Time to home in on a Gills victory

13 April 2012

They may not be the most glamorous team in Nationwide League Division One, but Gillingham remain a side capable of upsetting the best on their home patch.

The Gills welcome back striker Carl Asaba for the game with Preston at Priestfield Stadium. In tandem with the under-rated Marlon King, the pair look sure to give the Lancastrians plenty to think about on Saturday.

Preston have been in sparkling form at Deepdale, but have lost four away, conceding eight goals in their past three fixtures. That would seem to make this game a 50-50 affair, yet Gillingham are priced up at 7/4 (generally available).

Dumbarton had a terrible start to the Scottish League Division Three season, and though they have picked up recently, they are still susceptible away and look set for their sixth away loss at Hamilton.

The Accies have won six from nine at home, scoring 24 goals in the process. They look like 1/3 shots but you can get odds of 8/13 with Ladbrokes.

Finally, take a second look at the team which let us down last week, Falkirk. They eased into a 2-0 lead inside 20 minutes at home to Inverness only to give away two breakaway goals in the second half. They visit Clyde, whose home form in recent weeks has been dismal.

On their best form, Falkirk would walk this and 6/4 (Ladbrokes) is just too tempting to resist.

Those of you considering a pre-Christmas splash may also want to consider Watford (evens) at home to West Brom and Plymouth (evens) against York.

The recent FA Cup draw threw up plenty of giant-killing opportunities, but Liverpool (home tie with Rotherham) look big at around the 8/1 mark to win the trophy.

However, a more speculative investment could be Aston Villa at 28/1 (Corals).

El Pal is too big a price at 10/1 for the Romford Puppy Cup on Friday night, but the 11/4 about Polar King makes even more appeal. Back the last-named and combine the two in a fore-cast.

Next Monday, Pinewood Blue has a peach of a draw at Nottingham in the Peter Derrick National Sprint and can beat Parliament Act. Finally, as the NFL season draws to its conclusion with the play-offs imminent, take Minnesota to bounce back and beat Green Bay while I fancy Tampa to dismiss Detroit and Carolina to beat improving Seattle.