English Non-League
2013-03-05 - Dartford vs Stockport County
A Sports Betting Pick by ArmchairPunter
Football – England – Blue Square Premier
Tuesday 5th March 2013 – Kickoff: 1945hrs
DARTFORD
Mid-table Dartford host 17th placed Stockport County at their Princes Park ground on Tuesday night as the hosts look to extend their unbeaten home run to five matches.
Dartford have been in good form lately at home with wins over Ebbsfleet United 3-1, a 1-1 draw with Cambridge United and back-to-back wins over Macclesfield Town 2-0 and pre-season promotion favourites Luton Town 1-0 last time out. The Darts gained a further point with a 2-2 draw at Southport at the weekend and returning to their home ground for Tuesday night’s fixture against Stockport County, I think they’ll fancy their chances of bagging another three points.
Dartford’s home record stands at a reasonable 9-2-4 30/19 and they’ve already accounted for second placed Kidderminster, fourth placed Newport County, Hereford United, Mansfield Town and of course Luton so far whilst keeping five clean sheets to date.
Dartford’s main aim this season is to consolidate their Blue Square Premier status and so far they’ve had a very good season and look more than likely to have achieved this. They can still pick up wins here and there and I reckon tonight’s fixture presents a perfect opportunity for a further three points.
STOCKPORT COUNTY
Visitors Stockport County still remain in the lower half of the BSP following three losses in their last three matches; 0-1 at home to Tamworth, 2-3 to Hereford United and 0-1 to Luton Town in what has been a disastrous trio of home matches. They now face a difficult challenge down south in Dartford against a team that has claimed some impressive BSP scalps so far.
Not so long ago, Stockport County were playing league football but since dropping down to the BSP, they’ve found life tough going and they are an example of how difficult it is for former league football teams to get promoted back up to League Two, such is the fierce competition at this level.
Away from home, Stockport County have chalked up just one win from their last eight which was a 1-0 win at Hyde on New Years Day; since then they’ve picked up just one more away point following defeats at Cambridge United 1-4 and Wrexham 1-3 with a 0-0 draw at second from bottom club Ebbsfleet United their only return since early January.
THE BETTING VERDICT:
Stockport’s away record stands at 3-6-6 14/23 and it’s hard to see them improving on this record tonight against a Dartford side who have performed well against the top sides in the BSP of late; I’ll give the quarter ball here with Dartford as I expect them to win this one perhaps by a 2-1 or 3-1 margin.
The Pick :
Dartford 2 Stockport County 1
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Pick: Dartford AH-0.25 @ 1.79 Pinnacle
