Division 3 Play-Offs
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Steffan Jones, readaBet.com
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2002-04-29
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Cheltenham v Hartlepool |
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Cheltenham Town look in good shape to progress to the Play-Off final in Cardiff thanks to an 89th minute equaliser from Neil Grayson and in so doing confirmed their status as 7/4 promotion favourites. Hartlepool looked the better side in the first half and took a 45th minute lead through Eifion Williams. Cheltenham came back into the match in the second half and profited from an error by Hartlepool defender Chris Westwood which allowed Martyn Lee to set up Grayson for a superb goal.
Although the initiative is certainly with Cheltenham, the managers of both clubs are unwilling to take anything for granted. There was very little to separate the two teams over the course of 90 minutes with either side having eight attempts on goal and both hitting the woodwork on one occasion. The return match at Whaddon Road is almost certainly going to be a tight encounter but Cheltenham have a formidable record at their home ground where they have lost just once all season, and that was back in August. Although Hartlepool lost 3-0 there in February, Chris Turner’s players will be drawing motivation from their 2-1 victory last year.
Hartlepool had been in outstanding form to confirm their place in the top seven and had put together a five match winning sequence at the end of the season. The challenge now for Turner will be to convince his players that they still have a good chance, however the omens are not encouraging. Pool have failed to get beyond the semi-final stage of the Play-Offs for the last two years and on both occasions they were unable to turn around a negative position from the first leg, at 3/1 the bookmakers clearly don’t think they will manage it this year either. |
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2002-04-29
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Rochdale v Rushden |
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Rochdale seized the initiative against Rushden and Diamonds in an exciting first leg at Nene Park on Saturday thanks to two away goals from Lee McEvilly and Paul Simpson. However despite taking the lead twice, a Stuart Wardley header and a 72nd minute strike from Garry Butterworth prevented the Dale from taking an advantage home with them. Rochdale are now evens favourites for the second leg while Rushden are 5/2 to make it to Cardiff.
Dale manager John Hollins believes his side will come out on top in the second leg saying, ‘We have probably done the job.’ Rushden coach confirmed the uphill battle his team now face and insisted his side are now serious underdogs. Rochdale have an impressive home record and have lost only twice at Spotland all season while Rushden have struggled away from home and registered just six wins on the road in the regular season.
Three matches this season between the sides have failed to produce a winner with the game at Spotland in October producing a 0-0 draw and the best odds for a fourth draw (after normal time) are 9/4. However both sides will be highly fired up for the clash and Rushden know they will probably need an outright victory to progress which makes a draw seem less viable.
An unpleasant altercation after the first leg involving Rushden fans boarding the Rochdale team coach and assaulting some of the playing staff should guarantee a fierce reception from the home crowd for the visiting team. Indeed the incident is likely to motivate the Rochdale team even more than they would have been. |
| Betting Information |
3pts Cheltenham to win at 10/11(ukbetting)
2pts Rochdale to win at 1/1 (ukbetting)
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Unbeaten at home since September, Cheltenham look in great shape to shake off their disappointment of missing out on automatic promotion and earn a place in the final at Cardiff next month. However odds of 10/11 might require a large stake bid or as a part of an accumulator.
All the pointers suggest a Rochdale win against Rushden; excellent home form this season, against a poor away side and highly motivated after Saturday’s unsavoury incidents, at evens they are just too tempting to resist. |
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