Conference Round-Up: Saturday
By Nath A March 9 2004
Hereford kept up the pace on leaders Chester City with a narrow 1-0 home win over rock bottom Northwich Victoria. It looked as if the basement boys were heading for a credible goalless draw at Edgar Street, until 20-goal Steve Guinan snatched a late winner.
Hereford kept up the pace on leaders Chester City with a narrow 1-0 home win over rock bottom Northwich Victoria. It looked as if the basement boys were heading for a credible goalless draw at Edgar Street, until 20-goal Steve Guinan snatched a late winner.
The Hereford hit-man popped up to fire home Michael Rose’s left-sided cross with just six minutes left on the clock.
Vics’ ‘keeper Andy Woods had earlier saved a Tony James penalty after Rob Purdie was fouled by visiting defender Mark Came. James had already seen his six previous spot-kicks of the season find the back of the net, but this time he saw his effort turned away by Woods, before smashing the rebound wide of the goal. The England semi-pro international made a string of fine saves throughout the game to keep his side in the game, before Guinan’s late sucker punch.
Northwich, who had done well to hold out for 84 minutes against the Conference’s top-scoring side so far this season, had a last-ditch attempt by Chris Thompson hooked off the goal-line by Tamika Mkandawire in injury time. But Hereford managed to hold on and claim three valuable points, to keep the gap behind leaders Chester at five points, having played an extra game.
The two other top five sides that played on Saturday could only pick up a single point each. Barnet battled out a 1-1 draw at Exeter, who are pushing for a play-off place themselves, whilst Aldershot were held to a 2-2 score at home by Gravesend and Northfleet.
At St. James’ Park, it was Liam Hatch who snatched Barnet’s second half equaliser, after Exeter had gone in at half-time with a 22nd minute lead, thanks to Sean Devine.
The Grecians’ striker, who saw his snapshot go just past the post inside the opening stages, found the net with a header from Les Afful’s cross, following a long ball by Kwame Ampadu.
Barnet gradually got into the game, and had enough chances to win it as Exeter decided to sit back on their slender lead. Hatch shot wide and Giuliano Grazioli forced James Bittner in the Exeter goal into a fine save. Bittner then denied Ian Hendon’s curling effort from the edge of the area.
Exeter started the second half in control, but once again Barnet found themselves back in the game, and Hatch rose high to head home Mark Williams’s cross to hand the visitors a deserved equaliser.
Barnet could have won the game late on, when Matt Redmile and Hatch both went close, but both sides had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
Aldershot, meanwhile, rescued a point with a late penalty at home to a Gravesend side that are now unbeaten in three and are climbing the bottom half of the table dramatically.
Jon Challinor headed the Shots into a half-hour lead, nodding home Dean Hooper’s cross, but two goals inside two-second half minutes put the Kent side in front, following the dismissal of Hooper for the home team.
Roy Essandoh, one-time Wycombe Wanderers FA Cup hero, headed the Fleet level with fourteen minutes to go, and Manny Omoyimni gave them a surprise lead less than two minutes later. But Terry Brown’s men took a share of the spoils with a Roscoe D’Sane penalty nine minutes from time, after Justin Skinner had brought him down.
Morecambe kept up their chase for the play-offs as they claimed all three points with an injury time winner at home to Scarborough. The Christie Park club went in front shortly before half time when good work by Nick Rogan released Kieron Walmsley, who crossed for Danny Carlton to score with a diving header past visiting ‘keeper Leigh Walker.
Carlton had earlier seen a couple of good opportunities go to waste, whilst down the other end Clint Marcelle’s volley struck his own team-mate, and Jimmy Kelly came close.
The second half was dominated by confrontations, spats and bad refereeing. Seconds after the restart, Scarborough’s Leigh Walker denied a header from Gary Hunter, resulting in both sides battling for the loose ball, fraying tempers.
Scarborough enjoyed a good spell of chances, as Ian Dunbavin, a recent loan signing from Shrewsbury Town, denied Mark Quayle and Chris Senior with two fine low saves.
Then came the next major ugly incident. With twenty minute remaining, Morecambe’s Dean Howell retaliated to a foul on him by Karl Rose, and Rose’s team-mate Steve Baker also got involved in the following fracas. Howell, who had only been on the pitch for a few minutes after making a substitute appearance, and Baker, who had already been booked, both saw red, but the original perpetrator Rose escaped even without a booking. As well as the two red cards, there was also five bookings.
