By Will Bussey
Sub-edited by Sonny Turner
This weekend’s National League fixtures had everything, late drama, goals galore and a few upsets. I’ll be dissecting all the action from around the grounds, in this week’s Vanarama National League round-up.
Wootton Wins It Late On
Chesterfield 2-3 Notts County
33’ J. Smith 22’ E. Boldewijn
78’ T. Denton 90+1’ R. Rodrigues
90+3’ K. Wootton
Notts County scored two stoppage time goals to flip the game on its head and take all three points at the Technique Stadium. The away side took the lead on 22 minutes but Chesterfield levelled 11 minutes later. It got even better for the home side when target man Tom Denton put them in-front, three minutes of stoppage time were given, and Notts County took full advantage. Portuguese winger, Ruben Rodrigues got his side on level terms before Kyle Wootton headed his side into the lead. In his post-match interview, County manager Neil Ardley said his side ‘need to start defending better’ after conceding two poor goals. The result keeps Chesterfield in the relegation zone whereas County edge ever closer to the playoffs in 10th.
Torquay Remain Top
FC Halifax 1-2 Torquay
53’ J. Allen 17’ A. Hall
83’ C. Lemonheigh-Evans
Everything is going right on the South-West coast as Torquay kept up their good run of form, with an 83rd minute winner. Torquay started brighter with Asa Hall opening the scoring on 17 minutes, but the Shaymen found their equaliser on 53 minutes through Jamie Allen. Torquay threw the kitchen sink at Halifax and were rewarded in the last ten minutes when Connor Lemonheigh-Evans found the back of the net. Gulls manager Gary Johnson said he was ‘pleased’ with his players commitment to get the win. Torquay stay at the top of the tree but its looking bleak for FC Halifax who sit 18th and haven’t won for seven games.
Eastmond Keeps Sutton 2nd
Wealdstone 3-3 Sutton United
46’ R. Lafayette 4’ I. Olaofe
66’ R. Lafayette 11’ O. Bugiel
88’ J. Mendy 90+5’ C. Eastmond
There’s been a common theme with this weekend’s fixtures, late goals and in-front of the BT Sport cameras’ it was no different. Sutton cruised into a two-goal lead thanks to Isaac Olaofe and Lebanese forward Omar Bugiel. Dean Brennan’s half time team talk clearly worked as Ross Lafayette bagged a brace to level the score. Wealdstone thought they’d won it with two minutes to go, through a Jacob Mendy strike, but deep into stoppage time the experienced Craig Eastmond rescued a point for the visitors.
Bromley Leave It Late
Maidenhead United 2-2 Bromley
30’ D. Orsi-Dadomo 58’ R. Hackett-Fairchild
46’ S. Donnellan 90+5’ C. Bush
Maidenhead have been the surprise package so far this season and looked to be on course for another big win until Bromley fought back for a point. Danilo Orsi-Dadomo opened the scoring on 30 minutes and they started the 2nd half even better when Shaun Donnellan found the net on 46 minutes. Just before the hour mark Reeco Hackett-Fairchild got his side back into the game but Maidenhead held strong and kept Bromley’s bombardment at bay. All their effort was for nothing though as five minutes into stoppage time Bromley defender Chris Bush rescued a point. After the game Bromley manager Neil Smith said he was really ‘pleased’ with his players belief at the end.
Woking Won’t Stop Scoring
Woking 4-1 Barnet
7’ K. Ferdinand 88’ M. Petrasso
17’ J. Binnom-Williams (Own goal)
63’ M. Kretzschmar
82’ D. Tarpey
After thrashing Dover Athletic 5-1 away from home on Tuesday Woking were still goal hungry, two goals either half gave Woking them another three points and moved them up to 3rd. Kane Ferdinand opened the scoring early on which gave the midfielder his fifth goal this season. Just 10 minutes later Jerome Binnom-Williams put the ball into his own net and doubled the home sides lead. It wasn’t all plain sailing for Woking though as Charlie Cooper received two yellows in the space of two minutes. They may have been down to 10 men, but it didn’t stop Woking, Max Kretzschmar made it three and with less than 10 minutes to go Dave Tarpey wrapped it up. Barnet scored a consolation late on through a penalty but right now Woking look unstoppable.
A Game of One Half
Yeovil Town 1-3 Hartlepool United
45’ J. Quigley 2’ L. Molyneux
36’ G. Holohan
43’ T. Magloire
The game was decided in just 45 minutes with all four goals coming in the 1st half. Hartlepool started Saturday in 11th but were closing in on a playoff spot and had the perfect start against struggling Yeovil. Two minutes in Luke Molyneux gave his side the lead, Gavan Holohan doubled the away sides lead on 36 minutes. Hartlepool capped it off with another goal just a few minutes before half time through Tyler Magloire. Yeovil fought back and on 45 minutes Joe Quigley reduced the deficit, but it wasn’t enough. Yeovil stay rock bottom of the National League and Hartlepool occupy the last playoff spot in 7th.
Wrexham Go Three Unbeaten
Wrexham 1-0 Aldershot
64’ L. Young
Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds officially became majority shareholders of Wrexham this week and to mark the occasion Wrexham grabbed an important three points. A relatively quiet match sprung into life on 64 minutes when Luke Young found the net from 20 yards. Wrexham held on and made it three clean sheets in their last three. After the game Wrexham manager Dean Keates said “We showed some great character defensively and played our game.”
10 Man Dover Fall Further
Kings Lynn 2-0 Dover Athletic
44’ R. McAuley
86’ A. Marriott
These two sides boast the worst defences in the National League so far this season yet one side came away with a clean sheet. Newly promoted Kings Lynn have had a mixed start to the season but made it two wins from two after dismantling the south coast side. Rory McAuley opened the scoring just before half time after a diminutive first half display. The Whites search for an equaliser but it didn’t come and on 86 minutes debutant Ryan Hanson was shown a straight red and gave the away side a chance from the spot. Adam Marriott coolly dispatched and secured his side all three points.
Altrincham Leave it Late
Boreham Wood 0-1 Altrincham
86’ J. McDonald
Boreham Wood have never beaten Altrincham before, and that trend continued when the away side scored with just minutes remaining. Both teams came into this one in mixed form as they sat just a few points off the relegation spots, chances were had at either end, but it was Jamie McDonald who took his with just four minutes to go.
