BARNET INCREASE LEAD AT THE TOP - VANARAMA PREM ROUND-UP... Barnet increased their lead at the top of the Vanarama Conference table to four points after a 2-1 win at The New Lawn against Forest Green Rovers on Saturday. Bondz N’Gala’s injury-time header secured victory – just minutes after the home side looked to have grabbed an unlikely point. N’Gala rose highest in a crowded penalty area to thump home from Sam Togwell’s delivery and snatch three points for the Bees, which minutes earlier had looked extremely unlikely, after Rob Sinclair’s dramatic leveller. The Bees had taken the lead after 13 minutes when Andy Yiadom tucked home his second of the season from close-range after a missed John Akinde spot-kick. After a breathless first half, both teams struggled to turn possession into chances after the break, and with just 2 minutes remaining, Forest Green’s pressure finally brought an equaliser when Sinclair lashed home from close range. FC Halifax Town moved up to second in the table after a goalless draw at the Amlin Stadium against Braintree Town. The Iron finished just below Halifax last season, just missing out on the play-offs, and similarly today there was little to separate the sides. Man of the Match, Marc Roberts caused a lot of problems for Braintree with his long throws as Steve Williams and Danny Hattersley both fired headers just off target. In the second half, both sides came out much livelier and Neil Aspin made changes that appeared to signal their intent to win the game. Jamie Jackson returned and caused problems for the Braintree full backs along with Peniket who supported Hattersley and top scorer, Scot Boden up front. Braintree had their best chances just before the end of the game with James Mulley and Michael Bakare just missing the target but both sides were forced to settle for a draw. Bottom-placed AFC Telford United overcame Torquay United in stunning fashion at New Bucks Head, needing a late winner to come out 4-3 winners. Torquay finished the game with nine-men after Toby Ajala and Aaron Downes were both sent-off. The Bucks started the livelier with Sean Clancy and Andy Todd combining well and it was Todd that sparked the breakthrough for the hosts after 7 minutes with a mazy run causing Martin Rice to spill the ball, allowing Mike Grogan to slot into an empty net. Torquay equalised after 19 minutes when Angus MacDonald met Luke Youngs corner and made no mistake from close-range. The Gulls took the lead in the 31st minute after another splendid Luke Young corner, this time met by Ryan Bowman who duly converted. Just as the visitors thought they had done enough to go into the break with a lead, Telford equalised with Rob McDonald nodding in from a Sean Clancy corner. After the break, Torquay went down to ten-men after Toby Ajala was given his marching orders after receiving his second yellow for a foul from behind on Ryan Higgins. On 66 minutes Telford made the most of their numerical advantage. Higgins long throw wasnt dealt with by the Torquay defence and Steve Akrigg was there to edge a looping header over Rice to put the Bucks back in front. Chris Hargreaves men refused to be beaten however and just 5 minutes later they were level again. Telford were once again undone by a set-piece with Josh Wakefield bundling the ball in at the near post from another corner. Torquays resolve was finally broken with just 8 minutes to spare. After failing to defend a free kick, Adam Farrell was gifted his goal from inches out. Frustration was clear for the visitors when Downes went through the back of Higgins and was duly shown red in the dying minutes. A first half striker from Jake Gosling at Southport has been enough to extend Bristol Rovers’ recent run of consecutive league victories to five games. Gosling opened the scoring at Haig Avenue with a curled effort from the edge of the area in the 13th minute to apply the perfect finish to a neat move that had also involved Adam Cunnington and Matt Taylor in the build-up. Taylor should have doubled the advantage when presented with a gilt-edged headed opportunity from a Gosling cross in the 38th minute, but, much the same as an earlier opportunity that had come from a David Martin free-kick, the striker guided his attempt wide of the post. Rovers, who ended the afternoon placed fourth in the table, maintained their shape and discipline throughout to render Southport’s threat almost non-existent throughout the rest of the match. Danny Wright snatched a late Gateshead equaliser against Aldershot Town at the International Stadium to keep the Tynesiders in the top five. Carl Finnigan fired wide in his first start for the hosts, but the visitors went in front after 39 minutes when Joseph NGuessans cross dropped in at the far post past Adam Bartlett. Substitute Michael Rankine fired into the side-netting as Gateshead rallied, before he played a part in the equalizer with less than 2 minutes remaining. Rankine fed Alex Rodman, whose cross was turned home by Wright from close range. Wrexham bounced back from their disappointing derby defeat against Chester FC last Monday by beating Eastleigh 3-0 at The Racecourse. There was little between the sides in the opening exchanges but Wrexham created the first opportunity when Wes York raced onto Manny Smith’s ball over the top and beat the offside trap but his effort was saved by keeper Ross Flitney. But Wrexham took the lead in their next attack. A defender failed to cut out a pass to Elliott Durrell who smashed