With both sides reduced to ten men, stoppage time brought about an amazing end to an amazing, incident-filled match. Ryan Sugden had the perfect opportunity to wrap up the game against his former club, but shot wide with only the Scarborough ‘keeper in front of him.
Sugden must have rued that miss, as seconds later the visitors found an equaliser, through a Mark Quayle header in the 92nd minute. But the former Oldham, Chester and Burton Albion striker’s blushes were spared, as straight from the restart Stewart Drummond won a free-kick on the edge of the box. Sugden’s header was saved, but up popped Jamie Murphy to poke home and complete an amazing game.
Elsewhere, Accrington Stanley ran out 2-1 winners at home to Halifax. Goals from Steve Flitcroft (42) and Dean Calcutt (52) made the game safe for the home side; with Val Owen’s 82nd minute strike only a consolation for Chris Wilder’s men.
Farnborough’s battle against the drop continues, after a disappointing 1-1 draw at Forest Green. It could have been worse though, as Paul Harkness saved a point with just two minutes remaining, after Denny Ingram had scored a penalty for Rovers shortly before the half hour.
Dagenham and Redbridge recovered from their amazing 9-0 drubbing by Hereford last week by rescuing a solitary point at Margate, thanks to two late goals. The Gate raced into a two-goal lead inside the first seven minutes, through Alex Baptiste and an Adrian Clarke penalty. Jimmy Jackson pulled one back for the Daggers within five minutes, but Jean-Michel Sigere’s 20th minute strike restored Margate’s two-goal advantage. The home side were heading for an important victory, until goals from Chris Moore (82) and Danny Shipp (86) salvaged a point for Gary Hill’s side, who seem to be shipping goals by the barrel at the moment.
Stevenage and Woking played out a one-all draw at Broadhall Way, with Anthony Elding (36) cancelling out Stuart Noble’s 17th minute opener for the visitors. Woking had striker Raphael Nade substituted after just 10 minutes, whilst the best chances for either side fell to Barry Laker for Stevenage, who hit the woodwork, and Steve Ferguson for Woking, who saw his header saved.
Finally, Tony Naylor settled the Tamworth-Telford game at the Lamb, with a solitary 20th minute strike.
The next installment of the Conference Round-up will appear here later in the week, containing round-ups of all the mid-week action, including Monday night's game between Shrewsbury and Leigh RMI at Gay Meadow.
Vics’ ‘keeper Andy Woods had earlier saved a Tony James penalty after Rob Purdie was fouled by visiting defender Mark Came. James had already seen his six previous spot-kicks of the season find the back of the net, but this time he saw his effort turned away by Woods, before smashing the rebound wide of the goal. The England semi-pro international made a string of fine saves throughout the game to keep his side in the game, before Guinan’s late sucker punch.
Northwich, who had done well to hold out for 84 minutes against the Conference’s top-scoring side so far this season, had a last-ditch attempt by Chris Thompson hooked off the goal-line by Tamika Mkandawire in injury time. But Hereford managed to hold on and claim three valuable points, to keep the gap behind leaders Chester at five points, having played an extra game.
The two other top five sides that played on Saturday could only pick up a single point each. Barnet battled out a 1-1 draw at Exeter, who are pushing for a play-off place themselves, whilst Aldershot were held to a 2-2 score at home by Gravesend and Northfleet.
At St. James’ Park, it was Liam Hatch who snatched Barnet’s second half equaliser, after Exeter had gone in at half-time with a 22nd minute lead, thanks to Sean Devine.
The Grecians’ striker, who saw his snapshot go just past the post inside the opening stages, found the net with a header from Les Afful’s cross, following a long ball by Kwame Ampadu.
Barnet gradually got into the game, and had enough chances to win it as Exeter decided to sit back on their slender lead. Hatch shot wide and Giuliano Grazioli forced James Bittner in the Exeter goal into a fine save. Bittner then denied Ian Hendon’s curling effort from the edge of the area.
Exeter started the second half in control, but once again Barnet found themselves back in the game, and Hatch rose high to head home Mark Williams’s cross to hand the visitors a deserved equaliser.
