By Jack Tucker
Aldershot Town 1-1 Chesterfield
It’s now five league games without a win for Chesterfield as a draw with 13th-placed Aldershot was the best they could muster up.
The home team were the ones to open the scoring with Jake Hutchinson’s slotted effort in the 19th-minute after he was slipped in behind the Spireites’ defence to put it past Ross Fitzsimmons.
Paul Cook’s side would start the second-half well however, with an equaliser from new boy Paul McCallum seeing the Derbyshire side earn a point and sit fourth in the league level on points with Barnet, and five points off third-placed Woking.
Altrincham 1-2 Bromley
Two early goals in quick succession was enough for Bromley to see off Altrincham at the J.Davidson Stadium. The first coming from their captain Bryon Webster who capitalised on the Robins failing to clear the free kick to poke it home for the away side.
The Ravens couldn’t believe their luck when another set-piece routine failed to be dealt with as this time Michael Cheek doubled their advantage with his ninth goal of the season.
A second-half fight back from Altrincham saw them grab one back through Tyrese Sinclair on the 50th-minute mark, but it was too little too late as they couldn’t find the all-important equaliser.
Boreham Wood 1-1 Solihull Moors
Two play-off chasing teams faced off, with it ending in a frustrating stalemate for both. Luke Garrard’s side opened the scoring through a Chris Bush header in the 20th-minute after a corner from Josh Rees found his head to give him his first goal of the season.
However, the second half would see a stunner to get Solihull back on level terms through a Jamey Osborne half-volley from outside the 18-yard box which managed to beat Nathan Ashmore after The Wood’s defence failed to clear a Justin Donawa cross. The 30-year-old was brought on at half-time and scored within four minutes to grab his second goal of the season.
Dagenham & Redbridge 0-1 Eastleigh
An early Danny Whitehall penalty was enough for Eastleigh to seal all three points in London and leapfrog Dagenham in the table to move to ninth, moving them within touching distance of the play-offs.
The Spitfires could have doubled their lead with another penalty in the 38th-minute, although Kairo Mitchell’s spot kick was saved by Elliot Justham.
Notts County 4-1 Barnet
One of the standout games of the night didn’t disappoint as Notts County romped to a huge win, taking advantage of their league rivals Wrexham‘s draw to go five points clear and make it five wins in a row.
There was a scare from the in-form Bees who took the lead in the seventh-minute through Harry Smith capitalised on a defensive error from Aden Baldwin to slot into an empty net.
However, Luke William’s side showed the character needed as they dispatched their opposition with clinical finishing.
Cedwyn Scott levelled for County in the 57th-minute, then Adam Chicksen’s 76th-minute header gave them the lead.
The league’s top scorer, Macaulay Langstaff got involved in the proceedings as he slotted home his 26th goal of the season before new signing Jodi Jones killed the game off with a late curled effort.
Oldham Athletic 2-2 Gateshead
An emphatic comeback from Gateshead saw them clinch a point on a road at Boundary Park against a fellow relegation rival.
John Rooney gave The Latics a lead five minutes after the restart with Alex Reid being found at the back post in the 65th-minute to extend their lead and hopefully see the game out, although the fight back started from Mike Williamson’s side.
Kamil Conteh’s cool finish into the far corner saw them peg one back in the 81st-minute and three minutes later Kenton Richardson poked home the equaliser to send Gateshead back to the North East with an important point.
The Heed are now one point off Dorking Wanderers in 20th and three from David Unsworth’s men in 19th.
Southend United 2-1 FC Halifax Town
Southend had to fight back from 1-0 down to seal three points at Roots Hall, making it four wins in the last five.
Visiting defender Jesse Debrah scrambled home the lead before half-time which was protested by Kevin Maher’s men, but was given.
The Shrimpers fought back well after the break and equalised via a Jack Bridge penalty in the 61st-minute and then his corner in the 79th-minute found Gus Scott-Morriss who nodded home to complete a comeback and continue their good run of form.
Wrexham 2-2 Woking
Darren Sarll’s Woking ended Wrexham’s 100 per cent winning home record this season with a point that could be crucial in their own promotion aspirations..
Padraig Amond gave the visitors a shock lead after a header at the back post which was flicked on from the front to send the travelling fans from Surrey into rapture.
Anthony Forde then stepped up to thump a free-kick into the top-right corner in the 38th-minute to give the Phil Parkinson’s men the equaliser before half-time.
After the restart, Ollie Palmer was fouled in the box to give Wrexham a penalty which was expertly dispatched by Paul Mullin for his 22nd goal of the season.
Then, James Daly was fouled in the box, giving Woking penalty and a golden opportunity to clinch a draw which Rhys Browne coolly slotted home.
Speaking to the BBC after the game, Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson said: “It was a scrappy, horrible game. I didn’t enjoy watching that and I’m sure the supporters didn’t enjoy watching that.
“Got to give Woking credit, the way they played. They made it difficult, were physical, athletic and we got caught up in a scrap and we didn’t play.”
Wrexham now sit five points behind table-topping Notts County, although the Welsh side do have two games in hand.
