NON-LEAGUE nut Callum Jones (@Goaldust) delivers his weekend NAP from the National Leagues.
Kidderminster v Dover | Saturday 15:00
On paper at least, this one looks like a walkover.
Kidderminster were finally condemned to relegation last weekend, despite a late season upturn of form, and Dover are on the verge of making the National League play-offs. Surely this one is sewn up before kick-off then?
I’m not so sure. Kiddy have found their feet late into this season and a tally of 12 points from the 21 available has shown the sort of form that would have kept them in the division – had they have found it a long while back.
It’s a desperate shame to lose such a highly regarded club as Kidderminster Harriers. I’ve been to Aggborough and it’s a fantastic little ground. I visited on a Tuesday evening and the atmosphere was absolutely electric.
Their match-day food has also long been regarded as the best in the game and if anyone does get the chance, grab yourself a plate of their famous Cottage Pie – it’s phenomenal.
But all mastication aside, the division is worse off without the Harriers and I hope they bounce back sooner rather than later.
By contrast, Dover have produced a magnificent campaign and would be thoroughly worth their place in the play-offs. Manager Chris Kinnear has taken a club fairly small in stature to the brink of the Football League, and he deserves a great deal of credit, whatever happens between now and May.
The Whites know a win on Saturday will secure a top-five finish and they could still even snatch third-place from Grimsby, and with it, the vital advantage of welcoming the Mariners to Kent for the second leg of their play-off shoot-out.
Kinnear’s side have produced a sensational run of form, just when it was required, winning eight of their last 12 league fixtures. They’ve been especially effective on their travels, bagging six wins in their last eight games away from the Crabble Athletic Ground.
The Whites have been pretty stingy away from home, conceding only eight in their last nine. Add the fact Kidderminster have only scored twice in their last five home league fixtures, and I think it’s fair to assume we won’t be seeing too many goal-dances come Saturday afternoon.
Many will point to the fact the home side have nothing to play for, and the fact Dover need a win to secure their play-off place, but I don’t see a walkover in this one.
There are plenty in the Harriers squad playing for contracts and they’ve actually been rock solid at Aggborough in recent weeks. Throw in the fact Dover have hardly been blowing teams away and I can see a fairly low key 90 minutes of football ahead.
I do think the Whites will do enough to bag the vital three points but this reeks of a dull, drab affair. I was debating Dover and Under 2.5 Goals, but we’ll play it safe and back the away side to triumph and Under 3.5 Goals, seeing as the price of 8/5 (Betfair) is more than reasonable.
Best Bets
Kidderminster v Dover – Dover to win and Under 3.5 Goals (8/5 Betfair)
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