Round Up: Vanarama National League

By Steve Whitney

Often in the past, winning the manager of the month award guarantees defeat in the next match! But not for Dagenham & Redbridge`s vasly experienced John Still, whose side maintained their unbeaten start to the Vanarama National League season with a 3-1 wi

Joe White put the Daggers ahead in the 13th minute of his full debut.

But the sides went into the break level after Kevin Lokko had turned the ball into his own net on 24 minutes.

However, goals in the 80th minute from Morgan Ferrier and 87th minute from Elliott Romain ensured the home side maintained their unbeaten start and no manager of the month bogey.

Macauley Bonne netted a hat-trick to help Leyton Orient to a 4-1 victory at the Matchroom Stadium against lowly Guiseley AFC.

Kayode Odejayi gave the Lions a 36th minute lead.

But two Bonne penalties late in the first half – the first for handball and the second for a foul on David Mooney – saw the O`s go into the break in front.

New signing Matt Harrold headed his first for the club after 65 minutes, less than 2 minutes after coming off the bench, and Bonne completed his hat-trick with a calm finish 8 minutes from time.

Wrexham are now third in the early table after a 2-0 win against Bromley at the Racecourse Ground.

The visitors were awarded a penalty on the half-hour mark for handball against James Jennings, but home `keeper Christian Dibble saved Frankie Raymond's spot-kick.

And the Dragons made their visitors pay for that miss immediately upon the resumption when Ntumba Massanka headed in Jennings' cross.

And then Massanka – on loan from Premier League Burnley - scored his second 20 minutes from time from Paul Rutherford's through-ball under to seal victory.

Maidenhead United achieved a third win since promotion and sixth place in the fledgling table after beating Sutton United 2-0 at Gander Green Lane.

The U`s had made a good start to the season themselves, winning five of their seven outings, and it was goalless at the break with neither side seriously threatening to break the deadlock.

But it was the visitors who did take the lead with 17 minutes to go through Ryan Upward's excellent free-kick that was too good for U`s keeper Jamie Butler.

Craig Dundas almost levelled for the home side, but his effort on goal was blocked on the line, and Alan Devonshire`s side sealed victory in the 2nd minute of stoppage time through Harold Odametey.

Aldershot Town got back to winning ways after three without success at the EBB Stadium against Solihull Moors.

There was only one goal in it – and that came after just 10 minutes.

James Rowe`s corner was taken short to Bobby-Joe Taylor, whose cross found an unmarked Shamir Fenelon to hook past August`s player of the month, Moors` keeper Nathan Vaughan.

FC Halifax Town came from behind to beat Fylde 2-1 at The Shay.

Town conceded their first goal in nearly five-and-a-half hours when Danny Rowe broke the deadlock after 56 minutes.

But just 2 minutes later, Tom Denton equalised and then turned the game round for Town with a second 13 minutes from time.

Coasters substitute Matty Blinkhorn was sent-off barely 2 minutes after coming on for an alleged stamp on Scott McManus.

There was a second win for Hartlepool United, who ended Maidstone United’s four-match unbeaten run at Victoria Park.

Pools have had a tough start following relegation but they led at half-time through Keith Watson`s 19th minute opener.

And they made sure of the points with goals from Jonathan Franks after 57 minutes and Connor Simpson after 68 minutes.

Substitute Johan ter Horst, the former Folkestone Invicta striker, replied in stoppage time.

Woking enjoyed a fine 3-1 win at the Moss Roase against Macclesfield Town.

Never an easy place to get a win, the Cards achieved it after coming back from being an 18th minute goal behind when Elliott Durrell headed past Nathan Baxter.

But Woking levelled 9 minutes later when Jason Banton's shot took a deflection before beating Shwan Jalal, and they were in front 5 minutes before the break when Joe Ward beat Jalal after being put through one-on-one with the experienced Silkman keeper.

The home side came close to equalising in the second half when Danny Whitaker's shot hit the post, and Inih Effiong also struck the post at the other end.

And it was Effiong who put the game to bed with the Cards` third with less than a minute of normal time remaining.

Ebbsfleet United are still unbeaten since coming back up to the National League at the end of last season.

However, Saturday saw them draw for the seventh time in their eight matches, this time at Stonebridge Road against Eastleigh.

Fleet were behind to a 19th minute James Constable goal.

But Jack Powell levelled with a superb free-kick in first half injury-time.

Danny Kedwell put the home side in front after 68 minutes, but Daryl McMahon's side couldn't hold on as the Spitfires rallied for a point, courtesy of sub Craig McAllister 10 minutes from time.

Torquay United came within seconds of winning their first game of the season at the Launa Windows Stadium against Chester FC.

Teenage debutant George Dowling gave the Gulls a 12th minute lead with a curling effort from the edge of the box past Alex Lynch.

Chester hit the post and bar, and forced new Torquay `keeper, Frenchman Vincent Dorel, into a number of good saves.

And his heroics and some stubborn defending looked to be giving Robbie Herrara his first win as caretaker boss, until sub Ross Hannah equalised from close range in stoppage time.

The draw – only Torquay`s second point of the campaign to date – leaves them rooted to bottom spot.

However, another caretaker boss, Micky Moore, earned his first win since taking over following the departure of Paul Cox from Barrow AFC.

His ten-men held out for a 2-1 victory over Boreham Wood at the Furness Building Society Stadium.

Goals from Bedsente Gomis after just 3 minutes and then Jack Barthram on 37 minutes had Barrow in control.

But an error by home keeper Stuart Moore allowed Bruna Andrade to reduce the deficit less than a minute later.

And then right on the stroke of half-time, Alex-Ray Harvey was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Tom Champion.

The visitors were reduced to ten-men themselves 10 minutes from the end as Angelo Balanta went off injured and all three subs had been used which aided the Bluebirds` efforts of holding out.

Where next?

Round Up: Vanarama National League North The top two in the Vanarama National League North met at the CNG Stadium and both Harrogate Town and visitors Brackley Town maintained their unbeaten starts to the new campaign after a 1-1 draw.
Saturday Preview: Vanarama National League August's fixtures are over and now we head into match day eight with a host of exciting National League action to come in September!