This week's Non-League Daily acca has six picks from four leagues, combining for a nice 20.50 acca. Read my predictions and best bets below.
Photo by Biddle of Nowhere Photography
Another week, another Scunthorpe to win pick. Jimmy Dean’s side travel to Greater Mancehster to take on Curzon Ashton.
Scunthorpe have been dominant in the National League North so far, with 10 points from their four games. The last two games have really highlighted the Iron’s title credentials with dominating victories over Darlington (4-0) and Rushall Olympic (0-3). Danny Whitehall has been in scintillating form with four goals so far.
Curzon have six points from the opening four, having drawn three and won one game. Curzon were solid last season, finishing 13th. However, despite their respectable start, Scunthorpe should be too strong.
The next selection comes from the England Southern Premier League Central, as Redditch hosts Kettering.
Redditch finished 9th in the division last year and has started this season well, with Matt Clarke’s side sitting in 6th. Last season's home games for the Reds saw an abundance of goals (3.19 PG). This season has started in the same vein, with an average of 3.25 goals per game. 75% of the games so far have seen over 2.5 goals, with the exception of a 1-1 draw at home to AFC Telford.
After relegation from the National League North, Kettering have started this season in equally disappointing fashion, picking up just one point. A common theme in The Poppies games, though, is a high number of goals, with their games averaging 5 goals per game. Andy Leese’s side has also scored 2+ in every game, losing 3-2, 2-4, and 3-2 to Stamford, Stourbridge, and Barwell before drawing 2-2 at home to Halesowen.
With two teams with high-scoring games so far, over 2.5 goals is the next pick for the acca.
The English Northern Premier League is next under the microscope, and a match between Markse United and Radcliffe FC
Markse are the second favourite for relegation with Bet365 after three losses from their opening four games. The Seasiders have lost to Ilkeston (1-3), Worksop (3-0), and Ashton United (3-1), before two late Adam Boyes goals saw them overcome Bamber Bridge 3-1. Graeme Lee will be hoping to improve on last season's 16th-place finish.
Radcliffe, on the other hand, are second favourites for promotion, priced slightly higher than league favourites Macclesfield. Joint managers Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson are building a team capable of winning the title, and with four wins from four, they are on track to complete this.
The management duo has built a strong team with a wealth of football league experience, despite Radcliffe playing in the 7th tier. Luke Joyce, Gareth Evans, and Nicky Adams in particular are EFL stalwarts. So far this season, Radcliffe have blown away competition. A 4-0 victory at Warrington Rylands on the opening matchday has been followed up by a 4-2 win over Lancaster, a 2-0 win over Hyde, and a 4-1 dismantling away at Workington.
Radcliffe should be too strong for a weak Marske side.
The fourth selection is a move back up through the leagues to the National League North.
Brackley just missed out on promotion last season, losing to Kidderminster in the playoff final. They’ve started this season unbeaten, winning two games and drawing two. Crucially, both wins have come at home against Buxton and Bishop Stortford. This is a continuation of the Saints fine home from last season, picking up 46 points from 23 home games and conceding only 17 goals.
Visiting St. James Park is lowly Southport, who are on a run of 12 straight defeats. So far this season, they’ve lost 0-4, 3-1, 5-1, and 0-2, conceding 14 goals in this run. The Sandgrounders sit rock bottom of the table, and a trip to a team as good at home as Brackley is not ideal for a team so out of form.
Will Colclough come back to haunt his old side?
Dark horses Altrincham welcome title favourites Chesterfield to Greater Manchester.
After a strong summer, Altrincham are yet to lose, drawing three and winning one of their games so far. The attacking talent of Chris Conn-Clarke are to thank for Altrincham’s steady start to the season, scoring five goals between them. All four games for the Robins have seen BTTS.
A 100% BTTS record is the same case for Chesterfield, who have scored 11 and conceded seven goals thus far. Three victories from the first three games against Dorking (4-3), AFC Fylde (2-4), and Oxford City (1-2) were followed by a 1-1 draw with Oldham. Paul Cook’s side has an array of attacking talent, such as Will Grigg, Armando Dobra, and Ryan Colclough, but are weak defensively, so it should make for a good game at Moss Lane.
The final selection comes from the televised fixture between Hartlepool and AFC Fylde.
Hartlepool have started strongly after their disappointing relegation, winning three out of four games, which has the Monkey Hangers sitting in fourth place. John Askey’s side’s games have been topsy-turvy, scoring 10 and conceding seven. All four games have seen over 2.5 goals.
AFC Fylde have also seen a solid start to the season, sitting in 15th place in their first campaign back in the National League after promotion. Adam Murray’s side's games have been even more high-scoring than Hartlepool's, with eight goals scored and 10 conceded for the Coasters. All four games have also seen over 2.5 goals land.
Users must be 18+. If you are having trouble with gambling then help and advice can be found at begambleaware.org. Please Play Responsibly.
