to 3/1 - 100/30.

(001) Rushden 4.00 @ 15/8 Betdirect
(002) Stevenage 4.00 @ 6/4 Stan James
(003) F.G.Rovers 4.00 @ 11/2 Skybet

[Kop66]

from The BBC

Crawley hit by six-point penalty

Crawley have been docked six points ahead of the new season after being charged with bringing the Blue Square League into disrepute, reports BBC SCR.
The charge relates to financial irregularities at the club, who have failed to confirm the payment of last season's Company Voluntary arrangement.

Crawley had gone into administration in June 2006 with debts of nearly £1.4m.

The club has also been given a £10,000 suspended fine and a transfer embargo still remains in place.

That will not be lifted until payment of their Company Voluntary arrangement has been confirmed.

Currently the club has only five eligible players - just four days before the new season kicks off.


Six Points

The club had announced that it had all been repaid

[Kop66]

I've changed my mind with the Weymouth price and have now backed them.

(004) Weymouth 4.00 @ 13/10 Coral

[Kop66]

(001) Rushden 4.00 @ 15/8 Betdirect
(002) Stevenage 4.00 @ 6/4 Stan James
(003) F.G.Rovers 4.00 @ 11/2 Skybet
(004) Weymouth 4.00 @ 13/10 Coral

Not the best of starts but at least i've the sense to keep stakes to a minimum early on.
Just one winner out of the first four bets and that came by way of an 88th minute goal.

W1/L3
Staked 16.00
Returned 9.20
-6.80

[Kop66]

I'm having a couple of small bets tonight, i'm taking a chance on Torquay who are nicely enough priced @ 7/4 to win at Aldershot and i'm also backing Grays to beat Woking who have had their price cut by several firms.

(005) Torquay 4.00 @ 7/4 Betdirect
(006) Grays 4.00 @ 11/10 Betfred

[Kop66]

(005) Torquay 4.00 @ 7/4 Betdirect
(006) Grays 4.00 @ 11/10 Betfred

8.00 Staked
11.00 Returned
+3.00

Overall
W2/L4
Staked 24.00
Returned 20.20
-3.80

[Kop66]

I’ve 5 that I’m on at minimum stakes with this weekend.

I’ve a feeling Kiddie Harriers will fair better away rather than at home for a while and they could make it two quick away wins here, although I’m wary of Grays I see 12/5 as a value price so I’m willing to take a chance on them.

Forest Green Rovers should be ok at home this season and although Altrincham showed they have a bit of fight in them to get a draw from 2-0 down at Halifax I still see them as relegation favourites again. FGR won midweek at home Weymouth 3-2 and with goalscorers in the team I see them winning again. Evs isn’t a brilliant price mind.

A price that did stick out a bit was the 11/8 for Torquay at Northwich, I’d say any team going to Northwich at that price is value and was straight in for this one. Torquay comfortably beat Aldershot 0-3 on their travels midweek. Probably my pick of the weekend in this league.

I’m with Pydoom again on the Rushden, 4pts from 6 so far and although only beating Farsley 1-0 midweek they were pretty rampant according to the beeb. Ebbsfleet my take a while to get going this season.

Exeter with maximum points will be looking to make it 3 wins out of 3 and Evs at home to York isn’t a bad price for Monday nights game, especially the way they caved in to Burton midweek. 1-3 up with 7 minutes left to lose 4-3 - shocking, confidence must be at a real low after that performance…

From the BBc
York City boss Billy McEwan branded his side's defending 'dire' as they shipped three late goals to lose 4-3 to ten-man Burton Albion.
"I feel for the fans because I cannot believe we have capitulated like that against ten men," he said.
"A lot of young players have had a harsh lesson.
"I was disappointed with all the goals we conceded, even if we were a bit unfortunate with a couple of deflections," McEwan added.
"Burton piled on the pressure, the crowd got excited and naivety and inexperience cost us. But there can be no excuses for the way we defended. It was dire."

