Round Up Of Yesterday's Games Barnet go top of the table on Saturday after they won 2-0 at Southport and overnight leaders FC Halifax Town were beaten for the first time by Bristol Rovers. Lee Cook kept up his remarkable scoring run by bagging the opener at the Merseyrail Community Stadium. The former QPR winger netted his sixth in as many appearances to give the Bees the lead with a stunning chip after 24 minutes. John Akinde doubled up with a well-taken effort 6 minutes before the break. Barnet were in total control until half-time, with the hosts unable to test Graham Stack in the Barnet goal. The second half was an entirely different story, though, with the Sandgrounders seeing much more of the ball without being able to convert possession into chances. FC Halifax lost their first game of the season after a 2-1 defeat to Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium. It was the home side who opened the scoring on 26 minutes through an Adam Cunnington header after he fought off Marc Roberts in the box to head home Dave Martin’s cross. The Shaymen were then forced to wait until the 61st minute for their equaliser, which came through Scott Boden, scoring his third goal this season after Paul Marshall found him in the box and he was able to drive his shot past Steve Mildenhall in the Bristol goal. Rovers then began to have the majority of the chances and in the 88th minute found the winner through Ellis Harrison, whose initial header was palmed away by Matt Glennon but only back into the path of the substitute who was able to roll the ball into the back of the net. A controversial red card proved to be the pivotal moment as Grimsby Town surrendered their unbeaten start to the season at the Electrical Services Stadium against Aldershot Town. The Mariners dominated the opening half-hour as they looked to build on their Bank Holiday `double`. However, the game hinged on Lenell John-Lewis’ sending-off in the 34th minute for a second yellow card. That gave Aldershot all the encouragement they needed, and they were straight on the front foot at the beginning of the second period. That pressure paid off when Brett Williams side-footed past James McKeown to open the scoring in the 55th minute before doubling the advantage 9 minutes later with another composed finish. The Mariners refused to throw the towel in though, and Scott Neilson pulled a goal back 13 minutes from time with a 25-yard strike that flew into the bottom corner past Phil Smith. Wrexham's three-game unbeaten run came to an end as they suffered a 2-1 defeat against Woking at The Racecourse. Woking preserved their unbeaten start to the season and took the lead with a stunning goal from nothing after 24 minutes. A long clearance reached Scott Rendell who found the top corner with a superb strike from 30 yards which gave Daniel Bachmann no chance. The goal knocked the wind out of Wrexham’s sails as they faded but the hosts grabbed a 37th minute equaliser. Elliott Durrell played in Louis Moult who evaded a challenge in the area before firing past Howe with a superb finish. Woking went 2-1 ahead in the 66th minute when Dean Morgan played a one-two and beat Ross White before putting his low drive past Bachmann. Dover Athletic fell to their fourth defeat of the season - a 1-0 loss to still unbeaten Kidderminster Harriers at Crabble. A 52nd minute strike from the visitors` midfielder Jack Byrne settled the match in a game where Whites didn't create enough goalscoring opportunities. The match-winning goal came when Craig Reid clipped a cross-field pass in behind Craig Stone which Byrne got on the end of and slammed home at the near post. Like Kidderminster, Macclesfield Town also remain unbeaten in 2014/15 after beating newcomers Eastleigh 2-0 at the Moss Rose. After a decent start from the visitors, it was the Silkmen who took the lead in the 32nd minute when a cross from Scott Barrow was headed past Ross Flitney from a narrow angle by recent signing Domaine Rouse. And they eventually doubled their advantage on the hour-mark with another headed goal, this time from Paul Lewis from a Paul Turnbull cross. Craig McAllister came off the bench and was lively for the Spitfires but in the end it was a fairly comfortable victory for the hosts. Two goals in 12 second half minutes took Dartford to their first win of the season against AFC Telford United at Princes Park. The home side trailed to a 35th minute Tony Gray strike at half-time and they looked off the pace. Dartford made a hash of dealing with a cross from the right and Gray had time to pick his spot with a neat volley inside Brown's left-hand post. But winger Luke Daley, who had his best game in a Dartford shirt, brilliantly