National League roundup: Boreham Wood flying as nine-man Carlisle United stun Harrogate Town

By Luke Oakes

Boreham Wood sit ten points clear of the National League following a dramatic midweek fixture list.

Luke Garrard’s side saw off Woking on Tuesday night and after Harrogate Town lost to nine-man Carlisle United on Wednesday, the Wood have clear daylight going into the weekend.

Luke Oakes runs through all the action.

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Tuesday

AFC Fylde 3-1 Hartlepool United

AFC Fylde got back to winning ways at home to Lee Clark’s Hartlepool United.

The Coasters have enjoyed a good start to the season and remain in the play-off mix, but were stunted over the weekend as Boreham Wood brushed them aside.  

George Pickford made his debut for Fylde in a team which saw the return of Dylan Allen-Hadley to the matchday squad.  

Craig Mahon’s side found themselves up against it after three minutes, as Will Harris opened the scoring for the struggling Hartlepool.

It took until the 77th minute for Fylde to find the equaliser when Luke McCormick fired the Coasters level.  

The comeback was complete just three minutes later as Millar Matthews-Lewis netted his first goal for the club.

There was time for Fylde to add a third to secure all three points. Jack Morris rounded off a fantastic 13 minutes for the home side.

Altrincham 0-0 Kidderminster Harriers

The only goalless draw of the night came at the J. Davidson Stadium between Altrincham and Kidderminster Harriers.  

The Robins had the rub of the green across the game but had little meaningful chances to show for it.

Lucas Weaver came closest in the first half for the hosts.

His header from close range looked destined to open the scoring but he was denied by a fantastic Jack Wint save.  

In the second half, Harriers’ Luey Giles was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Weaver – which Altrincham couldn’t capitalise on.  

In second half added time, Altrincham threatened once more. A barrage of attacks ended with Tom Crawford hitting the crossbar.

The result gave Neil Gibson’s Alty their first league draw of the season.

Boston United 2-1 Gateshead

Two late goals from Boston United secured victory over bottom-of-the-league Gateshead.

The Heed took a surprise lead in Lincolnshire after 36 minutes.

Jordy Hiwula beat Louis Chadwick at his near post to put Paul Hurst’s side under pressure. Boston failed to find the target before the end of the first half.  

After the break, the home side piled the pressure on Ben Clark’s strugglers.

Lennon Wheeldon came closest for the hosts with an effort that was well kept out by Pete Jameson.

Gateshead tried to hold on for their second league win of the season but were undone by a Tom Cursons brace.

The first came after 80 minutes, when Cursons was first to the ball after Jameson had done well to deny Jack Holmes. Cursons made no mistake from close range to level the scores.

Boston and Cursons had their second of the evening deep into injury time.

The second-half substitute fired home from inside the area after the hosts continued to build on a failed clearance.

The result leaves Gateshead rooted to the foot of the table, while Boston move closer to climbing out of the bottom four.

FC Halifax Town 2-3 Barrow

The late antics continued at The Shay stadium as three goals and a red card were produced inside the final 15 minutes.  

Former Morecambe man Ben Tollit opened the scoring for Halifax on the half hour mark.

John McGrath’s side did not extend their advantage until the second half, as Tollit grabbed a brace on the hour mark.  

Barrow were able to begin the comeback with their first of three unanswered goals.

Seb Thompson halved the deficit with a long-range effort after 75 minutes. Only six minutes later, Adam Murray’ side had turned the game on its head and found the equaliser.

A deep cross to the back post allowed Innes Cameron to level the scores after 82 minutes.  

A bad spell for the Shaymen continued as Raheem Conte saw red after a foul on Seb Thompson forced the referee into brandishing his second yellow card of the evening.  

Murray’s Bluebirds had completed the turnaround with Cameron’s second, two minutes into additional time.  

The result leaves Barrow two points off Fylde, who occupy the final play-off position, while Halifax are now five points off seventh place. 

Hornchurch 1-2 Yeovil Town

Yeovil Town continued their pursuit of second place with victory over Hornchurch.  

More late goals were produced in East London, but it was the visitors who opened the scoring after 72 minutes.

Zain Westbrooke scored his first goal for The Glovers, who capitalised on a poor clearance from Hornchurch.  

James Daly made an instant impact when he entered the game just after the opening goal.

Within 90 seconds of entering the field of play, Daly fired home on the half volley to double the advantage for Billy Rowley’s men.  

The Urchins put up a fight as Charlie Pegrum’s 89th minute strike set up a tense finish. 

However, Yeovil got back to winning ways by holding on for all three points.

Tamworth 4-1 Scunthorpe United

One of the evening’s most emphatic victories came at The Lamb Ground.

Morgan Roberts headed home the opening goal for Andy Peaks’ side after just five minutes.

The quick start to the game continued after Tamworth doubled their advantage after 15 minutes. Keiran Donnelly met an inviting ball at the back post to add to the advantage.

Tom McGlinchey grabbed a third for the Lambs after he was the beneficiary of a loose ball on the edge of the area.

Before the break, Scunthorpe looked to spark a comeback when Alfie Beestin reduced the deficit.  

However, the score remained unchanged until the 94th minute, when Dan Creaney added a fourth to seal the three points for the home side.

The result allowed Tamworth to extend their gap to the bottom four, while Scunthorpe remain embroiled in the relegation fight.

