NATIONAL LEAGUE'S NORTH-SOUTH DIVIDE

And all eight of those teams occupy places in the top eleven positions in the current table, meaning that the bottom twelve are all clubs from the south. However, the current league leaders, and Alty's next opponents, are east London club, Dagenham and Redbridge. Boreham Wood and Bromley are the only other two southern clubs in the leading group.

And demonstrating that money does not necessarily buy success, big-spending Stockport County are bottom of the northern clubs (11th) and one of the other exhibitors of northern largesse, Wrexham, are not far above them in ninth place. However, the third of the wealthiest clubs in the north, Chesterfield, do occupy second place.

"DRUBBING" AT ALTY FOR LYNN

Right: Team-mates congratulate Ryan Colclough on the opening goal against King's Lynn Town.

The 4-1 win catapults the Robins to the fringe of the play-off places, and pushes Lynn to second-bottom, giving boss Ian Culverhouse plenty to chew over before Saturday's trip to Maidenhead.

Culverhouse was without the suspended Ethan Coleman, who had picked up five bookings in the opening six matches, and brought in Aaron Jones, making his first start after injury, while Michael Gyasi replaced Russ Barrows up front...

Lynn started brightly enough in a lively opening at both ends...

Culverhouse had last week stressed getting a striker was his priority, a need that will have increased after the Linnets were made to pay for those wasted chances when Colclough showed them how to finish... in the 12th minute...

Lynn responded through Brett McGavin, who ... forced a fine a fine left-handed save from a sprawling Tony Thompson in the home goal... Then Junior Morias strode forward before unleashing a 30-yard right-footer that flew wide of the left-hand post in the 26th minute, before forcing a fine left-handed fingertip save from Thompson who tipped the striker's effort from outside the box over the bar.

Indeed, for all Alty's pacy, fluent breaks, Lynn would have felt hard done by to be trailing at the break... But it was Alty who found the net again. Their next effort was ruled out for offside after Kosylo had skipped past the Lynn defence to fire home.

Home skipper Jake Moult was then denied just seconds later as Jones dashed out to save at his feet, but made amends straight after when dancing through the box from the left and poking home from close range in the 52nd minute...

Tyler Denton limped off in the 72nd minute as Lynn finished the match with ten men, having used all their subs...

The inevitable third came when Ben Pringle laid off the ball to Joel Senior on the right, and his cross was met by Mooney for a simple close-range tap-in with four minutes left.

Morias then immediately broke on the right from the restart, and drifted infield before firing a right-footed thunderbolt past a stunned Thompson into the top right to give Lynn a glimmer of positivity.

But their misery was not complete, and Senior dribbled through the defence before laying on a simple conversion for Josh Hancock to complete the drubbing".

BALL PLINTH

The plinth at the J. Davidson Stadium is pictured, right, before kick-off against King's Lynn Town last Tuesday.

Currently, there is no Champions' League-style anthem played before kick-off!

ALTY OUT OF FA YOUTH CUP

Altrincham's first-team opponents Dagenham & Redbridge fared worse; their youth team lost 0-10 at home to Concord Rangers in the same competition.

NEXT MATCH: DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE

Dagenham & Redbridge reported that that game produced "a convincing comeback... striking Solihull for five, thanks to goals from Josh Walker, Scott Wilson, Mauro Vilhete and a double from Paul McCallum!...

Solihull had the lead after 25 minutes... Paul McCallum levelled the scoring ten minutes later... Josh Walker was amongst the thick of it again just three minutes later, winning and scoring a penalty after being dragged down just inside the box, making no mistake from the spot to give the Daggers the lead going into the break...

Daryl McMahon’s men did eventually extend that lead, following an amazing tackle by Paul McCallum to win the ball in the midfield which led to Scott Wilson getting his first of the season, making no mistake from 10 yards out.

The Daggers had a fourth just three minutes later after Myles Weston cut inside onto his favoured left foot, before unleashing a powerful effort which was blocked before deflecting into the path of Mauro Vilhete and into the Solihull net.

Paul McCallum ended the game in style for the hosts, calmly firing the ball into the top corner from a penalty...

Daggers Line Up: 1. Elliot Justham, 20. Will Wright (c), 2. Callum Reynolds, 3. Elliott Johnson, 11. Myles Weston, 8. Mo Sagaf, 26. Joey Jones, 12. Matt Robinson, 20. Mauro Vilhete, 7. Josh Walker, 9. Paul McCallum. Subs: 19. Sam Ling, 25. Scott Wilson, 6. Kenny Clark, 14. George Saunders, 18. Ryley Scott".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Wrexham have announced that "The current playing surface at the Racecourse Ground will be re-turfed after the fixture against Chesterfield on Tuesday October 5, 2021.

This decision has been taken because the works to the pitch over the summer have failed to provide a playing surface to the standard we believe is required and not acting now could well lead to more significant problems during the season.

To enable the new turf the maximum amount of time to become established, the Club have secured the approval of the FA to move any Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying tie that would have been scheduled to be played at the Racecourse Ground to a neutral venue. The draw for the tie will take place on Monday October 4.

Manager Phil Parkinson said 'The playing surface at the Racecourse Ground has been a concern from our first pre-season friendly. The decisive action taken by the Board to have it re-turfed at a substantial expense is appreciated and, while it is not without risk, it should mean that we have a reliable playing surface through the winter months.

