National League roundup: York City extend lead over Rochdale as Braintree Town go down

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York City netted a late winner against Altrincham to extend their lead at the top of the National League over title rivals Rochdale on Easter Monday, whilst Braintree Town’s relegation to Step 2 was confirmed.

The Minstermen needed a goal right at the death to take advantage of Dale’s goalless draw at Hartlepool United.

With just three games left, York holds just a two-point advantage at the summit with both sides set to meet on the final day of the season.

Elsewhere, Braintree’s stay in the top flight of English Non-League football came to an end after a goalless draw against Woking.

Here is a full roundup of Monday’s action.

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York City 2-1 Altrincham

York landed a crucial blow in the National League title race, Malachi Fagan-Walcott stealing a 2-1 win over Altrincham deep in added time to take his side beyond the 100-point mark.

Stuart Maynard’s Minstermen took advantage of Rochdale’s draw at Hartlepool to open up a two-point lead with three to play, but it took them until almost the final kick.

Altrincham took a surprise lead in the 36th minute, Jimmy Knowles pouncing on a loose ball before weaving past the keeper and slotting home.

Ollie Banks hit back immediately when he conjured a wonderful finish and Hiram Boateng was only denied by the post as they applied the pressure.

Fagan-Walcott finally landed the finishing blow with 96 minutes on the clock, cueing joyous celebrations from a sold-out crowd.

Hartlepool United 0-0 Rochdale

Rochdale dropped vital points in their bid for automatic promotion from the National League as they were held to a goalless draw at Hartlepool.

Dan Moss hit the post midway through the first half as the visitors searched for the opener.

At the other end, Tyrese Sinclair’s powerful effort was parried wide and Dale goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff was called into action again to deny Alex Reid from close range.

Just after the break, Jamie Miley fired his long-distance chance over the crossbar as the hosts continued to press.

Rochdale top scorer Emmanuel Dieseruvwe failed to find the net late on as the spoils were shared, meaning the away side remain second after York’s late win over Altrincham.

Braintree Town 0-0 Woking

Braintree’s relegation from the National League was confirmed after a goalless home draw against Woking.

The Iron, who have won only one of their last 13 league games, needed a victory to prolong their stay in the fifth tier, while home wins for relegation rivals Eastleigh and Gateshead sealed their fate.

Woking midfielder Jake Forster-Caskey’s second-half free-kick was brilliantly saved by Mason Terry, who then pulled off a fine double save to deny visiting pair Chinwike Okoli and Matt Ward.

With time running out for the Iron, forward Zavier Massiah-Edwards fired straight at Woking goalkeeper Will Jaaskelainen, who then saved from substitute James Vennings in stoppage time.

Solihull Moors 4-1 Boreham Wood

Darius Lipsiuc scored twice as Solihull Moors beat National League promotion hopefuls Boreham Wood 4-1 at Damson Park.

Moors took a 27th-minute lead through Lewis Baines’ first goal for the club before Wood defender James Clarke saw his effort roll agonisingly wide.

The home side doubled their lead before the break when Ben Worman laid on his second assist of the match for Stoke loanee Lipsiuc, who then put his side 3-0 up three minutes into the second half.

Rampant Solihull chased a fourth goal and were rewarded in the 54th minute when Joe Sbarra notched his ninth league goal of the season before Josh Landers pulled one back in the closing stages for Wood, who are already assured of a play-off place.

Morecambe 2-2 Carlisle United

Harvey Macadam’s late own goal earned struggling Morecambe a point from a 2-2 draw with visiting Carlisle United.

The hosts led at half-time through Gwion Edwards’ 32nd-minute goal, but Carlisle – their play-off place assured – were level three minutes into the second half through Regan Linney’s low finish.

Linney and David Ajiboye went close for the visitors before the latter looked to have won it for the Cumbrians midway through the second half when he rounded goalkeeper Myles Boney and tapped in.

However, Macadam’s 82nd-minute intervention gifted the Shrimps as they continue to battle to the very end for survival this season.

Gateshead 2-0 Scunthorpe United

Resurgent Gateshead extended their unbeaten run to four games with a 2-0 win over 10-man Scunthorpe United, which kept them clear of the National League relegation scrap.

Rob Elliot’s side, who lost 16 in a row from November to February, took a first-half lead against the play-off chasing Iron when Brad Nicholson headed home Keaton Ward’s corner via the post.

Scunthorpe’s hopes of mounting a comeback were damaged early in the second half when Ross Barrows handled Harry Chapman’s effort on the line, allowing Ward to score from the spot and earning a red card for his trouble.

Ash Boatswain missed a glorious close-range chance for a third late on, but a third win in four outings was already secure, leaving the Heed eight above the drop zone.

