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National League round up: York City stay top, Rochdale snatch victory and thriller at Truro City

York City stayed top of the National League with an impressive 3-0 away win at Carlisle United on Wednesday night.

by
The Non-League Football Paper Team
22 January 2026

Charley Kendall opens the scoring for Southend United against Eastleigh

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York City stayed top of the National League with an impressive 3-0 away win at Carlisle United on Wednesday night.

The Minstermen lead Rochdale by a point after Jim McNulty’s men snatched a late victory at Solihull Moors, while Boreham Wood slipped up at home to Scunthorpe United, the Iron keeping themselves firmly in the promotion race.

Defeat for Carlisle saw them drop to fourth as Dale moved into second, while fifth-placed Forest Green Rovers could only manage a 1-1 draw with Altrincham.

Elsewhere, there were wins for play-off hopefuls Southend United, FC Halifax Town and Hartlepool United, while Truro City and Brackley Town shared the spoils in a six-goal thriller.

Matches between Yeovil Town and Aldershot Town and Wealdstone and Tamworth were called off due to the weather.

Here is a full round-up of the midweek National League action.

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Carlisle United 0-3 York City

Josh Stones steered home York’s sixth-minute opener after Ben Brookes had stretched the home defence with a darting run.

Carlisle were denied a swift equaliser when Harrison Male stopped Georgie Kelly from profiting from a one-on-one situation.

Alex Hunt doubled City’s lead from the penalty spot after 75 minutes following a handball offence, and Alex Newby added another in the final seconds.

Stuart Maynard’s side are now unbeaten in 16 league games, while fourth-placed Carlisle are three points behind The Minstermen, having played a game more.

Josh Stones wheels away after scoring York City’s late equaliser and inset, York’s Alex Hunt, left, battles with Boston’s Ken Aboh — Josh Stones netted York City’s opener against Carlisle United.
PICTURE: Tom Poole

Solihull Moors 0-1 Rochdale

Joe Pritchard stepped off the bench to fire a superb stoppage-time winner as Rochdale won 1-0 at Solihull to climb up to second in the National League.

Pritchard, a second-half replacement for Tarryn Allarakhia, pounced on a half-clearance and raced down the left channel before smashing a long-range stunner into the top corner.

Dale made it back-to-back wins with their last-gasp victory at Damson Park – their 11th on the road in the league this season – and sit just a point behind leaders York with three games in hand.

The visitors also went close in time added on when Ryan East was denied by Solihull goalkeeper Laurie Walker’s fine save.

Boreham Wood 1-3 Scunthorpe United

Scunthorpe ended Boreham Wood’s six-game winning streak in the National League and boosted their own promotion hopes with a 3-1 victory at Meadow Park.

The visitors scored three times in the first half to emphatically take charge, with the opener coming in the 27th minute when Charlie O’Connell poked into his own goal.

The Iron doubled their advantage in the 39th minute when Callum Roberts struck past a rooted Ted Curd from 25 yards.

Scunthorpe were out of sight in first-half stoppage time as Zain Westbrooke tucked in at the back post from Tyler Denton’s ball in.

Luke Norris’ 84th-minute reply proved to be nothing more than a consolation as Scunthorpe moved to within three points of their opponents.

Zain Westbrooke scored Scunthorpe United’s third.
PICTURE: Chris Perry

Truro City 3-3 Brackley Town

Truro and Brackley shared six goals in an entertaining 3-3 draw.

Brackley took a grip on the contest with goals either side of the interval from Matt Lowe and Ben Wodskou.

Truro turned the game around with three goals between the 58th and 70th minutes as Dominic Johnson-Fisher, Tom Harrison – with his first of the season – and Luke Jephcott gave the Cornish strugglers an unlikely lead.

But Morgan Roberts’ brilliant equaliser three minutes after Jephcott’s strike earned Brackley a point.

Forest Green Rovers 1-1 Altrincham

Altrincham ended a run of six straight defeats as a 1-1 draw dented Forest Green’s National League title push.

