Ryman Prem Ante-post

[Shipsupstreets]

Best odds/All odds
Chelmsford City	5	4	5
AFC Wimbledon	4	10/3	11/2
Hampton	6	8	9/2
Heybridge Swifts	10	8	6
Staines Town	12	10	9
Worthing	12	14	12
Carshalton Athletic	16	14	14
Margate	20	16	20
Bromley	18	14	22
Billericay Town	9	14	25
Walton & Hersham	25	25	25
Boreham Wood	33	25	33
East Thurrock	20	33	33
Leyton	40	40	33
Folkestone	25	50	40
Ramsgate	50	50	33
Slough	33	50	33
Ashford Town	66	66	40
Harrow Borough	33	66	50
Hendon	50	66	50
Horsham	50	66	40
Tonbridge Angels	66	-	25
Each-way terms:		3 at 1/4	3 at 1/4

[Shipsupstreets]

Well, about 20 mins ago I posted that Margate were a great punt at 25/1 in the 'non-league ante-post' thread below - and now they are down to 20s. That's a decent EW play, I think. More on this section later.

[Shipsupstreets]

Coming off the back of a season where I got Braintree and Fish EW last season, this looks to me a very tough section this time.

AFC Wimbledon have signed well - Steve Watson is a good leader in the middle and Michael Haswell fills the troublesome left back berth. But is it enough? Not for me. I continue to doubt Dave Anderson's ability to get the best out of the squad. But managers do learn, of course, and I'm pretty sure they'll be up there. Does 11/2 (Stan James) represent value? For me, it doesn't.

Chelmsford will take a bit of stick this season for the way that Jeff King came in, and that could work against them early season as teams up their game against a 'new' side finding its feet. There's no doubting the quality of the signings though - much of it with Conference experience last term at Canvey Island. The massive 12s that Stan James offered for about ten minutes last week has long gone and 5/1 doesn't look that tasty to me just yet.

The problem for me in this section is the number of likely contenders. Take Heybridge Swifts, who did well last season and look a better outfit this. Jamie Richards is a good signing up front - a real physical presence that the Swifts needed in the crucial middle part of last season. He and Jolly will be a fine partnership. In Ian Cousins and Ian Wiles they have a good heart to the defence, and in Erdem Artun they have, in my view, a much underrated player, though he needs a season without injury. Danny Gay is the new keeper - good enough for Braintree last term. Midfield is strong, with Micky Shinn adding some guile the the hard work of Adam Gillespie and Sam Keevil. 10s might be value, though I'm not tempted yet.

Staines at 12s look a little more promising. Kevin Warner is in from Hayes and Dave Sargeant has joined from AFC. Mark Nwokeji is a decent leader of the line, and Ali Chaaban could have a good season. Adam Thompson had a good season at Walton & H and he looks the right signing to help add beef to the defence. Errol Telemaque has enough experience at a higher level to add something too. If they can sort out their often absurd defending they really can challenge.

Bromley have been catching they eye following the Mark Goldberg takeover. I'm a little wary of the fact that he seems to be manager - perhaps a case of a boy with a new toy - though I must say that they are going about things very well and putting the foundations in place for a step up a level. That is the way to do it, and for me that means this may be one season too early. KP66 posted here last night that they looked the real deal and were worth taking at a stand-out 22 with Stan James. That does look a big price and it could be a very shrewd move to bag it now.

I took a small bit of Billericay at 25/1 in an EW Yankee last week and RippyUK has made an excellent case for them in the Ante-post Bets thread. But the best outsiders for me are Margate. I took them for a point EW at 33/1 last week and had another nibble at 25s last night. Even the current 20s looks very big to me. Lee Protheroe and Justin Skinner, ex Gravesend & N, can do a more than tidy job at this level. They have a solid front two of Danny Hockton and James Pinnock, and Osman Sesay can torment any team who have a weak right side. Defensively they look to have no obvious weaknesses and last Saturday debutant keeper Paul Nicholls was outstanding against Fisher - he prevented a 5-2 win from being a 5-5 draw with a string of saves first half. If there is a doubt about them, it's that beyond the first team they might not have much strength, especially with Hasim Deen and Bertie Brayley - very decent players - in some sort of dispute with the club. Worth the risk, though - a good run with injuries, cup runs etc. and I firmly believe they could go all the way to title.

