National League - Best Bets
Given how cold it is this weekend, I'm looking forward to Harrogate Town being the chosen TV game in the National League this week. Fair weather fan this weekend for absoltuely sure.
From a punting perspective though, we'll start down at Maidenhead, where high-flying Solihull should be backed to pick up maximum points at even money with Betway.
The Midlands side have improved from last season enormously and now sit 3rd in the division - on merits, with a +19 goal difference.
They go to Maidenhead on a run which has seen them lose just twice in 20 matches - keeping clean sheets in half of those games. Maidenhead have themselves enjoyed a good recent run - winning three and drawing two of their last six, but when you consider they have played Maidstone (23rd), Braintree (24th) and Aldershot twice (21st place) in that run, plus a Trophy match against Oxford City (National League South, and suddenly its a very different story.
This is a whole different story and it would be a surprise to see them get anything from this one.
3pts Solihull to beat Maidenhead at evens (Betway)
Gateshead beat Salford when the pair met back in August, but the return match could be a different story altogether with Salford recovering from a little wobble over Christmas to suddenly look back to their best.
They have beaten Dagenham (2-0), Leyton Orient (3-0) and Wrexham (2-0) over their last three matches, and remain formidable at home - scoring 32 goals in just 14 games. They've played 17 at home all season in all competitions, and won by two or more in eight of those - including a 3-1 victory over Gateshead in the Trophy just before Christmas.
The visitors have lost six of their last eight on the road, and have also suffered three consecutive defeats - losing to Solihull, Maidenhead and Hartlepool. They look ripe for a beating here, and Salford (-1) appeals at 13/8 with SpreadEx.
2pts Salford (-1) to beat Gateshead at 13/8 (SpreadEx)