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Grays Athletic face Cambridge United at the New Recreation Ground

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Grays set for whitewash

Saturday January 19, 2008

Aldershot Town v Forest Green Rovers

Prices correct at time of writing (1pm, Wednesday January 16, 2008).

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

Forest Green have been out of form in the last six games and are currently in seventh place in the table. This is a big game for Stuart Fleetwood. I think he will probably end up staying at Rovers, who have rejected another bid from Cheltenham for the player with the two clubs unable to agree on a fee for the striker.

Leaders Aldershot are seven points clear and haven't had a draw at home this season, with 11 wins and two defeats so far. I expect the Shots to win but I don't think it will be a stroll in the park so it's a narrow 1-0 win for me.

Verdict: Home win

Altrincham v York City

Home 7/4 Draw 9/4 Away 5/4

Altrincham picked up a vital 2-1 win against Kidderminster last week but I actually think York will win this match, although I hope I'm wrong. York have quietly crept up the table with some good away performances. The Minstermen have won seven times on the road this season and at 5/4 I think they're a fair price to beat the Robins.

Anything Altrincham get out of this game will be a bonus. Altrincham beat Kidderminster last week on the back of an away win at Northwich that took them out of the relegation zone for the first time this season. They'll be hoping to get something out of this game against York but I'm going with the Minstermen.

Verdict: Away win

Burton Albion v Northwich Victoria

Home 4/11 Draw 3/1 Away 13/2

It would be a huge surprise if it's anything other than a home win and Burton look like one of the bankers of the weekend. Albion are riding high in fourth place off the back of their impressive 2-1 win at Torquay. Northwich are third from bottom but haven't been playing too badly in their last few matches, nevertheless this is a home win for me.

Verdict: Home win

Crawley Town v Rushden & Diamonds

Home 5/6 Draw 9/4 Away 11/4

This match has a bit of a mid-table feel to it. A draw here looks almost like a banker. Both sides would probably settle for it now seeing as though it's unlikely either of these teams will get promoted or be relegated. They both probably need a few more points to be absolutely certain of staying up - Rushden have 31 and Crawley 35 points on the board. I'm going for a draw in this one.

Verdict: Draw

Grays Athletic v Cambridge United

Home 7/5 Draw 11/5 Away 8/5

I think Cambridge are a cracking price here to win. I thought they would have been much shorter than the 8/5 on offer and I think that this is one of the bets of the weekend. If Cambridge are going to have a serious chance of being in the play-offs at the end of the season they've got to pick up points away from home. They've won five times on the road so far and I fancy them to win at Grays in this clash.

Verdict: Away win

Halifax Town v Stafford Rangers

Home 8/15 Draw 5/2 Away 9/2

You would reluctantly take Halifax at 8/15 to win this one until you realise Stafford are well out of form. Rangers are currently second-from-bottom in the table and have picked up just one point from their last six games. It's a home win at the Shay, as Stafford have only one victory to their name all season.

Verdict: Home win

Histon v Ebbsfleet United

Home evens Draw 9/4 Away 9/4

Histon and Ebbsfleet still harbour ambitions of making it into the play-offs and they meet on Saturday. This is a very interesting game and you'd expect this to be low scoring. In fact, I'm going to take a chance and go for a rarity in this league, a no-score draw and you get quite a good price on that one - 15/2 - simply because the two teams play it very tight.

If Histon were to win, they could leapfrog Cambridge if the U's don't pick up three points, which would be a huge step for them, although Histon have played three games more. However, it's 0-0 for me.

Verdict: Draw

Kidderminster Harriers v Farsley Celtic

Home 4/7 Draw 12/5 Away 9/2

Farsley have had just one win in their last six matches but they do have a seven-point cushion over the bottom three. I expect Celtic to lose here and think Kidderminster will get back to winning ways after the disappointment of their 2-1 defeat at Altrincham last week, having gone one goal in front in that match. It's a home win for me, Kidderminster to bounce back and Farsley Celtic to remain fourth from bottom.

Verdict: Home win

Salisbury City v Torquay United

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

Despite Salisbury having very good home form, I'm going to go for Torquay here. I think the Gulls are a decent side and have the class to get promotion and I reckon they will get maximum points at a decent price of 13/10 against a Salisbury side who are in 10th place at the moment. Salisbury have a decent home record - seven wins, three draws and three defeats - and there has not been too many goals in their home matches, whereas Torquay's games have been full of goals. I'm going for Torquay to get three points.

Verdict: Away win

Stevenage Borough v Droylsden

Home 1/4 Draw 4/1 Away 8/1

Stevenage are on a bit of a roll at the moment. They're in third place and top of the form table after fives wins and one draw in their last six games. Boro have often left it late to win their games. If Stevenage are going to have any serious promotion ambitions then this should be an easy three points for them. I can't see anything other than a home win for Stevenage.

Verdict: Home win

Weymouth v Woking

Home 6/5 Draw 11/5 Away 15/8

Weymouth recently had a great 1-0 win at Oxford but have only won three times at home this season. Woking are a fair price at 15/8 to win this match. I was quite surprised when I saw the betting, I thought they'd be about 6/4, maybe 11/8 but they're 15/8 and that will do me. Woking to get the maximum three points away from home.

Verdict: Away win

Angus Loughran Best Bets

Cambridge 8/5

Woking 15/8

Aldershot 8/13

Banker Bet Kidderminster 4/7