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Rushden Diamonds face Forest Green Rovers

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Friday January 23, 2009

Rushden & Diamonds v Forest Green Rovers (Kick-off 19:45)

Prices correct at time of writing (1.30pm, Wednesday January 21, 2009).

Home 8/11 Draw 12/5 Away 7/2

Rushden are mid-table at the moment and are only eight points off the play-off places but it's been a season of disappointment so far for the Diamonds. Forest Green lost 2-1 at Oxford on Tuesday night which kept them in the drop zone. I think Rushden will win this and it's one of the bankers of the weekend. Forest Green are missing striker Stuart Fleetwood, whose goals last season were so important for them. This year they have done well in patches, they had a great chance in the FA Cup against Derby when they led 2-0 and eventually lost 4-3 and that has really knocked the stuffing out of the players. It depends which Rushden you get, we've seen the good, the bad and the indifferent from them this season but I think they've got a chance to get three points and should be shorter than they are.

Verdict: Home win

Saturday January 24, 2009

Barrow v Kidderminster Harriers (Kick-off 15:00)

Home 2/1 Draw 23/10 Away 6/5

Barrow start the weekend just one place and one point above the drop zone and entertain a Kidderminster side who suffered a bit of a rarity last weekend, beaten at home 2-0 by Weymouth. Away from home Harriers have suffered six defeats already this season so I think Barrow at 2/1 is a great price even though they have rather imploded in recent weeks. I was very surprised that Kidderminster lost at home last weekend, which was a blow to their promotion hopes. I think Barrow should be shorter and I'm going to take a chance on them to get a home win.

Verdict: Home win

Burton Albion v Altrincham

Home 2/5 Draw 16/5 Away 13/2

It's as you were for top-of-the-table Burton Albion. Nigel Clough may have gone and Roy McFarland taken over but they've had two 1-0 wins so far, one in the FA Trophy and one in the league. They are 13 points clear and I expect Burton to win this game but Altrincham showed last weekend that they have a rugged defence and only lost 1-0 at Oxford. The Brewers are winning a lot of games 1-0 and I think that will be a similar scoreline this week. The Robins have done well this season to get themselves in a position where they really should avoid relegation but Burton are flying high and it's a 1-0 win for Albion for me.

Verdict: Home win

Crawley Town v Oxford United

Home evens Draw 23/10 Away 5/2

Crawley and Oxford have both had four and five-point deductions recently. The U's beat Forest Green 2-1 on Tuesday night and I think 5/2 on Oxford is a brilliant price. Although United have been inconsistent, they've had a couple of good wins against Altrincham and Forest Green and are back on a roll again and are a better team than their league position suggests. I think this is the value play of the weekend. I thought they'd be shorter so I've got to put Oxford in the best bets column.

Verdict: Away win

Eastbourne Borough v York City

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

York have drawn 11 games this season and are only six points off the drop zone, while Eastbourne are four points better off and are mid-table. I think 9/4 is a great price for a 12th draw for the Minstermen this term. Those 11 draws make a massive difference - if you turn those into wins that would be an extra 22 points for City. I'm going for a stalemate here.

Verdict: Draw

Histon v Grays Athletic

Home 8/13 Draw 5/2 Away 9/2

Histon missed out on a potential FA Cup fourth-round trip to Portsmouth after their defeat to Swansea so they can focus on the league again. The Stutes have three games in hand on Burton and are 13 points behind Albion. Histon face Grays, who lost narrowly 1-0 at home to Burton last weekend. I'm going for Histon here. I think they'll be too strong for Grays. It will all come down to the pitch, which has not played too badly in recent matches.

Verdict: Home win

Lewes v Mansfield Town

Home 5/2 Draw 23/10 Away evens

It's looking a little bit bleak for Lewes, who are 10 points from safety and this surely is a must win game for the home side. Mansfield are down in 17th place after a four-point deduction. I think this is a banker but for the away side, rather like Burton last weekend. You don't get too many betting opportunities like this over the course of a season. Mansfield is a must bet and one of the bankers of the weekend.

Verdict: Away win

Salisbury City v Stevenage Borough

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

It's hard to believe Salisbury were top of the table earlier in the season and since then they've dropped like a stone and are now sixth from bottom, just two points above the drop zone and they lost at Kettering last weekend. Stevenage are just two points off the play-off places. I'm going to take Boro to win this clash. Salisbury are really struggling, while Stevenage are beginning to pick up. It's an away win for me.

Verdict: Away win

Weymouth v Northwich Victoria

Home 4/6 Draw 5/2 Away 4/1

Weymouth caused a big shock by winning 2-0 at Kidderminster last weekend and take on bottom-of-the-table Northwich, who have just 15 points and are 12 points from safety. The Vics are in disarray - the players have been locked out of the ground and supporters had to pay to play a home match at arch rivals Altrincham. They are a side who are going nowhere at the moment and this is three points for Weymouth.

Verdict: Home win

Woking v Ebbsfleet United

Home 7/5 Draw 9/4 Away 17/10

Woking lost 4-1 at Cambridge last weekend and are in the bottom four but are just a point behind fifth-from-bottom Barrow. The Cards take on Ebbsfleet, who have really disappointed this season. Neither side have really impressed me this year. This match is hard to call and could go either way so I'm going for a draw here, which is the value price.

Verdict: Draw

Angus Loughran Best Bets

Mansfield evens

Weymouth 4/6

Oxford 5/2

Banker Bet

Rushden & Diamonds 8/11