Pools tips and best bets for weekend of March 26-27

Ten draws: Germany v England, Bradford City v Millwall, Grimsby v Wrexham, Southport v Guiseley, FC Utd of Man v Chorley, Stalybridge v Gainsborough, St Albans v Eastbourne Borough, Whitehawk v Gosport, Morton v Raith, Stenhousemuir v Forfar.

Best draws: Bradford City v Millwall, Grimsby v Wrexham, Southport v Guiseley, Morton v Raith, Stenhousemuir v Forfar.

Best weekend away bets: Wimbledon, Plymouth, Carlisle, St Mirren, Stranraer, Elgin.

Best weekend home bets: Burton, Portsmouth, York, Chesterfield, Chester, Woking, Falkirk, Dunfermline, East Fife, Stirling.


Pick of the draws: Millwall are almost into double figures in away wins this season and they can strengthen their League One promotion claims with a point at Bradford City, who are just outside the play-off places. FA Trophy finalists Grimsby are also challenging for promotion in the National League but Wrexham seem to be coming into form at the right time and could deny them maximum points. Lower down the table, Southport's home record has let them down and it may hinder them again when they face Guiseley, who are just below them. Raith gained a morale-boosting home victory over Hibernian in the Scottish Championship last Saturday. A repeat of that display should see them get a point at Morton, who also won well at the weekend. Forfar, who are fighting to escape relegation from Scottish League One, can build on last Saturday's fine 3-1 home win over Ayr by holding Stenhousemuir, who are also in danger of the drop.

Away days: I'm taking Wimbledon to boost their League Two promotion claims at lowly Hartlepool. Plymouth dropped out of the automatic promotion positions with a surprise home defeat by Luton last Saturday. However, I believe they'll recover from that setback by winning at Morecambe, who have lost 10 matches at home this season. Draw specialists Carlisle need wins at this stage of the campaign to realise their promotion ambitions and I'm backing them to obtain maximum points at Yeovil, who are virtually safe from relegation and have little to play for. Improving St Mirren are a confident selection at bottom club Alloa, who have managed only 14 points in the Scottish Championship. In Scottish League One, Stranraer are worth a punt at Ayr, who were surprisingly beaten at Forfar last weekend. Elgin, who are second in Scottish League Two, will have high hopes of success at Berwick, who have had an indifferent campaign.

Homes sweet homes: York are seven points from safety in League Two with nine matches left. These are desperate times but they should give themselves a glimmer of hope against Crawley, who are none too convincing on the road. Chesterfield can make their terrible home record in League One slightly more respectable by defeating Fleetwood, who are struggling to pull away from the relegation zone. Chester are below Barrow in the mid-table section of the National League but I've a hunch they will come away with all three points on Saturday.


Pools info: The matches at Braintree (No 6 on coupon), Forest Green (9), Gateshead (10), Dartford (27), Havant (28) and Weston-Super-Mare (33) are all void as they being played on Good Friday. Hibernian v Dumbarton (37) has been postponed and will be judged by the pools panel.

Betting info: Please note that some of my selections are for Good Friday as well as Easter Saturday.