- Emley AFC have lost one of their last five (W3, D1, L1).
- Ashton United have won three of their last five (W3, D1, L1).
A cagey contest on the cards at Fantastic Media Welfare Ground
Emley AFC arrive in strong shape on Saturday to face Ashton United, who will test them. The Pewits have lost just one of their last five (W3, D1, L1) following a 1-2 home defeat to Ilkeston FC, back-to-back wins over Curzon Ashton and Leek Town and they come into this fixture on the back of a two-game winning streak. They're 9th in the Northern Premier League Premier Division on seven points from four games, while the visitors sit 5th on nine points from the same number of games, so they are both coming into this clash in decent shape. The Robins have won one and lost one of their two league away trips this season, but they've not been prolific on their travels, scoring just 0.50 goals per-game. They are an attack-minded side that will look to play on the front foot, especially from wide deliveries and corners, but this should be a cagey affair, with Emley a more compact and pragmatic unit who set up in a low-to-mid block, rely on long throws and set-piece routine.
Both sides can nick this, but home grit can be a factor
This has the feel of a close one and the odds do make it look tight with Emley and Ashton both at 73/50 and the draw at 117/50. There's nothing in the head-to-head that would sway us in either direction, so we'll go with Under 2.5 goals at 24/25, a line that fits a game that could be won or lost by a set piece and a second ball.
Emley's home form in this division has been mixed with one win and a loss, but they have scored and conceded 1.50 goals per-game at home, while Ashton have won one on the road. Both sides have the tools to nick a goal, but home grit could just be a big factor here, so we are siding with the hosts in a tight match.
