I'm a bit behind on the non-league scene but I'll be adding to this thread as the week progresses and hopefully odds for the Unibond come out.
Some of you may recall that I tipped Weymouth for the Conference South, along with Cambridge and Lewes as good E/w bets. Well, 'muff are kicking off at home with a game against Dean Holdsworth's Havant and Waterloo. The odds of 1.5 are too low to attract my support as I am waiting to see if the team gel, Havant have spent some money and 1.5 doesn't enthrall me.
Lewes (who've had an excellent pre-season a 3-1 vivtory at home to Aldershot among this and made some good signings) face a tricky opening game at home to relegated Farnborough, and I will give this one the swerve and take a watching brief.
Cambridge Utd (5/6 Stan james) have excelent claims to see off a much depleted WSM. Last season WSM we're inconsitent all season and now they've trimmed their wage bill and let some "senior" players go. They've also got a goalkeeping problem:
From thisisbristol.com:
Gregan (WSM Boss) has been forced to offload the experienced quartet of Billy Clark, Mark McGregor, Steve Jenkins and Steve Cowe in order to balance the Woodspring Stadium books and has recruited, in their place, younger players who remain untried in the Conference.
He revealed: "I had to get those guys off the wage bill and had no choice in the matter. We were spending more than we were earning last season and it was quite clear that we had to get our financial house in order.
"Now we have a squad we can afford."
"We did well to stay up last season, but if we can maintain our status at the end of this season, it will represent an even bigger achievement."
In contrast City have made a number of solid signings including Booth from Welling who scored 20 in this division last year and notched about a goal-a-game pre-season. Hist stike partner sadler notched 18.
They beat MK Dons 3-0 in pre-season and their manager had this to say after a recent win against Chelmsford (who play a level below I think) by the same scoreline:
(From their offical site)
It was a very good work-out for us against Chelmsford. As regards the tackling, there were less flying about than there would have been had we been playing Histon in a pre-season friendly. It was a decent excercise with the real action to kick off next weekend. I didn’t expect it to be anything less really. Everyone has come out of the game well, there are no injury problems, considering it was played at a full on pace. These players can look after themselves on the pitch.
Up front, I think Dave Sadler and Paul Booth are going to be more than a handful for defences in the league this season. They are both probably their own worst critics, and they are both always looking to improve, which is great and I’m looking forward to watching them play.
The big kick-off is now nearly upon us and we can expect a rugged encounter with Weston-super-M are to start with. Games with them are usually like that. They are usually strong and well organised although they have lost the services of Marc McGregor who has joined Hinckley United. They still have Mark Mckeevor who is one of the best left wingers in the league, as well as Lewis Hogg who is a fairly aggresive midfielder. It will be a testing afternoon for us, we cannot afford to underestimate them at all and we won’t. They do have a problem in the goalkeeping department. Ryan Northmore, their regular keeper, is out of action with a leg injury and I’m not sure who his replacement will be.
We are looking to get off the mark with three points and, hopefully, there will be a good crowd to see us do it. We have got to be looking to around the 500 mark. We’ll be the only football in Cambridge when we are at home, apart from when the cup competitions kick in. I’m not saying we will be picking up loads of floating United supporters, but we may attract some as well as our own fans bringing their friends.
Meanwhile WSM we're being given a scare at nearby Yate - who have just been promoted to the level below them:
"Weston were forced to come from behind to see off Southern League Yate Town 4-2 in a pre-season friendly last night. Andy Neal missed two good early chances for Yate before Matt Rawlins opened the scoring on 17 minutes after Lewis Hogg saw his shot spilled by goalkeeper Tony Court."
So the 5/6 is a must. I will go in with medium stakes a last season City tended to do better away (10-3-8 at home) - then again WSM we're pants away (3-8-10)
AMP