Tuesday's Round-Up: Vanarama National League

The Shots made it two successive wins by edging out Torquay United, who had drawn their opener last Saturday, by the odd goal in five at the EBB Stadium.

But it could have been so much different had the Gulls` Jamie Reid`s header midway through the second half which would have made it 2-2, not been cancelled out for an offside decision hotly disputed by the visiting bench and players.

The hosts took an early 5th minute lead through Shamir Fenelon, but Luke Young equalised just 4 minutes later and it remained all-square at the break.

But just 3 minutes into the second half, Gary Waddock`s side restored their advantage through midfielder Bobby-Joe Taylor.

After surviving the Jamie Reid incident, substitute Shaun Okojie's 85th minute header put the Shots 3-1 ahead, and Torquay's Jon-Paul Pittman netted a stoppage time consolation in an entertaining encounter.

Dagenham made the short trip round the M25 to face a Boreham Wood outfit who had also drawn their season`s opener.

John Still`s side had enjoyed a win over Barrow AFC last Saturday and started in confident mood at Meadow Park.

They opened the scoring in just the 2nd minute, with Fejiri Okenabirhie latching onto a mistake from the Wood defence to fire past Grant Smith.

The hosts pulled one back just 5 minutes later when Portugese striker Bruno Andrade fired home from the penalty spot after he had been brought down in the area.

But the Daggers restored their advantage with only 18 minutes gone when Corey Whitely fired an unstoppable free-kick past Smith.

Wood battled hard in the second half but couldn’t to find a way past the impressive Mark Cousins, although Andrade did beat him once, only to see his powerful effort crash back off the bar.

Kent rivals Dover Athletic and Bromley met at Crabble with the hosts looking to make it two wins from their opening two matches after beating relegated Hartlepool United.

The Ravens had shared the spoils last Saturday and drew first blood on Tuesday

Josh Rees caught Dover on the break and fired home the opener with 35 minutes gone on the clock.

Ryan Bird`s header had to be cleared off the line at the other end in the second half, but the visitors caught the Whites out once more on 71 minutes when Louis Dennis doubled the lead after a quick break out of defence.

Dover did manage to pull one back 4 minutes later when Kadell Daniel`s free-kick went in off Bromley `keeper David Gregory.

But Chris Kinnear`s side were unable to find an equaliser.

Another Kent derby saw Ebbsfleet United record their first three-point haul since returning to Non-League football`s top flight at the end of last season.

The Fleet faced a Maidstone United side who had also shared the spoils last Saturday, and it was the visitors who came closest to breaking the deadlock in a disappointing opening period when Stuart Lewis was denied by a fine save from Fleet `keeper Nathan Ashmore.

However, it was the home side who did eventually take the lead after 65 minutes when Luke Coulson cut in and fired past Lee Worgan.

And 11 minutes later, it was 2-0 when Danny Kedwell beat Worgan after some good work from Jack Powell.

Lewis, who had the Stones` biggest threat all evening, ended the game in the shower first after being sent-off in the first minute of stoppage time for a reckless challenge on Andy Drury.

Relegated Leyton Orient, whose opening day defeat created the headline, enjoyed their first win as a Non-League side in beating Solihull Moors 3-1 at the Matchroom Stadium – meaning Liam McDonald`s side are the only point-less side in the division.

The O`s looked in determined mood, but it appeared that the luck was against them as they struck the woodwork on three occasions in the first half.

But the home side did make the breakthrough in the 21st minute through skipper Charlie Lee following Jobi McAnuff`s corner.

Just 2 minutes into the second half, and Orient’s was doubled soon when David Mooney converted a Jake Caprice cross from close range.

Afolayan Oladapo pulled a goal back for Moors with 15 minutes remaining, but Steve Davis` side secured victory just 3 minutes later when experienced defender George Elokobi headed in a James Dayton corner.

Hartlepool United, who came down with Orient, are still searching for their first win, but at least got off the mark on Tuesday with a hard-earned point from a 1-1 draw at the Moss Rose against a Macclesfield Town team who had won their opener.

And it was the Silkmen who started confidently and were eventually rewarded when Danny Whitaker headed in Elliott Durrell`s cross with 7 minutes of the first half remaining.

Jake Cassidy, who had been Pools best player in the opening 45 minutes, grabbed the equaliser just shy of the hour-mark, heading home a Ryan Donaldson cross.

Fancied Tranmere Rovers picked up maximum points for the first time after drawing last Saturday after a 3-1 win over Woking at Prenton Park.

The Cards travelled north buoyed by their win last Saturday, but fell behind in the 18th minute when Andy Cook was played through and rounded keeper Nathan Baxter to score.

And it was 2-0 just after the half-hour mark when Olly Norburn fired past Baxter from 20 yards.

The Cards got themselves back in the game 2 minutes before the break when Charlie Carter headed past Scott Davies from close range.

But recent signing Jay McEveley made sure the points stayed at home when he headed in a Jack Dunn corner on the hour-mark.

Eastleigh followed up their opening day draw with a 1-0 win against a Sutton United side who also gained three points last weekend in the televised game against Orient.

The visitors looked confident in the opening half, and home `keeper Graham Stack had to be alert to prevent Craig Eastmond from giving the U`s the lead.

The Spitfires grew into the game though and it came as little surprise when they took the lead on the hour-mark.

Mark Yeates` initial effort was blocked by the U`s defence, but the ball ran kindly for Ben Williamson to beat Jamie Butler from close in.

Gateshead are off the mark after beating Guiseley AFC 1-0 at the International Stadium.

The Lions travelled to the north-east having earned a point on the opening day, but the Heed were smarting from their defeat at Woking.

But it was the Yorkshire side who had the better of the opening half withouth managing to trouble James Montgomery in the home goal too seriously.

Neil Aspin`s side improved in the second period and broke the deadlock 8 minutes in when skipper Niall Byrne headed Paddy McLoughlin`s corner past Jonny Maxted.

Maxted had to be at his best after that to prevent the hosts from extending their lead.

Wrexham also secured their first win of 2017/18 on their first visit to York Road to play newly-promoted Maidenhead United.

The Magpies began their first campaign at the top of the non-League Pyramid with a draw, but found the Dragons a tough proposition.

Manny Smith gave the visitors the lead in the 40th minute with a header from a Marcus Kelly cross.

But they were in front for less than 2 minutes as the home side`s prolific marksman, Dave Tarpey, fired home from close range.

The second half was even-steven until Ntumba Massanka popped up with what turned out to be Wrexham`s winner 13 minutes from time.

Chester FC, whose opening game at Solihull was postponed for safety reasons, got their 2017/18 campaign underway with a 1-1 home draw against newly-promoted AFC Fylde.

The Coasters had proven to be a tough nut to crack in drawing last weekend, and this end-to-end contest could have gone either way.

As it was, both goals arrived at the end of the opening period.

Firstly, Jack Muldoon put Fylde ahead on 43 minutes from close range.

Then Lucas Dawson equalised 2 minutes later with a neat finish past Rhys Taylor.

Chester`s debutant keeper Conor Mitchell, signed on a six-month loan just hours before kick-off from Premier League Burnley, became an instant hero as he pulled off a terrific save to deny Sam Finley and also make a couple of other less spectacular, but nevertheless important stops to help earn the Blues a point.

FC Halifax Town secured their first point of the new season with a hard-earned goalless draw at the Furness Building Society Stadium against a Barrow AFC side who had also lost their opener.

After an opening half spent almost exclusively on the defensive, the Shaymen Halifax came closest to breaking the deadlock when Connor Oliver struck the bar.