[Chief Rum]

September 11, 2002

Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Nationwide Conference Wrap Up

Burton Albion 1, Yeovil 1 Yeovil pressed hard against the Brewers of Burton, but in the end they fell just short of what could have been a key Conference road victory. Striker Adam Stansfield scored his fourth goal of the season in the 10th minute, and Yeovil kept Burton off the net for much of the rest of the match to try and make it stand up. Unfortunately for the Glovers, forward Andy Ducros finally managed to get in close in the 67th minute, and he scored it to tie it up. Also, longtime Yeovil midfield starter Nick Crittenden suffered a serious calf strain near the end of the match that will likely put him down for the rest of the month.

Dag & Red 3, Stevenage 1 They're human after all. The Boro received a shock when the Daggers pushed two across in the dwindling injury time at the end of their match at Dagenham Tuesday. Striker Steve West scored his second goal of the game and the tie-breaker just seconds into extra injury time after the 90th minute. A minute and change later, midfielder/striker Danny Shipp scored his third goal of the season, knocking in a long shot that seemed to catch Stevenage keeper Lionel perez by surprise. Both of the late goals actually hit Perez and were either misplayed or rebounded into the net. The Daggers showed some resolve, playing the table-topping Boro at home, as they fell behind 1-0 on a Justin Richards score early int he second half after a tight, defensive first half. West tied it up with his first goal int he 70th minute. Only eight total official shots were taken in the match. Players for Dag & Red, the preseason favorite to achieve promotion, said that the match was a statement game, what with surprising Stevenage being the only remaining undefeated untied side in the Conference.

Doncaster 1, Scarborough 0 The Rovers dominated the Boro of Scarborough defensively, limiting them to just two shots for the match Tuesday in Doncaster. Much of the match was played in front of Scarborough's goal, although Doncaster finished with just seven shots on the goal itself. It was almost for naught until the 54th minute, when Scottish forward Jamie Peterson scored his second goal of the season. It proved to be the difference, as the Rovers used the victory to vault back into a tie with Stevenage atop the Conference table.

Farnborough 1, Telford 0 It's maddening to play solid defense all match, only to fall in the final minutes. But then, with as many shots as the Boro peppered the Bucks' net with shots, it seems fitting they should finally manage to get the win, as they certainly earned it. St. Lucian striker Ken Charlery pushed across his third goal of the season in the 89th minute of the match, held on a gusty cold night in Farnborough. The Boro had nine shots to the Bucks' two, and neither of the Bucks' shots were even on target.

Kettering 3, Forest green 0 Kettering continued its good run of form of late by pasting the sad Rovers of Forest Green on their own pitch. The Poppies scored three goals by halftime and coasted to the victory, their third in a row. The Rovers, meanwhile, have now lost four matches in a row. The first two goals were scored by well-respected midfielder Shaun Murray and Arsenal import forward Carlin Itonga, before the noted loan striker Chris Thompson finished things off with his third goal in three matches. The Poppies did get some bad news when Thompson suffered a neck sprain which will likely remove him from matches for at least two weeks.

Gravesend 0, Southport 0 Two matches ago, the Fleet were as strong an offensive side as any in the Conference. But their performances of late are shedding doubt about that. After scoring nine goals in their first three matches, they have now scored just one in two matches, including getting shutout by Southport's keeper Steve Dickinson in Northfleet. The Fleet got seven shots off, including four on net, but failed to solve the keeper and settled for the scoreless draw.

Chester 3, Halifax 1 Exciting irish striker Daryle Clare is quickly reminding everyone of what an exciting goalscorer he proved to be with the since-promoted Boston United last season. He scored two goals to lead the Blues to a critical road victory over the Shaymen of Halifax Tuesday night. It is Clare's second straight two-goal match. Halifax moved a little closer in the 79th minute when reserve striker Ian Fitzpatrick scored his first goal of the season on a penalty kick, but reserve midfielder Ben davies iced the win for the Blues with his first goal of the season in the dwindling minutes of the match.

Hereford 1, Barnet 1 The Bulls showed they weren't going to let bankruptcy or Bees get in the way of a key match. They played tough Barnet to a standstill at home Tuesday night, and almost came away with the victory, just two days after it was reported they had been placed in receivership. Welsh midfielder Paul parry, perhaps trying out for other clubs, scored his first goal of the season to put Hereford up in the 30th minute. Unfortunately, the Bees kept pressign and finally got the equaliser when reserve striker Toby Oshitola scored int he 76th minute.

Margate 2, Morecambe 1 The Gate wasted little time getting a lead in this one. Striker Phil Collins scored his fourth goal of the season in just the fourth minute, and his frontline partner, French striker Jean-Michel Sigere, scored his first goal of the season just two minutes later to give Margate a lead they would never relinquish. They didn't score the rest of the match, but ti certainly wasn't for lack of trying, as the Gate piled up 12 shots to the Shrimps' five. Morecambe did move within one in the 73rd minute when striker Robbie Talbot scored his second of the season, but it was too little, too late.

Northwich 0, Woking 0 Neither side could get much offense going in a tight defensive match at Northwich Tuesday night. Only nine shots total were taken in the match, and both defenses proved up to the challenge, despite the fact that seven of the shots were on target. The Vics' keeper Ben Connett was particularly spectacular, saving five shots on net to preserve the shutout and the home draw.

Nuneaton 4, Leigh 1 Nuneaton did all the scoring tonight, even going so far as to score for Leigh when Leigh itself couldn't solve the Boro's defense. Scottish defender Paul Brown's accidental own goal in the sixth minute actually gave the Railway Men the early lead, but when a side gets just one off-net shot in an entire match, good things are not likely to happen to them. Nuneaton, in a strange display of offensive explosion--they came into the match with just two goals in their first four matches--blitzed Leigh's defense and scored four goals on ten shots. they were led by forward Mark Quayle, who had two tallies, including the early game-equaliser. Quayle had been held scoreless on the season coming into this match, so it is a good thing for the Boro that the Telford import who did so well last season has finalyl shaken the doldrums he found himself in. The other goals in the Nuneaton home match were scored by striker Carl Alford and midfielder Mickey Brown.

INJURIES & BANS

Burton midfielder Aaron Webster was sent off with an injury early in the Yeovil-Burton macth Tuesday night, straining a chest muscle that will keep him out for a week. A much more serious injury, though, happened later in the same match, when Yeovil forward Nick Crittenden suffered a calf strain in the 90th minute. Crittenden will miss three weeks.

Kettering striker Chris Thompson also strained his neck during the Forest Green-Kettering match, although he continued to play. The injury was not announced until after the match was complete. Thompson is expected to miss about two weeks with the injury.

The boys were good last night. Or the officials were in good moods. No red cards were handed out last night.