'It is disappointing that we are having to potentially relinquish home advantage for this round of the FA Cup, but it is a decision I fully support, to allow the pitch the maximum time to settle before we play Torquay United on October 30.'"

From Chesterfield we learn that "The Spireites went down to their first defeat of the season, losing 3-1 at Woking...

James Rowe made three changes to the side held 2-2 at home to Torquay United on Saturday with Jamie Grimes, Jeff King and Saidou Khan replacing Laurence Maguire, George Carline and Jak McCourt.

In very difficult conditions, with rain teeming down in Surrey... Khan put the Spireites in front in the 12th minute, showing great awareness to chip Craig Ross with an effort from inside his own half, the keeper helping the ball into the back of the net as he raced back to try and keep it out. What a goal!...

Loach was finally beaten when Tahvon Campbell (64) went past Grimes on the right-hand side of the area before firing under the keeper... Substitute Inih Effiong added a third for Woking a minute from time with a shot from inside the area".

In the Derbyshire Times, "Woking assistant manager Ian Dyer said they ‘thoroughly deserved’ their 3-1 win against Chesterfield and that the scoreline was a ‘fair reflection’ of the game.

The hosts steamrolled the Spireites in the second-half to score three times to cancel out Saidou Khan’s unbelievable opener from inside his own half on 12 minutes.

Dyer said the Cards’ second-half performance was one of the best they have produced since manager Alan Dowson was appointed in 2018 and that it was an ‘incredible night.’

'It is an incredible feeling, not just the result, but the manner in the way we have performed tonight, especially in the second-half,' Dyer said... 'It was thoroughly deserved and I think 3-1 is probably a fair reflection on the game as a whole...

'We knew Chesterfield’s threat, they are a good side and they are going to be right up there for the title this season, I am sure of that. We knew we had to tighten up a bit more defensively and I think that played a part early on, we were probably a bit too deep and could not get our passing going.

'Credit to Chesterfield, they are a good side and they pinned us in, they probably had the better of the first 20 minutes but after that and we started to get some confidence and territory we looked an excellent side.

'We were probably the more dominant side in the second 20 minutes of the first-half and then the message in the second-half was to come out on the front-foot'.

On Khan’s goal for Chesterfield, he added 'It was a freak goal, it shook us, it has gone in wind-assisted from about 55-60-yards and sometimes you can’t legislate for that but the players did not let their heads drop. The second-half, probably in our time at the club, is one of the best 45 minutes since we have been at the club. It was an incredible night all-round.'”

Kent Online tells us that "Manager Andy Hessenthaler has praised the attitude of Dover Athletic captain Sam Wood.

Left-back Wood, 35, returned to the side for their National League loss to Bromley at Crabble having been dropped to the bench for their previous two matches.

Dover, trailing 1-0 on Saturday... couldn’t find a leveller at Crabble.

But Hessenthaler was pleased with the display of Wood as the experienced former Bromley, Brentford and Wycombe man returned to the starting line-up as he replaced Millwall loanee Junior Tiensia, who has picked up a stomach muscle injury.

Tiensia could be out for up to three weeks and joins Travis Gregory, player-coach Reda Johnson, Marshall Wratten and Will Moses on the Dover treatment table.

Whites started the match against Bromley with a back three but they went a goal down with Corey Whitely netting early. Michael Cheek failed to convert a penalty for the visitors inside the first 15 minutes, before a first-half tactical substitution saw Dover change formation...

Hessenthaler added, 'Woodsy is better in a back four, really. He will tell you that. But he is 35 and he keeps going. His attitude is different class. He is a top lad and a top captain. I love him to pieces and Seth Twumasi, to be fair.

'We were better when we went to a back four in the end, we just didn’t start the game right. It was as simple as that, really'...

The Whites boss admitted a week to prepare for their next fixture for his part-time squad is sorely needed as he revealed positive news on the injury front for midfielder Ryan Hanson.

Koby Arthur also made a second-half appearance against Bromley after recovering from a hamstring injury...

'We have got a few carrying knocks. TJ Bramble was carrying a knock last Tuesday and he hasn’t really recovered... We have got Koby Arthur back. We didn’t want to risk him because he could still feel it a little bit with his hamstring but he will be back ready for this weekend.

'Ryan Hanson has had a scan, and there was good news for him. There is no ligament damage. He has got to have his knee drained because there is a lot of fluid there but we are hoping to have Ryan back... probably the week after Grimsby'...

Whites are still yet to find the net at home this season".

Dover's next hosts, Grimsby Town, "dust ourselves down and go again following Tuesday evening's defeat on the road to Bromley and look to get back to winning ways ...

Our fantastic attendances at Blundell Park this season show no signs of slowing down, with over 5,200 tickets already issued for the fixture".

Earlier Grimsby Town reported that "Ten-man Grimsby Town fell to their first defeat of the season as Bromley came from behind to win at Hayes Lane.

On a wet and windy night in south London, the Mariners produced a fine first-half performance on the artificial 4G pitch and led at the break through a John McAtee free kick.

But as the conditions worsened after half-time, Bromley took charge as their leading scorer Michael Cheek equalised, before James Alabi put them ahead.

Town's task was made more difficult when Michee Efete was shown a straight red card and the hosts made sure of the points when Corey Whitely made it 3-1 with eight minutes to go.

Two changes were made to the Grimsby starting XI after Saturday's draw at Maidenhead United, with Ben Fox and Will Bapaga coming in for Alex Hunt and Ryan Taylor...

