Ebbsfleet v Welling

The first of our five bets sees us travel to Kent where former National League Premier outfit Ebbsfleet United face a Welling United who finished rock bottom last season.

Whilst Ebbsfleet sit just three points off top with three games in hand, they play a Welling United team with the worst defence in the league. With 31 goals conceded in 14 games they are averaging 2.21 goals conceded per game, whilst Ebbsfleet are currently in impressive scoring form, netting an average of 2.4 goals per match. With just 10 matches played they’re averaging 2.2 points per game, which is a league high and with just the one home loss to their name and winning their last five the hosts will be looking to run rot in their bid to reach the league summit. What makes it even more impressive is Ebbsfleet have lost just once in 9 games, against Leyton Orient in the FA Cup. Their confidence is sky high and after a 4-3 away win last week against 8th placed Hungerford Town, you can expect goals in this one.

Whilst the only fixture between the two last year ended in a 4-3 home win for Welling, Ebbsfleet are on a meteoric rise to the top and with the likes of former Leeds United striker Dominic Poleon up front with 9 goals in 10, I’m expecting Ebsfleet’s promotion charge to continue against the worst defence in the league. 

---

Billericay v Hampton & Richmond

The second bet kicks off in Essex where Hampton and Richmond face bottom of the league Billericay away from home. 

If there’s one game this weekend where goals will be scored it’ll be the highest scorers in the National League South against the joint-worst defence in the National League South. Billericay now find themselves in a horrific position, losing all of their last five, with just seven points in 13 matches, having conceded 12 goals in their last four. In truth they’re falling apart and I cant see a lot changing here against a Hampton and Richmond side averaging 2.2 goals per game. The hosts have by far the worst goal difference in the league with -18 and whilst conceding 2.38 goals per game It’s extremely hard to see them getting anything from this. 

Whilst consistency has been their downfall so far this season Hampton find themselves just 6 points off top with a game in hand and have only lost to teams in the top 10. Stats show they have lost just once in their last 9, and scoring 9 goals in their last three games shows they have the resources to put a poor Billericay to the sword. A Hampton and Richmond team averaging 3 goals per game in their last three games, playing a team averaging 3 goals conceded in their last four matches, shows there’s only one team to favour in this one. 

---

St Albans v Hungerford

Bet number three continues in the close vicinity of the London outskirts as St. Albans host Hungerford Town. 

St.Albans are one of the leagues in form teams and before a freak loss to Dulwich Hamlet (where defender Rom Bender had to play 70 minutes as a goalkeeper) they were on a six-match winning run in the league, adding to their amazing FA cup run. Infact their three losses in the league have all come against teams in the top 6 so they will welcome a team in eighth averaging 1.5 points to their 2. 

Hungerford come into this game after a somewhat expected loss to Ebbsfleet and a disappointing 1-0 loss at home to Hemel Hempstead. Infact none of their wins have come against the top 5 teams, losing to 3 of the top 5 already. Over 2.5 goals have been scored in 5 of their last 7 matches, so a St. Albans city team who average 2.3 goals scored per game will be chomping at the bit.

With confidence sky high in the St. Albans camp after a massive FA Cup win against Forest Green Rovers and with just one away loss this season I’m backing the Cup heroes to continue their momentum against Hungerford Town. With St. Albans scoring over 2.5 goals in their last three games they’ve won, I’m backing them to beat a Hungerford team who come off the back of a 4-3 loss to a top 4 team.

---

Spennymoor v Gateshead

Next up we travel to the opposite end of England where promotion chasing Gateshead will be looking to take advantage of their games in hand away to Spennymoor Town.

With just 10 games played all of Gateshead’s league games have seen over 1.5 goals. 13 of Gateshead’s 16 fixtures this season have been over 2.5 goals and averaging the best attack in the league with 2.1 goals per game, the in-form visitors will be looking to build on some positive early signs from this season. With 13 goals conceded in 6 games Spennymoor Town have averaged 1.5 goals conceded per game, something Gateshead will look to take advantage of. 

67% of Spennymoor’s home ties have seen over 2.5 goals and with 93% of matches involving over 1.5 goals, I’m sure a Gateshead side who have won 8 of their last 11, will be looking to fly up the league in scoring style. Gateshead themselves are conceding an average of 1.4 goals per game, with their only two losses in the league this season coming against top 6 teams.

This tie promises goals and with the two sides matches on points, with similar defensive records over 1.5 goals is the safe pick for me. 

---

Darlington v Gloucester

The last bet sees us head to County Durham where Darlington host a Gloucester City side struggling for points. 

Whilst there were plenty of fixtures to choose from, the last fixture that provided the best value was Darlington to beat Gloucester City. Whilst Darlington are unbeaten in their last four home games, Gloucester City are having a torrid time on the road and have lost their last 7 away league games. Whilst a 9-0 loss to Chorley especially stands out Gloucester are averaging 2.07 goals conceded per match and with Darlington being the highest scorers in the league there’s not a lot that favours Gloucester here. 

After impressive wins against Guiseley, Kettering and AFC Telford, Darlington have found a fondness for playing the lesser teams and have scored 17 goals in 8 games against teams below them in the table. With Gloucester shipping goals it’s a big chance for Darlington to get some points on the table and although I’m sure Gloucester would like to build on their clean sheet (against 18th placed Farsley Celtic) under new manager Ollie Hulbert, his record of just one win in 6 won’t be enough to deny Darlington’s climb up the table.

---

18+ please gamble responsibly. All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.