Non-League Betting Tips: Five fancies for Saturday October 18th
Thu, 16 Oct 2025
Thu, 16 Oct 2025
Odds Now’s resident non-league football expert Matthew O’Regan returns to mark your card ahead of this weekend’s action from lower down the pyramid.
Rochdale have been the standout side in the National League this far. Ten wins from 12 sees them top of the pile with a two-game cushion on most of those chasing.
The two matches they lost were at home to Halifax (2.30 – 1.08 xG) and away to Brackley, in a game in which Dale boss Jim McNulty opted to make 11 changes on the Bank Holiday, and it backfired.
This impressive start to the season is an indictment of the work Dale did in the summer window. They have conceded the fewest goals in the league. Only Boreham Wood, Aldershot, and Carlisle have scored more. At Spotland, they have been almost flawless – 14 goals scored, four conceded and five wins from six games.
Yeovil make the treacherous journey north having just been dumped out of the FA Cup by 10-man Henel Hempstead. It followed a 0-3 loss at home to Boreham Wood. The Glovers have been solid enough this season, sitting in 11th, but off-field issues look like they are slowly starting to unravel.
Mark Cooper, who started the season in charge, was never the most popular figure, with his pragmatic approach frustrating supporters. Danny Webb was his replacement but resigned after just one game, so Richard Dryden is taking the reins until the end of the season.
Forever Cooper's right-hand man, Dryden, seems the cheap option – a sentiment shared by Yeovil supporters. With growing resentment in Somerset, Rochdale’s potent attack will be looking to exploit their fractious visitors.
Before the season, I make a list of angles to back, dos and don’ts and other useful titbits to help me navigate the early stages of the season.
Well, I am ripping up the rule book here because in big BOLD writing was “DO NOT BACK AGAINST TRURO AT HOME”. I thought the long journey would be a mitigating factor for away teams struggling in the depths of Cornwall. However, the Tinnermen have been a little bit rubbish, I’m afraid.
John Askey’s side have won just twice all season – 3-0 over Boston United and 5-0 over Morecambe. They were deserved winners against the Pilgrims and against the Shrimps, but in the latter, four of the goals came in the second half when the visitors had ten men.
Their only other home point was a 2-2 with struggling Aldershot, throwing away a 2-1 lead against their nine-man opponents. Losses to Eastleigh, Rochdale, Southend and York have further compounded the misery in recent times – Truro were thoroughly outclassed in all four.
They have also been dumped out of the FA Cup after 210 gruelling minutes against AFC Totton, with the Stags eventually winning the replay despite playing the second half with ten men.
Visiting Cornwall on Saturday are a rampant Halifax side who continue to impress, winning six in a row, four of which have come on the road, with the Shaymen scoring at least two in all of those successes.
Truro really look to be struggling with the step up, so I want to get Halifax on board at odds against – especially given their upturn in form.
I will keep this very brief, as I have also backed a similar angle in my other longshots article, which explains things better.
But put simply, National League South strugglers Dagenham & Redbridge have seen BTTS land in four out of five home games this term – as have fellow slow starters Enfield away from home. Simple!
Chester’s home and away form continues to be chalk and cheese. They are nearing a year unbeaten in front of their own fans, but have taken just two points on their travels this campaign.
In fact, since the start of last campaign, The Seals have lost just twice at home in the league – 0-1 against Brackley (2024/2025 season opener) and by the same scoreline at home to Buxton last October. Fresh off beating National League Morecambe at home in the cup, Calum McIntyre’s side are riding a wave of momentum.
The same can't be said for Kidderminster, who look to be in dire straits. Perhaps suffering from a hangover from last season after so cruelly being denied promotion, Harriers have really been below par in recent weeks.
Former Mansfield manager Adam Murray was appointed in the summer after an impressive season at Eastbourne Borough. The 44-year-old geared his recruitment towards Southern-based players – something that is proving to be a disaster.
Despite still being sat ninth, outside the playoffs on goal difference, it has been far from convincing. Their four wins have all come by a single goal, and Harriers are slowly being found out. Back-to-back home draws were followed by a 2-1 loss at Peterborough Sports and a 1-5 loss at home to Radcliffe last Saturday.
The scenes in the aftermath of that game perhaps sum up the feeling around the club, with fans voicing their displeasure at Murray, with technical assistant Luca Nicosia suspended for his sensational head loss towards his own supporters.
Yet, in the week, Murray has brought Stuart Watkiss in as his assistant – a sign that the Harriers board retain faith in him.
With Kiddie in a mess and Chester hard to beat at home, I am happy to side with The Seals with the draw on side.
I will preface this by saying Oxford City are absolutely awful. Sitting in 22nd, the Hoops have just eight points from 11 and have won just two games this term.
Both wins came at home – 5-0 vs Alfreton and 2-1 vs Macclesfield. Scoring goals is not the issue for Ross Jenkins' side, though – it is keeping them out.
Only the top five in the league have scored more than Oxford City’s 18, whose only blank came away at second-place Scarborough. Bar the 1-5 loss to Radcliffe, Oxford haven’t lost a game by more than one goal, so I suppose the makings of a decent team are there.
Even in the drubbing by Radcliffe, it was 1-1 until Byron Wilson was sent off after 55 minutes.
Southport are one of the two teams below Saturday’s hosts after a dismal start to the season. They are the worst away side in the league, having lost all five games, conceding 2+ in all of them. The 368-mile round trip to face an Oxford City side fresh from a 3-3 draw at Chorley is not one the Southport faithful will be relishing, and another tough afternoon awaits for the basement club.
1pt - Rochdale vs Yeovil – Rochdale win and over 1 goal – 5/6 (Bet365)
1.25pts - Truro City vs Halifax – Halifax Win – 6/5 (Various)
1pt - Dagenham & Redbridge vs Enfield Town – Both Teams To Score - 10/11 (Bet365)
2pts - Chester vs Kidderminster – Chester 0.0 Asian Handicap – 7/10 (Bet365)
1.25pt - Oxford City vs Southport – Oxford City – 2+ goals – EVS (Bet365)
Total staked - 6.5pts
Despite only being in his early 20s, Matthew O'Regan has wasted little time making a name for himself as a sound footballing judge.
With a strong social media following, gained as a result of his uncanny ability to repeatedly land big-priced winners, Matthew now shares his insights on the beautiful game – and how to profit on it – as his profession.
He credits most of his betting skill to working in a bookmaker shop as a youngster, seeing the silly mistakes most punters make which inspired him to try and attack things from a different angle.
When he's not scouring markets and writing columns, Matthew follows Brighton and his local non-league club Worthing.
Despite only being in his early 20s, Matthew O'Regan has wasted little time making a name for himself as a sound footballing judge.
With a strong social media following, gained as a result of his uncanny ability to repeatedly land big-priced winners, Matthew now shares his insights on the beautiful game – and how to profit on it – as his profession.
He credits most of his betting skill to working in a bookmaker shop as a youngster, seeing the silly mistakes most punters make which inspired him to try and attack things from a different angle.
When he's not scouring markets and writing columns, Matthew follows Brighton and his local non-league club Worthing.
Matthew's p/l
7 Days
30 Days
Year 2025
🗨️ "I know the football club and I know Adam... I'm here to help in any way, shape or form that I can." Stuart Watkiss on returning to Harriers as Assistant Manager. Watch in full on YouTube ⤵️ #Harriers 🦅
FA Cup exit: Truro knocked out on penalties at home to AFC Totton Manager John Askey gives his reaction to @BBCCornwall Listen here: bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0m…
