Alfreton Town vs Boston United - Betting Predictions and Match Preview - Tuesday 23rd April 2024

The first of the National League North playoff games sees Alfreton Town host Boston United at the Impact Arena Stadium in the quarter-finals.

Alfreton Town

Alfreton enjoyed a stellar end of the campaign ending the season unbeaten in six, winning five and conceding just once. Billy Heath's side are one of the most unconventional sides in the league, favouring a more direct style of play, while dominating from set pieces. However, they are one of the hardest teams to beat in the league, with only the top three losing fewer times.

Last year's National League North table was extremely tight, with four points separating 4th and 13th place. Alfreton were in this battle, scraping a fifth-place finish. This year was slightly more comfortable, with The Reds finishing six points clear of eighth place.

Alfreton had the fifth-best home record in the league, picking up 48 points and only losing three times. 41 goals scored and only 17 conceded showcases their home strength.

Key Player

Adam Lund

A lot of Alfreton's success is owed to their midfield pivot of George Cantrill and Adam Lund. The duo excel at winning the ball back, ranking highly in their defensive duels won. What makes Adam Lund so crucial in this Alfreton side is his long throws. Billy Heath's side like to make the most of set pieces and Lund's flat, direct throws help cause carnage in the opposition area. With Alfreton packed with big, physical players, don't be surprised to see the Reds look to exploit this.

Boston United

Boston United ended the season with back-to-back away wins and clean sheets to sneak into the playoff by just one point. Ian Culverhouse's side were tight at the back, with only the top three and Chester conceding fewer goals. The goalscoring exploits of Jimmy Knowles (17 goals) and Kelsey Mooney (16 goals) also helped squeeze the Pilgrims into the playoffs.

Their away form was amongst the best in the league, accumulating 32 points from 23 games. A disappointing 2022/2023 campaign saw Boston finish 15th, 12 points off the playoffs and just seven clear of relegation. Culverhouse has reversed the sides' fortunes, building a balanced, young squad and one that has been competing at the top end of the table.

The two meetings between the sides this season saw contrasting fortunes, with Alfreton running out 4-0 winners at the Impact Arena, whereas Boston United ran out 3-1 winners post-Christmas at the Jakesman Community Stadium.

Key Player

Jimmy Knowles

The 23-year-old was signed in the summer from Kettering and has scored 17 league goals, placing him joint fourth (with Jordan Thewlis) in the top scorer charts. A hattrick away at Chorley has been cited as the catalyst for Boston United's late-season charge.

Best Bet

Alfreton's ground is unique in regards to its slopey pitch. Because of this, The Reds will often choose to kick uphill in the first half and downhill second half. Of their home games this season, Alfreton have scored in the second half of 14/23 and have only lost 3/23.

Prediction: Alfreton Over 0.5 Second Half Goals and Alfreton Double Chance @1.80

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