Things went from bad to worse on 69 minutes when the Mariners were reduced to 10 men. Efete was fouled but reacted poorly to the challenge and was shown a straight red card".

The Dorset Echo tells us that "Weymouth chairman Ian White admitted staying in the Vanarama National League is the Terras’ top priority but added 'We’ll see where we get'...

White and his board of directors have been upgrading the club’s off-field armoury. Following a new commercial partnership with Sporting Ads, the Terras have secured brand-new home and away sponsors.

New dugouts, revamped away support facilities and ground infrastructure have all been implemented in the summer. The improvements, White tells Echosport, bring the Terras’ off-pitch standards closer to the heights of the team.

'If we can do it within our means, and things are starting to look quite bright on that sense, I’d like to see us stay in this league,' he said... 'But we’re not just aiming for that, we’ll see where we get. We’ve progressed well over the last three, four seasons. And I’m pleased to say that behind the scenes the club is catching up with the team'".

In the Nottingham Post, "Ian Burchnall vowed Notts County cannot risk its 'economic future' after revealing how they were financially outmuscled for two players this summer.

The Magpies had wanted to keep defenders Mark Ellis and Calvin Miller at Meadow Lane after their successful loan spells from Tranmere and Harrogate respectively last term... Centre-back Ellis decided to join Barrow on a two-year deal while wing-back Miller moved to Notts' promotion rivals Chesterfield.

Burchnall confirmed that he had held talks with both players... But the Magpies head coach admitted they just could not compete with offers elsewhere, particularly from National League rivals Chesterfield who have spent huge sums of money this summer...

Burchnall told a fans' forum on Monday night... 'For Calvin Miller we wanted to keep him and we made an offer. But I'll be honest. We were outbid in a big, big, way by Chesterfield...

'I know that, as much as we want players, we cannot risk the economic future of the club by doing things that are reckless or unstable... We couldn't keep him because somebody offered far better'".

ALTRINCHAM 4-1 KING'S LYNN TOWN

Right: Dan Mooney receives instructions from Neil Sorvel during a break in play against King's Lynn Town.

In the twelfth minute, Ryan Colcough set the ball rolling when he drifted in from the left before firing past keeper Jones from just outside the box. Despite the visitors winning the only three corners of the first half, the hosts remained 1-0 ahead at the break.

Ian Culverhouse made a double change at the interval and the Linnets, immediately from the restart, came close to equalising as Gyasi jigged past two challenges into the box. But Alty went on to regain the upper hand and soon doubled their lead. Their second goal came when pressure culminated in Jake Moult scoring with a close-range shot across the keeper (53 mins).

The fast-paced end-to-end game continued but Altrincham were now in control and they underlined their superiority with two late goals, both laid on by fine runs up the right-wing by Joel Senior. First, he laid on a close-range goal for Mooney to make it 3-0 (86 mins).

But, just a minute later, man of the match Ben Pringle lost the ball, thirty yards out, and the impressive Morias went on to blast a rising shot into the top corner of the Alty net to make it 3-1.

However, Senior then laid on a close-range goal for substitute Josh Hancock to wrap up the scoring at 4-1 (90 mins). The match was an excellent advert for National League football.

Match report here.

ALTRINCHAM : 1. Tony THOMPSON, 24. Joel SENIOR, 25. Toby MULLARKEY, 5. Tom HANNIGAN, 29. Joe BUNNEY, 6. Jake MOULT (c), 17. Ben PRINGLE, 7. Dan MOONEY, 11. Ryan COLCLOUGH, 15. Matty KOSYLO, 9. Marcus DINANGA. Subs: 23. Tom PEERS, 10. Josh HANCOCK, 19. David FITZPATRICK, 27. A-Jay LEITCH-SMITH, 28. Dean FURMAN.

KING'S LYNN TOWN : 1. Paul Jones. 4. Kyle McFadden, 6. Daniel Bowry, 3. Tyler Denton, 7. Michael Clunan (c), 16. Brett McGavin, 28. Zain Walker, 39. Joe Rowley, 10. Junior Morias 12. Michael Gyasi, 17. Aaron Jones. Subs: 14. Malachi Linton, 18. Munashe Sundire, 2. Luis Fernandez, 22. Russ Barrows.

LINNETS' LAMENT

Left: Ben Pringle pictured in the match against King's Lynn Town. Shortly after being announced as Man of the Match following a fine display in midfield, he lost possession and The Linnets netted their consolation goal!

Lynn started off well seeing early chance by Joe Rowley just go wide, but it would be Paul Jones with the heroics just two minutes later with his top save denying Dinanga...

Kings Lynn would again pile on the pressure to open the scoring with Brett McGavin’s fierce shot sail over the bar. Michael Gyasi, in for the suspended Ethan Coleman, caused the home defence problems early on with his pace..

But it would be the hosts who would take the lead... Kings Lynn would lose the ball in midfield and allow Ryan Colclough to cut in on the right and unleash a thunderous strike that beat the helpless Jones.

Ian Culverhouse rolled the dice after the break making a double substitution as Malachi Linton and Russ Barrows would replace Zain Walker and Aaron Jones, Brett McGavin and Junior Morias both went close for Lynn with long range efforts, but again it would be Altrincham who would get the goal and double their lead seven minutes after the break through Jake Moult.

