Follow the Blue Square

So far this blog has been focused on mainly League One and League Two in our English Football Betting journey. So it's time we dipped into Division Five, the Football Conference, or to keep the sponsors happy, the Blue Square Premier. No league really has quite such an imbalance between it's biggest and smallest clubs as Luton and manager Mick Harford (above) take on Hayes & Yeading, who can easily get less than 500 for a home game.

The table is taking shape in a way that should surprise no-one. Oxford United, who have established a rich history at this level of comedic failure given their resources, are setting the pace. Under the astute managership of Chris Wilder, they will go very close but the failure to beat Forest Green is the first intriguing indication of whether their players will collapse under the weight of (oft deluded) expectations. This will also be a challenge for Luton, who have two goal-less draws in a row and a hard fought win over Gateshead to suggest bouncing back will not be that easy (it never is). Harford has never really had success as a manager, having been thrown in to a dismal situation at Rotherham and been stuffed last season by the 30 point deduction. I wonder how much patience his cult hero status will earn? My next live match is Luton v Crawley, who are nothing if not enigmatic. Mansfield Town have also begun well and I expect the league winner to come from these three.

Impressing elsewhere are Kettering (though I gather it's not always pretty) who have a good haul of points from a tough set of opening fixtures and while it would be a bit of a surprise to see AFC Wimbledon hang in there all season, Terry Brown nearly got a part time Aldershot side up into the league. He's a class act as manager and person.

Another promoted side, Tamworth, also fit into the overachievers and proud of it category. They look like they could have the kind of solid season Eastbourne Borough produced after promotion a year ago.

Struggling so far are Forest Green (off field trouble), Chester (off field trouble), Gateshead and Hayes & Yeading (promoted and small fan bases) and Ebbsfleet (a revamped squad and key players sold).

Chester do have some good players and as their squad gets melded and fitter, they might throw a few spanners in the work if you want easy single bets. Histon are perhaps now more worth oppposing, with the departures of Matt Mitchell-King, Jack Midson and Patrick Ada from last season's squad.

As I said, more impressions on Luton to follow, but the Conference should start to provide some good English Football betting opportunities now we have a reasonable chunk of form to go on. Good luck!