Saturday 6th February 2010 - Blue Square Premier Review
Oxford United returned to the top of the Blue Square Premier on goal difference on Saturday as Kidderminster Harriers' unbeaten run under new boss Steve Burr continued at the Kassam Stadium.
Despite being unable to find a winner, the U's regained top spot after Stevenage Borough lost at Tamworth.
The home side suffered a late scare but Ryan Clarke managed to prevent Damian Spencer's shot creeping over the line.
And Jack Midson had a chance to secure victory for Oxford but his shot was well saved by Dean Coleman.
The U's may feel aggrieved as former Kidderminster striker James Constable had two strong penalty appeals turned down in the first half.
Harriers boss Burr will be delighted to have seen his side grab a draw at an Oxford team heavily tipped for promotion to the Football League this season.
Since taking over on 21st January, Burr has seen his side draw at Crawley Town and Oxford as well as convincingly beating Grays Athletic and progressing to the last eight of FA Trophy after overcoming local rivals Worcester City.
A first half goal from the Lambs` Chris Smith was enough to knock nine-man Stevenage off the top.
Smith pounced from close range for the only goal after Ronnie Henry cleared off the line in a goalmouth scramble.
But Boro`s hopes of a comeback were dealt a blow when full-back Henry was shown a straight red card for a foul on Jake Sheridan after 59 minutes.
And Henry was soon joined by Darren Murphy, who picked up two bookings in the space of 6 minutes.
The result not only knocked Graham Westley`s side off top spot, it also extended Tamworth's unbeaten run in league and cup to nine games.
Michael Rankine scored the only goal as Kettering Town's home misery continued against York City at the Elgood Brewery Arena.
There wasn't a great deal wrong with the Poppies' performance as they worked their socks off against a solid York side. But a lack of punch in front of goal proved so costly once again.
The Poppies started very brightly and they were desperately unlucky not to go in front after just
4 minutes.
Kwesi Appiah blasted an effort over the bar and from the resulting corner, which was bizarrely awarded by the referee, James Jennings' cross was headed back by Alton Thelwell and Ian Roper saw his headed brilliantly clawed away by visiting keeper Michael Ingham.
And it was Roper who made an uncharacteristic error to allow York to go in front on 15 minutes.
The defender missed a ball back into the box and it left Rankine with the easy task of firing past Nathan Abbey.
The Poppies continued to look a threat after that setback and James Dance, who was impressive in his new role as a striker, forced Ingham into another save before Marcus Kelly fired into the side-netting.
The second half livened up with a 21-man brawl after Jordan Hadfield had tangled with Alex Lawless and once order had been restored both players earned a booking.
Rankine was substituted as he threatened to earn a second booking in the physical battle with the Kettering defence and the Poppies almost drew level when Ingham held on to substitute Anthony Robinson's cheeky back-heel.
Appiah shot wide after a decent passing move and Lee Harper threw Greg Taylor on as a third striker as the hosts went in search for an equaliser.
They huffed and puffed but York stayed solid at the back to snuff out the threat.
A brace from recent signing Brian Wake gave lowly Gateshead a surprise 2-0 win over Mansfield Town at Field Mill.
Carl Jones spurned a good chance in the opening seconds for the hosts before Gateshead took a shock lead in the 5th minute through Wake's low 25-yard effort.
The visitors could have doubled their advantage with close range shots from Wake and Graeme Armstrong, but both were thwarted by the legs of Stags' keeper Alan Marriott.
The Tynesiders looked well on their way to their first league victory in six games when Wake doubled his tally 3 minutes.
The hosts struggled to get a foothold in the game, although Jake Speight forced a fine save from Gateshead keeper Paul Farman in the 83rd minute.
Gary Silk struck the bar a minute later, but Ian Bogie's men held on to claim all three points.
Early strikes from Nathan Elder and Will Hendry were enough for AFC Wimbledon to see off Forest Green Rovers 2-0 at Kingsmeadow.
The home side opened the scoring in the 8th minute when Hendry's dangerous cross was headed firmly home by Elder.
The provider turned scorer a minute later when he collected Ricky Wellard's pass to double the Dons' advantage with a neat finish from 12 yards.
It could have been worse for Rovers in the 12th minute when Lewis Taylor got on the end of Danny Kedwell's cross and crashed against the bar.
Forest Green offered little by way of an attacking threat as the Dons proceeded to dominate the contest, with Rovers having keeper David Wilkinson to thank for keeping the scorline at a respectable level.
Aaron O'Connor had a happy return to Grays Athletic`s New Recreation Ground as Rushden & Diamonds recorded another away win – despite two second half penalty misses.
The former Grays striker broke the deadlock 7 minutes before the break by slotting home Lee Tomlin's clever through-ball.
Michael Corcoran doubled the lead with a far-post header just seconds after his penalty had been saved by Richard Martin.
Jefferson Louis tapped home Diamonds' third when another spot-kick was parried at the second attempt.
Corcoran and Tomlin had early efforts held but O'Connor should have scored six yards out. Tomlin also clipped the far post with only the keeper to beat.
Mark Byrne's header was cleared off the line by Jack Hunt, while Louis nodded over Tomlin's free-kick.
