Non-League Betting: When the rob-rob-robin goes bob-bob-bobbing along (send for Batman!)

Non-league / Gary Boswell / 20 August 2009 / Leave a Comment

The Boz’s Best Bets:
Lay AFC Wimbledon at [3.1] or shorter against Altrincham
Lay Rushden & Diamonds at [1.86] or shorter against Forest Green
Lay Cambridge United at [2.46] or shorter against Tamworth:
Back Altrinchan at [96.0] or greater in the BSP outrights

Northern bling meets the Southern grassroots this weekend. The Boz knows where his sympathies lie but what about his money?

This season's shock off the block in Blue Square Premier are Graham Heathcote's Altrincham who built on an unbeaten start to come from behind and defeat champions elect Histon on Tuesday night, thus posting themselves in the top two for the first time in living memory!

It's early season form of course but I'm not ignoring it because Aldershot made a similar surprise start two seasons ago which turned out to be based on quality that they sustained season long.

It is not inconceivable that the Robins could emulate that as their on field line-up does boast several impressive individuals - Chris Denham has always been a favourite of mine at this level since he was at Droylsden.

I've watched twice this season and been very impressed by the understanding between front men Dale Johnson and Chris Senior with signposted striker Colin Little being used as the supersub.

Whether this start can be sustained depends on defence where skipper Greg Young is the key. He presents a solid block alongside Matt Doughty in front of highly experienced keeper Stuart Coburn who has been an Achilles for me in the past but is an ex-international who is undeniably in scintillating current form.

And so, the on pitch two out of five that I gave them pre-season has been revised on what I've seen and all of a sudden those who took [249.00] with Betfair before a ball was kicked might be on a viable dark horse. The Boz is jumping in late because the Betfair price is still [96.0] when most bookmakers have got [51.0] chalked up.

Their game on Saturday is Match of the Day for me as they host highlighted AFC Wimbledon who have made a solid start to life in the new division and were spotted trouncing Salisbury 4-0 in midweek.

Two more contrasting clubs you could not imagine, with AFC Wimbledon the epitomy of football's roots as a Joe Public club - flagship of the assured future of the game with ownership shared democratically out amongst those who bother to turn out and watch every week.
Altrincham are the poor man's Manchester bling club. In the shadow of City and United, they have always struggled for a viable fan base but have never struggled to attract the celebrity follower. Betting guru Angus Loughran followed them as a student, Oasis' Gallagher brothers are known fans and recently Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting has been presented with shares in the club.

That's the way Alty have always done things but the supporters trust model that Wimbledon pioneered is filtering through and things have been noticeably changing in the mindset down at Moss Lane - as in most grassroots clubs where brains are in evidence - over the past few seasons. Community club has genuinely become the weekly modus operandi and because they have highly experienced Graham Heathcote as a rare longevity fixture in the dugout, maybe success on the pitch will be a sustainable eventuality too.

This weekend will tell us and I'm backing them to overturn the Wombles whose price of [3.1] is just about layable in my new modus operandi of keeping the match betting draw on my side.
Other layables this weekend for me are Rushden & Diamonds at [1.86] at home to whipping boys Forest Green.

Rovers have endured a torrid start but were in much finer fettle at home to Luton on Tuesday night- with a couple of loan players drafted in to shore up the midfield with stand-in manager David Brown starting to get a grip from the touchline - and are not far away now from getting their first point of the season.

I'm also taking on Martin Ling's Cambridge United at [2.46] as they visit Gary Mills' Tamworth who have looked solid in their first few at the new level and I suspect will be very hard to beat throughout this run up to Christmas. The Lambs won BSN last season by always having the draw as their fall back and they've started this season with two from three. Those who don't like my Lay only approach might consider the draw in this one a value back at [3.6].

The Boz is currently running at a P/L figure of +4.58 to level one point stakes for the 09/10 season.