Chester v Spennymoor Town (National League North)

Managerial changes have not provided an immediate upturn in results for Chester and Spennymoor Town.  

The hosts, who employed ex-York City and Gateshead manager Steve Watson to replace Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley, who subsequently replaced Tommy Miller at the club they take on in midweek, have won one of their last nine matches, a thumping and shocking 5-0 victory against Southport. Otherwise, The Seals have lost five of their last seven. The visitors, meanwhile, have won just two of their last 16 with Johnson and Morley victorious once in their seven league matches.  

The big issue for both sides has been their inability to defend – Chester have kept one clean sheet in 15 matches while Spennymoor Town have not kept a clean sheet in their last 16 – but they are still scoring goals. Both teams have scored in nine of Chester’s last 12 while the same has happened in ten of Spennymoor’s last 11, and every one of the games Johnson and Morley have taken charge of. Notably, there have been over 2.5 goals in nine of Chester’s last 12 matches and while it’s only six of the last ten for Spennymoor, there have been two goals scored in the other four.  

There should be goals here in this one.  

---

Gateshead v Farsley Celtic (National League North)

Typically, Gateshead responded positively to a defeat. Since losing 3-0 against AFC Fylde in early February, they have won three matches straight, seeing off Blyth Spartans, Alfreton Town and Spennymoor Town.  

The Heed have the best home record in the division having won 11 and lost two of their 13 home matches. Those two defeats came against Chorley and AFC Fylde, 4^th and 5^th in the division, giving them a perfect ten-for-ten record against the sides outside of the play-off places at the Gateshead International Stadium.  

Farsley Celtic currently sit bottom of the league table. They have picked up just five points away from home all season with four of those points coming in their first two away matches, meaning The Celts have lost ten and drawn one of their last 11 matches on the road. They have also conceded at least two goals in every one of those losses and conceded two goals in eight of their last nine matches overall. New management hasn’t helped solve their defensive issues either, Russ Wilcox seeing his side concede five in two since taking charge.  

Gateshead, meanwhile, have scored at least two goals in each of their 11 home victories this season and won by two or more goals in eight. They have conceded more than one goal at home just once and won by more than one goal in six of their last nine matches overall.  

---

Guiseley v Brackley Town (National League North)

It was hard not to look at this one given the two clubs’ respective league positions and looking even deeper, there is a lot of reason to back Brackley Town to win at Nethermoor in midweek.  

Starting with the visitors who have a pretty strong 8-4-2 record on the road this season, the best in the National League North. Their two defeats came back-to-back over the Christmas period, losing away at league leaders Gateshead and local rivals Kettering Town while missing a number of players. Their defensive record is the key to their title charge, particularly against the sides towards the bottom of the league table – The Saints have conceded three goals in 11 matches against sides in the bottom nine.  

The hosts have improved at home of late, winning their last two and being unbeaten in their last four. However, those results all came against sides in the bottom half. In games against sides in the top half of the table, Guiseley’s record reads zero wins, three draws and ten defeats. It also reads two draws and five defeats at home. They have scored in just one of those home matches too – a 4-2 loss against AFC Fylde on the opening day.  

There are two potential bets for this one. The first is under 2.5 goals given Guiseley’s attacking issues and Brackley having been involved in over 2.5 goals twice in 11 matches against sides in the bottom nine. The other is a Brackley Town win and with Guiseley’s struggles against sides in the top half of the table, I’m happy to back the side currently second in the league table to pick up another victory.  

---

Kidderminster Harriers v Boston United (National League North) 

Kidderminster Harriers are on the rise again and Aggborough has become a fortress.  

Kiddy are unbeaten at home since early October, winning seven and drawing one of their last eight matches, conceding just two goals in that time. Their only two defeats at home this season came against the top two – Gateshead and Brackley Town – meaning they have a near-perfect record against sides below them in the table on home turf – winning nine, drawing one and conceding just three goals. They have won 13 of their last 17 overall and not conceded in their last six.  

Can Boston United break Kiddy’s resistance? It’s hard to make a case. For starters, they have won two of their last nine, both home victories against struggling sides in Farsley Celtic and Chester. Their away record is below average, winning three, drawing two and losing six. They have kept just two clean sheets in that time, against lowly Blyth Spartans and Gloucester City. They have won one away match against sides above 17^th in the league table and just one match against sides in the top seven, including four losses against sides in the top four.  

The hosts are unbeaten in the league against sides below 7^th, winning 15 and drawing three. They may have been disrupted by an unfortunate injury to Matt Preston on Saturday but Kiddy were impressive prior to his loan signing and should continue that form on Tuesday.   

---

Southport v Blyth Spartans (National League North)

Southport have responded positively to back-to-back defeats, firstly beating AFC Telford United 3-0 on the road before decent points away at Boston United and at home to Curzon Ashton. 

They should come into their midweek game with Blyth Spartans confident of victory. Liam Watson’s side remain unbeaten at home having won eight and drawn five. Three of those five draws came against the sides above them in the league table meaning they have an 8-2-0 record against sides below them. That record can be stretched to 6-1-0 against sides in the bottom half and they have scored at least two goals in six of those matches.  

There are few reasons to be positive about the visitors’ chances coming into this one. For starters, Blyth have lost their last four league matches. They have also picked up just four points on the road this season, beating mid-table Alfreton Town 1-0 and drawing with bottom of the table Farsley Celtic 1-1. Their record against the better sides in the division is abysmal. They have played 16 matches against sides 12^th or higher and lost 14. Their only points came in a 0-0 draw with Brackley Town and a shock 2-1 derby victory against Gateshead, both at home.  

A comfortable home victory is to be expected.  

---

18+ please gamble responsibly.

---

Back the Four and Five Star Selections as an Accumulator on Betfair ⬇️

*Bet link only appears when accessing from mobile.

---

Haven’t got a Betfair account? You’re in luck…

Sign up to Betfair and get a full refund if your first bet loses. Grab an account through the offer below and place £20 on the 20/1 National League North & South Best Bets Accumulator. Here are the two possible outcomes: