- Barwell have lost their last five matches.
- Bishop’s Stortford have drawn their last two away league matches.
- Bishop’s Stortford have lost eight and drawn eight of their 20 away league games this season.
Bishop’s boys are better bet than Barwell
Barwell are on a five-game losing run and look too short for a side five places below their visitors at 36/25, so we are taking Bishop’s to secure at least a point from Saturday’s fixture at 131/100. The draw will be considered alongside an away win at 27/10 as a result of their recent form, but the draw is not a desirable option for either side, especially the hosts who are battling for survival.
Bishop’s are winless in five in the league, but they have drawn their last two on the road and should have enough momentum to earn a point from this tricky away fixture. Barwell are 20th in the Southern League Premier Division Central with only 32 points from 41 games played.
Bishop’s are 15th with 49 points from their 41 games, comfortably clear of the danger, and Steve Castle’s combative tactics have the visitors equipped to make Barwell very uncomfortable. Castle’s side play on the front foot and press the opposition into mistakes and the coach is willing to release pacey wide men and allow his attack to interchange positions to good effect.
Stortford should get chances to run in behind Barwell’s central defenders
The visitors can score quickly when they win the ball back and Saleem Akanbi and Cole Dasilva are two players who have caused major problems for teams in transition this season. Frank Norris has scored two of their last three goals and will be their main goal threat.
Barwell play a pragmatic, direct style, with long balls, set-pieces and plenty of duels for their target man to win. Jevin Seaton has scored half of Barwell’s last four goals and is arguably their most reliable attacking threat.
Bishop’s average 1.15 goals per game on their travels while they concede an average of 1.50 per fixture. Barwell have lost their last three home games at Kirkby Road and it is hard to recommend them at the moment, but their set-piece and aerial threat should ensure they are competitive in this contest.
It is difficult to see Castle’s men keeping a clean sheet, but their pace should get plenty of joy against the hosts’ central defenders, who have been poor. Bishop's Stortford have not won their last away game at Barwell. The reverse league fixture, played four months ago, was won 3-1 by Stortford at home, but Barwell won 4-1 in the previous meeting, so it can go either way.