Thus far I've had point EW on Margate at 33s and another at 25s. Had 2pts outright on Chelmsford when they were breifly 12s. But of the current prices only Margate, and perhaps Bromley and Billericay, strike me as wide of the mark. I think Margate are worth 2pts EW still.

(1-10 scale)

[Shipsupstreets]

Bet365 have cut Margate to 12s, but they are still offered at 20s by Stan James.

[Chalmers (SUFC)]

I'm ashamed to say i stupidly had a point ew on Margate last week having looked at the squad they had put together only to realise that i could've got 25's if i'd looked harder!!!

Good write up again Ships

[Shipsupstreets]

I'm convinced they'll be a really big force. They've quality throughout the side and there is a bit of a buzz among the fans down there, although to be fair it's more 'we'll be up there' rather than 'we're going to win it'. No way should they be the same price as Walton & H and Folkestone, and a few points shy of ETU, as they were last night. Hartsdown Park is still a bit of a mess, but plans are in place for a major development - hope that'll suit the Conference graders!

[ivor1875]

Yes it has been pretty well covered by ships,but here are my thoughts for what it is worth.

AFC, ARE AS,WELL, SHORT AS ONE WOULD EXPECT THEM TO BE.But they are that one crucial season wiser and more clued up.They need fear no-one,respect them yes,but expect to be triumphant.The biggest failing last season was the lack of goals,not solved until the arrival of the sublime paul barnes.Put quite simply,if barnes stays injury free,then that is 30 goals guaranteed,better defences than ryman premier standard would struggle to cope with his pace,skill and well timed runs.

Yes he needs a partner.Hopefully,roscoe d,sane from aldershot can be the partner that paul barnes needs.

Dave anderson can have his moments,he likes it played at a fast tempo,sometimes a tad more guile,could come in handy,and i do not feel that he truly appreaciates the mercurial rob ursell,within his ranks.But when all is said and done,dave anderson always takes a defeat on the chin,no excuses.On the whole i still feel that he is doing a decent job at kingsmeadow.

The dons done most of their strengthening last season,and i was very much of the impressison that they reallly had got to grips with the division last season by seasaon's close.Lest we forget that they had the best defence after braintree,and they have a very strong midfield,where the much sought after weds daly,should be looking to get at least 15 from midfield..

Anderson has pledged to go 4-4-2 away from home especially.And i do not think we should forget the jeff-king factor.Chelmsfrod will be the scalp that everyone will be after this season.That will take a lot of presssure of the afc boys.Put simply,in my view,the team that finishes above the dons will be the champions.

Now chelmsford city,back in the city of thier name,and mr king can come into the equation .Jeff king and glenn penny father are a formidibale duo.Anyone who saw the great canvey team in the ryman a few yeras ago,will not forget their class in a hurry.

Jeff kings teams always play good atacking football,and a succesfull team at melbourne park will surely be attracting in excess of 2,000 plus.And the jeff king factor has now started to get the bookies taking cover.

And lest we forget,craig edwardes left a decent foundation last season,although his teams are always in your face,so to say.SO i do not doubt for a moment that they will be running the dons very close.

Heybridge should not be too far away once agian and as ships says,richard jolly is another of those strikers who will guarantee you 25 plus.Although i do wonder if the swifts will be able to keep hold of him long term.Jolly has always looed 2 or 3 leagues better than the ryman premier.

Hampton have bought well this close season,the signing of 26 goal ian hodges,is indeeed a masterstroke,and the signing of his former slough teammate,glen harris is not too far away either in my opinion.And one would be expecting the beevers to get to the play-offs.The beeverie stadium is taking shape as well,so a good season beckons.