Lynn would play the final 18 minutes of the game with only 10 men when, having made all three substitutions, Tyler Denton limped off. Ten-men Lynn would hold off a onslaught of shots but ultimately would see Dan Mooney make it 3-0 in the 86th minute.

Lynn would get their first goal in 3 matches through Morias... with a long-range effort. But the celebrations were quickly over as the hosts would put a fourth past a deflated Kings Lynn Town a minute from time when Josh Hancock.

The defeat leaves the Kings Lynn second from bottom of the table".

NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

• Altrincham 4-1 King's Lynn Town
• Bromley 3-1 Grimsby Town
• Woking 3-1 Chesterfield

The only two unbeaten records went tonight as both Grimsby Town and Chesterfield lost.

SORVEL ON SATURDAY

'We knew they'd have more of the ball, we set up to counter and that's what we did and I can't remmeber them having many clear chances. And, if it wasn't for their keeper making a couple of decent saves, we could've had more".

Right: Neil Sorvel with Connor ampson.

As for scorer Marcus Dinanga, Sorvel added, "That's what he's been brought in to do. He keeps getting into the right place and that's what he's done again today".

Sorvel's comments are supported by the match statistics which reveal that Altrincham had ten shots, five of which were on target whereas The Magpies mustered just one shot on target and eight off-target.

In a match of just 23 fouls, there were eight cautions by referee Jacob Miles. Alty collected five yellow from thirteen offences and County picked up three yellows from their ten fouls.

Mr Miles, a tennis umpire as well as a football referee, was also the man who sent off Matty Kosylo last November in the home match against Bromley.

YEOVIL MATCH DATE

ALTRINCHAM OLD BOYS

Four ex-Alty players made their mark last week when Bacup Borough entertained West Didsbury and Chorlton in the first round of the Lancashire Cup. First up for WDCFC was Tom Westall who scored in the first minute. With the game at 1-1 in normal time the Bacup goalkeeper saved a penalty taken by Sam Heathcote.

Heathcote redeemed himself and scored from his spot-kick in a shoot-out. With the score in the shoot-out at 4-4, Andrew Jones [right] saved brilliantly from Bacup's fifth penalty.

Callum Jones was then given the task of seeing WDCFC through when he smashed the ball into the bottom left-hand corner to see his club through to the next round.

NEXT OPPONENTS: DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE

This time around there will be no such spectator restrictions as Alty face a side which has made a fine start to this season, winning six of its eight fixtures and heading the National League table.

Dagenham & Redbridge have issued ticketing information.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 23 year-old, capable of playing on either flank, joins after a seven-month spell at Valley Parade, and has signed a contract at Edgeley Park until the Summer of 2024.

He originally made a name for himself after joining Curzon Ashton from Colne in 2018, with his dazzling performances... earning him a trial, and ultimately a move, to Championship Wigan Athletic just six months later at the age of 20.

He initially returned on loan to Curzon Ashton on loan for the remainder of the season... In January 2020, Oliver again went out on loan, this time with Scottish side Dundee. He made six appearances whilst north of the border...

Those spells out on loan were enough to earn the winger a chance in the Wigan Athletic first team last season, with the Club back in League One... and made a total of 19 league appearances at the DW Stadium in the first-half of the season before Bradford came calling...

With a goal on his debut ... he went on to make another 18 appearances for Bradford last season, and a further six this campaign, coming off the bench last Saturday and setting up a goal in their defeat at Crawley...

Director of Football Simon Wilson said...'He is a long term target... It took a lot of effort by a number of the team here at County to eventually get this transfer completed. We have been met with some crazy demands from Clubs and players recently, but I’m happy to say this represents good value for an exciting young player'".

Football League World reacted by saying "Bradford have now confirmed that Crankshaw has left the club to join National League side Stockport County for an undisclosed fee...

It seems as if the club’s financial muscle has proved too much for both Crankshaw and City to turn down, too, with Derek Adams saying 'Ollie leaves with our best wishes, having received a substantial offer from Stockport which he felt he could not turn down.

'We would have liked to keep him at the club and seen him fight for his place in the side'".

On leaving The Bantams, Crankshaw told the Yorkshire Post, "This is a bittersweet moment for me, but I have to do what I feel is right for my footballing career and development as a player".

Devon Live reports >that "Gary Johnson says he is still on the lookout for new players despite the current Torquay United squad showing signs of improvement and picking up four points from the last two games.

An amazing fightback on Saturday at National League leaders Chesterfield started in the 88th minute... It was a great point, but as Johnson pointed out yesterday, he would still have preferred to bring back all three from Derbyshire - and his previous talk of looking to bring in new players still stands...

Johnson said 'I felt that we had had a few games that wasn't up to the standard that I want to play at but anyway, I am always looking to improve the squad where I can... We must have spoken to lots of players, lots of agents, lots of clubs, and we brought Shaun MacDonald in, and we changed the back four to a three, and we left a couple of people out and those people are working very hard to get back in'".

'What you are telling them is that they are all on trial'...

Little returned to the team for the BT Sport televised game on Saturday evening after a game out with a hamstring pull. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans missed the game with a knock, Johnson saying he did want to risk the midfielder".

The Leader Live reminds us that "Wrexham have ground to make up on the National League leaders but the Reds are leading the way when it comes to attendances in the fifth tier...

Wrexham are top of the league on the crowd front. The highest attendance in the division so far this season came when 8,242 supporters saw Wrexham win 1-0 against Woking at The Racecourse on September 11.

