Non-league / Gary Boswell / 15 January 2009 / Leave a Comment

In his capacity as coupon buster on the Non-League Pools Panel, The Boz is given seven weekly bankers to try and break. Here are this week's in the Blue Square Premier.

For the purpose of the weekly coupon buster exercise, I dispense with the draw option, building that into a lay on the fav. The question is simply can the big price no hoper prevail or is the banker unopposable?

Cambridge [1.69] v Woking [6.2]

Gary Brabin's Us have an exemplary home record (winning nine of the fourteen this season) but the Scott Rendell affair has unsettled them and they only have two wins in their last six. Woking have hung on to Domoraud, who is a threat, and having drawn their last three and maintaining their reputation as draw kings with six on the road this year (from fourteen), I think Cambridge are vulnerable.

VERDICT: LAY THE FAV

Forest Green[2.28] v Eastbourne[3.5]

Not sure why I've got this game as I don't consider Eastbourne a no-hoper! They have surprised everybody in BSP this season - are an excellently run club with good following and will not be dropping into the relegation fight as some are still predicting. After the shock win at Stevenage early, their wins away have only come at Grays, Northwich and Lewes, hence the perception that they are a side to take on when away from home.

Maybe true and Forest Green are playing well offensively now but still have an horrendous defensive capacity (41 concedes in 24 games) and missing Darren Jones to boot. Not to be relied upon. A tough call results-wise but on balance I fancy Garry Wilson's Sports as the better side.

VERDICT: LAY THE FAV

Grays[3.9] v Burton[2.1]

Very tricky game to read from the Burton perspective. Does the Manager of the Month curse work if the manager leaves of his own free will? Will the unstoppable gravy train of eleven straight league wins hiccup in the hands of Roy McFarland?

No sign of it in last week's Trophy demolition of Salisbury. And Burton are twice the side Grays have been this season. Greg Pearson continues to look a step above.

The fly in the ointment is Grays' home record. Only three defeats in twelve. Tough nut to crack at home and because Burton have to slip up sometime....

VERDICT: LAY THE FAV

Kettering[1.68] v Salisbury[5.7]

Lilywhites have been this season's disaster area following early promise. Loan players Tubbs, Feeney and Matthews welcomed back so things should turn round again but the Poppies have been very impressive and solid throughout the season and I will be surprised if they flunk this. On a poor run whilst cup has been diverting them so don't rule the shock out but on balance...

VERDICT: BACK THE FAV

Kidderminster[1.68] v Weymouth[6.2]

Weymouth have the new manager new broom theory in their favour and have held up well on the pitch throughout a season dogged by credit crunch uncertainty. This tie is dominated, however, by the stats at fortress Aggborough. Only Barrow have gone there this season and won (and they did so by Alamo defending in front of the Boz's eyes!), Richards and Barnes-Homer have looked the season's star strike duo and Brittain continues a menace down the right.

VERDICT: BACK THE FAV

Oxford[1.89] v Altrincham[4.8]
When I first looked at this I sketched a banker home win with Chris Wilder coming in and settling things down nicely at the Kassam. The Year of the Ox is not panning out well though with the five point deduction diverting heads in midweek and a tumble out of the Trophy ensuing. The Robins continue to defy all logic and are having a cracking season with their five wins on the road including victories at Woking and York. I won't be at all surprised to see them win again here in their current form and with the Oxford plummet back toward relegation sure to set Wilder worrying.

VERDICT: BACK THE OUTSIDER

Stevenage[1.61] v Barrow[6.6]

If you saw Barrow midweek at home to Workington, you'll have this as a Stevenage banker. Six changes from the heroes that put the willies up Gareth Southgate - three new loanees including Carlisle winger Brendan McGill playing on the wrong wing! A total shambles. Add that to six league games without a win and Barrow really are no hopers.

I've seen this before though, watching Barrow closely. They showed their class against Middlesborough and that was the only game that has mattered for the past six weeks. Tuesday night was a rest day for the warriors who shone in that campaign (part-timers that they all still are).

Saturday will be back to business and the start of the attempt to stay in the BSP. I expect them to play like they did at Kiddy and with Stevenage a brittle outfit always ripe to get caught on the hop, the shock win is distinctly possible. At the price, it's the Boz coupon buster of the weekend!

VERDICT: BACK THE OUTSIDER

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