Non-league / Gary Boswell / 02 September 2010 /

The Boz is delighted that non-league is back on TV, especially as this time the drama is likely to take place on the pitch. Meanwhile, who does our man fancy this weekend?

To coincide with National Non-League Day - a promotion dreamed up by fan James Doe to take advantage of the lack of top flight league football on Saturday because of the England game - Premier Sports are also relaunching Blue Square Bet Premier football live on the box this Saturday and Sunday. Available for £6.99 per month on Sky channel 433 (and also via the Virgin platform) you also get Premier Sports' other specialities - Gaelic Games and Aussie Rugby League - for your money. What you might call specialists in broadcasting to the niche market!

There has been a huge gap in the lives of non league lovers since the demise of Setanta UK who pioneered more than just the idea of non league football live on the telly. Setanta gave us coverage of manager's half-time team talks, pitchside interviews whilst the game was in progress and the never to be forgotten half-time entertainment on the pitch. And they wondered why Setanta UK went bust!

Premier Sports promise no such stunts and instead have signed up Endemol, of Big Brother fame, to help make the programme 'relevant to today's TV audience'. Presumably, we can expect John McCrirrick exploding cherry cola fountains all over 'The Booby' during the Grimsby v Luton opener. You'll no doubt agree that Endemol champion very relevant television, such as the greatest betting show ever to hit our screens. I speak of course of Saint Edmonds' divine Deal or No Deal. Anybody who can get my Mother watching a show about betting is bordering on genius!

It's Ironic that the first game should feature the team about whom comments I made a few weeks back caused such betting.betfair.com furore. I was accused of ill-researched journalism for expressing my view that Luton would not have it easy in their quest to conquer the pinnacle of non-league's 2010/11 division. They go to Blundell Park on Saturday on the back of failure to pick up points at Tamworth and a disappointing home draw against Hayes over Bank Holiday weekend and sit fourth in the league table despite everybody and his uncle expecting them to be top. So will The Boz be laying them again on Saturday at their small win price of [2.5]?

You'd have thought so but I've noted that Luton actually have the current form yardstick advantage here as it was Hayes who humbled the Mariners two weeks ago at Blundell Park. Luton at least managed a point off Garry Haylock's genuine non-league outfit and thus come into this telly blockbuster as deserved favourites. It's tough to call though as has most BSBP match betting been so far this season. The value surely lies in [3.4] for the draw.

Sunday's Newport v Wrexham clash provides a clearer banker. This celebration of the Dragon might be expected to be a chance for Dean Saunders to prop up his failing reputation with a win. Personally, I'm more impressed with what Dean Holdsworth is doing with The Exiles. They took a couple of games to find their feet with the step up to the new level but Craig Reid and co. have been nurtured to play football as a team game which is why they ran away with BSS last season and notched their first win of this season against Kidderminster last Saturday. Newport look a good price to me for a home win at [2.3].

That's if you consider match betting wise in a division that has seen Mansfield go top despite a 3-0 tonking at Fleetwood who were themselves tonked 3-0 by Luton who then got beaten 3-1 by Tamworth who were themselves tonked 3-0 the week before away at Wimbledon. Confused? You should be.

The only certainty is that Luton are way too short in the outright market betting where The Boz continues to keep his prime focus!

Recommended bet:

1pt on Newport County to beat Wrexham at [2.3] or greater.

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