York will need to bounce back soon but it’s hard to see that happening here.

(007)Kidderminster 4.00 @ 12/5 Sportingodds
(008)Forest Green Rovers 4.00 @ Evs Stan James
(009)Torquay 4.00 @ 11/8 Stan James
(010)Rushden 4.00 @ Evs Stan James
(011)Exeter 4.00 @ Evs Bet365

Good luck Non leaguers

[Kop66]

Cambridge Utd look a good bet to beat Farsley Celtic tomorrow night. The U’s have started with maximum points from their opening two games beating York away 1-2 on the opening day and then following up with a good home win over title favourites Oxford by the same score.
Farsley beat Stafford Rangers 1-0 on the opening day of the season in a game that could of gone either way and then followed up with a 1-0 loss at Rushden, neither of those opponents have started particularly well though and this will be their toughest game to date.
I’ve no news on whether Boylan is playing, I’ve read nothing to suggest he wont be but with or without him Cambridge Utd at home against the part timers looks a good bet at 4/5 with Bet365 especially as Ladbrokes are as short as 4/7.

(012) Cambridge Utd 12.00 @ 4/5 Bet365

[Kop66]

(007)Kidderminster 4.00 @ 12/5 Sportingodds
(008)Forest Green Rovers 4.00 @ Evs Stan James
(009)Torquay 4.00 @ 11/8 Stan James
(010)Rushden 4.00 @ Evs Stan James
(011)Exeter 4.00 @ Evs Bet365
(012) Cambridge Utd 12.00 @ 4/5 Bet365

Exeter let me down by conceding 3 mins from time, i wont mention how many Kiddie Harriers got humped by though

Not a great start so far but just in profit.

Overall
W5/L7
Staked 56.00
Returned 59.30
+3.30

[Kop66]

I’ll chance a couple of away wins here this weekend with two teams that are coming off the back of some good home wins. Friday night sees Kiddie Harriers, who got a right tanking down at Grays last weekend host Stevenage, I know the Harriers will be looking to bounce back but their form’s not up to much so far, beaten by Aldershot at home on the opening day they then went up the road to Stafford and got a nice 1-3 win but as we know Stafford haven’t picked up a point in 3 games so far. Then they travelled to Grays and got thumped 5-1. Harriers did manage 9 corners and 10attempts in that game but their attacking style seems to leave them exposed at the back and they’ve yet to keep a clean sheet.
I’d of made this a level two stake if it wasn’t for the fact that Stevenage got beat by Crawley on their only away game this season, that result was a bit of a surprise but they bounced back with two good home wins beating Histon 2-1 with a very late winner and then a comfortable 3-0 beating of Weymouth. I’d say the 8/5 with Stan James is decent enough.

I’ve already mentioned the 5-1 hammering that Grays dished out last week and they are doing better than most would of expected, they were unlucky not to go in front before half time at Torquay on the opening day and deserved their point in a 0-0 draw. Next up was a good Woking team at home where they were held to another draw, 1-1, so they remain unbeaten so far and can go into their match at Altrincham full of Confidence after last weeks game. I wont bore you with to much on Altrincham but they’ve only 1pt so far scoring 4 and conceding 9 in 3 games. This is another game I was tempted to make a level two stake but I’ll keep it safe as it’s an away and it’s still early in the season. Quite surprised to see Betdirect offering 7/4 on Grays though.

Torquay 4/5 at home to Rushden and Cambridge 7/4 at Woking were also very tempting but didn’t quite make a bet

(013) Stevenage 4.00 @ 8/5 Stan James
(014) Grays 4.00 @ 7/4 @ Betdirect

Good luck non leaguers

[Kop66]

(013) Stevenage 4.00 @ 8/5 Stan James
(014) Grays 4.00 @ 7/4 @ Betdirect



Must crack on, another full set of fixtures Monday

W7/L7
Staked 64.00
Returned 80.70
+16.70