Round-Up: Vanarama National League

By Steve Whitney

Aldershot Town sit proudly on top of the fledgling Vanarama National League table following a 6-0 hammering of Guiseley AFC at the EBB Stadium which made it three wins from three opening matches.

The Shots are now the only side with a 100% record after Dagenham & Redbridge were held to a 2-2 draw at Eastleigh.

But it looks like being a long, hard season ahead for Guiseley, who have just a single point to their credit to date.

The home side found themselves in total command by half-time, leading 4-0.

Matt McClure opened the scoring after 21 minutes with a curling effort past Jonny Maxted.

The on 38 minutes, Callum Reynolds doubled the Shots` lead with a volley after good work from Shamir Fenelon.

The on 43 minutes, a cross from Chris Arthur fell kindly for Jim Kellerman to fire past Maxted.

And it first half injury-time, Aldershot made it game over when Fenelon netted his second of the game after a cross from Bobby-Joe Taylor.

Most in the crowd were expecting the second half to be a more sedate affair with such a big lead, but just 8 minutes into the second period, the hosts made it a nap hand when James Rowe beat Maxted with a low skidder from 20 yards.

And on 74 minutes, it was 6-0 when another Arthur cross was headed home by McClure for his second of the game.

The Daggers were ahead and then 2-1 down at half-time at the Silverlake Stadium before coming back to earn a point from a 2-2 draw.

The visitors took a 12th minute lead when Corey Whitely was put through one-on-one with Eastleigh `keeper Graham Stack and he slotted home.

But a crazy couple of minutes just before the break saw the Spitfires go into the break 2-1 up.

Firstly, Ben Williamson equalised with a calm finish and then, in the 2nd minute of injury-time, Eastleigh were awarded a penalty following a foul by loanee Kevin Lokko on Ayo Obileye following a corner, which Williamson duly converted.

Fifteen minutes from time, the Daggers were awarded a penalty of their own which Whitely netted to make it 2-2 and eventually earn a share of the spoils.

Last season`s Promotion Final losers, Tranmere Rovers, failed to back up Tuesday`s 3-1 win over Woking to lose their first game of the new campaign at Prenton Park against Sutton United.

The U`s, who won in front of the BT Sport cameras last weekend, opened the scoring in the 33rd minute when Craig Dundas capitalised on a ball forward before sliding the ball past Scott Davies.

Tranmere were restricted to long-range efforts in the main, with Ollie Norburn and Andy Mangan coming closest.

But they couldn`t find a way past a stubborn U`s defence.

Maidstone United are still searching for their first victory of the season after they went down to another 2-0 defeat to league newcomers Leyton Orient.

There wasn’t a huge amount between the two sides. However, the Stones were left to rue not taking their chances as the O’s showed them how to be clinical in front of goal.

On the hour mark, James Dayton put in a delightful cross which the unmarked David Mooney headed into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

And any hopes the visitors had of getting anything from the game were dashed in stoppage time when substitute Romuald Boco fired past Lee Worgan from the edge of the box.

Dover Athletic made it two wins in five days after beating Wrexham 1-0 at Crabble.

Wrexham rarely threatened the home side in a rather disappointing encounter that the home side dominated for large periods of the game.

But they only managed one goal, and that came in the 18th minute when Ryan Bird netted from close range after good work from Kane Richards.

Ebbsfleet United's long unbeaten run goes on after a late Andy Drury goal rescued a point against fellow newly-promoted side AFC Fylde in a thriller at Stonebridge Road.

Five goals in the opening 34 minutes had Fleet 3-2 down in an amazing first half which started with an 8th minute goal for the Coasters` Henry Jones.

Danny Rowe doubled the visitors` advantage 7 minutes later, but only 2 minutes on, Kenny Clark reduced the deficit.

And then on 28 minutes it was 2-2 with Danny Kedwell pulling Fleet back on terms.

However, 6 minutes later Sam Finley restored Fylde`s lead and that took them into the break 3-2 ahead.

Second half pressure looked like making the Coasters the first visiting team to win at Stonebridge since November 2016.

But a minute from the end of normal time, Andy Drury scored a last-gasp equaliser to earn Ebbsfleet a point.

Gateshead made it two successive home wins in five days with a 3-0 success against Torquay United at the International Stadium.

The hosts took the lead after 19 minutes when a a cross by Callum Williams went in off the Gulls` Ryan Higgins.

Danny Johnson then set up Williams to threaten a second, but Ryan Clarke denied him from close range.

That was it until 12 minutes from time when the Heed doubled their advantage when sub Richard Peniket re-directed a Jordan Preston shot past the Torquay `keeper Ryan Clarke.

Three minutes later, another own goal, this time from Myles Anderson made it game over and leave Torquay to make the long journey home still with only a single point to their name.

Barrow AFC achieved their first victory of the new season by beating Woking 3-0 at the Furness Building Society Stadium.

The deadlock was broken after 20 minutes as Alex-Ray Harvey knocked a fine ball over the top to find Adi Yussuf, who beat the offside trap and lifted the ball over the on-rushing Nathan Baxter.

The lead was doubled 2 minutes after the break when a Dan Jones throw was only partially cleared and Jordan White looped a header past Baxter.

The third goal arrived 6 minutes from time from a corner as White met it amid a crowd at the near post and his flicked header went into the far corner.

Solihull Moors are still point-less from two games – their opening day game was postponed on safety grounds – after losing 4-1 at Meadow Park against a Boreham Wood side for whom this was a first win after a draw and a loss in their previous two matches.

However, Wood had to come back from a 33rd minute Fiarce Kelleher goal down to win, the loanee netting from a corner.

But they were behind for barely 5 minutes as defender Jamie Turley managed to get the last touch to the ball close in.

Two minutes later and the home side were in front when Bruno Andrade crashed the ball past Connal Trueman from just inside the box.

And experienced striker Paul Benson made it three goals in 4 minutes when he made it 3-1 with a spectacular overhead kick.

Just before the hour-mark, Angelo Balanta added a fourth for Wood with a curling effort past Trueman from 18 yards.

FC Halifax Town remain without a goal or a three-point haul this season after a goalless draw at Chester FC.

Chester are also yet to find a win in their opening three games, but the Shaymen have perhaps the greater concern as it`s now four-and-a-half hours without a goal.

Where next?

Still Unbeaten! Daggers Boss John Takes A Point From Eastleigh Trip John Still admits a point was “probably right” as Dagenham drew 2-2 with Eastleigh this afternoon at the Silverlake Stadium.
Tarpey Magic Helps Maidenhead To First Victory There were questions being asked as to whether prolific marksman Dave Tarpey would be able to continue his fantastic goalscoring record for Maidenhead United at Vanarama National League level.