the ball past Flitney. Wrexham went in search of another goal and Louis Moult steered a header wide of the target from York’s centre, but the Reds did make it 2-0 after 27 minutes. Moult put in a superb cross that flicked off a defender and York took a touch before firing past Flitney. James Constable had a header well saved by Dan Bachmann just before the interval with Eastleigh’s first effort on target but Wrexham were good value for their half-time lead. Both sides cancelled each other at the start of the second half but Eastleigh had a rare sight of goal when Jamie Collins’ effort was turned away by Bachmann. Eastleigh came even closer when Jai Reason’s 25-yard free-kick struck the bar while Moult found the back of the net for Wrexham after racing onto Keates’ pass but the whistle had already gone and the goal was disallowed for offside. But Wrexham did increase their advantage in the 71st minute. Connor Jennings raced onto Carrington’s clearance and put the ball in from the by-line for sub Andy Bishop to net from close range. Bachmann thwarted Reason late on for Eastleigh but Wrexham werent going to be denied a clean sheet and deserved their victory, the biggest of the season so far. A tremendous first half display saw Kidderminster Harriers get back on track and inflict Wokings first home loss of the season at Kingfield. Three goals in 8 minutes from Reece Styche, Michael Gash and Kyle Storer had handed the away side a 3-0 half-time lead. But Woking responded well after the break and efforts from Scott Rendell after 49 minutes and the the returning Jack Marriott 2 minutes from time ensured a frantic finale. But Kidderminster `keeper Danny Lewis made sure of the points with a superb late double save from Mike Cestor. Ten-man Lincoln City pulled off an excellent display of defending in the second half to hold off Macclesfield Town at Sincil Bank. Lincoln took the lead on 9 minutes. Sean Newton’s throw into the Macclesfield box was not cleared by goalkeeper Rhys Taylor and in the scramble that followed, Tom Miller struck home from the right-hand side of the box. City doubled their lead on 20 minutes. Jordan Burrow’s header was easy for Andy Halls to defend, but he made a hash of his knock back to Taylor and Ben Tomlinson was on him to pounce and round the goalkeeper and score. Macclesfield were struggling to get forward, but on 30 minutes they gave the Imps back line a scare when Adriano Moke cut into the right-hand side of the Imps box and letting rip with an effort that went just over the bar. On 38 minutes Lincoln were reduced to ten-men. Jordan Burrow clattered into the back of Moke, who jumped up to react and push the forward, but his reaction only earned him a yellow – Burrow’s foul saw him sent for an early bath. After the restart Macclesfield tried to make the extra man count. They dominated the possession with City having to reogranise, but were unable to find the breakthrough. Chester FC came back down to earth with a bump after their home derby win earlier in the week as goals from Shaun Pearson, Ross Hannah and substitute Nathan Arnold secured Grimsby Town maximum points at Blundell Park. Chester trailed in the 18th minute when former Blues player, Scott Browns in-swinging corner found Pearson, whose close range downward header found the net. Grimsby made it 2-0 just 4 minutes after the break, thanks to Hannah, who dispossessed Kingsley James on the edge of the area and skipped his way into space before firing a low left footed shot into the right corner of the net. Grimsby wrapped up the points in injury-time when Mackreth sprinted to the edge of the area before finding substitute Arnold who rifled his 12 yard shot into the back of the net. Welling United made their trek up to Altrincham worthwhile with a comfortable 4-0 win at Moss Lane. After going close through Jamal Fyfield and Tyrone Marsh, the Wings took a 13th minute lead when Joe Healy set up Harry Beautyman to beat Stuart Coburn with a left-footed effort. And the visitors doubled their advantage after 34 minutes when Marsh fired home following good work by Jake Gallagher. And in first half injury-time Welling added a crucial third with a fine drive from Gallagher from 20 yards. The second half saw Alty push the Wings back but they were unable to penetrate and 6 minutes from time they had Tom Marshall sent-off for a bad tackle on Jon Nouble. Less than 2 minutes later Welling added a fourth goal when Beautyman set up Chris Bush to beat Coburn from the edge of the box. Dover Athletic ended a run of four straight defeats and leap-frogged in-form Alfreton Town in the table thanks to on-loan Ricky Millers first half effort. The Reds` loanee striker Joe Ironside was off target from long range early on, while Dovers Connor Essam headed Christian Nanettis free-kick wide. Millers decisive breakthrough came in the 38th minute when he beat two defenders before curling home. Anthony Howell could have levelled for the Reds but fired wide from 20 yards. No fairytale start for Liam Daishs tenure in charge of Nuneaton Town as his first game in charge ended in a 2-1 home defeat by Dartford. Daish, who was appointed as manager on Monday, saw his new side take the lead after 35 minutes through Craig Currans strike. Elliot Bradbrook equalised from the spot following Gareth Deans foul with 12 minutes to go before Danny Harris headed in Peter Sweeneys cross 2 minutes later to seal the Darts win.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 18:12:26 +0000