With two games from League One and a game from the last eight of the FA trophy, we have three games where we see goals galore. At nearly 6/1 with BetVictor for the price of over 2.5 goals, there’s plenty of mileage in this.
Colchester Vs Shrewsbury
The reality for Kevin Keen’s men is survival of the fittest must start now if they want any chances of the great escape or face playing League two football next term. The Essex side are rock bottom and without a win in the last eighteen games. The hosts welcome fellow relegation zone occupiers Shrewsbury Town, who were knocked out the FA Cup on Monday night to Manchester United.
This is considered a six pointer dogfight, a point or better for the Shrews may be enough to lift Mickey Mellon’s men out of the relegation zone although really a draw is no good to either party.
Looking at recent form the visitors are unbeaten on the road in the last three after a crushing seven goal to one thrashing. Three of those four all saw goals; whereas the Oysters in the last four at home have seen two head over on the goals. The tie certainly suggests goals especially on both sides inability to keep clean sheets. Colchester has been on the back end of goals galore all season with in excess of two/thirds of their games heading over two goals.
Having conceded in all but two at home all season, both sides averaged over three goals scored and conceded per game making it an ideal candidate for goals this weekend. Both sides strategies must be to seal the three points. Sitting back is unlikely to achieve this and as both sides have demonstrated week in week out, conceding is their biggest weaknesses. Again, netting goals does not appear to be a problem for either side only.
With three points from the last eight games for Keen’s side and ten for the visitors edging towards an aggressive attacking style will leave either side prone on the counter and this is where the game changer may be.
Scunthorpe Vs Oldham
Recovering Oldham look to make it a sixth game unbeaten as they travel to thirteenth placed Scunthorpe in a game where the Latics look to extend their historic existence from falling any further down the football league.
With the hosts eleven points ahead of safety breathes some freedom and a few more points should stabilise their existence in League one next season. The duo of Andy Dawson and Nick Daws in recent form suggests the side will look to rebuild for next seasons campaign but this is all about the Oldham recovery.
Whatever John Sheridan has said to his Oldham pack to see such a recovery it has worked. Playing for the shirt and the fans has seen quite the comeback, but the work is not finished yet.
Without defeat in the last four on the road and sixty-two percent of their points being earned on the road, the Latics will push this game causing a reaction for the hosts to respond. The stats granted for the season are not the most appealing although the suggestion that fifty-six percent of Oldham’s games have seen both sides net. Invariably the style of Sheridan’s men may leave them vulnerable at the back on the counter-attack.
In reality the hosts cannot afford to the turned over and will therefore adapt to the flow of the game and is likely to go against the book in this one.
Recommendation
Over 2.5 goals – 5/4 BetVictor
Grimsby Vs Woking
The pair met on Tuesday night where the hosts beat the cards in some convincing fashion 3-1 to put a dent in Garry Hill’s promotional hopes having lost three on the bounce. Woking returns to Blundell Park looking to avert a repeat of Tuesdays defeat by looking to book themselves into the Semi-Finals of the FA Trophy.
Bookmakers have the hosts as firm favourites with Paul Hurst’s men in the implied driving seat. However considering their position in the National League with two games in hand on Forest Green and seventeen behind on leaders Cheltenham there is comfort in the play-off positions with nine left to play. The reason I mention this was on the basis of whether Grimsby would go for this and I cannot see why not. With Woking’s diminishing hopes of the play offs becoming a fleeting moment both teams will go for this and envisage goals here.
Overlooking the highlights from Tuesday’s game both sides played attacking football. Hotshot Padraig Amond scored his 24th league goal of the campaign for the hosts with Jon-Paul Pittman netting the opener lead latching onto Andy Monkhouse’s header to put the Blundell Park side ahead but Woking’s hotshot Giuseppe Sole headed Bruno Andrade’s free kick to get the cards back into the game. Grimsby then put Woking away before half time and parked the bus.
Despite a disallowed goal there was plenty of action and with plenty of offence during the game is likely to be the setup for the Saturday tie as both sides look to avoid this going beyond the ties duration.
With a similar line-up to midweek goals for me as an avid Card’s follower is in the pipeline and one that will be on my betting slip this weekend for three or more.
Recommendation
Over 2.5 goals – 4/5 William Hill