Sutton United 0-3 Southend United

Southend United retained the upper hand in their bid to claim the final play-off place in the National League with a convincing 3-0 win away against Sutton United.

Bulgarian striker Slavi Spasov broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute for the visitors, his shot going in off team-mate Charley Kendall, whose touch wrong-footed the goalkeeper.

Gus Scott-Morriss made it two, though he knew little about it, as seven minutes later, the ball headed against him and over the line.

However, the winger’s second to seal the win was certainly deliberate, a lovely curling effort that sailed over the goalkeeper to keep Southend five points clear of eighth-place FC Halifax Town, and they still hold two games in hand over their play-off rival.

FC Halifax Town 2-2 Tamworth

Halifax Town missed a stoppage-time penalty as their National League play-off hopes took a serious hit after a 2-2 home draw against 10-man Tamworth.

The Shaymen began the day three points behind seventh-placed Southend, but having played two games more, and they got off to a disastrous start after Stefan Mols put the visitors ahead inside the opening minute.

Two quickfire goals from Jay Turner-Cooke and Will Smith before the hour mark helped the hosts turn the match around, only for Oliver Lynch to level in the 63rd minute for Tamworth.

There was drama in the third minute of added time when Luke Fairlamb handled on the goal line to gift Halifax the chance to snatch a precious three points, but Jas Singh saved Will Harris’ spot-kick.

Brackley Town 1-1 Boston United

Brackley Town slipped a step closer to relegation following a 1-1 National League draw with Boston United at St James Park.

The point leaves the Saints seven points away from safety with just three games remaining.

The hosts went ahead when Aidan Elliott-Wheeler headed home a fine cross from Tyler Lyttle in the 71st minute.

But the lead lasted only seven minutes, the Pilgrims drawing level from the penalty spot through Lenell John-Lewis after Luca Barrington was brought down in the box.

Truro City 1-1 Forest Green Rovers

Robbie Savage’s Forest Green Rovers effectively locked down a play-off place with a 1-1 draw at already-relegated Truro City

Savage’s side would have been mathematically safe in the top seven had they held on to the lead they grabbed with 10 men, but they allowed Luke Jephcott to steal in and level with six minutes remaining.

The visitors saw their task become tougher when Abraham Kanu was dismissed for clearing out Jack Stretton on the hour mark, but they nicked in front when substitute Tom Knowles squeezed home at the far post from Kyle McAllister’s delivery.

The Tinners kept pushing on their penultimate home appearance before dropping back down and got their reward when Jephcott finished, leaving Forest Green nine points and 18 goals above eighth-placed Halifax, with three games to play.

After their relegation was confirmed with a defeat to Yeovil Town on Good Friday, Truro City chairman Eric Perez confirmed the club would remain a full-time professional side despite returning to the National League South.

Eastleigh 2-1 Yeovil Town

Top goalscorer Aaron Blair bagged a brace as Eastleigh moved a giant step towards National League survival with a 2-1 home victory over Yeovil.

Blair took his tally to 17 league goals for the season as the Spitfires snapped a five-game winless run to climb seven points clear of the relegation zone with three matches remaining.

Visiting goalkeeper Jed Ward denied Blair on three occasions, as well as Jake Vokins, before the hosts finally broke the deadlock just past the half-hour mark.

Blair notched his first goal in six games and doubled his tally in the 57th minute when curling his effort into the top corner, before Dan Ellison pulled a goal back in stoppage time.

Wealdstone 3-0 Aldershot Town

Ashley Nathaniel-George and Olufela Olomola struck late goals to secure Wealdstone a 3-0 home win against Aldershot Town.

Dom Hutchinson lashed home the opening goal for the Stones in the third minute, and a string of fine saves from Dante Baptiste ensured the home side held a slender lead at half-time.

Kwame Thomas headed narrowly wide for Aldershot in the second half before Stones striker Sean Adarkwa blazed a shot narrowly over the crossbar.

Nathaniel-George doubled Stones’ lead with four minutes remaining as he cut inside and fired into the bottom corner, and Olomola sealed victory with the third goal in time added on.

Full results (Easter Monday)

Brackley Town 1‑1 Boston United
Braintree Town 0‑0 Woking
Eastleigh 2‑1 Yeovil Town
Gateshead 2‑0 Scunthorpe United
FC Halifax Town 2‑2 Tamworth
Hartlepool United 0‑0 Rochdale
Morecambe 2‑2 Carlisle United
Solihull Moors 4‑1 Boreham Wood
Sutton United 0‑3 Southend United
Truro City 1‑1 Forest Green Rovers
Wealdstone 3‑0 Aldershot Town
York City 2‑1 Altrincham

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