Tuesday's Round-Up: Vanarama National League

There was a real `six-pointer` at Nethermoor Park where second-bottom Guiseley simply had to beat Barrow to have any hope of staying up.

And the visiting Bluebirds were in need of the points just as much as they started the evening in the bottom four.

But as the home side had won only six games all season, hopes were not high of a miracle occurring.

And it was the visitors who had the majority of the first half pressure and possession without managing to break the deadlock, due largely to a good performance in the home goal by Joe Green.

However, just 3 minutes into the second half, Barrow did manage to trouble the scorers when Asa Hall headed home, ironically, after a mistake by the otherwise excellent Green.

Guiseley made a fight of it and the scorer became the hero at the other end of the pitch when he cleared the ball off the line after Rowan Liburd`s effort had beaten `keeper Steve Arnold.

The visitors finished the game with ten-men after Donovan Makoma was shown a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident 3 minutes from time, but they held out to record three massive points and send the Yorkshire side down into the National League North.

Second-placed Tranmere Rovers ensured that leaders Macclesfield Town have to obtain a couple more points from their remaining two matches after inflicting a damaging blow to Dover Athletic`s own play-off hopes with a 1-0 win at Crabble.

In-form striker Andy Cook scored the only goal of the game after 39 minutes – his 26th of the season – when a ball by Jeff Hughes was cut out by Manny Parry but the defender could only direct his header up in the air and Cook capitalised on the loose ball and steered the ball past Mitch Walker and into the back of the net.

Connor Jennings and Cook again had opportunities to extend Rovers` lead but little was seen of the Whites in attack and defeat saw them drop to three points adrift of the top seven with just two games to go.

Aldershot Town moved up to third in the table with a dominant display at the EBB Stadium against mid-table Gateshead.

It was all Aldershot from the kick-off and they twice hit the woodwork before breaking the deadlock in first half injury-time.

Jim Kellermann’s corner found Scott Rendell holding off a couple of defenders in the goalmouth and, with his back to goal, he flicked the ball with the inside of his foot across the line before James Montgomery in the Gateshead goal could claw it away.

Montgomery proved an imposing barrier between The Shots and a resounding victory, making a string of fine saves as the hosts threatened to run riot.

Gary Waddock`s men moved above Sutton United after they were beaten 2-1 at York Road by Maidenhead United.

Looking to maintain their place in the automatic semi-final spots, Sutton fell behind after 25 minutes when Harry Pritchard scored a stunner from 25 yards that game Jamie Butler in the visiting goal little chance.

And on 32 minutes, the Magpies went two-up when Jake Goodman leapt to head home a corner at the far post.

Midway through the second half, Maidenhead had the chance to kill the game off when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Sean Marks by Terrell Thomas, but Butler thwarted Pritchard - who had scored from 25 yards earlier - from 12 yards.

Paul Doswell`s side gave themselves a chance of a late comeback when Craig Eastmond reduced the deficit in the 88th minute with another fine strike from distance but, although Ross Stearn hit a post in stoppage time, the home side held firm to move into a very respectable twelfth place in the table.

Ebbsfleet moved into the play-off places after a 1-0 win at the Silverlake Stadium against an Eastleigh side who seem to have made an early trip to the beach after suffering a third successive defeat.

However, they gave as good as they got for the majority of this game and could have broken the deadlock in the 65th minute when Sam Matthews went down under a challenge after racing after a loose ball in the box.

But Paul McCallum`s resulting penalty was saved by Nathan Ashmore.

The visitors made the Spitfires pay for that miss in the 82nd minute when Kenny Clark head what turned out to be the winner from a corner.

Bromley could be forgiven for being focussed on the Buildbase FA Trophy Final next month but maintained a mathematical chance of making the top seven with a 3-1 win over mid-table Dagenham & Redbridge at Hayes Lane.

It was goalless at the break, but just 9 minutes after the restart, Dagenham took the lead when Luke Howell scored a fine individual goal.

The lead lasted barely 3 minutes though as Jack Holland headed past Mark Cousins from a corner, and on 71 minutes, another Holland header took the Ravens into the lead.

A minute into stoppage time, Bromley made sure of the points with a fine finish from Frankie Raymond.

Bromley would need to win their final three games and hope that teams above them implode to have any hope of a top seven spot.

Hartlepool United, who have recently gained some stability off the pitch following a takeover, confirmed their place in non-League football`s top division for another season after a hard-earned win against the team who came down from League Two with them at the end of last season, Leyton Orient.

Louis Laing was the hero for a Poole side who finished the game with ten-man.

Laing popped up with a 39th minute headed winner when a Michael Woods free-kick to the far post.

There were 2 minutes of added time gone when Pools were reduced to ten-men when Devante Rodney picked up a second yellow card for a late challenge.

(Pictured - Barrow fans celebrate a `six-pointer` win)