FC Halifax Town reached the magic 50-point mark as they recorded a remarkable 2-1 win over 3rd placed Boreham Wood. Captain Matty Brown nodded the home side in front at the Shay with a towering header from a corner, however The Wood started the second half strongly and Ferrier rifled home a shot into the top corner to level the scoring. Nevertheless, the Shaymen fought hard and were rewarded as Ben Tomlinson’s inch perfect pass found Mike Fondop-Talom in the area and he made no mistake in clipping the ball over Grant Smith to seal all three points and all but secure survival for Jamie Fullarton’s side.
Macclesfield squandered a two-goal lead to draw against Ebbsfleet in the early kick off in the National League. The league leaders took the lead through Nathan Blissett as he slotted home from close range, before doubling their tally on the hour mark as Tyrone Marsh headed home. However, Danny Kedwell got Ebbsfleet back in the game, after he was brought down in the box, by dispatching the spot kick. Just four minutes later Macclesfield were reduced to ten men as Blissett saw red for an alleged elbow, before Dean Rance compiled Macclesfield’s misery by slotting home the equaliser with just under fifteen minutes to go.
Barrow’s survival chances took a hit as they fell to a heavy 4-1 defeat away to Leyton Orient. Barrow took the lead just seven minutes in through Luke James, however a Dan Jones own goal levelled the scoring for Orient. Josh Koroma put the home side in front as he headed home from close range at the back post, before a late Macauley Bonne double sealed the three points for the home side and move them into 12th place.
AFC Fylde picked up a huge three points as they beat Sutton United 2-1 at Mill Farm. Sutton took the lead through Tommy Wright in the first half, however two goals in three minutes from top scorer Danny Rowe and Jonny Smith turned the tie on its head and saw Dave Challinor’s side clinch all three points. This result sees Fylde just a point away from the playoff positions.
Chester saw themselves relegated from the National League, at the hands of Tranmere, who kept their playoff hopes alive with a 2-0 win. The away side struggled to create chances and were eventually punished by Andy Cook at the back post as he nodded home. Their lead was doubled just less than twenty minutes later, as Oliver Norwood rounded the keeper and slotted home to condemn Chester to relegation.
Eastleigh held high flying Wrexham to a 1-1 draw, scoring in the fourth minute of added time. Wrexham took the lead early on as Scott Quigley dispatched from the spot after he won the penalty. Eastleigh would be given a mountain to climb as they were reduced to ten men, as Andrew Bryce was shown a second yellow. In the dying moments of the game, goalkeeper Graham Stack joined the attack for a corner and it paid off, as the ball eventually fell to Ryan Cresswell who bundled home to share the spoils between the two sides.
Dagenham and Redbridge and Woking similarly played out a 1-1 draw, leaving Woking still in relegation danger. Dagenham took the lead in the first ten minutes through as Daniel Sparkes curled home a delightful free kick. Woking fought back, through Staunton who headed home from a corner to rescue a point for the Cards.
Dover kept their play-off dreams alive with a 1-0 win over 9-man Torquay. Ryan Bird dispatched from the spot to give the home side the lead and bury his 15th goal of the season. Three minutes later and Torquay saw their first red card of the afternoon, as Rhys Healey caught Connor Essam late, before Elliott Romain was shown a straight red for his tackle on Giancarlo Gallifuoco. Dover remain in 8th place.
Aldershot clinched three points right at the death as they won 1-0 against Maidenhead. The home side needed to win to capitalise on Sutton’s defeat this weekend. It was a tense affair between the two sides, but the deadlock was broken in the 89th minutes, as Nicke Kabamba ghosted in at the back post to head home and win the game for the Shots. This result saw them move into 3rd, following the defeats suffered by Boreham Wood and Sutton.
More late drama occurred in the game between Hartlepool and Solihull, with the Pools falling to a late defeat at home. Amongst the ongoing contract talks behind the scenes, Hartlepool needed a win to keep themselves away from relegation, but Adi Yussuf’s late strike condemned keep the Pools seven points away from the relegation zone.
Bromley and Gateshead played out a stalemate at Hayes Lane to hurt the home sides play-off chances this season. The game finished 0-0 with both sides struggling to create many clear-cut chances. The closest both sides came to score came to Richard Peniket for the away side, with his shot being cleared off the line. Bromley are now seven points from the play-off positions.
Bottom side Guiseley picked up a strong point against Maidenhead as they drew 0-0 also. Both sides exchanged shots and there were big chances for both sides, with Delano Sam-Yorke and Blair Turgott both going close. Both keepers were in fine form to keep the game goalless and in the end a draw was probably a fair result.
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