brought them level on 52 minutes when Harris drove towards the penalty area and when the ball reached Daley, he arrowed a brilliant shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards. And Andy Pugh's first goal of the season sunk the visitors from Shropshire in the 64th minute. The excellent Daley sprinted down the left and whipped over a wonderful cross which Pugh, arriving late, gleefully slammed into the net. Nuneaton Town grabbed their first win and goals of the season with a 2-1 win over Altrincham at Liberty Way. The home side went in front in the 34th minute when a wonderful cross from deep by Ben Starosta was slammed home by Andy Brown. Boro grabbed their second goal after 67 minutes and it came about after some neat play by substitute Adam Walker. The midfielder skipped slipped a low cross into the box. It was cleared by the defence, but only as far as Jack Dyer, who showed great composure to side foot the ball past Dave Parton from 20-yards out. It was against the run of play when Damian Reeves halved the deficit with just 3 minutes remaining. Former Boro man Kyle Perry was involved in the goal, it was his through ball that found Reeves in the box and the prolific front man did the rest, slamming home past Reis Charles-Cook with a powerful effort. Chester FC slumped to defeat at the International Stadium after surrendering a one goal lead against Gateshead. Craig Hobson had earned the Blues a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute when a defensive mix up between James Curtis and skipper Ben Clark resulted in the Gateshead duo colliding and Hobson raced through to slot a low 20-yard shot into the net. Gateshead levelled matters in the 67th minute when Jon Shaw converted a spot-kick after he had been fouled by Danny Harrison. And Gary Mills` side won it in the 80th minute when subs Rob Ramshaw and Lewis Guy teed up Jamie Chandler who smashed a 20-yard effort into the roof of the net. Lincoln City found themselves down to ten-men for the third game in a row as they were beaten 3-1 by Torquay United at Sincil Bank. Nat Brown was sent-off for handball after just 8 minutes when he was the last Lincoln defender covering and the ball bounced up onto his hands and the referee went straight to his pocket and produced a red card. City showed great spirit though and even took the lead after 14 minutes when Ben Tomlinson was brought down by Dale Tonge. Tomlinson dusted himself down to put the ball beyond Martin Rice and score his second penalty in succession. Torquay equalised on 33 minutes when a ball from the right was met by Duane Ofori-Acheampong and he flicked it past Nick Townsend at the near post. The second half saw Torquay turn the screw and net twice more to put the game beyond Lincoln’s reach. First on 62 minutes, Courtney Richards picked up the ball on the edge of the area and drilled a low effort beyond Townsend’s left-hand side. Then on 72 minutes, Torquay broke and Ofori-Acheampong slid in to knock the ball past Townsend. Alfreton Town`s amazing start to the season continued on Saturday as they went down to a sixth successive defeat, this time at the Impact Arena to Braintree Town. The Iron started on the front foot and almost went ahead after 14 minutes when Mitch Brundle`s cheeky 35-yard effort was saved by Cameron Dawson. But it was goalless at the break. The visitors broke the deadlock though in the 64th minute when Dan Sparkes` cross was headed past Dawson by Kenny Davis. Chez Isaac came close to doubling Braintree`s lead on 75 minutes with a left-footed drive, but 4 minutes later they did go two-up and it was Sparkes again the provider, this time for sub Sean Marks to head home. Forest Green Rovers registered a third straight 1-1 draw from a scrappy encounter at Park View Road against Welling United. Zach ***an gave Welling a shock lead in the 36th minute when Malachi Hudson worked space for a low cross from the left and ***an was on hand to tap home from close range. But that was cancelled out by the recalled James Norwood on the stroke of the half-time interval. Lee Hughes delivered a cross with the outside of his boot for Norwood to convert with a looping header at the far post.
Well that's 3 games in a row that I have predicted correctly - must start backing it!! Sometimes the result is more important (as was yesterday) - 7 points from 9 mean that a bit of confidence will be with the players (I think confidence plays a massive part in sport) and some momentum is starting to build.
First half was pretty good until about 40 mins. After that we invited pressure and allowed Halifax to dominate and win all the second balls. Good to see us win though, particularly as not many teams in the top 8 won.
