Eastleigh Host Grimsby In Semi-Final First Leg

Bristol Rovers managed to defeat Forest Green by a goal to nil in the first leg of their Conference play-off semi-final clash. Tonight will see Eastleigh and Grimsby go head-to-head in their semi-final first leg. The two clubs that rule supreme over their two legs will meet at Wembley, the winner of this final being promoted into the bottom tier of the Football League.

Tonight`s hosts, Eastleigh, finished fourth following the 46 games of the Conference Premier season. Richard Hill`s side were four points clear of Macclesfield, who just missed out on a play-off place and three clear of Forest Green in fifth. The Hampshire club`s points tally was three short of third placed Grimsby`s. The Mariners, tonight`s visitors, finished six points shy of the sole automatic promotion place.

The two clubs have, of course, met each other twice already this season, the sides meeting in their two regular Conference clashes. Their first meeting came at tonight`s venue, the Silverlake Stadium, the visitors managing to snatch a victory thanks to a solitary first half goal from Ollie Palmer.

Bwin have the best price of 33/4 on Grimsby winning by a goal to nil once again with Paul Hurst`s side an 18/5 shout with boylesports to win by any number of goals to nil. Palmer can be backed at 5/2 at ladbrokes to hit the back of the net at any time whilst both bet365 and Coral have 7/1 on him breaking the deadlock once again.

Grimsby were able to do the double over Eastleigh thanks to a two goals to one victory over their Hampshire opponents at home. It was Palmer who once again grabbed the first goal of the match after he tapped in the opener on the 13th minute. This was the only goal of the entire 45.

The game remained poised at 1-0 until Lenell John-Lewis managed to double his side`s advantage with an effort just 10 minutes before the full time whistle. The Spitfires` Jamie Turley secured a last minute consolation for the visitors though they failed to get anything from the clash. This goal came despite striker Deon Burton being sent off just minutes before.

A Grimsby 2-1 win is up for grabs at the best price of 19/2 (32red, 888sport, Betvictor, unibet) with a trio of bookmakers with 7/2 (Betvictor, boylesports, Bwin) on the Mariners ending either 45 with a win. Whilst Turley is a 33/1 shout with Spreadex to hit the final goal of the match once again, John-Lewis can be bagged at 21/10 (ladbrokes) to score at any time during the 90 minutes.

William Hill have the best price of 9/2 on there being another sending off in the clash.

Their superior league finish and two previous victories over Eastleigh means that it is Hurst`s men who are the favourites to win this semi-final first leg. Both betfred and Coral have the best price of 9/5 on the visitors. Otherwise, betfair have 15/8 on a somewhat surprising home win whilst 5/2 is betfred`s price on the match ending a draw.

The Spitfires` have gone five matches without dropping a point though have only kept a clean sheet on one of these five occasions. Four-to-five (betfair, Betvictor, ladbrokes) is the price on both teams hitting the back of the net tonight.

Eastleigh won three of their last five games by two goals to one, the price on this being tonight`s outcome being 10/1 at Betvictor and Coral.

Grimsby have not tasted defeat in any of their last seven games on the road, scoring at least two goals in all but one of these encounters. Consequentially, ladbrokes have 17/11 on the Mariners netting over 1.5 times.

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30/04/2015     © Frixo 2024