- Halesowen Town FC has won 12, drawn 3 and lost only 5 of their 20 Southern League Premier Division Central home games to date.
- AFC Sudbury has lost 14 of their 20 Southern League Premier Division Central away matches, winning only 3.
- AFC Sudbury has conceded 2.75 and scored 1.25 goals per away league match on average.
Hosts have a knack for getting the ball in the back of the net
In sharp contrast to AFC Sudbury’s recent form, Halesowen Town has won 2, drawn 1 and lost 2 of their last 5 Southern League Premier Division Central league matches, beating Bromsgrove Sporting 0-2 (A), losing to Harborough Town 3-1 (H) and drawing at Kettering Town 0-0 (A).
Halesowen Town is a much more structured side than AFC Sudbury, which has relied heavily on academy graduates and loan signings to boost their squad during the course of the season. Their playing style is possession-based and high-tempo, with plenty of pressing and a constant endeavour to get bodies forward and win the ball back as high up the pitch as possible. They will dominate territory here, but whether they have the killer instinct to break the game open remains to be seen.
Visitors have little chance of survival
Despite the apparent lack of historic rivalry between these two clubs, AFC Sudbury will see this as a winnable away fixture if they are to avoid the drop. However, having lost 1-3 at home to Needham Market, 2-0 away at Banbury United and 0-4 at home to Stourbridge in their last 3 Southern League Premier Division Central outings, AFC Sudbury has little chance of doing so.
Their playing style is much more reactive, preferring to soak up pressure and hit on the counter when possible. Their young and pacey wide players have given Halesowen Town plenty to think about when they have had the ball, but their defending has been woeful and they are in danger of going down in a blaze of glory if they don’t sort things out.
Halesowen to take the points
The odds of 11/100 for a Halesowen Town win here are probably fair as, despite the visitors’ recent collapse, Halesowen have won 2 and drawn 3 of the last 5 head-to-head matches played in all Southern League Premier Division Central competitions. However, given the gulf in form, home dominance and the fact that Sudbury has failed to win on their last 2 trips to Halesowen Town FC, we are taking the hosts to take the 3 points here.
Over 2.5 goals at 6/25 looks very short, but given the respective defensive records of both clubs and the attacking prowess of Halesowen Town, it seems as though we should be in for an entertaining affair. The key to this match will be how well Halesowen Town can manage the width of the pitch, and whether or not Sudbury can counter with enough pace to hurt them if given space.
Halesowen will have the greater share of possession and Sudbury will look to pinch when they can, so if they can keep the game tight enough, then they might be able to nick it.
