SOUTHPORT v FOREST GREEN – Pick: 1 AH+0.5 – 09 August 2014

Sandgrounders good for a point today

National League Tips

Football – England – Conference National

Saturday 9th August 2014 – Kickoff: 1500hrs

Haig Avenue is the venue of my next pick as hosts Southport take on Forest Green Rovers in the first round of matches in the Conference.

Despite finishing in the bottom half of the division last season and just two points above the relegation pack, Southport held a good home record overall with stats of  13-5-5  33/23 and their record at home over top half opposition was a very solid one indeed with a record of  8-2-2  18/13.

Today they take on Forest Green Rovers who finished in 10th place at the end of last season, and their most likely goalscorers this afternoon are their attacking trio of Brodie, Mukendi and Hattersley (the latter scored 10 goals last season). New signing Brogan may face his former team-mates today having signed for the Sandgrounders after being deemed surplus to requirements at the New Lawn.

 

Onto Forest Green then and they tended to struggle on the road last season with just two away wins from their last six to round things off. Their away record ended up on  6-4-13  33/44 and had the joint fourth worst defensive record on their travels in the division.

To underline this rather poor record, they kept just the one clean sheet all season away from home and this needs to improve if they’re to have any chance of making the play-offs. However, inconsistent results particularly away from home keep preventing them from making any headway and they face a tricky fixture first match up this afternoon at Southport.

Forest Green forward Mangan has also left for League Two outfit Shrewsbury Town, while Walker has signed for Barrow on a free transfer. In come the experienced Parkin up front along with former Exeter skipper Coles but Magno Vieira has been loaned out to Nuneaton town for a month.

 

Southport held a good record on home turf last term and i can’t see any reasons why they shouldn’t grab at least a point here this afternoon in their season opener at Haig Avenue. To be safe, I recommend backing them for the double chance (Win or Draw) but they might even edge this 2-1.

Pick: Southport AH+0.5 @ 1.83 Pinnacle