Aldershot favourites for the title

Blue Square betting expert Alan Alger takes a look at the contenders for promotion and relegation in the three Blue Square divisions.

Aldershot returned to outright favoritism for the Blue Square Premier title with an impressive victory over Stevenage in front of the Setanta cameras last weekend.

Their passing, movement and all round tempo at some stages of the game would not have been out of place several levels above this division. The Shots are now quoted at Evens to lift the title.

Torquay remain six points behind the leaders with two games in hand. The Gulls host struggling Altrincham on Tuesday and will be strong favourites to close the gap to three points.

Paul Buckle's team are 6/5 second favourites for the league and are unbeaten in their last five Blue Square Premier matches.

Their last defeat came in the live game at home to Burton Albion - and in my opinion that has proved to be a pivotal game in this division for two reasons.

Firstly Torquay keeper Martin Rice had a poor game that night and Buckle quickly sought out a replacement - the excellent Michael Poke from Southampton.

Poke is yet to concede in four league games and the Torquay faithful will be hoping his recall to The Saints does not last long.

The second reason concerns play-off hopefuls Burton, their win at Plainmoor was their 13th game without defeat away from the Pirelli Stadium.

The Brewers change their style of play away from home and it would not surprise me if a number of managers got their hands on a recording of that live Setanta clash to plot their downfall.

Since that game they have lost three away games on the spin at Ebbsfleet, Woking and Salisbury.

I think we can safely declare the battle for automatic promotion as a two-horse race between Aldershot and Torquay.

Whoever misses out from those two will be strong favourites to go up via the play-offs.

The other play-off positions probably concern Stevenage (5/2 for promotion), Cambridge (7/2), Burton (9/2) and Exeter (9/2). It just goes to show what a tough task it is to achieve a play-off spot that Exeter have only lost once in eleven matches and still find themselves two points off the pace.

The beauty of the play-offs is that every team in the top half of the table will have something to aim for, but I think the likes of Forest Green (14/1), Ebbsfleet (16/1), York, Histon and Salisbury (all 33/1) - will have to produce a remarkable run to trouble the top six.

At the other end of the table Droylsden (1/100 for relegation) and Northwich (1/33) both look booked for places in the Blue Square North next season.

Stafford (1/16) will be trying to continue the form that has seen them win two games on the bounce in the hope that they can capitalise if teams above them slip up.

It's the last relegation place that spices up the betting interest, this could involve any of three clubs: Farlsey (4/6) currently occupy that 21st spot, but will be looking to the games in hand they hold over Altrincham (8/11) as their best chance of escaping the drop.

Weymouth (11/2) need to get off the mark quickly under new manager John Hollins or they could come to the rescue of both clubs.

The home form of Halifax (20/1) should save them from danger, likewise Rushden (40/1).

Whichever teams do go down from the Blue Square Premier it looks as though they will be replaced by teams of real quality.

Lewes (4/11 for promotion) and Eastbourne Borough (also 4/11) continue to battle it out at the summit of the Blue Square South.

Lewes face a tough trip to Newport County today so could well be five points behind by the time they take the field.

Kettering are odds-on (1/4) to win the Blue Square North title and almost certainties for promotion (1/10). The race for the play-off positions in that division include a number of clubs and will make for an entertaining end of season.