Ollie Crankshaw’s sixth goal in seven games from 10 yards gave Altrincham a shock 11th-minute lead.

Luke Hutchinson prevented a Forest Green equaliser with a superb low stop from Kyle McAllister.

But Robbie Savage’s side were back on level terms after 58 minutes, Jayden Clarke turning sharply to rifle home his seventh goal of the season.

Fifth-placed Forest Green trail leaders York by four points, with Altrincham climbing one spot to 17th.

Southend United 4-1 Eastleigh

Charley Kendall scored twice as Southend boosted their National League play-off hopes with a 4-1 home victory over Eastleigh.

Home goalkeeper Collin Andeng-Ndi made a fine double save after seven minutes to deny Josh Lundstram and Luis Fernandes.

But Southend were dominant after that, with Kendall reacting quickest to a loose ball inside the six-yard box to give them a 25th minute lead.

Andy Dallas had an effort ruled out for offside, but Gus Scott-Morriss doubled the lead soon after the restart with a vicious 25-yard strike.

Dallas set up Kendall’s fourth goal of the season from close range, before Josh Walker put the icing on the Shrimpers’ cake after Lloyd Humphries had given Eastleigh late hope.

FC Halifax Town 1-0 Morecambe

Will Harris’ early goal secured Halifax a 1-0 home win over struggling Morecambe and boosted his side’s National League play-off challenge.

Striker Harris powered home his 14th goal of the season in all competitions as the Shaymen made it four wins from their last five league matches.

Angelo Cappello broke clear in midfield and slid in Harris, who drilled a low finish into the bottom corner, while Morecambe went close to an equaliser through Joe Nuttall’s shot from inside the box and Gwion Edwards’ header.

Jay Turner-Cooke’s penalty for Halifax in the closing stages was saved by Morecambe goalkeeper Jamal Blackman and although Harris turned home the rebound, he was adjudged to have been offside.

Hartlepool United 2-1 Gateshead

Hartlepool came from behind to earn a dramatic 2-1 victory over lowly 10-man Gateshead.

Player-coach Louis Storey opened the scoring to give Gateshead the lead in the 12th minute, putting them on course to end a 10-game losing streak in the National League.

However, Storey went from hero to villain six minutes after the break when he was sent off for a dangerous challenge on Nathan Sheron.

Hartlepool made the man advantage count nine minutes from time when Danny Johnson saw an effort parried into the path of Alex Reid, who fired home.

Matty Daly completed the turnaround in the 89th minute as the hapless visitors continued their miserable run.

Hartlepool United’s Alex Reid celebrates after scoring their first goal from the penalty spot — Hartlepool United’s Alex Reid started the turnaround
PICTURE: Shutterpress

Elsewhere during a busy week of league action, the final Isuzu FA Trophy fourth-round proper ties were settled as Woking knocked FA Cup giantkillers Macclesfield out of the competition with a 2-1 victory.

An Olly Sanderson double proved decisive for the Cards, with Macclesfield pulling a goal back through D’Mani Mellor before the striker then had a penalty saved.

AFC Telford United also booked their place in the fifth round, coming from behind to beat Hornchurch 2–1.

Henry Sandat gave the hosts an early lead before Matty Stenson levelled – though was sent off – and Remi Walker completed the comeback as the Bucks held on.

In the National League North, leaders South Shields tasted victory yet again with a 1-0 win over Southport, Marine defeated 10-man Radcliffe 3-0, play-off chasing Chester beat Spennymoor Town 2-1 and Leamington vs Buxton was abandoned due to a floodlight outage with the visitors leading 1-0.

Full scores

National League

Tuesday 20th January

Boreham Wood 1-3 Scunthorpe United
Hartlepool United 2-1 Gateshead
Southend United 4-1 Eastleigh
Truro City 3-3 Brackley Town
Yeovil Town P-P Aldershot Town

Wednesday 21st January

Carlisle United 0-3 York City
FC Halifax Town 1-0 Morecambe
Forest Green Rovers 1-1 Altrincham
Solihull Moors 0-1 Rochdale
Wealdstone P-P Tamworth