Lovetts

Blue Square Bet Premier – Live Match & Weekend Betting Preview

Alan Alger from Blue Square Bet
1:35pm, Fri 1st Feb 2013
Friday’s Live Match - EBBSFLEET UNITED v MACCLESFIELD TOWN
Ebbsfleet United have the chance to move off the bottom of the Blue Square Bet Premier table with a win in tonight’s live clash against Macclesfield Town. The Fleet’s last league win came against Steve King’s side at Moss Rose back in November, but since then they have collected just three points from a possible 21. That has left them propping up the table and desperate for a morale boosting home win at a price of 2/1. Macclesfield return to action after a gutsy performance in the FA Cup, where they were unlucky to go down by one goal at home to Barclays Premier League Wigan Athletic. King now needs to focus his side on gaining an all-important top five spot to extend their season in the play-offs and keep up their hopes of promotion back to the Football League at the first time of asking. An away win is priced as the 6/5 favourite, with a draw offered at 12/5. Sharing a point apiece won’t appeal to either side based on their priorities so we can hopefully expect an exciting attacking encounter in front of the Premier Sports cameras. Our ‘Total Goals’ market offers ‘4 or more goals’ at a price of 6/4. Macclesfield away matches are averaging 3.69 goals per game, with Ebbsfleet home matches just under that at 3.23 per game.

Ebbsfleet captured two strikers on deadline day in midweek and Josh Scott and Stefan Payne are priced at 7/1 and 13/2 respectively to break the deadlock on their debuts. Matthew Barnes-Homer is the chief goal threat for the away side and the 4/1 favourite on the ‘First Goalscorer’ market. John-Paul Kissock could be a better bet at 14/1 each-way – which will payout at 1/3 odds for any goal in the game for the visitors. Although Macclesfield have only won three of their last 11 games in the league, they look worth backing to compound the Kent side’s misery in the drop zone. The distraction of the FA Cup run maybe caused a dip in The Silkmen’s league form and with a six day break they can get back on track here with three away points and their first back-to-back league victory since early-November.

Saturday’s Matches
Midweek results saw Grimsby Town cut to favouritism for the Blue Square Bet Premier league title and the FA Trophy. The Mariners are now just 6/1 on our special ‘Multiple Trophy’ markets to pull off a historic double of both competitions. They are the 1/2 favourites to continue their charge with a home victory over Alfreton Town on Saturday afternoon. The game of the day is undoubtedly the clash at The New Lawn, where 4th placed Forest Green Rovers host 2nd placed Wrexham. The Red Dragons will be reeling from what has to be considered two dropped points at home to Southport in midweek, a game which included a season-ending injury to goalkeeper Joslain Mayebi. Andy Morrell’s team need to find some consistency, having not managed back-to-back league victories since early-October. Rovers also need to improve, with their specific area of concern being their home form against sides in the top half of the table – no wins in four matches. Dave Hockaday’s side are the slight favourites to put that right with a win here at 11/8, an away win is offered at 13/8. Newport County are also challenging for automatic promotion and have an exciting home clash with Kidderminster Harriers to negotiate. Justin Edinburgh’s side have only won once in their last four matches and were victims of one of the shocks of the season in their last league game – a 2-0 home defeat to struggling Barrow. The prices reflect County’s erratic form and they can be backed at 5/4, with a Kidderminster victory not far away from that price at 7/4. Although a draw probably looks more likely at 12/5. FA Cup heroes Luton Town travel to Barrow as the 8/11 odds-on favourites to gain three vital points which will keep up the pressure on the current top five. Barrow progressed to the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy in midweek and will also be buoyed by that incredible win at Newport (at odds of 7/1). Dave Bayliss’ side are 100/30 to beat The Hatters and will no doubt have their supporters in what has been a season of shocks in Non-League’s top-flight.

Elsewhere Southport look like a good bet at 2/1 to win away at Hereford United. The Sandgrounders fresh from a well-earned and surprise point at Wrexham in midweek. Mansfield Town were shocked by Dartford in a live game at Princes Park last year and are 4/6 to make amends by winning the reverse of that fixture. Stockport play their first match under new boss Darije Kalezic and are 5/6 to win that home game with Nuneaton. Another new boss, but no stranger to the division, Mark Cooper takes charge of AFC Telford United after the departure of Andy Sinton in midweek. Cooper is 7/4 to coax a win from his new team, which if landed would be their first victory since mid-October. Braintree Town look solid Evens shots to continue Lincoln’s woes with a win at Cressing Road. Gateshead return to league action at Tamworth, who are also finding their feet under a new boss. A draw looks best in that game at 12/5. The remaining game see’s the champions of last season’s Blue Square Bet South host the North title winners at Kingfield. Home side Woking the odds-on favourites at 10/11 after Hyde’s form dipped from a mid-season peak.

Alan’s Best Bets for Ebbsfleet United v Macclesfield Town:
MACCLESFIELD TOWN to beat Ebbsfleet United
JOHN-PAUL KISSOCK – each-way First Goalscorer
4 OR MORE GOALS – Total Goals

Alan’s Best Weekend Treble:
SOUTHPORT to win at Hereford United
BRAINTREE TOWN to beat Lincoln City
WOKING to beat Hyde

Ebbsfleet United v Macclesfield Town is live on Premier Sports TV – Friday 1st February at 7.15pm (7.45pm kick-off) – visit www.premiersports.tv for subscription details.
You can play your part in the commentary for this game! Contact commentators Steve Bower and Ian Snodin during the action to give your thoughts – email: steveandsnods@premiersports.tv OR Twitter: @steveandsnodsps.

Remember you can earn money for your club when you register and place bets with Blue Square Bet – visit www.bluesq.com/fans for more details.

You can follow me on Twitter - @AlanBlueSquare
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