Blue Square offer all the latest odds for this weekend’s FA Cup 2nd Round
27th November, 2009
A dozen non-league clubs from the three Blue Square divisions remain in the FA Cup as the competition reaches the second round this weekend. We are guaranteed at least three representatives of the non-league game in the ‘Holy Grail’ that is the third round draw as a trio of all ‘Blue Square’ matches came out of the hat a few weeks ago. Before the big boys from the Barclays Premier League get involved there are plenty of intriguing second round ties. Northwich Victoria pulled off the shock of the season so far when beating League 1 high-flyers Charlton in round one. Besiktas fans may disagree with that after their Old Trafford heroics, but The Vics faced the London side with three key players missing and dominated a game they eventually won 1-0. It has to be said that Charlton were woeful that day, but let’s take nothing away form the Blue Square North outfit. The TV cameras are back at the Victoria Stadium to see if Northwich can do it again, this time against League Two basement-battlers Lincoln City. The Imps won at AFC Telford in the last round and on comparative form that should be good enough to give them a victory here. It’s possible that Northwich have been slightly over-rated by the bookmaking fraternity on the basis of the Charlton win. Lincoln are 11/10 to put the tie to bed in ninety minutes. An hour later Staines Town kick off their second round match at home to Millwall. The South London team take a short trip out West but could be mindful of a league campaign that has brought only one victory on the road in nine outings. Staines are a realistic 5/1 to put themselves into the third round hat, with the visitors obviously odds-on to beat the side over 70 places below them in the English league system.
Prices are tight for the match at Twerton Park between Bath City and Forest Green Rovers. The home side from mid-table in the Blue Square South take an unbeaten run of six matches into the game against one of their local rivals. Forest Green have coped with a turbulent start to the season in which they lost their manager Jim Harvey along with 12 out of 21 league matches. Their form in recent weeks has slightly improved but punters may desert the slight favourites due to a win record of just over 10% in the league. In form Rushden & Diamonds travel to the South Coast to face an out-of-sorts Brighton. Diamonds manager and former FA Cup winner Justin Edinburgh has got his side playing some great football and, considering they are unbeaten in eight matches in all competitions, plenty of punters will be latching onto their price of 5/1. It’s certainly an attractive offering based on recent form but maybe the best bet lurks on the away team earning a replay back at Nene Park, a stalemate is 13/5.
Cambridge United are adjusting to life under Martin Ling and will take great heart from stunning comebacks in their last two league outings. 2-0 down against Luton and Rushden at half-time, on both occasions The U’s came back to steal a point. Ling’s side host fellow Blue Square Premier outfit York City in one of the games of the day at the Abbey Stadium. United are the slight favourites for this match but York have been in great form of late. Martin Foyle has turned The Minstermen into real play-off contenders and they take five straight wins into this game.
In a repeat of last week’s Blue Square Premier league encounter, Oxford United host Barrow. United ran out 1-0 winners in poor conditions last week and will most likely do the same again at cramped odds of 2/5. Barrow will not be without their supporters at a stand-out offering of 7/1. Luton Town won well at Rochdale in their first round replay and face a similar task away at Rotherham, The Hatters are 9/2 to pull off another so called ‘shock’. In reality Richard Money’s charges are good value for their second round appearance cash and could go one step further again. Dean Saunders’ Wrexham host Swindon Town at The Racecourse ground, which was the scene for one of the competitions biggest ever shocks in 1992 when Welsh side beat Arsenal. This one wouldn’t quite register as highly on the giant-killing scale and the home side are 3/1 to make light work of the seventh placed side from League 1. This could be another situation where Wrexham are being priced up on their name rather than their form and, although I hope to be wrong, the 5/6 for a Swindon win makes plenty of appeal.
On Sunday the ITV cameras are at Rockingham Road to see if Kettering Town can repeat Histon’s win over Leeds United from last year. It’s going to be very difficult for The Poppies as, since the draw was made, they have lost manager Mark Cooper and a handful of first choice players. Leeds United are 4/9 to do a professional job and make amends for last year, I can’t see anything different happening.
As well as match prices Blue Square are offering a host of FA Cup specials including: Which Blue Square Team Will Progress The Furthest? and How Many Blue Square Teams Will Reach The Third Round?
Visit Blue Square and get your hands on a FREE £10 bet.
By Gina
