National League Rundown: What did we learn from Round 16?

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By Sam Gale

We are 16 games into the National League season, and the action shows no signs of slowing down.

Teams at the top have been held to draws, late winners have popped up, and goals have flown in all but two matches.

Forest Green ended Boreham Wood’s unbeaten run, Scunthorpe United came from behind to defeat Aldershot Town, and Rochdale were held scoreless for the first time this campaign by Woking.

Meanwhile, Hartlepool United celebrated a vital home win, and Southend United staged another dramatic late victory at Roots Hall.

Sam Gale rounds up all the key results and standout moments from another unpredictable National League weekend.

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Green machine chops down Wood

Forest Green Rovers 2-1 Boreham Wood

Forest Green Rovers earned a crucial 2-1 victory over Boreham Wood, snapping the visitors’ 14-game unbeaten streak.

Rovers took a deserved lead in the 34th minute when Jili Buyabu fired a low strike home from the edge of the box.

Boreham Wood fought back after the break, with top scorer Matt Rush equalising in the 65th minute.

The winner came 10 minutes later when Forest Green was awarded a penalty for handball.

Harvey Bunker converted the spot-kick calmly to secure all three points for FGR. The win reignites Forest Green’s promotion push.

Scunthorpe’s swift comeback stuns Shots

Scunthorpe United 2-1 Aldershot Town

Scunthorpe United came from behind with two quick goals in the first half to beat Aldershot Town 2-1 and climb to second in the league.

Aldershot took an early lead through Hady Ghandour in the 12th minute; however, Scunthorpe immediately hit back.

Callum Roberts’ levelled the score in the 18th minute before Zain Westbrooke completed the comeback on the half-hour mark.

Despite pressure from Aldershot in the second half, Scunthorpe held on for the vital victory. 

Dale held by Cards but stay top

Woking 0-0 Rochdale

Woking earned a hard-fought goalless draw at home against National League leaders Rochdale, becoming the first team this season to stop Dale from scoring.

Rochdale dominated possession and hit the crossbar through in-form striker Mani Dieseruvwe in the second half.

However, Woking’s defence and a stunning performance from goalkeeper Will Jaaskelainen kept the visitors at bay.

The result secures a valuable point for Woking and keeps Rochdale narrowly top of the table.

Pools finally prevail!

Hartlepool United 2-0 Solihull Moors

Hartlepool United secured a vital 2-0 home victory against Solihull Moors to end a run of six games without a win.

Vadaine Oliver gave Pools the lead after 16 minutes with a brilliant, instinctive backheel finish.

Solihull Moors pressed hard for an equaliser in the second half, hitting the post through Tyrese Sinclair and being denied by a superb save from keeper George Evans.

Substitute Matty Daly finally sealed the three points for Hartlepool with a goal in added time.

Standout performance: Shrimpers’ stoppage-time stunners

Southend United 2-0 Brackley Town

Southend United secured a dramatic 2-0 victory over Brackley Town at Roots Hall, with both goals coming deep into second-half stoppage time.

After a goalless and cagey 90 minutes, substitute Leon Parillon finally broke the deadlock in the 95th minute with a fine curled effort.

Just four minutes later, in the 99th minute, Andrew Dallas sealed the win for the Shrimpers, netting his seventh goal of the season.

The win secured a fourth consecutive victory for Southend United.

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READ MORE: National League Rundown: What did we learn from Round 15?