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Weekend betting preview

FA Cup and Blue Square Bet Premier - weekend betting preview by Alan Alger from Blue Square.

Twelve Non-League teams remain in the FA Cup, nine of them coming from the Blue Square divisions.

Blue Square Bet North involvement ended with Hinckley United's exit, but three clubs from the Blue Square Bet South are still standing.

Blue Square Bet Premier favourites Fleetwood Town kick-off the Second Round on Friday night with their home tie against Yeovil Town from League One.

Having already seen off Wycombe Wanderers from the same division, playing a large portion of the game with just ten men, the Cod Army will be confident of claiming another Football League scalp. The match is live on ESPN with a 7.30pm kick-off.

Fleetwood Town are the 13/10 favourites for the game, a draw is priced at 23/10 and an away win is offered at 15/8.

Newly crowned Blue Square Bet Premier 'manager of the month' Micky Mellon had the luxury of resting in-form forward Jamie Vardy for the midweek victory over Kettering Town. Vardy, who picked up the equivalent player award for November, is just 5/1 to open the scoring on the night.

Gateshead are our 3/1 favourites in the market for which Non-League team will progress the furthest in the competition. Their home tie with fellow Blue Square Bet Premier club Tamworth sees them priced at 10/11.

With four consecutive draws in the league, Ian Bogie's team have dropped off the early pace which made them candidates for the play-offs. They go into this game off the back of six game unbeaten run including those four stalemates. Another draw can be backed at 23/10 here. Tamworth are 11/4 outsiders with only two defeats in their last ten games.

Wrexham went back to the top of the Blue Square Bet Premier table on Wednesday night and their cup journey takes them to Brentford on Saturday.

The Red Dragons are the biggest price they have been to win a game all season at 11/2. Brentford, who are just outside the League One play-off zone, are our strong 1/2 favourites.

Chelmsford City of the Blue Square Bet South are in fantastic form - and like Fleetwood they were also double winners in the November awards.

After brushing aside AFC Telford United from the Premier by four goals to nil in the previous round they will not fear a visit from League Two Macclesfield. The Essex side are 2/1 outsiders with their visitors priced at 6/5.

Salisbury City will be looking to follow Chelmsford's win over Telford with their own 'South v Premier' giant-killing. Grimsby Town make the journey to Wiltshire as the 5/4 favourites, fresh from a 7-0 thumping of Stockport County in midweek. Liam Hearn bagged another home hat-trick for The Mariners but management duo Hurst & Scott will want the former Alfreton striker to take that form on the road starting on Saturday afternoon. Salisbury are the narrow outsiders at 15/8.

Luton Town were the scourge of favourite backers once again in midweek when failing to justify odds of 4/9 at home to Telford in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

The Hatters are the favourites again on Saturday afternoon when Cheltenham Town visit in the FA Cup. Gary Brabin's team are not as short as on Tuesday, featuring at 6/4, with Cheltenham one price away at 8/5.

Sutton United might have the added pressure of knowing that a Barclays Premier League club await in the Third Round as their home tie with Notts County will be televised on ESPN just after the draw on Sunday at 5pm. This game will be a lot tougher than their win over Kettering Town in the last round and a home win is priced as big as 9/2.

Paul Doswell's team have only lost one of their last 12 matches in the Blue Square Bet South to ease into third place and have a good range of experience in their squad. County have not won away from home since mid-October so don't make much appeal at 4/7.

There are seven Blue Square Bet Premier matches on Saturday afternoon.

Southport are the highest placed club in action and they can consolidate third spot if they beat Alfreton Town at odds of 4/6. The Sandgrounders have a couple of key absentees due to suspension though and the visitors are not without a chance at a price of 7/2.

York City are the strong 1/6 favourites to beat Kettering Town at home.

Forest Green Rovers have taken 16 points from a possible 18 in recent weeks and will fancy their chances at Darlington at a price of 15/8. Darlo battled bravely at Wrexham on Wednesday night as they fell to a 2-1 defeat having been ahead against the leaders. That effort may have taken something out of their depleted squad and the visitors can continue their excellent away record.

Mansfield Town's play-off bid has been very stop-start, The Stags are the 4/5 favourites to earn a valuable three points at home to Braintree Town.

Barrow are the same price to win at home to Ebbsfleet United. The Bluebirds with the second best home record in the league so far this season.

Bottom club Bath City are gradually improving and their draw at Cambridge United in midweek will give them confidence ahead of the visit of AFC Telford United.

The Romans are the 11/8 favourites to claim what would be only their second win of the league season.

Newport County climbed out of the relegation zone with a comfortable win at Hayes & Yeading on Tuesday. Justin Edinburgh's side are Evens favourites to follow that up with a home win over Lincoln City.

Alan's Best Weekend Treble:

FOREST GREEN ROVERS to win at Darlington

GRIMSBY TOWN to win at Salisbury City

BARROW to beat Ebbsfleet United

Fleetwood Town v Yeovil Town AND Sutton United v Notts County are both live on ESPN.

Remember you can earn money for your club when you register and place bets with Blue Square - visit www.bluesq.com/fans for more details.

You can follow me on Twitter - @AlanBlueSquare