[Chief Rum]

September 1, 2002

Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Nationwide Conference Wrap Up

Barnet 1, Dag & Red 0 Near-freezing temperatures and gale-like winds couldn't stop this match, held at Barnet's home ground in London. And the Daggers eventually failed to stop Barnet from reaching the net. Surprising scorer Craig Pope put one in in the 41st minute for the Bees, finally moving Barnet ahead after a half full of lost chances. Barnet handled Dag & Red, the preseason Conference favorite, pretty well, dominating possession. This was a critical match for both teams, with Barnet anxious to prove ts worth against a quality opponent, and Dag & Red trying to keep up with hot starts by Doncaster and Stevenage.

Chester 2, Farnborough 1 Last year, Irish striker Daryle Clare was a brilliant striker for eventual promotion-winner Boston United. Thus far with his new team, the Chester City Blues, though, Clare has been scoreless--up until Saturday, that is. The end of Clare's three-match scoring draught came in fine fashion, as he netted two goals back-to-back in the 67th and 68th. His offensive explosion broke a tense defensive battle and proves to be the difference for the hometown Blues.

Leigh RMI 1, Margate 0 It seems fitting that a brutal ugly match that featured no less than eight yellow cards, 30 fouls and a major injury should be decided by a penalty shot. Railway Men striker Ged Courtney, brought over from relegated Stalybridge, put a penalty shot past Gate keeper Phil Smith after the Gate's midfielder James Virgo tripped Ben Woods in the box in the 43rd minute. It proved to be the only score in the match. Surprisingly, no one was sent off, despite the rough play. The Railway Men did suffer a blow, though, when starting midfielder Phil Salt hurt his hamstring in the 30rd minute. It was later diagnosed as a torn hamstring, and he will miss at least two months.

Morecambe 2, Hereford 1 Young striker Danny Carlton is doing all he can to get on to the Shrimps' first team. He scored two goals to key a comeback in the second half of Morecambe's home match against the Bulls of Hereford Saturday. Carlton has now scored four goals in three matches, one of which wasn't even a start. Hereford had the advantage when their own striker put one in in the 45th minute, but they were undone by some rough play, as defensive midfielder Robert Sawyers was sent off with his second yellow card shortly after Grant's goal. The man disadvantage proved to be impossible to avoid with carlton playing so well.

Northwich 2, Burton Albion 1 Striker Johnny Allan is making the most of his personal relegation to the Conference. The former Division Three sider opened the scoring for the Vics with his fifth goal of the season in the 20th minute. Fellow striker David McNiven would then score his first goal in two years to put the Vics up 2-0 and coast to the victory. Brewers' striker Christian Moore scored his third goal of the season to get Burton within one, but it was too little, too late in a match played at Northwich.

Scarboroough 3, Forest Green 1 In the end, it was a reserve striker which finally got the Boro out of their offensive doldrums. Young Gary Cohen scored a hat in only the second start of his career to lead the Boro to victory over the Rovers in a home match at Scarborough. The three scores were the first by the side yet this season, which was held scoreless in its first three Conference matches. Vet Rovers striker Neil Grayson got Forest Green the early lead with a notch in the 20th minute, but they were unabl;e to hold onto it.

Southport 2, Halifax 0 It's becoming clearer and clearer that not only was Halifax undeserving of being a Division Three side, but perhaps the Conference is too much for them as well. The Port dominated the Shaymen, limiting their shots to just two, and rooting in Halifax's half of the pitch, in a match at Southport. Still, it remained just a one-goal match for most of full time. Midfielder Steve Soley scored a penalty in the 14th minute, after defender Alistair Asher backed into him in the box. It looked to be the only goal until the Port's reserve striker Paul Wheatcroft scored one in the 83rd minute.

Stevenage 3, Doncaster 0 Rovers who? The Boro showed they are for real in a home match between the only two undefeated, untied sides left in the Conference. Stevenage got an unlikely score from sweeper Jason Goodliffe, before striker Charlie MacDonald scored twice to put this one away by halftime. The match was actually must closer played than it seemed, as the Rovers nearly matched the Boro shot-for-shot (four to five shots on net), and the Boro spent as much time defending their own end as pressing, but it was the Boro that converted on their chances. With this one, Stevenage, who wasn't picked to do squat this season, has moved into a clear position atop the league table, and is the only undefeated, untied club left in the Conference.

Telford 2, Nuneatopn Borough 0 The Bucks dominated this match, held on their home pitch in Telford, holding Nuneaton to just two shots on goal for the match. The difference maker was Welsh striker Peter Smith, who scored both Telford goals for his third and fourth goals of the season. One of the goals was a penalty, which he was rewarded after Boro defender Jon Dyson tripped him up in the box while both were pursuing an errant pass.

Kettering 3, Woking 1 The Cardinals failed to capitalize on the fifth goal of the season by their exciting striker Warren Patmore, and lost a hard-fought offensive showdown with the Poppies on their own pitch in Woking. The two sides combined for 18 shots on net, but after Patmore's score in the fourth minute, the Cardinals couldn't solve Kettering keeper Ian Bowling. Newly acquired strikers Ryan Trudgian and Chris Thompson both scored to give the Poppies the lead, and then forward Carlin Itonga put int he game-clincher in the final minutes. Woking actually outshot Kettering 10-8.

Yeovil 1, Gravesend 1 The matchup of the Conference's best offense and best defense went more toward Yeovil's philosophy--but Gravesend & Northfleet got the important road draw, and almost came away with a victory. Backup forward Welshman Kevin Gall managed to put a floater in over the head of the Fleet's keeper Paul Wilkerson to tie it up as the final minutes dwindled in Saturday's match at Yeovil. The clutch Gall was a long time in coming, as the Glovers seemed to be the stronger team for much of the match, despite being downa goal. Gravesend's goal came early, on a forward Mark Bentley score in the 27th minute. Yeovil had to survive playing with a man disadvantage after Jimmy Aggrey was sent off shortly after Gall's goal with a tough tackle-turned-trip. They also faced down an open-pitch challenge and a couple corner kicks by the Fleet before holding on to the draw they had just earned.

INJURIES & BANS

While there were several players who left Conference action today for minor injuries, the only major injury was to Leigh midfielder Phil Salt, who tore a hamstring in the 30th minute of their match with Margate. Salt will likely be off the pitch until at least November.

Yeovil Town defender Jimmy Aggrey was sent off for a professional foul for tripping in the Glovers' draw with Gravesend & Northfleet, and Hereford's defensive midfielder Robert Sawyers acquired two yellows before being summarily booted from his side's loss to Morecambe. Both will miss at least the automatic one-match that accompanies any red cards.