Vanarama National League Predictions and Betting Tips: Matchday 11

Ryan Deeney of NL Musings provides his Vanarama National League Predictions and Betting Tips ahead of another weekend of action, including wins for Woking, Gateshead & Oldham Athletic

Woking - York City

Woking didn't have a stellar start to the season but a change of shape, coupled with some smart recruitment, has pushed them firmly back into the promotion race despite missing a number of players.

Tanji Akinola has thrived stepping out of defence to replace Rohan Ince at the base of midfield. Jermaine Anderson and Zak Bradshaw have provided energy and craft in midfield. Ricky Korboa has stepped up in the absence of Reece Grego-Cox and Rhys Browne.

They are now unbeaten in six and unbeaten in four at home, drawing against Ebbsfleet in a game they dominated last time out.

York City started brightly under Neal Ardley, picking up a point against Boreham Wood and beating Southend United 3-0. However, looking back, it's easy to pick holes in those performances, especially considering Boreham Wood had only 11 fit professional footballers available.

The defeat against Oldham was a bump back to reality for the Minstermen and it doesn't get easier when they take on Woking this weekend as Ardley continues to work out his best XI.

Bet: Woking to Win + Over 1.5 Goals @ 6/5


Gateshead - Maidenhead United

I'm always ready to back Gateshead and this feels like the type of game that should suit them - that can perhaps be evidenced in the Heed doing the double over Maidenhead last season, including a 4-0 thumping on the final day of 2022-23 campaign.

Gateshead have won four matches this season all by more than one goal. Only Chesterfield can match their xG total this campaign, both at just shy of 2xG per game. They have scored two or more goals in six of their ten league matches.

Maidenhead have been typical Maidenhead in terms of their inconsistency but recent results and performances raise concern. They were comfortably dispatched by Bromley and a broken Southend United and at best, their games have been nothing affairs like those against Boreham Wood and Oxford City. The Magpies have failed to score in five of their last six matches.

They've been okay defensively but Gateshead offer a different proposition. Their strikers are struggling to do what Emile Acquah did so well last year and regular changes to the backline won't help against a side so in tune with what they do.

Bet: Gateshead -1 @ 13/10


Oldham Athletic - Oxford City

Truthfully, I found a third selection tough this week so have gone for Oldham v Oxford.

I wanted to back Oldham. Their problems aren't all resolved but the 2-0 win over York in midweek felt like a classic case of very good players playing with freedom having been struggled under a manager that made the group feel sub-par. A real "fresh start for everybody" vibe - proven most by the goalscorers Joe Nuttall and Alex Reid.

Back-to-back home games should lead to back-to-back home wins - I'd have perhaps fancied them against most opposition in this scenario.

They're facing Oxford City. The visitors are unbeaten in seven and have responded superbly to early season difficulties, finding their feet and subsequently the back of the net regularly.

However, as well as they're doing, the underlying numbers aren't amazing. They rank low for expected goals for and against and have conceded seven goals in their last two games. All good runs end at some point and I suspect theirs will fall on Saturday.

Bet: Oldham to win + Over 1.5 Goals @ 5/6


Back the treble at over 8/1