St Albans – Thurrock 1 (1.83 @StanJames) 6/10
(-1) St Albans – Thurrock 1 (3.00 @Digibet) 1/10
St Albans had a terrible start of the season in Conference South. In first six rounds, they were defeated four times and managed to pick up two points only. But then something changed – a couple of new players arrived, some players got released, remaining players got to know each other a little bit more (St Albans is a completely different team than last season) and St Albans finally started playing some football and scoring some goals. First they won away at promotion candidates Bishop's Stortford (4:3) and then managed to draw at home against biggest title favourites Lewes (1:1). Their goalkeeper Eyre was superb against Lewes and some richer clubs are already trying to take him away but, at least for now, he's staying put. St Albans' manager brought in a couple of players on loan before the Bishop's Stortford match and that obviously made quite a difference. Excellent defender Batt came from Stevenage, midfielder Bolt came from Rushden and experienced midfielder Smith (played over 500 league matches) joined St Albans too. Striker Morgan scored two goals in last two games and Thurrock is the perfect oportunity for him to score some more. Another standard striker Clarke hasn't scored whole season and he could brake his spell against Thurrock too.
Thurrock has been terrible from the beginning of this season (okay, they were pretty terrible last season too). They have six defeats, one draw (at home against not very good Basingstoke outfit) and one win (at home against struggling Welling). Last three matches were absolutely terrible for Thurrock – their goal-difference in those matches is 0:11. Havant beat them 3:0, mid-table Hampton beat them 5:0 (and that was Thurrock's home match) and, finally, Basingstoke beat them 3:0. They've lost a couple of players before the season started (for example their best striker Akurang), their most experienced summer signing (defender Cole) is out injured and winger Green who was at Thurrock on loan returned to Dagenham a week ago. Goalkeeper Gore (who also came this summer from Havant) and midfielder Norval left the club couple of days ago too. Their new goalkeeper came on a one-month loan from West Ham. That maybe sounds good but Blackmore is West Ham's under-18 goalkeeper. Today Thurrock's manager brought in a new central defender, Swaine from Billericay – that also sounds good, but Billericay is in a lower league than Thurrock and Swaine left because he was a reserve in Billericay's team. Thurrock scored six goals in eight league outings this season – their best scorer this season is Thomas with two goals and another scorer McKenzie scored once. Two out of that three goals scored by their strikers were scored against Welling.
Of course, if you're a very careful gambler, be sure to stake a couple of units on a draw because these are two teams that are both going to struggle this season and the weather forecast is not good (heavy showers), but the odds are simply too good not to take. Handicap win would be nice too.
FT 0:5
Post je objavljen 19.09.2007. u 03:16 sati.