English Football League 
/ Ian Lamont / 07 April 2011 / Leave a Comment Ben Herd (right) will be desperate for a win against his old club but may have to settle for a draw
"But I can’t help but agree with the Betfair layers that the mighty Shots against Shrewsbury will end up even. Under Dean Holdsworth, the Shots have specialised in tight results, rarely scoring or conceding more than once a game – and drawing quite a lot."
Former betting.betfair columnist Ben Herd plays for Aldershot against his old club Shrewsbury in a match Ian Lamont expects to finish all-square. Elsewhere Stevenage are good for a win away to Stockport.
Stockport [4.3] draw [3.5] Stevenage [1.82]
They say keepers are crazy. This isn't meant to sound rude, just a gentle jest. But I can't resist suggesting that Matt Glennon seems as mad as a 'Hatter' by saying his Stockport side can "nick four or five wins" from six remaining games to stay up. Stockport have rarely threatened to win even two on the bounce this season.
Anything is possible in sport, but much of it unlikely - especially when you consider their run-in of Stevenage, Shrewsbury (a), Port Vale (a) Northampton (h), Crewe (a) and Cheltenham (h). Four or five points, at most optimistic, from those.
Graham Westley's visitors reek with confidence, a whiff of automatic promotion in their nostrils. A second in two years would be a remarkable feat, but that must be more likely than Stockport staying up, given the form. Apparently, Stevenage's fantastic run is because Westley has been wearing a suit, on his chairman's instructions to smarten up. Now, Westley is hardly the sort to be pushed around. He upped sticks at Farnborough - a club he owned - to manage Stevenage, plunging the Hampshire club towards administration, starting a financial meltdown from which they are only just recovering.
Facing relegation threatened teams is always harder, but another win beckons for a side with nine wins in 11 outings.
Macclesfield [3.5] draw [3.55] Accrington [2.44]
Playing Friday
I can't help thinking that Accrington have again been underestimated. If they were a fashionable club having had half the decent form that Stanley have accumulated, they would be close to evens for this. There are good arguments to expect an away win.
Four straight defeats have the Silkmen rightly listed as outsiders and much will depend on Accrington's ability to contain Hamza Bencherif, the Algerian with 10 goals to his name. The visitors have conceded just three goals in six outings as they have risen to the heady heights of the play-offs.
They have a surfeit of attack-minded options in Ian Craney (seven goals), Phil Edwards (12), Terry Gornell (13) and Sean McConville (12). Nine wins in 13 is an excellent footing. It can be argued that most of those were at home. However, they are capable of getting results at bigger clubs (such as Wycombe) and whenever a string of wins comes it breeds huge confidence. If they are to sustain their play-off push, away draws must be turned into wins - starting now at also-ran opponents.
Aldershot [2.7] draw [3.35] Shrewsbury [2.84]
It is always risky to advise on your own side when not backing them to win. But I can't help but agree with the Betfair layers that the mighty Shots against Shrewsbury will end up even. Under Dean Holdsworth, the Shots have specialised in tight results, rarely scoring or conceding more than once a game - and drawing quite a lot. This is a good test of their progress. Shrewsbury have three wins on the spin and an automatic promotion to chase (as do seven others). The Shots will have to monitor Matt Harrold and tricky Nicky Wroe, among others, but with the laying the Shots something of a risk at the current price, it is worth the calculated risk of going for a point each. Former betting.betfair columnist Ben Herd will of course be in action for Aldershot against his old club Shrewsbury.
Barnet [2.62] draw [3.45] Crewe [2.8]
After much wincing and head-scratching about whether I can really be thinking Barnet could take victory here, I'm going to take the risk and back them. There are a few reasons to think I have taken leave of my senses. First, the Railwaymen scored eight last week, away from home. Second, they stuck seven past Barnet in the third game of the season. That latter reason - aside from the threat of relegation - is enough to give the players who remain from that game motivation, while Dario Gradi's men could just feel the tension of expectation. The hosts will be ready. It is risky, but a chance bet.
Friday
Back Accrington win at Macclesfield at [2.44]
Saturday
Back Stevenage to win at Stockport at [1.82]
Longer shots
Back Barnet to beat Crewe at [2.62]
Back Aldershot to draw with Shrewsbury at [3.35]
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