Saturday`s Vanarama National League Review....

Forest Green lost top spot to neighbours Cheltenham Town after they won the BT Sport televised game on Friday night.

But they had to come back from being a 12th minute goal down when Ross Hannah got the slightest touch to a corner to make it 1-0.

James Roberts almost added a second in spectacular fashion when his volley smashed into the side-netting.

But the equaliser arrived just past the half-hour mark when winger Elliott Frear rolled the ball across the area for Jon Parkin to net from close range.

And just 2 minutes later Chester gifted their hosts a second goal when Ryan Higgins’ back-pass went straight to Keanu Marsh-Brown, who curled the ball beyond Jon Worsnop.

The second period was a much tighter, although Rovers had a great chance to make it 3-1 just10 minutes from time when Frear was clean through, only for his shot to hit the bar and go over.

Dover Athletic moved to within two points of the top of the table in third after a fine 1-0 win at Prenton Park against a Tranmere Rovers side who were looking to get into the top five themselves.

What turned out to be the only goal of the game came 3 minutes before half-time.

A long ball forward found Ricky Miller who appeared the handle the ball to control before firing his shot past Iain Turner.

On-loan Steve McNulty and fellow newcomer Gary Taylor-Fletcher were both prominent for Rovers, with the Luton defender coming close to levelling a minute before the break with a 20-yard effort.

Dover keeper Mitch Walker was called into action on several occasions in the second period, saving well from Lois Maynard and Taylor-Fletcher, but was helpless on 71 minutes when Andy Mangan`s left-footed effort hit the woodwork.

But, despite shading the possession stats, Tranmere were unable to find a leveller.

Lincoln City also missed out on the chance to break into the play-off places when they fell to a 1-0 defeat to fourth-placed Bromley at Sincil Bank.

The Imps dominated the first half, but couldn`t convert their chances.

Bromley responded with a much better second half display which eventually ended with the National League`s top scorer Moses Emmanuel breaking the deadlock in the 81st minute, getting on the end of Ali Fuseini`s cross to score from close range.

Braintree Town occupy the final play-off slot after also winning by the only goal of the game at the Amlin Stadium against Macclesfield Town.

But the Silkmen will be wondering how they went back to Cheshire point-less after dominating the majority of the game and finishing with possession stats of 61% to 39% in their favour!

Iron `keeper Will Norris was called upon to make a fine save to deny Kristian Dennis in the 17th minute and Danny Whitehead also went close on the half-hour mark.

But the opening period finished goalless.

Braintree started the second half a lot brighter and new loan signing Sammie Szmodics was prominent in attack.

And it was the Colchester United striker who broke the deadlock after 75 minutes with a right-footed effort from 12 yards.

Macc tried to get back on level terms, with Tony Diagne`s header going close, Whitehead forcing another save from Norris with 5 minutes to go and their new loanee, Reece Styche, also bringing the best out of the home custodian.

However, Danny Cowley`s men held on for three very useful points.

Wrexham made it two league wins in a row as they beat Barrow AFC 4-1 at The Racecourse Ground.

Wrexham took a while to get going with Barrow looking more of a threat in the final third.

The home side took the lead in the 2nd minute of added time in the first half.

Connor Jennings raced onto Jamal Fyfield's long ball and although he was denied by goalkeeper Joel Dixon, the striker managed to tuck away the loose ball.

Wrexham made a good start to the second half and had a couple of chances before making it 2-0 in the 57th minute.

Connor Jennings threaded the ball through to Wes York who slotted the ball past Dixon.

Barrow reduced the deficit with Dave Symington's 25-yard effort on 74 minutes but the hosts restored their two-goal cushion on 5 minutes later when Dominic Vose sent in a low cross that was turned home by York.

The fourth goal came in added time as Jennings converted following good work by York.

Struggling FC Halifax Town were condemned to a fourth consecutive league defeat at the hands of Eastleigh, who came from a goal behind to claim a narrow 2-1 victory and are level on points with Wrexham.

