Non-league / Editor / 04 November 2007 / 1

Boswell's Betfair Blog - a bi-weekly round up of the best plays in the world of non-league football...

Farsley Celtic were rocked in the week by the announced departure of talented manager Lee Sinnott and Sunday's Live on Setanta - which visits Throstle's Nest for the first time - will be a big test of whether the side, considering a name change to Leeds Celtic, can cope with the shock loss of their supremo.

Statistics for manager-less sides do not bode well and Billy McKewen will be hoping his lacklustre York City will be able to take advantage. There's currently 2.6 available on a win for the Minstermen which seems a fair reflection of their chances whilst it's 3.45 the draw and 2.9 a home win.

Thursday night's Live on Setanta confounded all predictions with Rushden and Diamonds doubling their season's home goal tally in one game and Oxford putting in the sort of capitulation associated with relegation sides rather than last season's runners-up and this season's pre-season favs! I smell another managerial change in the air if Oxford continue in this vein!

The clue to Rushden's astonishing performance though - apart from my previously stated maxim that you have to get used to the unpredictable in non-league - was their previous week's 5-0 thumping of Solihull Moors in the FA Cup. Such maulings give teams lacking in confidence a great boost and the same can be applied this weekend to York City who only beat Rushall Olympic in the FA Cup but the fact that they scored six will have given them much needed confidence. Craig Farrell bagged a hat-trick and I'd be looking for him to follow up so that a rare back on the first goalscorer might be tempting if his price is double figures.

Likewise, if you fancy Farsley, look out for Amjad Iqbal in their line-up. He is due back from international duty with Pakistan and is simply the best player at Farsley and makes a big difference to their chances. Striker Simeon Barnbrook is also due back from injury and with him, Chris Billy in midfield and Iqbal, Farsley would have to be given a chance despite their lowly league position, their dismal performance last time live on the telly and the negative of losing their manager.

Not a game to get heavily involved in before kick-off though and if forced to put up a tip, Boswell just leans to York and the draw as the way to play on the match betting.

Most Boswell moolah is being saved for further investment in the outrights following the hoped for ending of the Torquay unbeaten home record at the weekend. I've opposed Torquay and Stevenage at 3.5 in this column and Oxford at 7.0 in my pre-season write up and those three Lays of the faves coupled with Backs on Forest Green at 60.0, Burton at 13.0, Aldershot and Cambridge at 17.0 and 15.0 puts the portfolio in good shape at the third of the way through stage with the Champions sure to come from one of six - Oxford now out of it.

Delighted to see Forest Green's rampant scoring form following their mini-slump and Jim Harvey's dark horses have hauled themselves right back into the mix with Stuart Fleetwood looking a certainty for the golden boot if he stays fit. I lost faith in FGR for a short while after their flop in the Live on Telly game but they were my main back pre-season and I'm with them again at a good price now. They are no more than 21.0 on the outrights at the minute but if you haven't got them in your portfolio yet, it's not too late. They still play the most attacking football in the league.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1pt Craig Farrell as first goalscorer in the Farsley-York game at 10.0 or greater.

0.5pt BACK ON YORK CITY

0.5pt BACK THE DRAW to be hedged in-play at 0-0

1pt FOREST GREEN on the Blue Square Premier outrights at 21.0 to boost pre-season portfolio bets

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1. michael webster | 08 November 2007

   Very interesting article.

   Obviously has researched team s and players thoroughly

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