Tomlin went close at the start of the second half and then picked up his tenth booking of the season, meaning a two-match suspension.
Tomlin was tripped in the box for a penalty which Corcoran missed, only to head home almost immediately.
Substitute Craig Farrell was brought down by Martin for another spot-kick. Louis was twice denied but his rebound from the re-take made it 3-0.
Liam Hatch headed home a late winner as Luton Town claimed a narrow 1-0 victory at Holker Street against Barrow.
The striker got on the end of Kevin Nicholls` corner 7 minutes from time as the Hatters bounced back from last weekend's 3-2 home defeat by Ebbsfleet United.
Luton had the better of the early chances as Tom Craddock forced a save out of Barrow keeper Tim Deasy before new signing Janos Kovacs sent his header over the bar.
But Barrow, who lost Phil Bolland to injury after just 11 minutes, created several chances of their own to break the deadlock.
Nick Chadwick, Jason Walker, Andrew Bond and Carlos Logan all failed to hit the target while Walker and Paul Rutherford were denied by Mark Tyler in the Luton goal.
Those misses proved costly as Hatch's late header sealed the points.
A solitary strike from Barry Cogan was enough to give Crawley Town a 1-0 win over Cambridge United at the Broadfield Stadium.
Cogan struck after just 8 minutes to give Crawley the lead and the U`s were unable to fight back as their winless run stretched to six league matches.
Charles Ademeno went close early on as he curled an effort just wide of Laurie Walker's left-hand post. But Cogan did put Crawley in front soon after, finding the bottom corner with a neat finish.
Ademeno then wasted a glorious chance to pile more misery on the out-of-form U's, but the burly striker headed Michael Malcolm's corner wide from six yards.
Cambridge fought back and nearly a snatched a leveller when Robbie Willmott's fierce drive forced an excellent save from Simon Rayner, before the keeper made a superb double stop from the winger to keep his side's lead intact.
Willmott tested Rayner again after the interval, but Crawley held on to claim a valuable three points.
Altrincham enjoyed a comfortable 5-0 win over Salisbury City at Moss Lane.
The home side were forced into a substitution after 15 minutes when Nicky Clee replaced the injured Matt Doughty, and Clee's first contribution was to deliver an outswinging corner which Greg Young headed home to open the scoring.
Jamie Turley and Matty Tubbs missed good chance to equalise for Salisbury, who were 2-0 behind after 37 minutes when Clee lashed high into the net from 12 yards.
It got worse for the visitors shortly after the hour-mark when Shaun Densmore struck a third for Altrincham from 25 yards.
Goal number four arrived with 10 minutes remaining when Chris Senior collected Rob Williams' pass to fire into the top corner on the angle, and Senior grabbed his second in stoppage time when he converted Densmore's cross from close range.
Eastbourne Borough overcame the dismissal of Neil Jenkins to ease their relegation worries with a vital 2-1 win over Wrexham.
Goals from Jamie Taylor and Liam Enver-Marum, either side of Jenkins' 55th-minute sending-off, proved enough for Borough, although Mike Williams pulled one back for the Welsh side late on.
A tentative start saw both sides struggle to settle, although it was Eastbourne - languishing in 20th prior to kick-off - who had the first chance when Taylor shot wide from 30 yards.
Wrexham were also restricted to long-range efforts and emergency striker Wes Baynes twice tried his luck from distance, but to no avail.
Taylor found his radar after 18 minutes to hand his side the lead, the striker rising highest to meet Joe Benjamin's inviting cross.
Jenkins was then dismissed 10 minutes after the break for foul and abusive language, but Enver-Marum shrugged off the setback to double his side's lead with a close-range finish four minutes later.
Mike Williams pulled a goal back for Wrexham after 76 minutes to ensure a nervy finish, but Boro held on.
Lee Smith's 30-yard injury-time volley earned Histon a point from a thrilling game against Hayes & Yeading United at the Glassworld Stadium.
The home side led early on through Danny Wright's penalty after he had been fouled by Ed Harris.
Craig Watkins levelled with a low drive from inside the box, only for Matt Langston to head Histon back in front.
Hayes drew level again through Andrejs Stolcers' low finish and took the lead through Scott Fitzgerald's header, but Smith equalised in the dying seconds.
Ebbsfleet United picked up a priceless 2-1 win over troubled Chester City at the Deva Stadium, thanks to Magno Vieira's quick-fire brace.
Blue Square Premier player of the month Vieira hit the post with a powerful shot for the visitors in the opening stages as the Fleet looked to add to Chester's woes.
But it was the bottom-markers who took the lead when Lloyd Ellams crossed for Jack Rea to fire them ahead after 30 minutes.
The goal lifted the Blues but they were unable to add to their lead and United hit back, Vieira showing why he won the monthly accolade with a fine finish from Stefan Bailey's centre on 41 minutes.
The home side were lucky to still have eleven men on the pitch after Glenn Rule's challenge on Moses Ashikodi only earned a caution, but the striker dusted himself down to set-up Vieira for his second 3 minutes later as the half finished with a flourish.
Chester never looked like getting back into the match, and the paltry crowd of 460 left unhappy as City ended a miserable week with a defeat.
