Southern Prem Ante-post

[Shipsupstreets]

Bet 365 have posted their odds now, with two stand-outs for me. I rate Bath as very marginal favourites and I think 11/2 is a good price - I believe it has already come in this morning while I was stuck doing proper work.

I've mentioned Stamford a couple of times over the past few weeks, and recommended a 0.5pt EW at 40/1 with Skybet. Bet365 are offering 50, which I'll take at another 0.5pt EW.

There is still some legs in 28/1 Wealdstone (Stan James), although thus far I have only included it as part of a small-change EW Yankee.

[Shipsupstreets]

Corals book is out. Wealdstone are a standout price at 33/1. A good EW punt which I am trying hard to talk myself out of!

[mid devon punter]

A long time since I have posted, but the Southern league anti post has got me a little excited

I too, like the look at Bath City. I feel their odds are value.

John Relish has made a few asstute signings close season, especiall Lewis Hogg, the ex Bristol Rovers player, and has finally managed to secure the services of a certain Scott Partridge for another season, that must have given the squad a real boost. I know he lives in the Torquay area, so that shows some commitment and belief from him that Bath are going places.

Towards the tail end of last season, Partridge and Phil Walsh looked a formidable partnership, not sure Phil will ever by a prolific goalscorer, but he's a hard man, capable of terrifying Southern league defences. He puts his head where other forwards dare ot to and will cause more problems in this section this season.

Of couse the big news was John Relish's inability to atrract Chippenham forward Dave Gilroy to Bath and that possibly leaves the option open of trying to secure Tiverton's Jamie Mudges signature, altough it is rumoured Exeter are also interested in the 30 goal a season man.

But that is just rumours and Baths only weakness is their lack of strikers, with just these 2 recognised forwards on the books...so watch this space. Something will happen.

Bath last year had a strong midfield and have strengthened it futher by signing midfielder Scott Rodgers from Forest Green Rovers, a regular over the last two seasons in the Conference starting line up. He has only signed a year contract, but has real belief that Bath have what it takes to join the Conference South.

One final word on Bath City is that it appears that Bristol Rovers may once again be sharing Twerton Park, albeit for a far shorter period as the memorial ground is redeveloped. There is a lot more interest in the club at the moment, hich can only have a postive knock on effect

The mighty Tivvy play Bath on the first Tuesday of the season, I will report back on my views on the City team.

remember this section is an extremley weak league, but most teams have managed to strengthen their squads.

more later, I hope

MDP

[Shipsupstreets]

MDP - superb to have you back!

Endorse all that you say about Bath C. They've missed Gilroy for now but were in for Julian Alsop last week, so they clearly want to address the striking problem. Hogg is a good signing, as is Mark McKeever (both at Weston last season), if they can get him fit. The defence is intact from last term and that's a very tight unit on its day.

Have to say that the bookies have got it right in making King's Lynn the main contender with Bath. They've signed Mark Warren from Fisher and have a tremendous keeper in Shaun Marshall. Key centre back Grant Cooper has signed too. Up front, Matt Nolan and Michael Frew look a superb partnership. I think Frew is on a week-to-week mind, so he could soon be off if he starts the season well. Man for man, there's not a lot between King's Lynn and Bath C, but I think I'm thinking ahead and it's not beyond the bounds of belief that Frew, Nolan and Marshall (and maybe Jack Defty) could be on the move in the window. Unless a league club comes in, I can't see too many leaving Bath.

Didn't I read Mudge might be off to Truro? Don't you just love pre-season gossip!

[mid devon punter]

Mudgie did speak with Truro, but is not going, mainly due to the fact he would slip down 3 leagues, which at his stage of career would be suicidal.

He is not happy at Tivvy, currently injured, altough that is debatable as h looked ok running around before kick off in last nights friendly with Barnstaple. Reckon they are saving him to sell him.

Western league 1 grounds are generally of very poor standard, ive seen Tivvy play at most of them over the years and the quicker Truro can get out of that section the better...and they will.

[mid devon punter]

Ref Kings Lynn

I am not quite so sure as I have never met a more negative bunch of fans than those Linnets.

I've seen Tivvy play there 3 times now and each and every time the fans are on the home sides backs from start to finnish. Nothing less than championship prformances week in week out seems to be enough, which may be why they cannot keep a settled team, altough granted they are more settled than pevious years.

Want to take a look at Clevedon before the season starts, I was really impressed with them last year, I had them at 12/s and I think they will do well in Southern premier football.

more on that later.

MDP

[Shipsupstreets]

Clevedon are interesting, MDP. They've signed James Zabek from Mangotsfield and forward Ryan Havard from Taunton. Something weird happened a few weeks back, though... an ad appeared in a Sunday paper saying the club was for sale. The chairman (pretty loaded, I understand) has since said it was merely a kite-flying exercise in the hope of attracting fresh investors. That's maybe true - I haven't seen the ad - but is sounds like someone who wants to loosen the ties.