Barnet could have won the game late on, when Matt Redmile and Hatch both went close, but both sides had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
Aldershot, meanwhile, rescued a point with a late penalty at home to a Gravesend side that are now unbeaten in three and are climbing the bottom half of the table dramatically.
Jon Challinor headed the Shots into a half-hour lead, nodding home Dean Hooper’s cross, but two goals inside two-second half minutes put the Kent side in front, following the dismissal of Hooper for the home team.
Roy Essandoh, one-time Wycombe Wanderers FA Cup hero, headed the Fleet level with fourteen minutes to go, and Manny Omoyimni gave them a surprise lead less than two minutes later. But Terry Brown’s men took a share of the spoils with a Roscoe D’Sane penalty nine minutes from time, after Justin Skinner had brought him down.
Morecambe kept up their chase for the play-offs as they claimed all three points with an injury time winner at home to Scarborough. The Christie Park club went in front shortly before half time when good work by Nick Rogan released Kieron Walmsley, who crossed for Danny Carlton to score with a diving header past visiting ‘keeper Leigh Walker.
Carlton had earlier seen a couple of good opportunities go to waste, whilst down the other end Clint Marcelle’s volley struck his own team-mate, and Jimmy Kelly came close.
The second half was dominated by confrontations, spats and bad refereeing. Seconds after the restart, Scarborough’s Leigh Walker denied a header from Gary Hunter, resulting in both sides battling for the loose ball, fraying tempers.
Scarborough enjoyed a good spell of chances, as Ian Dunbavin, a recent loan signing from Shrewsbury Town, denied Mark Quayle and Chris Senior with two fine low saves.
Then came the next major ugly incident. With twenty minute remaining, Morecambe’s Dean Howell retaliated to a foul on him by Karl Rose, and Rose’s team-mate Steve Baker also got involved in the following fracas. Howell, who had only been on the pitch for a few minutes after making a substitute appearance, and Baker, who had already been booked, both saw red, but the original perpetrator Rose escaped even without a booking. As well as the two red cards, there was also five bookings.
With both sides reduced to ten men, stoppage time brought about an amazing end to an amazing, incident-filled match. Ryan Sugden had the perfect opportunity to wrap up the game against his former club, but shot wide with only the Scarborough ‘keeper in front of him.
Sugden must have rued that miss, as seconds later the visitors found an equaliser, through a Mark Quayle header in the 92nd minute. But the former Oldham, Chester and Burton Albion striker’s blushes were spared, as straight from the restart Stewart Drummond won a free-kick on the edge of the box. Sugden’s header was saved, but up popped Jamie Murphy to poke home and complete an amazing game.
Elsewhere, Accrington Stanley ran out 2-1 winners at home to Halifax. Goals from Steve Flitcroft (42) and Dean Calcutt (52) made the game safe for the home side; with Val Owen’s 82nd minute strike only a consolation for Chris Wilder’s men.
Farnborough’s battle against the drop continues, after a disappointing 1-1 draw at Forest Green. It could have been worse though, as Paul Harkness saved a point with just two minutes remaining, after Denny Ingram had scored a penalty for Rovers shortly before the half hour.
Dagenham and Redbridge recovered from their amazing 9-0 drubbing by Hereford last week by rescuing a solitary point at Margate, thanks to two late goals. The Gate raced into a two-goal lead inside the first seven minutes, through Alex Baptiste and an Adrian Clarke penalty. Jimmy Jackson pulled one back for the Daggers within five minutes, but Jean-Michel Sigere’s 20th minute strike restored Margate’s two-goal advantage. The home side were heading for an important victory, until goals from Chris Moore (82) and Danny Shipp (86) salvaged a point for Gary Hill’s side, who seem to be shipping goals by the barrel at the moment.
Stevenage and Woking played out a one-all draw at Broadhall Way, with Anthony Elding (36) cancelling out Stuart Noble’s 17th minute opener for the visitors. Woking had striker Raphael Nade substituted after just 10 minutes, whilst the best chances for either side fell to Barry Laker for Stevenage, who hit the woodwork, and Steve Ferguson for Woking, who saw his header saved.
Finally, Tony Naylor settled the Tamworth-Telford game at the Lamb, with a solitary 20th minute strike.
The next installment of the Conference Round-up will appear here later in the week, containing round-ups of all the mid-week action, including Monday night's game between Shrewsbury and Leigh RMI at Gay Meadow.
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