HALIFAX v CAMBRIDGE – Pick: 1 AH0 – 30 April 2014

Shaymen's awesome home form to account for lacklustre U's

National League Tips

Football – England – Skrill Premier Play-Off Semi Final 1st Leg

Wednesday 30th April 2014 – Kickoff:  1945hrs

With the regular season done and dusted, the play-offs are upon us already and I start off with a look at the Conference play-offs which commence tonight with hosts Halifax Town taking on Cambridge United at The Shay.

Halifax’s achievements this season were nothing short of a triumph in their return to the non-league elite and their success was underlined by the fact that they lost just once at home all season against all comers with a fantastic final overall home record of  16-6-1  55/19, second only to Luton Town in home goals scored in the division.

Their one defeat came against Woking in a 3-4 loss back in early December, but to put their exploits on home soil into perspective which benchmarks them against the teams in the top half, their home record over top half opposition at home finished at a very solid  6-4-1  24/11.

Manager Neil Aspin will undoubtedly unleash his prolific goalscoring striker Gregory (29 goals, 6 assists) upon the visitors tonight in a team that includes a creative and influential midfield unit comprising of the likes of Maynard (7 goals, 6 assists), Roberts (5 goals, 6 assists) and Smith (14 assists) who has provided the ammunition throughout the season. With Wilson and Marshall also in support, Halifax are a formidable force on home soil.

Cambridge United are without doubt feeling a lot less up-beat than their hosts tonight as they’ve suffered four consecutive straight defeats prior to tonight’s clash with away losses at Kidderminster 0-2, Lincoln City 0-1 and the last day defeat at Gateshead 0-2 along with a home loss to Chester City 0-1.

Despite the four defeats on the trot, Cambridge’s play-off berth had been secure for a few weeks but manager Richard Money now faces a very tough task of lifting his players for two more matches which begin with an away trip up north at Halifax. Cambridge’s away form has been on the slide for the last couple of months as The U’s have won just three matches in their last nine away trips, and their overall away record of  7-9-7  23/21 underlines their inconsistencies on their travels.

If we compare ‘eggs with eggs’ so to speak, Cambridge’s away record at top half opposition reads an indifferent  3-4-4  13/12 but with players such as Berry (12 goals), Appiah (10 goals), Cunnington (8 goals) and Homer-Barnes in their ranks, they’ll still put up a fight for a place in the play-off final.

Halifax on home turf has been a tough prospect for all bar one clubs in the Conference all season and I don’t see why that should change for The Shaymen here tonight given their squad confidence and potency up front. Cambridge may have to try and contain their hosts and wait for their chance back at the Abbey Stadium in a few days time; either way, I’ll back Halifax with the round ball tonight in what could be a 2-1 lead for the hosts going into the second leg.

Pick:  Halifax AH0 @ 1.73 bet365