That was the first of successive home matches that attracted a crowd of more than 8,000. One week after beating Woking, 8,033 fans poured through the turnstiles as Wrexham beat the Daggers 1-0 courtesy of Paul Mullin’s sensational strike.

There would have been a similar attendance for the first home game of the season, the 1-1 draw with Notts County, which was watched by 5,454 supporters but the WrexRent Stand was closed due to refurbishment.

Wrexham have been well backed on their travels as well.

Around 1,700 tickets were sold for Saturday’s clash at fellow promotion favourites Stockport County and there have been healthy away followings at Solihull Moors on the opening day, far flung Eastleigh and Southend, and Grimsby Town on a Tuesday night.

With Stockport fans also turning out in their droves to see their side come from behind to beat Wrexham 2-1 with 7,771 supporters present, it means the Reds have played in matches that have produced the three highest attendances in the division.

With an average attendance of 5,871 for home and away games this term, Wrexham are top of the table with Grimsby (4,796) next in the list".

BEFORE THE MATCH

Seventy-Two hours on from the narrow 1-0 home defeat and the club have another opportunity hope to build momentum from an important away trip to Greater Manchester, in a chance to climb out of the relegation places... King’s Lynn remains unbeaten on their travels for the season. Beginning with a 2-1 win over Yeovil Town, Culverhouse’s men followed that up with a 3-3 draw against Eastleigh FC.

After the first six games this season, there have been a few standout players to keep an eye out for... Starting with Zain Walker, who has joined the club from Bristol Rovers on an initial one-month loan, the attacking midfielder shows confidence with the ball at his feet, being able to glide past defenders. Offering a valuable ability to provide chances for his teammates, a similar level of excitement surrounds Brett McGavin, who this time is on loan from Ipswich Town. Where Walker excels in his dribbling quality, McGavin does so with his passing range and exceptional vision.

Sat in 12th position in the National League, Altrincham... starting the season with nine points... are on their way to beating the 47 that had been accumulated last season. Finishing 17th last time around, Altrincham lost 19 of their games last season, winning 12 and drawing 11.

When the two faced off last season, the spoils were shared when a Kairo Mitchell brace confirmed a 2-0 win for The Linnets on Easter Monday. A result that followed the 3-0 result, in favour of Altrincham two weeks prior.

Following on from his absence against Wealdstone, Gold Omotayo remains doubtful for this game, as he continues to be sidelined with a knee injury.

Marking his return from the substitutes bench at the weekend, Aaron Jones continues his recovery from a long-term injury, that has kept him out of the team since February. Playing 25 minutes against Wealdstone, it is unsure as to whether the right-back will travel with the squad to Greater Manchester.

After picking up a fifth booking of the season, Ethan Coleman will be absent from the club’s venture to Altrincham".

NEXT OPPONENTS: KING'S LYNN KEEPING CALM

The result saw the Linnets drop into the bottom three of the National League standings ahead of [the] visit to Altrincham.

'We need calm heads,' said the Lynn boss after seeing the Stones walk away with a 1-0 victory with ten men.

Ethan Coleman... will miss the trip to Altrincham because of a one-match suspension.

'We'll be in similar situations again in the games coming up where we've got to learn. We've got to keep playing the way we are. It's about being a bit more streetwise in situations but, more importantly, we've got to stop giving away silly goals.

'We need to have a calm head when we put the ball into the box. There was one situation in the second half on Saturday where we've done an out-swinging corner and it should have been an in-swinger.'

Altrincham have won three of their five games this season with maximum points from their two matches at their Moss Lane home.

Alty's seven league goals this season have been spread around six players, Marcus Dinanga. a summer recruit from Stevenage, becoming leading scorer with his second of the season in the 1-0 win over Notts County at the weekend".

ALTY TV HIGHLIGHTS

NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

• Altrincham v King's Lynn Town
• Bromley v Grimsby Town
• Woking v Chesterfield

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Mariners head to Bromley, just three days after their 1-1 draw with Maidenhead as they aim to keep their unbeaten run going. It’s now seven without defeat for Town, although as their weekend trip to York Road showed, there is still some room for improvement...

The Mariners certainly weren’t firing on all cylinders on Saturday... The Town boss has already hinted at making changes for the trip to south London...

Ben Fox is perhaps the most obvious candidate, with the midfielder unlucky to drop back to the bench after his goal against Eastleigh.

Seb Revan and Will Bapaga will also be itching to get back into the side, having had remain patient so far after making moves on loan to Blundell Park... Given the dramatic change of conditions, and the potential for a faster pitch, both players could come into consideration, especially if Hurst wants to get a true left-footer on that side.

It’s still perhaps early for Lenell John-Lewis to come into consideration, but after a hectic week for Ryan Taylor with the long-awaited arrival of his baby daughter, it’s another option Hurst may have to consider...

A lot has already been made of the artificial pitch Town will be playing on tomorrow night, with Paul Hurst admitting he’s not a huge fan of the 3G surfaces you find at some non-league grounds...

Hurst... does feel there will be a distinct advantage for Bromley tomorrow... Both Harrogate and Sutton United have gone up in the last couple of seasons having played their home games on artificial surfaces, while Bromley themselves managed to make the play-offs earlier this year.

