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Plainmoor: Torquay take on Kidderminster

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Sunday December 28, 2008

Cambridge United v Stevenage Borough

Prices correct at 10.30am on Saturday December 27, 2008.

Home evens Draw 23/10 Away 5/2

Cambridge - who are sixth in the table - had a great 4-0 win at home to Salisbury on Saturday December 20 and have a local derby with Histon before taking on Stevenage. Boro are now 10th in the table and drew 1-1 at Oxford ahead of the Christmas fixtures. Cambridge have a home record of won nine, drawn one and lost two so it's a home win for me.

Verdict: Home win

Crawley Town v Eastbourne Borough

Home 4/7 Draw 5/2 Away 5/1

Fifth-placed Crawley take on 16th-placed Eastbourne and the Red Devils will be in confident mood after their 2-0 home win over Kidderminster on December 20. Eastbourne were thrashed 5-0 at Wrexham on December 20 and are poor on the road, with three wins, one draw and eight defeats so far this season. Crawley have a good home record with eight wins, two draws and two defeats, so I'm going for a Town victory here.

Verdict: Home win

Forest Green Rovers v Barrow

Home evens Draw 23/10 Away 5/2

Forest Green lost 2-0 at home to Kettering on December 20 and that defeat meant they are now third from bottom in the Blue Square Premier. Rovers miss the goals of former striker Stuart Fleetwood, who left the club for Charlton last summer. Rovers also have a poor home record with three wins, one draw and eight defeats at the New Lawn this season. Barrow lost 2-1 at Grays Athletic on December 20 and their away record is won three, drawn two and lost six so far this season. I don't think Rovers will win this so I'm going for Barrow to win draw no bet.

Verdict: Away win

Grays Athletic v Histon

Home 7/4 Draw 11/5 Away 7/5

Grays are fourth from bottom in the Blue Square Premier and picked up a 2-1 home win over Barrow on December 20. They take on second-placed Histon, who lost 4-1 at Torquay on the same day. Grays have won five, drawn three and lost two at home, while Histon have won five, drawn two and lost three on the road this season. I think this will be a stalemate.

Verdict: Draw

Lewes v Kettering Town

Home 3/1 Draw 12/5 Away 5/6

Lewes are second from bottom and lost 2-0 at home to Woking on December 20. By contrast, Kettering are ninth in the table and won 2-0 at Forest Green Rovers on the same day. Lewes have a poor home record with just three wins, one draw and eight defeats at the Dripping Pan this season. Kettering have won five, drawn four and lost three away from home this season and I think they will get the three points in this clash.

Verdict: Away win

Northwich Victoria v Salisbury City

Home 6/4 Draw 9/4 Away 13/8

Bottom-of-the-table Northwich lost 2-1 at Rushden & Diamonds on December 20 and have won two, drawn three and lost six at the Victoria Stadium this season. Salisbury are 18th in the Blue Square Premier and have won three, drawn two and lost six away from home this season. I don't think Northwich will win this one, so I'm going for a Salisbury win draw no bet.

Verdict: Away win

Oxford United v Ebbsfleet United

Home evens Draw 23/10 Away 5/2

Former Halifax Town boss Chris Wilder is Oxford's new manager and the U's need to start picking up their form if they are going to have any chance of reaching the play-offs this season. The U's have a decent home record with six wins, three draws and two defeats at the Kassam Stadium this season. Confidence should also be much improved for United after caretaker boss Jim Smith lead the U's to a four-match unbeaten run prior to Wilder's appointment. Ebbsfleet are 12th in the table, one place higher than Oxford, and have won four, drawn one and lost seven away from home this season. With those stats, I'm going for an Oxford victory.

Verdict: Home win

Torquay United v Kidderminster Harriers

Home 4/5 Draw 12/5 Away 16/5

Third-placed Torquay thrashed Histon 4-1 on December 20 and have a superb home record with seven wins, three draws and two defeats at Plainmoor this season. Kidderminster are in fourth spot and have the same number of points as the Gulls. Harriers have climbed to the higher reaches of the Blue Square Premier on the back of a superb home record, but on the road they have won three, drawn two and lost six. They lost 2-0 at Crawley Town on December 20 and I think their poor away form will continue. It's a home win for me.

Verdict: Home win

Wrexham v Woking

Home 1/2 Draw 14/5 Away 11/2

Wrexham are seventh in the table and thrashed Eastbourne 5-0 on December 20. The Red Dragons are strong at the Racecourse Ground with seven wins, one draw and two defeats. Woking are fifth from bottom and won 2-0 at Lewes on December 20, which was a big win for the Cards. On the road they have won two, drawn four and lost six so it's got to be a home win here.

Verdict: Home win

York City v Altrincham

Home 5/6 Draw 12/5 Away 3/1

York are 14th in the table and beat Ebbsfleet 3-1 at home on December 20. They have been the draw specialists this season with four wins, six draws and two defeats at KitKat Crescent. Altrincham lost 3-1 at home to Burton on December 20 and are a place below York in the table, with both teams on 29 points. The Robins have won three, drawn two and lost six away from home this season. I'm going for a York win draw no bet.

Verdict: Home win

Monday December 29, 2008

Mansfield Town v Burton Albion

Home 2/1 Draw 9/4 Away 5/4

Mansfield are down in 19th place in the table but beat Weymouth 2-1 on December 20, which will have boosted confidence among the Stags' squad. Town have a decent home record with seven wins, one draw and three defeats so far this season. Burton are top of the table and won 3-1 at Altrincham on December 20. Albion are decent on the road with seven wins, one draw and four defeats. On current form, I've got to go for an away win for the Brewers.

Verdict: Away win

Angus Loughran Best Bets

Cambridge United evens

Grays Athletic v Histon Draw 11/5

Torquay United 4/5