What you say about KL fans is spot on! I think it was three draws in a row at the start of last season that led to fans shouting for Taylor to go. It's a real danger with them. Last year was strange with Salisbury being so comprehensively ahead of the field - most fans were happy to be playing for second from October.

What do you reckon to Chippenham? Have to say I am guilty of underestimating them in recent years. Darren Perrin talks a good fight - often sounds like hot air to me but he usually delivers. Can't see them getting beyond the play-offs, mind.

[mid devon punter]

Shipsupstreet

I think Chippenham have probably overperformed in the last couple of seasons.

As I said earlier this league is very very poor compared to the Southern league of old and Chippenham have lived off their reputation a bit.

I honestly think that their worst problem could be Bath City's resurchange as a force to be reckoned with. i heard some lady, no idea who she was, saying Gilroy had decided to stay at Chippenham as they were the bigger club!

Most teams have strengthened somewhat but I struggle a bit to understand what Chippenham have done to their squad close season, except for spending £20K on their club house.

The likes of Steve White have given them few friends at this level and most teams will be up to smack them down a peg or two. I see a top 8 finish for the Wilsthire team, by which I mean 7th or 8th
mdp

[Shipsupstreets]

Best odds/All odds
Bath City	9/2	4	4	9/2
Kings Lynn	4	9/2	7/2	11/2
Chippenham Town	13/2	13/2	8	13/2
Banbury Utd	14	12	12	10
Yate Town	12	8	14	9
Halesowen	16	14	16	18
Tiverton	12	16	14	18
Maidenhead Utd	10	12	10	20
Mangotfield	18	16	20	18
Gloucester	20	20	16	22
Merthyr Tydfil	16	20	20	25
Corby Town	25	28	33	25
Wealdstone	16	33	20	28
Hitchin Town	25	33	40	25
Rugby Town	33	33	40	25
Cheshunt	33	50	50	33
Cirencester	50	33	50	33
Hemel Hempstead Town	50	33	50	33
Stamford	50	40	40	25
Clevedon Town	40	40	66	28
Northwood	50	50	66	50
Team Bath	66	40	40	28
Each-way terms:		3 at 1/4	3 at 1/4	3 at 1/4

[Shipsupstreets]

I've taken a half-point EW on Stamford at 40s then 50s. Only fair to explain why...

It's criminal they are that low in the list. They came up last season through the play-offs, boasting an unbeaten home record - which wasn't bad for a side relegated the season before and starting afresh with a brand-new squad. They are a decent side, the kernel of which is still intact. Strikers Mark Wormall and Gareth Pritchard, reliable centre back Graham Bowater, hardworking midfielders Elton Holmes and Lee Marshall, winger Mark Angel and playmaker Kevin Childs have signed up for the season.

All managers are busy at this time of the year, but Graham Drury must top the lot - he's been bagging no end of new signings and triallists, which partly explains Stamford's punishing series of friendlies - today, away at Rothwell (a 2-1 win) was their eighth, I believe (and that's not including the abandoned game with Hucknall). Scalps, for what it's worth, have inlcuded Kettering's reserves, Bedford and Peterborough. A 3-2 defeat at home to Lincoln City was their only reverse.

I mentioned a while back that I was a little nervous at the size of the squad, but it seems that Drury is beginning the cull it down to a manageable 18 or 20, and among incomers there's some quality. Pick of the bunch is Mark Cooper, a decent forward at Boreham Wood last term. Bit surprised to see him here - he will go well in this section. Also in is Stuart Wilson, who will probably add more width to what is already a very entertaining side. Martin Matthews from Grantham and Mark Clifford from Ilkeston add steel to the squad. They made a punt to sign Kevin Pressman this week, though that didn't come off.

Though boasting some good commercial ties, this isn't a money-bags outfit, but nor is it one that's there to make up the numbers. Drury is one of those managers who seems to have come from nowhere, with a bit of the maverick about him, a shed-load of confidence and boundless ambition. He doesn't mind falling out with players that don't pull their weight, and yet he is well respected.

Though they have a few key players injured and touch-and-go for the start of the season proper, in my book they are realistic play-off contenders. Behind Bath and King's Lynn, I'd think Maidenhead, Yate, Wealdstone, Chippenham and Gloucester will be up there - I'd add Stamford to that list too. There is, frankly, no way they should be 50/1 or even 40s), and are a very sporting EW punt.

[Shipsupstreets]

Bet 365 have cut Stamford from 50s to 33s. 40/1 is still available with Coral and Skybet.

[davidmphill]

Nice work here guys.
Good luck for the coming season.