'No one is going to convince me otherwise that it isn’t an advantage', Hurst said... 'I don’t like training on the surface, so we won’t be doing that ahead of the game, and I don’t think we get anything from having one training session on it, and each one is slightly different anyway.

'Looking at their games there, the ball seems to move very quickly, it can run away from people if their passes aren’t accurate, so that’s something we’ll just have to be wary of'...

The lack of energy at Maidenhead was a bit of a concern for the Town boss straight after the game... He’ll be eager to see a response from his players".

According to the Southend Echo, "Southend United are keen on signing Sunderland striker Benjamin Kimpioka on loan.

The 21 year-old forward, who represented Sweden at youth level, can play anywhere across the front-line.

And he is expected to train with the Shrimpers later this week.

Kimpioka has netted twice for the Black Cats in the Football League Trophy and also scored in their 1-1 draw against Coventry City in League One back in 2019.

Last season, he spent time on loan in the National League with Torquay United... Kimpioka made 10 appearances while with the Gulls but failed to hit the back of the net.

He attracted interest from Hartlepool United earlier this season".

Also from the Southend Echo, we learn that "Nathan Ferguson has rejected the opportunity to join Aldershot Town.

The 25 year-old has failed to make the squad for Blues’ last two matches.

But Shrimpers boss Phil Brown confirmed Ferguson had opted to fight for his place.

'There was interest in Nathan from a National League team but he wants to fight for his place here,' said Brown.

'We’ve seen a reaction from him in training.'

Aldershot are now managed by former Southend manager Mark Molesley who signed Ferguson for Blues back in January".

The Derbyshire Times reports that "In-form Chesterfield striker Kabongo Tshimanga has got a bright future ahead of him and is ‘hungry’ for more goals. By Liam Norcliffe

The forward is currently the top scorer in the National League and has instantly become a fan favourite at Town. Manager James Rowe is not surprised he has hit the ground running and was impressed with him from the first moment he spoke to him.

'We are working hard to improve his game even further because there are areas of improvement needed,' Rowe told BBC Radio Sheffield. 'He is a born finisher and he is a credit to himself as well because he is a fantastic professional and human being. He has got an open mindset to develop himself so he is going to improve even more.

'This is only the beginning for his career and he is going to have a really good solid career ahead of him'...

Tshimanga has already got his first Chesterfield hat-trick under his belt and has been described as ‘ruthless’ by boss Rowe...'And he has built a great relationship with the fans as well. We have got a good player on our hands but I want to change that from good to great.

'He has scored nine but he wants a hell of a lot more than that and he is hungry for more'" concluded the Spireites' boss.

The Brent & Kilburn Times believes that "As a football fan it doesn’t often get much better than when your club comes away with a 1-0 away win when you are down to 10 men for virtually the whole of the second half and under unrelenting pressure.

And, happily, this is just what Wealdstone achieved on Saturday at early fellow National League strugglers King's Lynn Town.

A magnificent rear-guard action, made all the more creditable after new striker Ira Jackson had been red carded after 47 minutes, saw Stones pick up a second precious win of the campaign to delight our supporters who had travelled in numbers to Norfolk to totally frustrate the home side.

The stats showed that Stones managed a mere two attempts on goal, the one strike on target producing the only goal of the contest from Barrow loanee Charlie Cooper. Clean sheets win matches as they say.

We can all see a gradual but consistent improvement in Stones' performances and results after such a difficult start in the top league, only one defeat in the last six matches with the form table looking much healthier."

NEXT OPPONENTS: KING'S LYNN TOWN

The visitors arrive after a home defeat on Saturday as the Eastern Daily Press reports that "Life is all very strange at King’s Lynn Town at the moment. Crowds are below 1,000, and the fortress’s walls have crumbled.

Right: King's Lynn Town's flag flies over The Walks stadium but the ground is no longer a "fortress".

Fortunately, the clear sound of booing from the home fans was muffled by the ecstatic celebrations in one corner from Wealdstone's noisy following, and they had every right to shout the house done, because their team did a proper job on Lynn.

For half an hour they hardly touched the ball. Then they scored. And for another hour they hardly touched the ball. The difference was that when they did get a touch, it counted. Lynn’s touches didn’t because they were predictable. There wasn’t a surprise package, no touch of magic, no string puller who makes things happen.

Even when the visitors went down to 10 men early in the second half when Ira Jackson was shown a straight red for a high boot that floored Zain Walker, they made the most of it. They made time-wasting an art-form, packed their lines and left Lynn only the most minimal pockets of space to try and exploit. A goal to the good, they didn't have to attack.

Their game management was excellent...

Sour grapes? Yeh, a bit. Because Lynn are better than this. They’re better than flinging high balls into the area time after time to a strike force that was swatted aside by the Stones' tall defenders. Meat and drink stuff. And they’re better than trying pot shots through a sea of bodies that inevitably led to blocks. More meat and drink.

Lynn boss Ian Culverhouse talks about the fine margins and, within the space of 15 minutes, two went against Lynn. The first came when Michael Clunan was played in by Brett McGavin. The goal was at his mercy, only George Wickens between him and a goal, and the keeper saved with his legs.

With just over half an hour gone, midfielder Joe Rowley was feeling the heat and took off his training vest, a tricky operation that required Ross Barrows to delay taking a throw-in. Rowley adjusted his wardrobe, play resumed, but within seconds Rowley had been dispossessed by Charlie Cooper, who took a few strides and then struck from 25 yards into the bottom left corner. No doubt father Mark, the Barrow manager who was watching from the main stand, would have been delighted.