Steve cordery staines,well why not ,they have been knocking on the door,for a couple of seasons and they do play easy-on the eye football.Whether the whole squad is quite strong enough,well, i am not so sure.

Billlericcay finished like a train last season and matt jones seems to be doing a sterling job.They are a good football side and will always attract interst at 25's.But each season there is increased competition each season in this sdivision,and the riccay may just fall short once again.

Again margate and robin trott are being well mentioned,and why not.But put quite simply,they may well reward each-way interest ,but i am being brutal here,i do not see them getting near the top 2,the season after,beckons more for the gate.

I have not had the time to really cover this division in a s much depth as i would like to,but put succintly,i expect afc dons to win this division,and chelmsford to go via the play-offs,or maybe it will be reversed.

[piggeh]

I don't think Hampton will be a threat. They flew out the blocks at the start of last year, but then spent the rest of their season staggering along.

The Dons problems last year were injury-led. Most of the season they had several first teamers sidelined. This year, a stronger squad should see them less likely to fall victim to the effects of an injury crisis. Roscoe D'Sane has looked impress ive in pre-season, and will need to fill the boots of departing Kiwi Shane Smeltz (off to Halifax). If Richard Butler comes back without any major setbacks for the start of the season, then the forward line looks formidable.

Having said that, the Dons did seem to panic at times last year and reverted to hoofing the ball up the pitch. They need to cut this out to challenge for the title. Watson will be a big influence in this regard so it will be interesting how he gets on.

Overall I'd say the price for the Dons - speaking as a Dons fan - is pretty much spot on.

[Shipsupstreets]

Good points by Ivor and Piggeh. I'll say again this is a really difficult section to call. I'm amazed at the quality that has come into the Ryman Prem over the summer - there are very few sides who look like they are treading water and happy to survive. If a team clicks they could, of course, run away with it - and this most likely to be AFC Wimbledon or Chelmsford, given the normal run of things. But the likes of Staines, Margate and Heybridge (and possibly Bromley) will be able to beat anyone on their day - and if they string enough of those days together while Chlemsford are gelling and AFC are having a wobble it could be a very interesting season. I think it's Wimbledon/Grays on Saturday - I'll try to get along to that. There are probably a dozen players in the section capable of a 25 goal season - that's a great pool of talent to call on.

[ivor1875]

Welcome piggeh,I BASE MY views on the beevers on last season as a whole and on what i saw in the play-off final at dulwich:where to my mind the were playing the fisher off the pitch for the first 40 mins or so.They have now bought wisely,and lest we forget,elliot godfrey is no mean box of tricks,so i feel they will make the play-offs.

Did you go to the beeverie last season,where the dons lost unluckily 2-1.What a strike from wes daly ,that was.He has got dynamite in his boots.

Great points by the way,re the dreadful injury situation that the afc faced last season.Richard butler,yep,too right,and how far off from returning from that nasty cruciate,is simon sweeny,What a right wing back he looked when he joined from chesham.

Keep on posting on here and givings your views and opinions on what you see.

[rippyuk]

Just a quick one - I'm going to see Billericay next Tue against Dagenham & Redbridge, so will report back on the general shape & quality of the team. We were apparently unlucky to lose the last friendly against Thurrock, so I'll be curious to see how we do against stiffer opposition.

Originally Posted by Shipsupstreets

But the best outsiders for me are Margate. I took them for a point EW at 33/1 last week and had another nibble at 25s last night.....If there is a doubt about them, it's that beyond the first team they might not have much strength, especially with Hasim Deen and Bertie Brayley - very decent players - in some sort of dispute with the club.

Wow, Bertie Brayley.. there's a blast from the past! Was a face in local Sunday football when I was just an enthusiastic kid - he went on to play alongside Joe Cole & Carrick in the one of the best generations of West Ham youth. A quick Googling reveals he's bounced between a number of non-league sides in recent years, but I'm sure he's still very useful.

