NON-LEAGUE expert Paul Maddison (@LouthBigDog) shares his favourite fancies from Saturday afternoon's National League coupon.
Dagenham & Redbridge v Aldershot | Saturday 26th January 2019, 15:00
Dagenham & Redbridge returned to winning ways after a difficult few games, with a comfortable 3-0 victory at Maidstone last weekend. The Daggers have now won 10 of their last 16 in all competitions after a difficult start to the season.
Aldershot are without a win in their past 16 and look in real danger of relegation. The Shots have had massive injury problems recently, at one point they were able to name just two substitutes for a match. On the road, Gary Waddock’s men have conceded 17 goals in their last six league games.
The home win has been backed in slightly but the 4/5 at Betway still looks a great bet.
Hartlepool v Braintree | Saturday 26th January 2019, 15:00
Hartlepool lost 3-1 last Saturday to Harrogate, but in fairness the scoreline could have been much worse for them. The Monkey Hangers defending was poor at times, and has been for a while – they've conceded the joint-second (with Braintree) number of goals over the last 15 league games – that's almost two per-game.
Richard Money’s men have now scored in 14 straight games though, with 12 of them seeing both teams find the net.
Braintree have had assistant manager Danny Searle take over the reins at the club this week after Hakan Hayrettin left to join John Still as assistant at Maidstone. I don't think that change will have too much of an effect on the Braintree squad, mind.
After a bad start to the season, the Iron are improving, but being nine points from safety it will be a massive ask for them to stay up. The Essex-based club’s main improvement has been in front of goal. In the first 15 league games they netted just nine times, in the 15 since they have managed 20.
So I expect Braintree to have enough to trouble the Hartlepool defence here and so I’m backing Both Teams To Score at 11/10 (William Hill). At odds-against, that looks a great bet.
Sutton v Ebbsfleet | Saturday 26th January 2019, 15:00
Both these two teams are doing well at the moment and will be hoping they can push on for a play-off spot. They sit in seventh and eighth respectively in the league.
Ebbsfleet are currently the form team though, picking up 23 points in their last 10 games. Scoring goals clearly isn't a problem for Daryl McMahon’s charges – in those recent 10 outings they have notched 24 times, 16 of which came in their most recent five fixtures.
The Fleet’s key to their great goalscoring record is their attacking trio of Danny Kedwell, Michael Cheek and Corey Whitely. Between them they have racked up 29 goals already this term.
The one that really stands out for me though is Cheek – he's managed to score five in his last four and has found the net 10 times in his last 10 starts for the club. The former Braintree front man has an excellent scoring record wherever he has played and if Kedwell isn't on the pitch then Cheek will be on penalty duty.
Bet365 go 2/1 for Cheek to score anytime. That looks a good bet when he's playing against a team that has shipped two or more goals in seven of their last 11 matches.
Best Bets
Dagenham & Redbridge v Aldershot – Dagenham & Redbridge to win (4/5 Betway)
Hartlepool v Braintree – Both Teams To Score (11/10 William Hill)
Sutton v Ebbsfleet – Michael Cheek to score at anytime (2/1 Bet365)
