We have another full slate of Non-League Football and Matthew O'Regan has his best bets and predictions.
After promotion from Step 4 last year, Cray Valley Paper Mills have taken to the Isthmian Premier League with relative ease. The Millers currently sit in third place, just three points off leaders Dover and have lost just once in their last 17 league games.
Paper Mill rose to fame last year after being drawn away at Charlton in the FA Cup, with the Addicks ground just ten minutes from Badgers Sports Club stadium. Steve McKimm’s side played exciting attacking football, scoring the second-most goals in the league (50) and picking up 49 points in 25 games.
However, Cray can be vulnerable defensively, conceding 39 goals and Bognor will fancy their chances of getting on the scoresheet at least once.
Bognor Regis are the Isthmian Premier League basement boys, ten points adrift from safety. A second-half fightback with ten men to beat Dulwich Hamlet 3-4 was their first win in ten, having lost eight of their last ten games, including 1-7 at home to Chatham, 4-0 at Dartford, 4-1 at rivals Lewes and 2-3 at home to other rivals Whitehawk.
The Rocks have scored 29 goals this season and have Tommy-Lee Higgs who has scored 12 goals, so they are capable of getting on the scoresheet. However, they have conceded the most goals in the league (60) and have been the worst side in the league so should be in for a long afternoon in London.
Prediction: Cray Valley Paper Mills win and over 3 goals @2.90
After suffering the first-ever relegation in the club’s history last year, Dorking are in good shape to bounce straight back up the National League at the first time of asking. Marc Whites currently sits fifth, four points off the top in a tightly packed National League South, with every point seen as crucial.
Wanderers have picked up momentum in recent weeks, winning four of their last five games – with the defeat coming at home to Worthing – a game in which the hosts went down to ten men in the first half.
They face a Weston Super-Mare side who have dropped down to eighth after a poor run of form. Injuries and players being recalled by their parent clubs have halted Scott Bartlett’s side’s title charge as they are now nine games without a win, scoring just five goals in this barren stretch.
Prediction: Dorking -1 Asian Handicap @1.90
An all-Sussex affair takes place at the Dripping Pan, with Lewes hosting inform Horsham.
The Rooks led the way at the top of the table for the early stages of the season, but a poor run of form has seen them drop down the table at a rate of knots. They now sit 13th, 14 points off the playoffs and just nine clear of safety. Craig Nelson’s side have just one win in their last ten and have struggled massively defensively in this run, conceding 19 goals.
Horsham are the team to beat in the Isthmian Premier Division. Dominic Di Paola’s side have now won seven games in a row, conceding just two goals and scoring 19. This run included wins against the top two – Billericay and Dover, putting The Hornets firmly in promotion contention, sat five points off the top of the table. A win against Sussex rivals Lewes on Saturday would apply even more pressure on the top two ahead of a favourable run of fixtures for Horsham.
Prediction: Horsham Win @1.90
Walton & Hersham have had a strong start to the Isthmian Premier Division, sat in sixth after beating league favourites AFC Totton 3-2 in their last league game. The Swans have been strong at home, picking up 25 points from 12 games, and scoring 30 goals in the process.
Visiting Elmbridge Xcel Sports Hub are Hungerford who occupy 17th. The Crusaders have won their last two games to thwart a three-game losing streak, but have been rocked by the departure of star man Elis Watts to Gloucester City. Away from home, they have been poor, picking up just eight points. They may struggle to get a result away at a strong Walton and Hersham side.
Prediction: Walton and Hersham To Win @1.90
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