Vanarama National League South Roundup 22/08/15

Matt Lee Football Article
Saturday 22nd August 2015

Bath City maintained their 100% record after making it five wins from five league games against St Albans City at Clarence Park. After thirty-one minutes Jon Davies was pushed in the box and Frankie Artus struck from the spot to take all three points home to Bath. This start is Bath’s best ever start since 1944!

Hemel Hempstead bounced back from their defeat to Maidstone United with a 3-0 win at the Aspect arena over Concord Rangers. Jamie Slabber opened the scoring after nine minutes and then doubled the advantages on the hour-mark. Ben Herd sealed the points with the visitors’ third in the first minute of injury-time.

Ebbsfleet United came from 1-0 behind with a superb second-half performance to win 2-1 at win-less Wealdstone. Jordan Parkes after 51 minutes and Danny Kedwell on 62 minutes grabbed the goals that maintains the 100% start to the season. Odoi Hudson had given the home side the lead after 41 minutes.

Gosport Borough are the only other side yet to taste defeat after beating Dartford 3-2 at Princes Park. Gosport scored either side of half-time through Justin Bennett in the 43rd and 64th minutes. Elliott Bradbrook immediately pulled one back for the home side but it was game over when substitute Lee Wort made it 3-1 in the 88th minute before a late stoppage time header from Tom Bradbrook came too late for the recently relegated Darts.

Maidstone United claimed their debut home win of the Vanarama National League South against ten-man Hayes & Yeading at the Gallagher Stadium. An Alex Akrofi brace on 29 minutes from the spot – for which Ed Sanders was dismissed – and then on 71 minutes set the pace after Jay May’s 15th minute header as Stones made it three victories in five matches. Hayes – who had a spot-kick of their own from Luke Williams saved by Lee Worgan – replied through Ismael Ehui in injury-time.

Dominant Oxford City might have considered themselves unlucky after going into the break against Havant & Waterlooville 1-0 down. Adrian Clifton gave the Hawks a 31st minute lead at Westleigh Park. A Luke Coulson long-distance shot drew City level with 8 minutes to go, but, relief was short lived as their hosts restored the advantage through Dan Strugnell.

The long trip to Cornwall proved worthwhile for Bishop’s Stortford as Elliott Buchanan’s goal early in the second half sealed all three points for the Hertfordshire team. Buchanan continued his early season goal spree 7 minutes after the break with a neat half volley to score what proved to be the winner.

Four goals in the first 22 minutes from Whitehawk all but sealed the points against a disappointing Chelmsford performance. Scott Nielson opened the scoring five minutes into the match when he tapped in Danny Mills’ low cross before a rocket from Nielson flew into the top corner on the 14th minute. Sam Deering put the home side out of sight on 22 minutes when Ashley Timms failed to get enough behind his bouncing strike. A goal early in the second half from Mark Hughes gave City a glimmer of hope. Mills then tapped-in from close range on 65 minutes to restore the three-goal lead and, despite a penalty from Hugo Skepelhorn putting Chelmsford closer on 70 minutes, it was too little too late as Whitehawk claimed their first win since the opening day of the season.

Weston-super-Mare are still searching for their first win of the new season after falling to a 2-1 defeat at home against Eastbourne Borough. The Seagulls took the lead through Dayle Grubb on the 18th minute – a lead they took into the break. Nine minutes after the interval Boro were level through Nathaniel Pinner before on 66 minutes Darren Lok scored the winner.

Maidenhead United and Sutton United both shared the spoils at York Road in a 1-1 draw. Maidenhead took the lead after nine minutes with a well worked move, Harry Pritchard squared to David Tarpey who fired home from 20 yards. Sutton then increased the pressure, pushing for an equaliser which came on the stroke of half-time. Carl Pentney impressively saved a header but Craig Dundad was first to react and equalised from close range.

Scores & Attendances:

Basingstoke Town 0-0 Margate – 471

Concord Rangers 0-3 Hemel Hempstead – 264

Dartford 2-3 Gosport Borough – 812

Havant & Waterlooville 2-1 Oxford City – 552

Maidenhead United 1-1 Sutton United – 446

Maidstone United 3-1 Hayes & Yeading – 1906

St Albans City 0-1 Bath City

Truro City 0-1 Bishop’s Stortford – 491

Wealdstone 1-2 Ebbsfleet United – 764

Weston-Super-Mare 1-2 Eastbourne Borough

Whitehawk 4-2 Chelmsford City – 231

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