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Exeter face Histon at St James Park on Saturday

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Grecians set to march on

Saturday December 29, 2007

Altrincham v Stevenage

Prices correct at time of writing (2.30pm, Thursday December 27, 2007).

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

Altrincham badly need a win but I can't see it coming this weekend. The Robins played against Stevenage in November in front of the Setanta cameras and did quite well but lost 2-1. Stevenage will come here full of confidence. They drew 0-0 at Rushden and Diamonds on Boxing Day. Peter Taylor is building up Stevenage's defence and I'm sure he's thinking about a play-off push this season. It might be a bit ambitious to win the Blue Square Premier but they've got to pick up points on the road at places like Altrincham and I expect them to get a result.

Verdict: Away win

Cambridge v Burton Albion

Home Evens Draw 9/4 Away 9/4

Burton have had a fine season under Nigel Clough and I think that they're a side who are going to be in the promotion shake-up. Burton won the Staffordshire derby against Stafford Rangers 3-0 on Boxing Day and come here playing well. But Cambridge are at home, they attracted a huge crowd of 7,125 for their 1-0 win over Histon on and I expect them to beat Burton.

Verdict: Home win

Exeter City v Histon

Home 4/5 Draw 9/4 Away 3/1

Exeter are full of confidence after their 4-3 win over Torquay on Boxing Day. The confidence could grow even higher as I expect them to beat Histon and leapfrog them in the table and suddenly from nowhere, with three points for a win, Exeter could back in the play-off shake-up. The Grecians have only lost three times but have drawn a remarkable 10 matches this season. I think this will be another victory on the back of that fine win against Torquay. They played well in that match and they're the bet here.

Verdict: Home win

Farsley Celtic v Crawley Town

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

Farsley eased their relegation fears with a 3-0 West Yorkshire derby win over Halifax and they have another home game against Crawley. This is another chance for them to get the points but I think Crawley will get something out of this. I'm going to go for the draw in this one. Crawley are not as good away from home as at home. Farsley have been on the slide in recent weeks but that was a massive win for them over the Shaymen on Boxing Day. It's a draw for me here.

Verdict: Draw

Forest Green v Droylsden

Home 2/5 Draw 11/4 Away 13/2

Droylsden have replaced Northwich Victoria at the bottom of the Blue Square Premier and they face a tough trip to Forest Green. Rovers drew 2-2 with Kidderminster on Boxing Day and amazingly Stuart Fleetwood wasn't on the scoresheet. He's been the man of the moment and it will be interesting to see what happens to him in the January transfer window. Droylsden haven't won away from home and the Forest Green players are still talking about that defeat to Droylsden a few weeks ago and they'll be hoping to bounce back. I expect them to get a victory.

Verdict: Home win

Grays Athletic v Aldershot

Home 2/1 Draw 9/4 Away 11/10

Aldershot are a free scoring team and have netted just under 50 goals so far this season. But the Shots concede plenty as well and take on Grays, who specialise in low scoring affairs. It's a hard one to call and I think Grays might get something out of this one and I'm going for a bit of a shock here. I think Grays could be the value to beat Aldershot. If the Shots were at home it would be no problem, they are not drawing many matches so I'm going for a shock, Grays to beat the leaders Aldershot.

Verdict: Home win

Oxford United v Kidderminster

Home 11/10 Draw 9/4 Away 2/1

Oxford have only had one home defeat all season and they take on Kidderminster. I think Oxford will beat Kidderminster, even though Harriers were involved in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Forest Green on Boxing Day. Oxford have been grinding out a few better performances in the last few weeks and they were involved in a tight game against Crawley on Boxing Day, which The U's won 1-0. I think Oxford will win again.

Verdict: Home win

Rushden & Diamonds v Northwich Victoria

Home 4/6 Draw 12/5 Away 7/2

Are Northwich going to continue their amazing Great Escape when they travel to Rushden? When a team does get a bit of confidence like Northwich got with that 2-1 win at Altrincham on Boxing Day then you never know. Rushden are not playing with great confidence and were involved in a bit of a dire match, a 0-0 draw with Stevenage, on Boxing Day. They are a team nearer the bottom than the top with just 27 points from their 23 matches so far this season. Northwich will go there in good heart and they could cause a big surprise.

Verdict: Away win

Salisbury v Halifax

Home 6/5 Draw 9/4 Away 15/8

Halifax need to bounce back from their 3-0 defeat at Farsley Celtic on Boxing Day and are on the road again at Salisbury. Salisbury were disappointed to draw 1-1 with Weymouth on Boxing Day having taken the lead but I don't think they'll have any problem at home to Halifax. It's a Salisbury win for me to keep them nicely in mid-table.

Verdict: Home win

Stafford Rangers v Ebbsfleet United

Home 2/1 Draw 9/4 Away 11/10

Stafford haven't won at home all season and they entertain Ebbsfleet. The Fleet drew 1-1 at Grays on Boxing Day and I fancy Ebbsfleet to get a result here against Stafford, who now only have Droylsden behind them in the table.

Verdict: Away win

Woking v Torquay

Home 2/1 Draw 9/4 Away 11/10

Torquay will be looking to close the gap on leaders Aldershot when they travel to Woking. This could be a tight game and I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a lack of goals here because Woking are playing a very defensive game at the moment. They tried it against Aldershot and it didn't quite come off because Aldershot won 1-0 on Boxing Day. It's a draw for me in this one. Woking aren't doing too badly after a shaky start but they are drawing a lot of games, they've had 10 draws so far this season and they've been involved in a lot of low scoring games. Torquay will be desperate to bounce back after their 4-3 defeat at Exeter on Boxing Day, especially as they play Exeter again next week. I'm going to go for the draw.

Verdict: Draw

York City v Weymouth

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

York have installed Colin Walker as their new permanent manager and they entertain Weymouth. The Minstermen will be happy with the result but not necessarily the performance against Droylsden on Boxing Day, which they won 2-1 after going 1-0 down. I think Weymouth will find it hard and I think York should get a result here against the Terras.

Verdict: Home win

Angus Loughran Best Bets

Salisbury 6/5

Exeter 4/5

Grays Athletic 2/1

Banker Bet

Exeter 4/5