- Spalding Utd have won 13, drawn four and lost only four of 21 Southern League Premier Division Central home fixtures this term.
- Real Bedford have won four of their last five matches, including two straight away wins.
All square at the top
This match sees two of the Southern League Premier Division Central’s top-five best clubs face off as Spalding United, who have accumulated 85 points from 42 games to sit in second place, play host to Real Bedford FC, who have 81 points, just four less, in third.
Both clubs have aspirations of promotion and their contrasting styles could be on full display at Spalding’s quick 3G surface on Monday. Jimmy Dean’s Spalding United are direct wing-play specialists who set the pace for the whole division with their set-piece threat and high-tempo, wide overloads.
Real Bedford are a more possession-based club with a patient build-up and a high line. Rob Sinclair’s men use the ball well and are adept at creating space for their central and wide players to make attacking runs. They’re also a disciplined unit who can press as a unit to create chances.
Sinclair’s side have enough to nick a result
With a clash of these two styles, we could see Spalding’s directness break through against a deep-lying Real Bedford, but we’re backing Real Bedford to win as they’ve won two on the bounce and come into this one with real momentum.
Sinclair’s well-funded project has been on the charge of late with four wins and one defeat from their last five and has found the net 14 times across the same span, with Josh Allen red-hot with six goals in the last five. With Conor Tee playing on the wing, they should be able to keep this game open with the hosts.
Spalding have won one and lost one of their last two home matches, but their 3-3 draw with Real Bedford in the reverse fixture was a real eye-opener and they have not beaten Real Bedford in their last two meetings (L1, D1). We’re going with the visitors in the double chance market here at 241/100 as Real Bedford have won 12, drawn four and lost five on their travels this term, scoring 2.14 goals-per-game and notching up 45 away from home.
Going for goals
The hosts are a force at home with 13 wins to their name this season and a draw at 14/5 is very tempting given the tightness of the two clubs’ league form. However, we’re taking the Over 2.5 goals market at 11/20 here as both of these sides average over two goals-per-game and should be happy to push forward on a surface that suits Spalding’s game and allows Spalding to run at the visitors.
