We were rewarded with more Non-League madness this week, and Matthew O'Regan has reviewed the three best stories from the action.
Tuesday night saw relegation battlers Winchester host playoff-chasing at the Simplyhealth City Ground in the Southern League Premier South. Poole took the lead after 64 minutes, thanks to Diaz Antonio's strike.
Steve Tully's side looked to be taking all three points and successive league wins to move them into the playoff places until they conceded a last-minute penalty. Luke Cairney, Winchester's goalkeeper, stepped up to take it, squirming his spot-kick past his opposite number, Cam Plain.
What have I just witnessed in the Southern League…Winchester City’s ‘keeper running up to score a 95th penalty to secure a 1-1 draw with Poole Town. pic.twitter.com/l58rSXXse5
— Cam Melling (@RomseyCam) October 8, 2024
Video Credit: @RomseyCam
On Saturday, National League table-toppers Barnet FC hosted strugglers Boston United at the Hive. The Bees had won five games in a row, beating Altrincham, Braintree, Wealdstone, Aldershot and AFC Fylde.
Keaton Ward put the visitors into a shock lead after six minutes, with the Pilgrims holding on until halftime. A Callum Stead goal after 57 minutes levelled the scores before Nikola Tavares put Barnet into the lead after seventy minutes. Nicke Kabamba sealed the deal late on with his first goal of the season to make it six wins on the bounce for Dean Brennan's side and seven home wins from seven.
⚽ First goal of the season for Nik!#BarnetFC🐝 pic.twitter.com/QAnmCi6Lbn
— Barnet FC 🐝 (@BarnetFC) October 6, 2024
Hartlepool went into the home game against Sutton after losing four games on the bounce without scoring. Darren Sarll was on the brink of the sack and needed three points to ease some pressure.
However, the Monkey Hangers started slowly in South London, going 0-2 down after just 24 minutes, thanks to goals from Jayden John-Lloyd Harris and Ashley Nadesan.
Two goals in the space of two second-half minutes by Luke Charman and Emmanuel Dieseruvwe levelled the scores before a second from Dieseruvwe put Hartlepool into the lead. They looked to be taking all three points until Lewis Simper made it 3-3 late on.
There was to be another twist, with Dieseruvwe scoring his hat-trick to give Hartlepool the win and keep Sarll in the job for at least another week. The 30-year-old was the only hero, with Nathan Asiimwe heroically blocking the ball off the line in the 96th minute.
Off the line by @NathanAsiimwe2 in the 96th minute! 🚫 pic.twitter.com/KB78L0sxLM
— Hartlepool United FC (@Official_HUFC) October 7, 2024
After finishing as runners-up behind Yeovil in the National League South, Chelmsford went into the playoffs as favourites but came up short, losing to Essex rivals Braintree after extra time in the Semi-Finals.
The Clarets were clearly still affected by this result, failing to win any of their opening six games. The tides turned with a 5-1 win at one of the promotion favourites, Maidstone, before wins against Bath and Hornchurch (league) and Tilbury and Bromsgrove (cup) revived their season.
2nd place Eastbourne Borough visited Melbourne Stadium after losing just once this season. However, Robbie Simpson's side ran out 4-2 winners after four goals in 51 minutes. The pick of the bunch was the opener by Ruaridh Donaldson. Chelmsford travel to face Barnet in the FA Cup qualifier on Saturday.
𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗗𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗡 🚀
Ruaridh Donaldson netted his first league goal for the club, as his effort opened the scoring yesterday! #ClaretsTogether pic.twitter.com/ZSXL3prujX
— Chelmsford City FC (@OfficialClarets) October 6, 2024
Midweek saw relegation-threatened Canvey Island host Cray Valley PM at Park Lane.
The game started chaotically, with Danny Waldron opening the scoring for the visitors after just two minutes before Chris Harris equalised for the hosts mere seconds later. It was 2-1 after 11 minutes as teenager Jaxon Brown scored. Matthe Vigour equalised before Brown had a brace to put Canvey 3-2 up at halftime.
Connor Hubble made it 4-2 before Mohammed-Idris Oshilaja and Marcel Barrington scored a goal each to see the game ending 4-4.
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