Culverhouse would have been fuming: Lynn have yet to take a lead in a game this season and, with that monkey of three home defeats clinging firmly to their backs, there was a danger of young minds being affected.

When Jackson saw red, you still expected Lynn to get something from the game. They had almost all of the possession, but rarely troubled Wickens again.

'We started the game fine, we had a fantastic chance with Mike and that just gives a little bit of belief and something you can build on, but didn’t take our chance and then the disappointing thing is the goal we gave away; we are in possession of the ball, it’s our throw,' said Culverhouse. 'So we are shooting ourselves in the foot at the moment.

'I can’t fault their effort but, when we are going behind in games at the moment, you can see a little bit of belief dripping from them. It’s been a while since we scored first and we need that first one to give them a little bit of belief that there is something there for them.'

Culverhouse will be hoping striker Gold Omotayo’s recovery from ankle ligament damage remains on course; they need him.

'We have been here before in games when we have had a presence in the box and there was belief we would score here,' said Culverhouse. 'And we got a little bit desperate today because we were throwing balls into areas that were comfortable for defenders to defend, and that isn’t us, we didn’t have a physical presence in the box anyway so for us to be chucking in 50-yard crosses is ridiculous.'”

If there was a bright spot it was the return of Aaron Jones, who played the final 25 minutes having been out since February.

And the elephant in the room? A crowd of just 885. Not good for all sorts of reasons".

MANAGER'S INTERVIEW

YOUTHS STAY AT THE TOP

After two victories to start the season, this draw leaves Altrincham still top of the table after three fixtures, albeit there are some clubs behind them who have played fewer games.

THROUGH THE YEARS

In the match at the historic Rockingham Road ground, Altrincham came back three times to take a deserved point. After early Kettering pressure, Marna had made it 1-0 from Christie's feed.

Right: Altrincham, in all white, line up before kick off at Rockingham Road in 2010..

Soon, Alty moved debutant Andrai Jones from the back line to right midfield before Chris Denham equalized with a great turn and shot from the edge of the box. But inside a minute Marna made it 2-1 after Noubissie got past Damian Reeves, who inexplicably was Alty's last man on their left flank, to cross for the scorer.

On 30 minutes, Reeves headed in a great Denham cross to make it 2-2 after good work by Robbie Lawton. After 71 minutes Marna completed his hat trick with a header. But Alty continued to fight back before Sam Hewson tapped in for 3-3 after 81 minutes and it was then Alty who went the closer before the referee ended the game after barely 90 seconds of the two added minutes.

ALTRINCHAM: 1. James COATES, 14. Andrai JONES, 2. James SMITH, 5. Robbie WILLIAMS, 4. Marc JOSEPH, 6. Shaun DENSMORE, 16. Anthony DANYLYK, 7. Robbie LAWTON (capt), 11. Nicky CLEE, 8. Damian REEVES, 10. Chris DENHAM, Subs: 23. James McCARTHY, 1. Stuart COBURN, 20. Sam HEWSON, 12. Kevin HOLSGROVE, 18. Matty CROWELL.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

'Shaq is back training with us,' confirmed Brown. 'He needs the training right now but he’s showing good signs.

'We had an 11 v 11 in training on Thursday and Friday and Shaq was really pulling up trees in fairness. He’s really filled out since we had him here on loan.

'I think he was a boy back then really but he’s definitely a man now and he’s agreed to come back in to train this week too, along with Josh Wright.'

Coulthirst is currently without a club having left Boreham Wood at the end of last season".

Meanwhile the Brent & Kilburn Times tells us that "Charlie Cooper's first-half strike helped 10-man Wealdstone claim their first away win of the season in the National League as they beat King's Lynn 1-0 at The Walks.

The summer signing pounced on the loose ball before firing into the bottom corner from the edge of the box in the 32nd minute, his first goal for the club.

Wealdstone earlier had goalkeeper George Wickens to thank for keeping them on level terms, making two fine saves in quick succession to deny Michael Clunan and Junior Morias.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men three minutes after the break when Ira Jackson Jr was shown a red card for a high foot on Zain Walker.

Tyler Denton twice shot straight at Wickens and Morais fired just wide as the Linnets searched for an equaliser which never came as they fell to a fourth successive home defeat.

According to the Derbyshire Times, "Manny Oyeleke is rated as ‘50-50’ to be fit for Chesterfield’s next match at Woking on Tuesday night.

The midfielder came off late on in the win at Yeovil Town with a knock and did not recover in time to play in the draw against Torquay United yesterday.

Manager James Rowe felt he would have made a difference as the Spireites let slip a two-goal lead...

'I think we missed him in there,' Rowe told the DT. 'I think we missed his composure. But I think Connor Lemonheigh-Evans was a miss for Torquay as well. It was a shame both of those players could not play in a game like this. They are two very strong players in this league so it would have been nice for the 5,000 crowd plus the viewers at home to see them.

'The game was a good advert for the league because it was very tactical in the first-half and the second-half, when it opened up we controlled it.'

Town suffered a late sucker-punch with the Gulls scoring twice in seven minutes to steal a point...

Rowe said 'I need to see the first one back but I think it is offside. Obviously there is a tackle missed on the 18-yard box but it is unlucky because Curtis (Weston) has gone in and it has deflected back.

'The last one has been dribbled maybe too far, we need to address that'...

