Saturday`s Vanarama National League Review....

By Steve Whitney

It`s as you were in the Vanarama National League as both leaders Cheltenham Town and second-placed Forest Green Rovers both won again on Saturday, although Gary Johnson`s Robins improved their goal difference after a 4-0 win against Woking.

And to make matters worse for the now mid-table Cards, it was former loanee Dan Holman who did the damage for the leaders.

Holman, who spent the first half of this season on loan with the Cards, broke a goal record that has stood for more than 27 years as he bagged all four goals.

He settled nerves with the opener on 32 minutes and he repeated the feat just 6 minutes later with a mirror-image goal after Jack Munns' corner was flicked goalwards by Asa Hall and reached Holman on the corner of the six-yard box where the strike made no mistake.

The third goal came after 58 minutes after good work from Danny Wright saw him cross to his strike partner who had the simple task of heading home.

Holman and Cheltenham's fourth came 6 minutes later after he latched onto a Wright flick and he steadied himself and slipped the ball under the helpless Jake Cole.

Forest Green faced a tricky test at play-off chasing Gateshead`s International Stadium, but they came through it with a 1-0 win.

James Jennings scored the only goal of the game after 13 minutes as Rovers made a superb start and they ground out the win with a resolute second half performance.

The hosts tried to force the issue in the second half but fashioned little and Rob Sinclair missed an opportunity to stretch Forest Green's lead late on.

Play-off rivals Dover Athletic and Tranmere Rovers cancelled each other out and earned a point apiece in a goalless draw in front of nearly 1,500 at Crabble.

The game was a very competitive affair - the only thing lacking was goals, but Dover had chances to break the deadlock, especially in the final 20 minutes.

Wrexham gave their play-off hopes a boost after a 1-0 win over struggling Boreham Wood at The Racecourse Ground.

Connor Jennings converted an 11th minute penalty which proved to be enough to separate the two sides, but Wrexham should have won by a far greater margin.

It was an excellent flowing move which led to the penalty on 11 minutes, started by Blaine Hudson, whose pass found Rob Evans, who in-turn found Simon Heslop, who slotted a pass into Kayden Jackson who was fouled in the box.

Skipper Jennings duly converted to hand the Reds their early advantage.

Jackson almost added to the hosts' lead but hit the side netting after rounding Wood keeper James Russell.

Eastleigh also maintained their top five hopes with a similar scoreline at the Silverlake Stadium against Chester FC.

Eastleigh came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 14th minute when Luke Coulson rattled the bar with a 25-yard effort.

Johnny Hunt came to Chester's rescue a minute after the break with a goalline clearance to deny Lee Cook's low shot.

Eastleigh were then awarded a penalty in the 70th minute when the referee spotted an infringement involving Ryan Astles who was booked, and on-loan striker Matt Tubbs duly converted the resulting spot-kick.

The hosts then created a number of chances in a bid to consolidate their position, but Tony Thompson saved an effort from Tubbs, and Jai Reason's powerful strike was blocked by Astles.

Substitute Tom Shaw came close to equalising, but his 20-yard drive flew over the bar.

And Eastleigh should have doubled their advantage two minutes from time when Tubbs was teed up, but ballooned his 18-yard effort over the bar.

Barrow AFC made it four games unbeaten as they overcame a sluggish start to increase Altrincham`s relegation worries with a 3-2 win at the Furness Building Society Stadium.

Altrincham took the lead 19 minutes in after Andy Parry brought down one of the visitors on the 18-yard line as he ran across field and Jordan Sinnott – son of departed manager Lee – scored with the resulting free-kick.

Danny Livesey equalised a minute before the break, getting on the end of a rebound after his initial effort from a Jordan Williams cross had been blocked.

Andy Cook then gave the Bluebirds the lead just past the hour-mark with a left-footed drive from 20 yards.

Six minutes later and it was 3-1 when Ben Tomlinson headed home following a corner.

The Robins got back into the game 2 minutes later as James Lawrie fired home a stunning effort across the face of goal and beyond Joel Dixon for the game’s third goal in 8 minutes.

But they weren`t able to find a leveller.

Two teams who were tipped to be amongst the top five contenders at the start of the season, Macclesfield Town and Lincoln City, shared a 1-1 draw and both now look out of the race.

Lincoln took the lead after 16 minutes on as Jamie McCombe met Greg Tempest's cross to beat goalkeeper Shwan Jalal with a fine header.

Danny Whitehead then equalised for the Silkmen 5 minutes into the second half with an excellent long-range effort.

Both keepers were tested late on but neither side could find a winner.

Bromley extended their unbeaten run to six matches after a 2-0 home win against a Guiseley AFC side who are only five points above the drop zone.

After an uneventful first half, the home side`s Rohdell Gordon hit a rebound wide with the goal gaping.

But his blushes were spared by Bradley Goldberg, who headed in Lee Minshull's cross to open the scoring with 20 minutes to go.

And Goldberg sealed victory with his second, a curling strike with 7 minutes left.

Second-bottom Welling United came from 3-0 down to secure a point at a Southport side who still can`t yet rest on their laurels.

On-loan Mike Phenix's header put Southport ahead after 37 minutes but 2 minutes later Welling had a great chance to level when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by home keeper Max Crocombe on Scott Kashket.

But Crowcombe made amends by saving Kashket's penalty.

Josh Thompson made it 2-0 after 57 minutes and then Mark O'Brien made it 3-0 just 2 minutes later.

Crucially though, Michael Bakare scored from 12 yards to reduce the deficit on 74 minutes.

And the Wings completed their comeback with headers from Sahr Kabba after 82 minutes and Ian Gayle a minute from time.

Torquay United are six points in front of Welling after sharing a goalless draw at the EBB Stadium against an Aldershot Town side who conceded eight last time out.

It was a fairly even affair in terms of possession and attempts at goal, where the Gulls gave a debut to American Brendan Moore, who joined the club on loan from Fleetwood Town on Friday.

Where next?

Mariners Held by Lions Grimsby Town`s outside chances of beating Cheltenham Town or Forest Green Rovers to the Vanarama National League title all-but ended on....
Tuesday`s Vanarama National League Round-Up... Tuesday was an important night for teams in the Vanarama National League chasing a play-off place and attempting to stay in the top level of non-League football.

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