Free football betting tips: FA Cup first-round preview

Football

Mon November 06, 2017 · 7y ago

Nick Hext has a selection for Monday night's FA Cup clash between non-league Chorley and Fleetwood of Sky Bet League One.

Monday's TV game

Draw/Fleetwood in half-time/full-time market v Chorley (Monday, 1945 BST, BT Sport 1)

The FA Cup action stretches out to Monday night as BT Sport cover the clash in the North West between non-league Chorley and League One's Fleetwood. The Cod Army are my pick for the third-flight title this season so it shouldn't surprise you that I think they will avoid the upset. I don't expect it to be too easy for Uwe Rosler's side though as Chorley have only lost one of their last seven outings in the National League North. All of Fleetwood's previous four league wins have been collected after being level at half-time. It's for that reason that I'll go draw/Fleetwood in the half-time/full-time odds.

Saturday lunchtime's TV game

Damian Reeves to score in Shaw Lane AFC v Mansfield (Saturday, 1230 GMT, BT Sport 1)

Damian Reeves is in the hall of fame of my tips from over the years alongside the likes of Barrow and Craig Dawson after getting placed at 80/1 in the 2014/15 Conference Premier top scorer market. The striker bagged 18 goals for Altrincham that campaign but he now finds himself at Shaw Lane AFC (based in Barnsley) of the Evo-Stik Premier Division. Reeves' current employers host Mansfield of Sky Bet League Two in front of the BT Sport cameras on Saturday and I'm anticipating an interesting encounter. I wouldn't be surprised to see Shaw Lane take the Stags to a replay and experienced goal-getter Reeves is just the player to be on to find the back of the net.

Saturday's surprise

Hartlepool to beat Morecambe (Saturday, 1500 GMT)

My tip for an old-fashioned FA Cup shock on Saturday won't be too much of a surprise for those who follow Sky Bet League Two and the Vanarama National League closely. Morecambe, second-bottom of League Two, have home advantage against resurgent Hartlepool but I can't see the EFL side avoiding the upset. Hartlepool are newcomers to non-league football after suffering relegation last season but aspirations of promotion at the first attempt appear realistic after a great run of form. Pools have only been beaten once in 13 matches since August 26 and I like the visitors at an inviting price to claim victory and add to Morecambe's four-match winless run at the Globe Arena.

Sunday's surprise

Maidenhead to beat Coventry (Sunday, 1400 GMT)

My tip for the biggest surprise of the FA Cup weekend comes at the Ricoh Arena as I'm backing non-league Maidenhead to beat Coventry of Sky Bet League Two. Coventry sit in the play-offs but they've only won one of their last six outings to enter this tie in a concerning run of form. The Sky Blues have failed to win both of their home games in that sequence and Maidenhead provide sturdy Vanarama National League opposition. The mid-table Magpies are unbeaten in their last five games and claimed an impressive win in their previous match on the road at play-off dwellers Bromley. I have a feeling that 7/1 is too big for the upset.