Non-League Betting: Three to one the Trinity!

Non-league / Gary Boswell / 20 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Gary Boswell dons ecclesiastical garb to explore the religious significance of betting the Blue Square Leagues this weekend. Best bet: BACK GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY at [4.1] or greater against Stalybridge Celtic

The Trinity traditionally signifies the Big Three (Father, Son and Holy Ghost) although it did briefly take sabbatical in Victorian times when it became known as the official licensing agency for lighthouse construction!

Not greatly associated with football until Gainsborough came along and set up camp at Northolme in Conference North where they have held station in mid-table this past decade. A solid, unspectacular outfit likely to win one week and lose the next and rarely the subject of my recommended gambles.

Until this week that is when at [4.1] they look too big a price to win at Bower Fold.

And that's the main reason for the bet. A spookily inexplicable statistic that has Steve Burr's play-off contending Stalybridge Celtic with only two wins at home all season. Ten from fourteen wins on the road but a miserable eight from ten failures to win at the Bower. Add to that the humiliating 1-6 defeat by Unibond North outfit Durham City in the FA Cup qualifiers and you see there is clearly something in the soil this season interfering with Celtic karma!

Steve Charles' TRINITY can take advantage. With ex-England C keeper Adam Sollitt holding the rearguard steady and regular onion bag bulgers Luke Beckett and Lewis McMahon on the offense, it's a game I'm sure the odds compilers have gotten upside down.

Second bet comes in BSP where Chris Wilder's in form OXFORD UNITED are a large looking [2.02] to win their sixth in last seven at home to Mansfield.

Chinese religion is the key to this one as the year of the Ox officially started this month and the U's simply cannot stop winning. Wilder is the real catalyst of course.

He sorted out the heads of Halifax Town three seasons ago and took them to the play-off final and he's showing all the signs of doing same again this season with Oxford.

The securing of Simon Clist in the January transfer window was the sort of business to take the eye and the influential utility player adds further class to a line-up that sees Lewis Haldane and James Constable now fully fit and playing regularly. With Yemi Odubade and Billy Turley also now back to full effectiveness, Oxford have a side that has football league standard stamped upon it and with a manager who has steel at the helm, they are rapidly becoming my idea of favourites to make the play-offs and perhaps put the question to Histon's right to claim a place in the Football League.

It's coming together at the Kassam at last.

For those who prefer the short price bankers, several of those that should win this weekend.

Top of the list are GATESHEAD again. Bogie's boys rose to the pinnacle of BSN with last week's first ten minute demolition of Burscough and still look a pretender to the throne despite having played several more games than everyone else. They'll keep the pressure on with a win at home this weekend at [1.42] against basement boys Hucknall whilst title rivals Southport are diverted once more on FA Trophy duty.

Hucknall are that dangerous basement battler that has been making some claim to saviour status of late but fell 2-0 away at Hyde last weekend - a result that illustrates the huge gulf in class that the Gateshead fixture will present. Gateshead have been imperious all season at the International Stadium and I still consider the securing of Lee Novak to see out the season there before joining Huddersfield to be the sort of inspired business of potential champions.

Southport dropped points again in the week and Gateshead are far from a silly bet to take the title despite their having played three games more. The outright price of [6.5] is interesting and they have an opportunity now to do as Burton Albion have done in the Premier and pull away from in front. Sides with Championship swagger do that and Gateshead fit the bill.

BSN's other title contender TAMWORTH are a banker to win at home against a Workington side poor on the road whilst for BSS banker, it pays to do no more than follow champions elect AFC WIMBLEDON. They have noticeable momentum and can see off a distinctly average Thurrock at odds of around [1.5].