Saturday’s Round-Up: Vanarama National League

Debutant Keanu Marsh-Brown, signed on loan from Forest Green Rovers, had a dream debut and made an instant impact.

He opened the scoring after just 2 minutes when he picked the ball up 25 yards from goal and smashed it past Shwan Jalal.

And Marsh-Brown doubled his tally after 36 minutes when Femi Ilesanmi sent him through on goal and he rounded Jalal and netted to make it 2-0.

It was a disappointing outcome for Macclesfield, who improved in the second period and saw Mitch Hancox denied by Dover `keeper Mitch Walker and come close late on with a cross-shot from Tyrone Marsh.

However, second-placed Sutton United were unable to take advantage of the Silkmen`s defeat as they were also beaten, 1-0 at the Gallagher Stadium by relegation-threatened Maidstone United.

Skipper Stuart Lewis grabbed what turned out to be the only goal of the game
15 minutes from time.

He broke from midfield and while his pass was cut out, Blair Turgott returned the ball to Lewis who found the bottom corner past Jamie Butler from the edge of the area.

In the end it was a deserved victory for Jay Saunders’ side, who moved nine points clear of the drop zone, while the U`s remain two points behind Macclesfield.

Boreham Wood are now third after beating the team who started the day in that position, Tranmere Rovers, 2-1 at Meadow Park.

A fairly even first half was looking like ending goalless until injury-time at the end of the half when Morgan Ferrier chested down a cross and set up Angelo Balanta to volley home and celebrate signing his new deal on Friday.

The visitors probably deservedly pulled back on level terms on 66 minutes when James Norwood scored from close range after the Wood defence had failed to deal with a loose ball in the box.

And 4 minutes later, Rovers almost went in front but for a superb save from Grant Smith to deny Norwood`s overhead kick going in.

Nine minutes later, Wood restored their lead when Ferrier's initial strike was blocked and Bruno Andrade latched onto the rebound to fire home with his right foot.

In the 87th minute, Andy Cook almost snatched a point for the visitors, but his
looping header was pushed onto the woodwork by Smith's fingertips.

In the end it will be deemed as being two points dropped by now managerless Wrexham, but it was an outstanding performance from Woking `keeper Nathan Baxter that allowed his team to be in a position to salvage a draw at Kingfield.

Wrexham, who were shocked to lose manager Dean Keates to Walsall yesterday, and fell behind in the 12th minute with a close-range header from Josh Staunton.

And he inadvertently pulled Wrexham back on level terms on 33 minutes with an own goal.

The visitors then took the lead on the hour-mark through Marcus Kelly, but Joey Jones rescued what could turn out to be a crucial point for Anthony Limbrick`s men with 10 minutes remaining.

Wrexham, with Andy Davies and Carl Darlington in caretaker charge, remain unbeaten in fourteen games, while the Cards hold an eight-point advantage over the bottom four.

Aldershot Town are level on points with Tranmere and Wrexham in sixth but had to be content with a point from a 0-0 draw at the Swansway Chester Stadium against second-bottom Chester FC.

Marcus Bignot's hosts defended well, but the Shots struck a post through Matt McClure and were denied by a fine performance by the home side`s on-loan keeper Andy Firth.

AFC Fylde missed the chance to put pressure on the teams in the play-off places when they were held to a 3-3 draw at Mill Farm by relegation-threatened Hartlepool United.

A Jordan Tunnicliffe own goal 6 minutes before the break saw Pools edge in front at half-time.

But two quickfire goals from Andy Bond a minute after the interval and then a real cracker 9 minutes later took the Coasters into the lead.

And on 77 minutes they made it 3-1 through James Hardy and seemingly coasting to a comfortable win.

However, there`s certainly nothing wrong with Hartlepool`s spirit as on 88 minutes a `goal of the season` contender from Jake Cassidy reduced the deficit to one, and then in the 3rd minutes of stoppage time, sub Devante Rodney produced another terrific goal to earn the visitors a vital point.

And with Solihull Moors being held to a home draw, Pools remain three points above the drop zone.

It was third-bottom Torquay United who shared the spoils with Moors at The Automated Technology Group Stadium to maintain their hopes of getting out of trouble.

The Gulls broke the deadlock 4 minutes before half-time when they were awarded a penalty when Fiacre Kelleher brought down Elliott Romain.

Brett Williams stepped up and sent Max O`Leary the wrong way from the spot.

It looked as though that was going to be three vital points for Gary Owers` side, until the 82nd minute when Jamey Osborne`s free-kick was headed down by Liam Daly for Adu Yussuf to tap in for the equaliser.

Eastleigh and Leyton Orient shared a 0-0 draw at the Silverlake Stadium.

Jobi McAnuff went closest for the O's when his first-half free-kick came back off the bar.

Nine minutes of the first half remained when McAnuff clipped the bar from a 20-yard free-kick, Matt Harrold attempted to head the rebound in, but Eastleigh managed to clear.

Orient were certainly in charge of possession when a rare Eastleigh chance saw Sam Matthews strike from long-range, but the effort was high and wide of the target.

Macauley Bonne went close at the death after he headed just wide from Jame Brophy's cross as the game ended 0-0.

FC Halifax Town drew 1-1 with ten-man Guiseley AFC in a fiercely-contested Yorkshire derby at Nethermoor.

Kayode Odejayi headed the Lions into a 13th minute lead.

However, after a brawl, Guiseley`s John Rooney was shown a straight red-card 4 minutes before half-time.

That proved the turning point of the contest, with the Shaymen dominating from then on, and eventually equalising through Ben Tomlinson after 68 minutes after a long ball forward.

Barrow AFC also finished their game at York Road against mid-table Maidenhead United with ten-men.

However, Ady Pennock`s side battled hard to earn a crucial 1-0 win to move three points clear of the drop zone.

It was goalless at the break, with the Magpies probably just shading it.

But just 4 minutes after the restart, Barrow took the lead with a low shot past Carl Pentney.

The Bluebirds` task of holding on to their lead got a good deal harder in the 79th minute when they had Bedsente Gomis dismissed for a second bookable offence.

They held on though for a vital victory.

(Photo: Mark Fletcher Shutter Press)