Barrow 0-2 Barnet
Barnet won a mid-table encounter at Barrow to stoke up their National League promotion aspirations. The visitors took the lead in the 16th minute. Josh Walker crossed accurately, and Manny Duku could hardly fail with the finish, netting his first goal for the Bees following his loan move from Cheltenham. The Bluebirds tried to force an equaliser but were caught on the break and Wesley Fonguck covered plenty of ground before curling a shot into the bottom corner. The two-goal deficit proved too much for Barrow to peg back in the second half.
Boreham Wood 2-1 Bromley
Substitute Gozie Ugwu scored with his first touch to complete Boreham Wood’s fine comeback over Bromley at Meadow Park. The visitors led just shy of the half-hour when Omar Bugiel stooped at the near post to convert a corner from Frankie Raymond. But the home side equalized when Connor Smith’s cross took two deflections on its way to Justin Shaibu, who tucked the ball away. Ugwu was brought on on 60 minutes, and within seconds the forward had headed in Sorba Thomas’ free-kick to seal the victory.
Braintree Town 2-1 Dover Athletic
Braintree leapfrogged Dover at the bottom of the table with a 2-1 win at Cressing Road, in a dour battle of two desperately struggling sides. The hosts forged in front after 13 minutes when Justin Amaluzor nodded Lyle Della-Verde’s corner low into the net with the aid of a deflection. The visitors seemed to be turning around a frustrating first hour when a short corner routine culminated in defender Kevin Lokko finding the bottom corner from Jai Reason’s delivery. But Mitch Walker felled Della-Verde in the box and Reece Grant drove the resultant penalty down the middle to put Braintree back in front. The setback leaves Dover marooned with just one win all season.
Chesterfield 1-1 Wrexham
Jonathan Smith’s late equaliser rescued Chesterfield against promotion-challengers Wrexham, who dropped a place to third. Brad Walker’s first-half penalty after Will Evans handled in the box gave Sam Ricketts’ side the chance to return to the top of the National League. But Martin Allen saw his team battle to the end and earn their reward as Smith struck. In the process the Spireites rose a place to 19th in the table.
Dagenham & Redbridge 2-1 Harrogate Town
Alex McQueen’s first-half double for Dagenham & Redbridge condemned Harrogate Town to only their second league defeat all season. The onrushing full-back turned a pulsating encounter in the hosts’ favour, first taking a long ball in his stride and lifting delicately over the advancing Town keeper James Belshaw on 39 minutes. He repeated the trick, in off the post, from another break to leave the promotion-chasing visitors scratching their heads. Harrogate did make the Daggers sweat in the last 10 minutes when Joe Leesley broke forward from the left and unleashed a fierce shot in off bar, but there was no further drama.
FC Halifax Town 0-1 Eastleigh
Halifax’s winless streak extended to 10 matches after a 1-0 defeat at home to in-form Eastleigh.The hosts survived an almighty goalmouth scramble when Ben Williamson was denied by Sam Johnson. Mark Yeates, Paul McCallum and Oscar Gobern all tried to convert in the subsequent melee, but failed. Yeates was typically at the centre of all of Eastleigh’s good moves and forced Johnson into another good save. The Spitfires found the breakthrough just short of the hour when Josh Hare headed in Yeates’ free-kick, despite Johnson getting hands to the ball. Halifax nearly stole a point late on when Josh Staunton found himself in plenty of space but fired over.
Gateshead 3-0 Aldershot
Gateshead made it three National League wins in a row as they swept Aldershot aside 3-0. The home side went ahead after 20 minutes when Scott Boden slipped in Greg Olley and he drove forward before digging the ball out from under his feet and firing low into the net. The Heed doubled their advantage after 33 minutes when Scott Barrow’s drilled ball into the box was kept alive by Fraser Kerr and after a scramble in the box, Boden poked home. Aynsley Pears then produced a superb save to keep the two-goal lead intact when he tipped Jake Gallagher’s volley onto the post. Tom White wrapped up victory 13 minutes from the end when he turned in the box and drilled low past Will Mannion.