The Shaymen made the brighter start and took the lead after 15 minutes with a well-worked goal as Kieran Sadlier and Jordan Burrow combined well to tee up Sam Walker, who saw his effort parried. Kingsley James was the quickest to react and buried home his fourth of the season with a smart finish.

But after Andy Drury levelled after some poor defending 3 minutes after the break, Josh Payne bundled home what proved to be the winner in the 70th minute as a cross from the left wasn’t dealt with and Payne got the slightest of touches to force the ball into the goal.

The defeat means that FC Halifax now drop to the bottom of the league, with results elsewhere going against the Shaymen.

And the biggest of those results was Kidderminster Harriers finally managing to break their win-duck at the nineteenth attempt!

Jordan Murphy's dramatic late header saw Harriers record their first win in twenty-two league games and first clean sheet in twenty-eight in a 1-0 victory over Woking at Aggborough.

Woking boss Garry Hill had dramatically put his entire squad up for sale in following their FA Cup exit last weekend and they looked short of confidence.

And Harriers dramatically got their reward with just 3 minutes of the game to go when some fine build up finally enabled them to break the deadlock; Matt Young's cross met by an equally fine header by Murphy.

Gateshead remain level on points with Wrexham and Braintree after a 3-2 win at Meadow Park against a Boreham Wood side who are just sitting above the drop zone.

It could hardly have started better for the visiting Tynesiders when they went in front inside 2 minutes.

Simon Ramsden`s good build-up work finished with Gus Mafuta`s right-footed angled drive finding the back of the net.

And they doubled their lead in the 11th minute when Ryan Bowman provided the assist for Danny Johnson to hit left-footed from the other side of the box.

Wood began to settle after that poor start and they reduced the arrears in the 26th minute when Nathan Buddle brought down Anthony Jeffrey in the box and Billy Clifford duly converted the resulting penalty.

The second period saw Gateshead force the home side back, although Jeffrey and Charlie MacDonald both went close to equalising.

And the hosts did manage to make it 2-2 in the 75th minute when the newly-returned Mauro Vilhete got on the end of a Jeffrey cross to score from close range.

But with virtually the next attack, Gateshead were back in front when Pat McLaughlin`s cross was converted by George Honeyman.

The visitors held firm to take the points back up the A1.

Guiseley AFC leap-frogged Welling United into seventeenth spot in the table after a 2-0 win at Nethermoor.

Welling started well enough and both Michael Bakare and Reece Harris had efforts blocked or go just over.

But it was the Lions who drew first blood after 9 minutes with a debut goal from new loanee Anthony Dudley – the Bury striker firing home left-footed from the corner of the box.

And they doubled their lead 2 minutes before the break when Danny Boshell`s good work ended with Dudley scoring with his right foot this time.

Steven Drench in the home goal was tested in the second period and saved well from Harris and Ricky Wellard.

But Guiseley held firm for three good points.

Torquay United had to settle for a point with ten-men after goalscorer Tyrone Marsh was sent-off 10 minutes from time against Altrincham at Moss Lane.

Marsh was dismissed for pushing own team-mate Dan Butler after words had passed between them as the Gulls fought to hold on.

And it took a terrific goal by Altrincham`s Jake Moult in the 65th minute to cancel out Marsh's opener in the 24th minute.

But Torquay are moving in the right direction under player-manager Kevin Nicholson and are now unbeaten in four games.

Third-bottom Southport picked up a point at home against Aldershot Town to stay within a point of fifth-bottom Boreham Wood.

Jim Stevenson gave the visitors an 11th mkinute lead after Max Crocombe had beaten away Cheye Alexander's curling cross into the box.
Luke Foster equalised 9 minutes into the second half when he headed home Adam Blakeman's corner kick to set up a nervy finish.

Dan Walker volleyed against the bar for Aldershot, and Andy Wright went close for Southport in the closing stages.