Blue Square Premier: U's take second
by Tom Oldfield, 06 September 2008
Altrincham 0 Salisbury 0
High-flying Salisbury were knocked off the top as they lost their 100 percent away record at Moss Lane.
The Whites went closest in a goalless first half as Andrew Sandell’s rasping strike brought a fine finger-tip save from Robins keeper Stuart Coburn.
The hosts offered little in attack throughout but the point moved them further away from the drop zone.
Cambridge United 2 Wrexham 0
Mark Beesley’s brilliant double fired high-flying Cambridge into second spot.
Beesley arrived on cue in the 28th minute as he pounced on Chris Holroyd’s header from Mark Convery’s corner.
The prolific striker caused mayhem all afternoon and punished The Red Dragons again just after the hour mark, converting former Wrexham striker Lee McEvilly’s cross to seal the win.
Forest Green 1 Ebbsfleet United 4
Star man Neil Barrett provided the spark as rampant Ebbsfleet earned all three points at The New Lawn.
Fleet flew out of the blocks as Barrett smashed home a 25-yard wonderstrike in the third minute but the hosts roared back two minutes later with Adriano Rigoglioso netting from Andrew Mangan’s pass.
The visitors edged back in front just before half-time as striker Luke Moore reacted quickest to slot home a right-foot finish.
Michael Gash grabbed a third from Barrett’s cross and substitute Kezie Ibe made an instant impact to complete the rout from Jamie Hand’s cross.
Lewes 0 Barrow 3
Lively winger Paul Brown stole the show as Barrow won the battle of the league newboys to leaving Lewes still seeking a first win of the season.
The Bluebirds snatched the lead five minutes before half-time as Brown powered home a 12-yard header.
The horror show continued for The Rooks as Zachariah Beda fouled Mark Boyd in the box and Steve McNulty netted his third penalty of the season.
Nick Rogan wrapped up the points for the visitors in the 71st minute as he drilled home from the edge of the area.
Mansfield Town 3 Eastbourne Borough 1
Mark Stallard continued his prolific form as Mansfield maintained their 100 percent home record and moved top of the pile.
Stallard buried his fifth of the season to give The Stags a 13th minute lead and Nathan Arnold showed his England C credentials by doubling the lead four minutes before the break.
Sports threatened a second half comeback as Nathan Crabb fired home in the 50th minute.
But Matthew Somner’s 87th minute header ended Sports’ hopes of a point.
Oxford United 1 Kettering 1
Gareth Seddon’s last gasp equaliser earned Kettering a battling point at the Kassam Stadium.
Seddon stunned the home crowd by firing home a right footed shot from close range in the 90th minute.
Super-sub Yemi Odubade looked to have secured the points for Oxford in the 72nd minute when he struck seven minutes after his introduction.
He burst onto Jamie Guy’s pass to beat Poppies keeper Lee Harper with 18 minutes to go but Seddon had the final say.
Rushden & Diamonds 0 Crawley Town 1
Crawley substitute Steve Fletcher bagged a stoppage time winner to cap a fine return from injury.
Fletcher, who had been sidelined with an ankle problem, rose well to head home Dannie Bulman’s right wing cross from six yards.
The hosts shaded possession but found no way past Red Devils stopper Simon Rayner.
Stevenage 4 Burton Albion 0
Hat-trick hero Steve Morison was too hot to handle for the Burton backline as Stevenage bagged their first league win at Broadhall Way.
Boro made a dream start as Lee Boylan finished in style from Lawrie Wilson’s cross in the third minute and Morison doubled the lead 15 minutes later, netting from six yards.
As Albion’s horror show continued, the striker cashed in twice in two minutes just after the break with a close range finish and a well-placed 18-yard strike.
With 15 minutes left, Andrew Cobbett grabbed a consolation for the visitors from the edge of the box.
Weymouth 2 Histon 5
Damien Reeves scored his first goals in Histon colours since his summer move from Farsley Celtic in this seven-goal thriller that saw Weymouth’s Adam Bygrave find the net at both ends.
Michael Malcolm broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion from 25 yards for his fourth of the season but Histon were level just on the half hour when Jack Midson slotted the ball home from the edge of the box.
And The Stutes were in front two minutes later courtesy of a calamitous headed own goal from Bygrave who could not deal with Antonio Murray’s swirling cross.
Bygrave had his revenge just four minutes after the break when his bullet header brought the hosts back on level terms but Reeves struck on 63 and 72 minutes and Daniel Wright completed the rout in injury time.
York 2 Woking 0
York hitman Daniel McBreen ended The Minstermen’s run of five consecutive draws and piled more misery on managerless Woking at KitKat Crescent.
Peter Bore raced down the left wing and pulled the ball back to McBreen who swept the ball home from 12 yards for his second of the season on 38 minutes.
And Woking’s misery was compounded five minutes after the re-start as Danny Bunce’s disastrous own goal left Lenny Pidgeley with no chance in The Cards goal.