Hartlepool 2-3 Sutton United
Sutton United came from behind to claim a 3-2 victory at Hartlepool and move above their opponents in the National League table. Niko Muir had an early shot comfortably saved and Liam Noble was not too far away with a free-kick as Pools made the livelier start. But they found themselves behind to a scrappy goal in the 22nd minute when Aswad Thomas turned the ball home from close range after a scramble from a corner. It was all square at the start of the second half when Muir scored from six yards following a Noble corner and Hartlepool were in front after 50 minutes when Noble’s free-kick took a deflection on its way in. But Pools were pegged back in the 63rd minute when Tom Bolarinwa scored on the break. Ryan Donaldson volleyed wide for the home side from close range after 70 minutes and Sutton made them pay as Craig Eastmond was allowed to break forward and crack in the winner from 20 yards.
Leyton Orient 4-0 Havant & Waterlooville
Leyton Orient became the new leaders of the National League following a crushing victory over Havant & Waterlooville. The home side were rewarded for a bright start with two goals in the opening 20 minutes. James Dayton’s free-kick was poked goalwards by Charlie Lee and although Ben Dudzinski saved, Josh Coulson tapped in the loose ball to open the scoring. The O’s doubled their advantage through an own goal five minutes later when a Jobi McAnuff corner missed Macauley Bonne at the near post but inadvertently went in off Theo Lewis. Orient were rampant and, after Craig Clay came close, Lee made it three after 39 minutes, winning the ball and driving forward before firing a low shot into the bottom corner. Bonne’s well-struck shot came back off the inside of a post, but he did get the goal he deserved, tucking in a pass from Clay to seal a convincing win. Orient move a point clear at the top of the table as Salford and Wrexham both dropped points.
Maidenhead United 0-6 AFC Fylde
Danny Rowe hit a brace as AFC Fylde extended their unbeaten run to eight games with a 6-0 victory at 10-man Maidenhead. Fylde took a fifth-minute lead when Zaine Francis-Angol escaped down the left wing and he cut the ball back to an unmarked Rowe, who fired past Carl Pentney into the net from eight yards out. Maidenhead then suffered a major blow after 25 minutes when Christian Smith was shown a straight red card after wiping out Ryan Croasdale. Rowe made them pay five minutes later when he doubled the lead from the penalty spot after Gime Toure had been brought down. Toure made it three 10 minutes after the break when he fired home from 12 yards after Rowe dummied Arlen Birch’s ball in and Serhat Tasdemir then curled home. The Coasters continued to pile forward and Danny Philliskirk fired home a low shot four minutes from the end and Andy Bond wrapped it up two minutes later from 25 yards.
Maidstone United 1-3 Solihull Moors
Danny Wright struck first in what was a frenetic opening, netting his seventh of the season two minutes in when he was played through by Jermaine Hylton. One became two five minutes later, Hylton again the chief provider as he teed-up Adi Yussuf after Jamey Osbourne robbed the home side of possession to set the move up. But the home side hit back, with Blair Turgott finding space on the edge of the box and finishing. The same man then hit the Solihull bar but Hylton had the last word, getting the goal he deserved when he cashed in on a defensive mix-up with 15 minutes to go.
Salford City 1-1 Ebbsfleet
Salford slipped off the top of the National League table as they dropped points unexpectedly in a 1-1 draw at home to Ebbsfleet. Graham Alexander’s men started the day locked level on points with Wrexham but were off their game and fell behind when Corey Whiteley rattled in a fine strike with 35 minutes gone. The lead would only last three minutes as Rory Gaffney would not be denied after his first effort was saved by Nathan Ashmore. Gaffney would go close again later on, before Carl Piergianni was denied by Ashmore as Salford probed for an elusive winner.
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