Taylor Made For Away Win

Saturday March 8, 2008

Altrincham v Forest Green

These prices correct at time of writing (1pm Wednesday March 5th, 2008).

Home 17/10 Draw 9/4 Away 13/10

Forest Green thrashed Weymouth 6-0 on the road in midweek and know they have to string the wins together if they are to make the play-offs. They'll probably have to win nine or 10 of their remaining matches to keep the pressure on those teams above them. Stuart Fleetwood's goals had dried up before his brace on Tuesday and that was what propelled them up the table earlier in the campaign. They are the favourites even though they are away at the Robins. Altrincham will be looking at the table and thinking that they've done an alright job since Christmas and they will just be hoping to keep up the pressure on their fellow strugglers. The fact that Forest Green hit Weymouth for six means I have to back them again here.

Verdict: Away Win

Crawley v Salisbury

Home 6/4 Draw 11/5 Away 6/4

It's hard to split these two going into this match. You can pretty much say that Crawley's season is over, they probably only need a couple of wins to be safe from relegation and they should achieve that in their remaining games. Salisbury do have play-off hopes in what has been a great first campaign at this level but defeat to Ebbsfleet on Tuesday may suggest they would be better trying to consolidate for next season. They had had a fantastic run but that came to an end at Ebbsfleet so I'll go for honours even in this one.

Verdict: Draw

Farsley v Cambridge

Home 11/4 Draw 23/10 Away 5/6

Farsley Celtic will be relieved that Weymouth have had such a slip up in recent games which has allowed them to climb out of the bottom four. The Yorkshire club are looking to go full time if they manage to preserve their Blue Square Premier status and I think they've done a good job in their attempts to beat the drop having lost manager Lee Sinnott to Port Vale earlier in the season. Their chances of survival were dented by a 1-0 home defeat to Rushden on Tuesday and they take on a Cambridge side which should make the play-offs. The U's are in excellent form and they might even be thinking they could pip Torquay to second place which will give them an advantage at the end of the season. I expect Cambridge's good form to continue.

Verdict: Away Win

Histon v Halifax

Home 8/13 Draw 12/5 Away 4/1

Histon have managed to adapt well to this level of football having come up from the Blue Square South and they will be happy with what they've achieved this season. They still have a chance of the play-offs despite the 4-1 home hammering at the hands of Stevenage on Tuesday. It now seems as though the top five is a long way off but a win over Halifax could get them back on track. Halifax still need to pick up wins after a 3-3 draw at Altrincham and they would have been in trouble had their home form not been so good at the start of the season. They remain in relegation form so it has to be a home win.

Verdict: Home Win

Kidderminster v Grays

Home 11/8 Draw 11/5 Away 13/8

This is one of the first dead rubbers of the season as neither side will go down and they are too far off a top-five finish. The Harriers are slight favourites after their 6-0 drubbing of hapless Stafford on Tuesday but Grays picked up that excellent win over Torquay last weekend. They are in good form at the moment and don't concede many goals and at the price they could be good value.

Verdict: Away Win

Oxford v Burton

Home 11/8 Draw 11/5 Away 13/8

Burton had been in superb form away from the Pirelli Stadium but since claiming the scalp of Torquay their performances on the road have been patchy. They were held 0-0 at York on Tuesday but could still be a good price to turn over an Oxford side enduring a disappointing season. They will be hoping Darren Patterson can lead them to some good results between now and the end of the season to build for next year. I can't ignore the price on Burton so will plump for Nigel Clough's side.

Verdict: Away Win

Weymouth v Stevenage

Home 5/2 Draw 9/4 Away 10/11

Weymouth have been on a shocking run which was compounded by their 6-0 hammering at the hands of Forest Green on Tuesday. John Hollins has taken over a team in big trouble on and off the pitch. Looking at their price I think they could be at least double those odds and probably the reason for that price is down to Stevenage's recent blip. However, Peter Taylor's men bounced back in style against Histon in midweek winning 4-1 on the road and I think on Saturday they are one of the bets of the weekend. I can't touch Weymouth the way they are playing so have to go for the visitors.

Verdict: Away Win

Woking v Stafford

Home 8/11 Draw 9/4 Away 100/30

Stafford remain deep in relegation and are reeling after their 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Kidderminster on Tuesday. Rangers are 10 points behind fifth-bottom Farsley and have only won three times all season despite a mini-revival in recent weeks. Only a disastrous run will see Woking slip through the relegation trapdoor and they should also be fresh having not had a midweek fixture. A home win has to be the call

Verdict: Home Win

Best Bets

Burton 13/8

Grays 13/8

Banker Bet

Stevenage 10/11