Luton Town Football Club

Our tipster and followers of this column collected winnings last Sunday but couldn't help thinking they would have rather not after Mansfield’s late equaliser denied the Town three points at Field Mill.

The draw was our tipster’s only recommendation last week and Matt Green’s strike five minutes from time ensured the 11/5 chance came in. The winning tip also perked up the profit figures after a couple of barren weeks in front of the coupon.

This weekend our attention turns to the FA Trophy and the first in a double-header against Dorchester. The Town travel to Dorset on Saturday before welcoming in the Magpies to Kenilworth Road in the FA Cup next weekend.

Dorchester dumped Plymouth out of the FA Cup to reach round two at their Avenue Stadium home and the Magpies possess one of the best home records in the country at the moment. Phil Simkin’s side have won 10 out of 11 home fixtures in senior competition this season, with Tonbridge Angels the only side to return from Dorset with all three points.

The Magpies booked their place in the first round of the Trophy with a gutsy 2-1 win at Southern League Didcot and there’s no doubting Paul Buckle’s side will have their work cut out against the Blue Square Bet South side.

But the Hatters have reserved their best form on the road, and Blue Square have taken this into consideration when pricing the Town at odds on at 8/11 to book a place in the last 32 of the competition. Dorchester are 3/1 whilst the draw – which would mean a replay at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday – is 5/2 shot.

In the past two seasons the Town have fallen at the last hurdle when one step away from a Wembley final in the competition following aggregate semi-final heartache against Mansfield and York. 

Whether the Hatters will get that far or fall at the very first fence this time round remains to be seen, but with it difficult to gauge what sides both managers will send out with next week’s FA Cup tie in mind, it might be worth swerving the game from a punting perspective.

Elsewhere, there are banana skins for a host of the Town’s promotion rivals in the Blue Square Bet Premier with Newport handed the toughest task with an away tie at Blue Square Bet South promotion chasers Welling. The Wings are a tough nut to crack at their Park View Lane home and are a 12/5 chance with Blue Square to make it through to round two.

Meanwhile in-form Lincoln are also worth following in their tie at Tamworth and the Imps are 6/4 to get their name in the hat for Monday’s second round draw.

Remember you can earn both yourself and the Hatters money by backing us through Blue Square. Visit www.bluesq.com/fans.

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