Bank Holiday Monday Round-Up: Vanarama National League

Despite the horrendous weather, the Moss Rose was passed fit for the derby against Chester FC and a crowd of 2,996 saw the visitors slip closer towards the relegation trapdoor after suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat.

John Askey’s men won the game thanks to Danny Whitehead’s 53rd minute strike but Chester fought hard all game and were only denied a point by Macclesfield `keeper Shwan Jalal, who produced a stunning save to keep out James Jones’ volley.

It proved to be an even better day for the Silkmen as second-placed Sutton United were beaten 3-0 at Gander Green Lane by play-off outsiders Bromley.

The visitors took an early 6th minute lead when Brandon Hanlan turned a loose ball home from close range.

A minute before the break, the U`s came close to levelling but Bromley `keeper
David Gregory pulled off a tremendous save to tip Harry Beautyman`s header over the bar.

But in the 3rd minute of injury-time at the end of the half, the Ravens doubled their lead when they were awarded a penalty as Sutton `keeper Jamie Butler brought down George Porter and Adam Mekku converted the resulting spot-kick.

Ten minutes into the second half, Butler made a point-blank save to deny Mekki from scoring a third.

And on 68 minutes, it got even worse for the hosts when Jamie Collins was dismissed for a stamping incident after the referee had consulted with the fourth official.

Ten minutes from the end, Bromley had their third when Josh Rees tapped home from close range.

Boreham Wood moved above Wrexham into third place, three points adrift of Sutton, after beating the Dragons 1-0 at the Racecourse Ground.

The only goal of the game played in front of a crowd of 4,746 came after 10 minutes when Bruno Andrade was shoved over in the box by Manny Smith and Andrade dusted himself down before converting the resulting spot-kick.

Wrexham`s frustrations boiled over 2 minutes after the break when Kevin Roberts was sent-off following a clash with Andrade.

There was no way back for the Reds, whose seventeen-game unbeaten run came to an end.

Eastleigh took the points in the Hampshire derby at the EBB Stadium against Aldershot Town.

A fiery first half which kept the referee on his toes, saw the Spitfires break the deadlock 2 minutes before half-time when a quick break saw Chris Zebroski convert after the ball was flicked back across goal.

And they managed to finish off The Shots after 63 minutes when Zebrowski burst down the right and crossed for Paul McCallum to rise and smash the ball into the back of the net to give the Spitfires victory.

Ebbsfleet United kept their play-off hopes alive with a dramatic victory at home to Dover Athletic.

The win means Fleet have closed to within four points of their Kent rivals and with two games in hand, it’s all to play for with less than four weeks of the regular season remaining.

Fleet took the lead on 54 minutes when Dover failed to clear a corner and Sean Shields stood up his man before driving a left-footed shot low into the net.

But in the 4th minute of stoppage time, Giancarlo Gallifuoco went down under Chris Bush's challenge and Keanu Marsh-Brown scored from the spot with what looked like surely being Dover`s point-saver.

However, 2 minutes later, Myles Weston crossed for Andy Drury to net the last-gasp winner at the far post.

Victory lifted Daryl McMahon’s side to within two points of eighth-placed AFC Fylde.

Maidstone United remain looking over their shoulders at the drop zone after suffering a third straight defeat, this time at Victoria Road against Dagenham & Redbridge.

Goals from Fejiri Okenabirhie after 25 minutes and Craig Robson on 64 minutes put the Daggers in command.

Alex Wynter replied with 8 minutes left but the Stones couldn’t find a leveller.

A seemingly doomed Guiseley AFC kept their faint survival hopes afloat for a another week, thanks to a 1-0 win at Victoria Park against Hartlepool United, whose three successive wins had taken them seven points clear of the drop zone.
And with Solihull Moors' match against Tranmere Rovers falling foul of the weather, Pools had the chance to increase the gap to ten, but let the opportunity go begging as the strugglers left the Vic with all three points thanks to a last-gasp Dayle Southwell winner.

With the points seemingly shared, a long ball forward 4 minutes into stoppage time saw Southwell profit from an error by Louis Laing.

Torquay United`s chances of staying in the top non-League competition received a massive boost when they increased Woking`s own fears of the drop with a 2-1 win at Plainmoor.

The pitch passed a late inspection and the Gulls fans were celebrating the opening goal after 14 minutes when the officials spotted a handball in the box and Brett Williams beat Nathan Baxter from the resulting penalty.

That was it until the 65th minute when the Cards grabbed an equaliser – Torquay being caught out at the back and Reece Grego-Cox pounced to beta Vincent Dorel.

But just 3 minutes later, Torquay restored their lead with a 25-yard effort from Connor Lemonheigh-Evans – a goal worthy of winning three points.