Another round of National League fixtures has passed us by and just eleven games to run through following the postponement of the fixture between Barrow and Hartlepool due to a waterlogged pitch.
First up, Halifax Town came away with a very impressive point away at league leaders Wrexham. The home side took the lead through Scott Boden who nodded in from close range however the Shaymen responded superbly. Town created chances of their own all game and eventually found themselves level as Matty Brown flicked on a Jake Hibbs cross which found Scott Garner at the back post to bundle home. The Shaymen could’ve stolen all three points but it wasn’t to be however a much-needed point for Town.
Bromley fell out of the playoff positions as they squandered two leads against Maidstone to draw 2-2. Josh Rees buried early, just five minutes into the game, before Jamar Loza turned in Joe Anderson’s cross. It wasn’t long before Bromley were back in front, with George Porter chipping home in style to put the home side ahead going into the break. Almost ten minutes to go, however, Maidstone levelled once more, with substitute Blair Turgott slotting home. Maidstone would end the game with ten men as Dean Beckwith was sent off in added time.
A top of the table clash saw ten-man Sutton see off the challenge of Dover. Kieron Cadogan’s fine finish off the post was enough to seal all three points for the home side and keep them in the play-off positions. Dover would have thought they had a chance to get back into the game on the hour mark as Beautyman was shown his marching orders however it wasn’t to be.
Another side which find themselves in the play-off positions following the week’s results are Boreham Wood, who recorded a solid 2-0 win away at Eastleigh. The home side had the better of the first half chances however couldn’t make Boreham Wood pay and were left to rue their missed chances as Morgan Ferrier powered a shot home. Their lead was soon doubled after Bruno Andrade was pulled down by Ryan Cresswell and made no mistake in dispatching the penalty to secure all three points.
Ebbsfleet halted Solihull Moors revival efforts, ending their five-match unbeaten run, as they came away with a 1-0 victory. Coulson’s curling effort from the edge of the area was all that separated these sides and enough to secure Ebbsfleet’s first home win of 2018. This result leaves Solihull still in the relegation positions.
AFC Fylde saw themselves move into the top seven as they saw off the threat of Gateshead to win 2-1 at the Gateshead International Stadium. A Danny Rowe double in the first half set the tone for a match in which Fylde looked comfortable. Gateshead got themselves back in the game in the fourth minute of added time through Richard Peniket however there was no time to try and steal a point.
Tranmere missed a chance to go top of the National League as they dropped points to relegation threatened Leyton Orient, in a game that finished 1-1. Ritchie Sutton nodded home from a corner to give Tranmere the lead a few minutes before half time and set Tranmere on their way. However, Orient spoiled the party as Holman turned in a rebound to level the scores and give the O’s a credible point.
Macclesfield, instead, took the chance to reclaim top spot of the National League following Wrexham and Tranmere’s dropped points, as they beat Guiseley 2-1. Bottom of the table Guiseley took the lead just ten minutes in through Rowan Liburd’s effort, however Macclesfield hit back with two goals in eleven minutes in the second half. Goals from on-loan striker Nathan Blisset and Tyrone Marsh wrapped up all three points for the new league leaders.
Torquay picked up a much-needed win as they were victorious as they travelled to Maidenhead, coming away 2-1 winners. Aaron Barnes’ stunner from distance put the away side ahead in style however Maidenhead hit back with a great goal of their own – a Ryan Upward free kick from around 25 yards. The points looked to be shared between these two sides, but it was the struggling Torquay who nicked it, with Elliott Romain turning the ball home with just five minutes to go.
Chester continue to struggle in the National League as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to ten-man Woking. Chester must’ve thought they were behind early on, as Reece Grego-Cox had the ball in the back of the net, but it was chalked off for offside. Woking did however take the lead around 23 minutes in, as Josh Staunton turned home a corner to give his side the lead. The home side had to protect their slender lead with 10 men for around half an hour, as Matt Young saw red for his poor challenge, but Woking managed to hold on and take home all three points.
In the late Saturday kick off, Aldershot were 2-0 winners away at Dagenham and Redbridge. Aldershot took the lead just four minutes in, as Jim Kellerman lashed home from the edge of the box to really put the pressure on the home side. Just minutes after the restart, Kellerman turned provider as he teed up Scott Randall to poke home from close range to double the Shots’ advantage and guide Aldershot to their fourth successive away win.
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