Conference North Review - County close in on play offs

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A good day for County as although the win at Leamington left their League position unchanged the Hatters closed on the three teams now directly above them in the table.

Two of the teams in the play off places were quick of the mark today with Guiseley going ahead on 2 minutes through Adam Boyes and Barrow scoring after 6 minutes through former County man Sam Sheridan. Oxford City and Chorley were not far behind in a first 15 minutes that saw 8 goals scored in the Vanarama Conference North. Thankfully the majority of sides above County could no maintain the pace.

Chorley took the lead at Solihull Moors through James Dean (13) but it did not last long as Rob Elvins (19) restored parity for Solihull Moors. Right on half time the score improved even more from a County point of view as the League's top scorer Omar Bogle (45) put the home side ahead. Moors added a third Darryl Knights (65)

Oxford City were looking to protect their third place in the table and on 16 minutes Kynan Isaac gave them the lead on their visit to East Anglia. Just twenty minutes later there was good news for County as Jake Reed levelled things for Lowestoft Town. Just like second placed Chorley, City were then behind at half time thanks to Chris Henderson (44). Oxford's chances of pulling anything back were not helped with 16 minutes left when they were reduced to 10 men after Alesandro-Adrian Santiago was sent off.

Fylde, with cousins Jamie and Richie Allen in the starting line-up together for the first time took their time - relative to the other top 6 sides - to take the lead in their game. It was another ex-County man Danny Rowe (34), with his sixth of the season, who set them on their way. With 2nd and 3rd placed sides both losing a second goal from a Ritchie Allen penalty (79) looked to ensure an increased advantage for the west coast side; and so it proved despite a late scare when Darryn Stamp (87) pulled one back for Gainsborough Trinity and the home keeper had to make a great save from the same player in injury time to prevent the equaliser.

After that 6 minute opener Barrow increased their lead early in the second half through Alex-Ray Harvey (46) and any prospects of a Gloucester City response were ended when Jason Walker took over for the last 15 minutes. Walker became Barrow's joint top score for the season wioth three goals on 76, 83 and an injury time penalty. All in all a pretty miserable day for Gloucester's debutant keeper Jamie Stephens, who had joined on loan from Newport County in the week.

The North Ferriby United v Guiseley game saw the clubs either side of County in opposition and things soon swapped around with the lower placed side taking the advantage. The initial lead lasted one minute as Liam King (3) scored United's first, then Tom Denton (32) put them ahead. This time it was Guiseley's turn to come up with a quick response with Adam Boyes (34) making it 2-2. The attackers continued to be on top in the second half with the home side building a two goal lead through Jason St Juste (49) and Denton's second on 52 minutes. Guiseley responded through Danny Lowe then yet another former County man to hit the back of the net this weekend saw substitute Oli Johnson (86) make it 4-4 to keep his side ahead of County on goal difference.

Bottom club Hyde looked to be going well as they held Boston United to a goalless first half but it all went wrong soon after the break. A Dayle Southwell hat-trick (48 51 73) gave Boston a comfortable lead. Joe Conchie (84) scored a consolation for Hyde after which Boston had keeper Sam Vince sent off for kicking him whilst he tried to retrieve the ball. Midfielder Greg Tempest kept Hyde at bay for the remaining minutes and Boston kept pace with County.

Third bottom Tamworth increased the lead over the bottom two thanks to a 0-0 draw at Brackley Town, although it was insufficient to take them out of the relegation places.

Apart from Lowestoft the only other team in the bottom half of the table to win today were Colwyn Bay. Of all the early scoring sides the Welsh club outdid the rest with two in six minutes at Bower Fold. Rob Hopley (13) and Anthony Stevens (19) really knocked back Keith Briggs' Stalybridge Celtic side. The visitor's survived a late scare when despite a double yellow sending off for Briggs - in his first game of the season - Celtic pulled a goal back through Anthony Malbon (78).

Marvin Robinson (4) gave Hednesford Town an early lead at home to Bradford Park Avenue. The Yorkshire side took 71 minutes to level the scores with the equaliser coming through Billy Priestley, and the game finished 1-1.

Harrogate Town suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Worcester City despite City losing their goalkeeper through injury for the last 15 minutes. The Worcester goals came from Nick Wright (58) and Jordan Murphy (67).

TOP SCORERS

Listed by total League goals, FA- shows any goals scored in FA Cup ties.

11
Omar Bogie (Solihull Moors)
10
Dayle Southwell (Boston U) FA-1
9
Adam Boyes (Guiseley) and Stefan Moore (Leamington)
8  
Ritchie Allen (AFC Fylde) FA-1, James Dean (Chorley) FA-2, Kristian Dennis (COUNTY) FA-1, Charlie Griffin (Gloucester C) FA-1, Adi Yussuf (Oxford C) FA-1.

CURRENT TABLE
Pos Pld W D L F A GD Pt
1 AFC Fylde 13 10 1 2 34 8 26 31
2 Barrow 12 8 2 2 30 14 16 26
3 Chorley 13 7 3 3 22 15 7 24
4 Oxford C 15 7 3 5 30 29 1 24
5 Guiseley 13 6 5 2 25 16 9 23
6 COUNTY 13 7 2 4 25 18 7 23
7 Boston U 13 6 3 4 21 21 0 21
8 Solihull Moors 12 6 2 4 29 17 12 20
9 Worcester C 14 5 5 4 14 15 -1 20
10 North Ferriby U 13 5 4 4 19 16 3 19
11 Colwyn Bay 13 5 4 4 22 21 1 19
12 Hednesford T 14 5 4 5 17 17 0 19
13 Leamington 13 5 1 7 18 20 -2 16
14 Lowestoft T 13 4 4 5 13 19 -6 16
15 Gainsborough Tr 13 4 3 6 14 19 -5 15
16 Brackley T 12 4 3 5 8 14 -6 15
17 Bradford PA 14 4 3 7 19 30 -11 15
18 Harrogate T 13 3 4 6 10 19 -9 13
19 Stalybridge Cel 13 3 2 8 15 21 -6 11
20 Tamworth 13 1 8 4 11 19 -8 11
21 Gloucester C 12 1 5 6 17 29 -12 8
22 Hyde 14 1 3 10 18 34 -16 6


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