The defeat was followed by the news that Andy Butler had been relieved of his duties as Scunthorpe manager.

Wealdstone 2-3 Solihull Moors

Another five-goal thriller saw Solihull Moors claim a much-needed victory to boost their hopes of climbing away from the relegation zone, while keeping Wealdstone within reach.

The Moors started the game in quick fashion, Marvin Johnson swept home after four minutes before Jamie Andrews added a second after 20 minutes.  

Wealdstone rallied late in the second half to reduce the arrears through Aaron Henry’s 82nd-minute strike, but Moors restored their two-goal advantage just three minutes later through Scott High.

There was still time for a late consolation for the Stones, with Fejiri Okenabirhie scoring a poacher’s goal as the clock hit 90 minutes.

Woking 1-2 Boreham Wood

Boreham Wood continued to cement their place at National League summit after victory over Woking victory.

Wood were handed an early disadvantage after Josh Kelly opened the scoring for Woking after 23 minutes. 

Garrard’s side found a quick response to Kelly’s opener.

Tylor Golden volleyed home a Ben Whitfield headed flick on to extend his goalscoring return to two in his last two games. 

In the second half, the visitors had the chance to take the lead through Zak Brunt, but he was denied by Vicente Reyes from the penalty spot.

The lead would come for Wood late in the second half.

Regan Booty curled a left footed effort past Reyes in the 78th minute and Woking’s Steven Turner was dismissed for a foul on Charlie O’Connell four minutes later as the home side ended the contest a man down.

Worthing 3-3 Southend United

Southend United continued the evening’s theme of quick starts.

Oli Coker put Kieron Dyer’s side ahead after 17 minutes before Promise Omochere doubled their advantage seven minutes later.

Worthing needed a response after the break and Adam Hinshelwood got the reaction he would have wanted.

Dominic Johnson-Fisher pulled a goal back for the Rebels before Corey Adjetey-Brew restored parity just after the hour mark.

The Shrimpers moved back in front through substitute Tyreece Simpson after 67 minutes.

However, Southend were pegged back once again as Jordan Young netted the sixth goal of the game on 77 minutes.

Both sides remain in the play-off picture, but fifth-placed Worthing missed the chance to climb above third-placed Southend.

Wednesday

Carlisle United 3-0 Harrogate Town

The evening started well for Rob Elliot’s side; Josh Williams fired The Cumbrians into the lead with a curling effort inside the first ten minutes.  

Simon Weaver’s Harrogate were given an opportunity to get back into the game with a man advantage.

Miguel Azeez saw red for a challenge on Morgan Williams with 15 minutes on the clock.  

Carlisle were soon reduced to nine men after Harvey Bunker was shown the game’s second red card.

The Sulphurites failed to capitalise on their two-man advantage and headed into the break a goal down.  

Carlisle then stunned the North Yorkshire outfit by doubling their advantage through Callum Whelan immediately after the restart.

After the hour mark, the Blues had a third thanks to Ryan Galvin’s audacious solo effort, taking the ball from deep in his own half before dinking goalkeeper Luke Hutchinson to seal an impressive victory.

The defeat dealt a blow to Harrogate’s automatic promotion hopes, leaving them ten points behind leaders Boreham Wood.

Carlisle, meanwhile, moved to within three points of the play-off places.

Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Eastleigh

Will Grigg started life at Forest Green Rovers in typical fashion. Just after the half hour mark, Grigg turned home Kelvin Abrefa’s cross to net on his home debut.  

Eastleigh would have attempts to level the scoring in the second half but would come up short thanks to Abrefa’s goal line heroics.

He twice denied Eastleigh with clearances as they fired warning shots on goal.  

Filozofe Mabete added the second on 77 minutes. He picked up the loose ball after a deflected effort was palmed away by the goalkeeper. Mabete fired home emphatically.

The result allowed Rovers leapfrog Eastleigh into 15th place as the Spitfires drop to 17th.

Sutton United 2-0 Aldershot Town

The final fixture of the midweek action saw Sutton United make it a clean sweep for home sides on Wednesday night, beating Aldershot Town two goals to nil.  

The U’s made a blistering start to the match scoring inside the first minute.

Captain Charlie Carter won the ball back and slotted past Aldershot’s Nick Hayes with 39 seconds on the clock.  

David Ogbonna continued Sutton’s fast start by getting on the scoresheet after 12 minutes.

He was found in space which allowed him to drive forward before firing his effort past Hayes.  

No further goals followed the lively start, as Sutton held on to claim all three points.

Chris Agutter’s side remain comfortably in mid-table, while Aldershot sit 16th, just three points clear of the drop zone.

National League midweek results

• AFC Fylde 3-1 Hartlepool United
• Altrincham 0-0 Kidderminster Harriers
• Boston United 2-1 Gateshead
• FC Halifax Town 2-3 Barrow
• Hornchurch 1-2 Yeovil Town
• Tamworth 4-1 Scunthorpe United
• Wealdstone 2-3 Solihull Moors
• Woking 1-2 Boreham Wood
• Worthing 3-3 Southend United
• Carlisle United 3-0 Harrogate Town
• Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Eastleigh
• Sutton United 2-0 Aldershot Town

READ MORE: Andy Butler sacked by Scunthorpe United after Tamworth drubbing