Cheltenham Suffer Rare Defeat

...their first defeat in the Vanarama National League since September at Eastleigh, who rekindled their own play-off hopes.

Few saw this result coming as the Spitfires weren`t exactly in prime form – indeed this 1-0 win was Chris Todd`s side`s first in a dozen games, while the visitors had gone a club record twenty-two league games without losing.

However, what prved to be the only goal of a game that Cheltenham had slightly the better of overall, came after 13 minutes when a free-kick was turned past his own keeper by Robins` defender Cameron Burgess.

There were opportunities for Danny Wright, Dan Holman and James Rowe to equalise, while at the other end, Lee Cook came close to doubling Eastleigh's lead but his effort went over the bar.

The visitors had to replace keeper Dillon Phillips with Callum Kitscha through injury 14 minutes from time, and the replacement made a good save to deny Cook 5 minutes later.

But Eastleigh held firm to record a win that lifts them to eighth, four points behind the play-off places.

Braintree Town, still fuming over the goal that saw them drop points at Guiseley AFC last Saturday, moved into the top five and into fourth spot after hammering another nail into bottom-markers Kidderminster Harriers` relegation coffin.

The Iron opened the scoring on the half-hour mark when Chez Isaac took a Michael Cheek pass in his stride and shot past Harriers` keeper Dean Snedker.

However, Harriers equalised 4 minutes into the second half when Luke Maxwell hammered the ball in off the crossbar following a Ben Whitfield assist.

But what proved to be the winner came just past the hour-mark when a through ball was headed away by Snedker, but straight to Matt Paine, who lobbed the ball back over his head from just inside the visitors` half.

Dover Athletic were looking to recover from the disappointment of bowing out of the FA Trophy last weekend and return to the battle for a top five spot.

However, the Whites suffered a 2-1 Crabble defeat to out-of-form Southport, who ended a seven-game run without a victory to ease fears of being sucked back into the relegation battle.

Jamie Allen gave the visitors a 26th minute lead when he converted Steve Hewitt's assist.

And they held that lead until the 62nd minute when Ricky Miller levelled after goalkeeper Max Crocombe failed to gather a free-kick.

Twelve minutes later and Port were back in front when some indifferent defending allowed Allen to cross for Andy Bishop to fire home what proved to be the winner.

In the 5th of 7 added minutes at the end of the game, Southport`s Max Cartwright was sent-off for a second bookable offence.

Torquay United made the long midweek trek up to Cheshire to take on Macclesfield Town in desperate need of points and a morale-booster after being victims of an FA Trophy upset last Saturday at Bognor Regis Town.

And they achieved both to move to within five points of the safety-mark witrh a game in hand following a 2-1 Moss Rose victory.

The Gulls were ahead after 20 minutes when former Bristol Rovers and Kidderminster Harriers striker Nathan Blissett scored after some poor defending.

The Silkmen pulled back on level terms a couple of minutes before the break when Paul Turnbull's cross was converted by top scorer Kristian Dennis from close range.

However, just 2 minutes into the second period, Blissett restored the visitors` lead when he headed in Danny Racchi's corner for what proved to be the winner.

Welling United though are in deep trouble, eight points behind fifth-bottom Altrincham after going down to a 2-0 defeat at Bromley.

It was good news for the Ravens` caretaker boss Neil Smith, for whom this was a third successive win.

Rohdell Gordon gave the home side an early 9th minute lead after good work from striker Adam Cunnington.

Moses Emmanuel eventually doubled Bromley`s lead from the penalty spot after 56 minutes after he had been brought down in the box by Ian Gayle.

Welling were mainly kept at arms` length by the hosts, although the Wings` recent signing, Sierra Leone international Ibrahim Kargbo, looked lively.