[Shipsupstreets]

Rippy - he had a good second half of last season when he joined Margate, and helped get them up the table. But it seems to have gone pear-shaped in pre-season for him - Margate manager Robin Trott isn't someone you mess with! By the looks of things he'll be off, as bridges seem to have been burnt. A shame - he could have been a real asset to Margate this season.

[Shipsupstreets]

Walton & H were disappointing tonight in their friendly with Woking, going down 3-0 at home. They started okay against what was Woking's reserves and triallists and hit the post early on, but there wasn't much to feed off up front. Eban Allen and Bobby Traynor are in a theory a decent partnership, but they looked too similar today. Right winger Ben Thorne was their liveliest player, giving Woking's left back Danny Bunce a hard time, but he went off injured after half an hour. Wes Goggin was his usual busy self, but they really didn't look to have too many match winners out there, though they defended without alarm until half-time. Woking brought the likes of Ollie Berquez, Karl Murray and Shola Oyedele on second half and took control. They looked a lot sharper than I thought they'd be. Glad to say the pitch at Stompond Lane looks flatter and greener than it has done for years.

[Shipsupstreets]

According to quotes from Dave Anderson on the AFC Wimbledon site, it looks like Rob Ursell will be off. It frees up a squad place I supppose, but it does surprise me.

[Chalmers (SUFC)]

Was Omari Coleman down there for Woking Ships?

Rumoured to have been turning out for us but phoned in saying he couldn't make it and ended up playing for the Cards the same night a few weeks back.

[ivor1875]

It does not look like we will see any betting on the ryman division 1,which is a shame,as it is going to be a very compettive league.

Dulwich looking very good pre-season,under mr burnetts charge,dover must be hoping to go very close,and kingstonian,with the takeover should not be too far away.

However what really grabs my attention is that billy smith at tooting,has signed matt york.That is a an amazing signing,matty york almost singlehandedly kept carshalton up last season.I know that he was trialling with franny vines at basingstoke.I am amazed that sutton united did not entertain him,despite the fierce rivalry between the 2 clubs.I personally think that he is good enough to play conference,if he could be persuaded to go full time.

What with matty york and the rumoured signing of kevin cooper,at last,and that non-stop conveyor belt of young talent,at imperial fields,gavin grant and john hastings,to name but 2 recent productions,plus the undoubted nous of billy smith and goerge wakeling,well come on the terras.

[Shipsupstreets]

Coleman wasn't there, Chalmers. Who'd be a trialist at this time of year? It's all phone calls, half-truths and hedged commitments. Actually, who'd be a manager...

Ivor - those signings are immense for T&M. I think Met Police will go well again this season, and Dover will be more focused than last term. A great season in store. Such a shame Bet365 aren't providing prices. Had an extended exchange with them about this: their main argument was that there was not enough interest. Whatever the reason, the effect is a reduction in Bet365's coverage, which is a real shame, and something punters need to note.

On the BBs there are people quoting prices for Canvey I and AFC Hornchurch in the Ryman 1 North, which were - apparently - from Skybet over the phone. But friends have called and been told that there are no prices available.

[Shipsupstreets]

AFC Wimbledon had their moments against a good Aldershot today, but a 4-1 defeat was about right. At times it was a bit like last season: very slick across the middle, options going forward, but capable of terrible blips at the back. Triallist Shayne Mangodza managed to play centre half, left back and get himself subbed in the first 45. Wouldn't read much into the result though, as it was reshuffled rearguard. Roscoe D'Sane scored a superb individual goal to equalise early on, and was generally the main point of attack. Paul Barnes ran himself into the ground but didn't strike me as a natural partner for D'Sane - they were, of course, up against quality defenders. Bit of a silly friendly from AFC Wimbledon's point of view this close to the start of the season, as they were on a hiding to nothing, but so long as they get that defence tightened they'll surely be serious contenders.

[Shipsupstreets]

Betdirect have Ryman Prem antepost odds out. Bromley are a stand-out 20/1.