Like Chesterfield, next opponents Woking threw away a two-goal to lose 3-2 at Eastleigh with former Spireite Tom Whelan scoring two penalties to turn the scoreline around".

FC Halifax Town "defeated Aldershot Town 1-0 at the EBB Stadium... Town won the match through a single strike from Billy Waters.

'I was very pleased with the first half as we dominated the game,” the gaffer [Pete Wild] said. 'We controlled the ball and deserved the lead at half time, then in the second half, we didn’t start with enough impetuous... There was two contrasting styles of play because in the second half, it was controlled defending, and we were stretched. But, in the first half, we were really worthy of our one-nil lead...

'Most of my comments this week were on impetuous [?impetus],' Wild stated. 'The game could’ve been a banana skin'... There was 74 amazing fans who made the long-journey over to Hampshire yesterday afternoon".

And the Halifax Courier adds that "Town boss Pete Wild says he is 'buzzing' after securing the signing of goalkeeper Tom Scott. The 20-year-old has joined Halifax on a deal until the end of the season and will act as back-up to first-choice stopper Sam Johnson.

Scott moved from hometown club Leeds United to Manchester City in 2015, staying with them for five years... After trials with Birmingham City and Watford, he joined Port Vale in January until the end of the season, but didn't play for their first-team.

'Tom is a really, really exciting young keeper we've dropped on,' Wild said...'He's trained with is for a month and he's been brilliant, a great lad, a really, really good keeper'".

ALTRINCHAM 1-0 NOTTS COUNTY

Match report here

NOTTS COUNTY REACTION

The Magpies lost 1-0 at Moss Lane...

Notts had plenty of possession but struggled for clear-cut chances but should have drawn level when Ruben Rodrigues shot wide from Aaron Nemane's cross.

Notts continued to plug away in the search of an equaliser but couldn't trouble goalkeeper Tony Thompson as they lost their first game this season.

And head coach Burchnall felt their second-half performance, in particular, lacked decisiveness in the final third.

'I actually thought we started the game much better than we did in the previous two weeks', he said. 'We started slow but here we were on the front foot. They got the goal and it kind of pegged us back. But we learn a little bit when we lose. Take the play-off games out of it, it was our first defeat since last season.

'We don't want to lose any. It's a disappointing loss but we have a lot of games coming up so we've just got to bounce back quick.'"

WILLIAMS GOES ON LOAN

With competition for a place in the Altrincham squad as fierce as it has ever been, the 29-year-old has found himself without a competitive appearance for the Robins so far this season. The opportunity for him to link up with the Northern Premier League side presents a great chance for Sean (left).

Last season, Sean made 14 appearances for the Robins but with the arrival of Ben Pringle and Dean Furman, his opportunities have been restricted at the J. Davidson Stadium".

Footnotes: Sean has made 118 appearances for Altrincham,comprising 89 starts and 29 appearances from the bench.

Earlier, it was announced that goalkeeper Matt Gould had goneon loan to Natwich Town and he made his debut on Saturday but The Dabbers lost 1-0 at Basford United.

RESERVES SHADE IT

ALTRINCHAM OLD BOYS

NEXT OPPONENTS: KIMG'S LYNN TOWN

Lynn changed their formation from the usual 3 centre backs to a flat back 4 with Joe Rowley and Zain Walker supporting Junior Morias up front.

Lynn started the better... Lynn were creating chances and... It was against the run of play when Wealdstone took the lead on 32 minutes. Rowley lost the ball in midfield which was picked up by Charlie Cooper who strode forward to first the ball low past Paul Jones...

Lynn made an attacking change at half time with Malachi Linton replacing Ethan Coleman. Within three minutes of the restart the visitors were reduced to 10 men when a high foot from Ira Jackson on Walker left the ref which little choice but to give a red card.

Lynn kept pressing... but the final touch was lacking and Lynn started to run out of ideas with the clock ticking down... but Wealdstone, who defended resolutely in the second half went away with the win.

Next up for the Linnets is a trip to Altrincham this Tuesday (7.45pm)

Lynn: P Jones. Barrows (A Jones 65), McFadden, Bowry, Denton, Coleman (Linton H/T), Clunan, McGavin, Walker (Sundire 74), Rowley, Morias. Subs not used: Fernandez, Gyasi

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEW

The home side were cruising at 2-0 when never-say-die Torquay hit back through Armani Little, then clinched a priceless point deep in stoppage time when Chesterfield skipper Curtis Weston steered the ball into his own net under pressure from a Torquay corner

Connor Lemonheigh-Evans was out with a knock ... so Little was back in after a game out because of a hamstring strain... By the 15th minute Torquay were holding their own...

After Torquay started well, it was the home team who were on top; but the Gulls were defending well... It was a pretty good performance from the Gulls for the first 45.

The second half was much more open, and Torquay created more chances to take the lead...

The home side scored twice in quick succession, both times through free-scoring striker Kabongo Tshimanga... On 73 minutes Tshimanga bagged his ninth goal in eight games...

Gary Johnson used all his substitutions, throwing on Tom Lapslie, Dan Holman and Alex Addai, but it looked as if it would all be to no avail... But the game was turned on its head when Armani Little pulled a goal back in the 89th minute, curling the ball beyond Loach's reach after a strong run by Holman...

Then the pressure paid off in the dying seconds... The Gulls had penalty appeals waved away as it looked as if a Chesterfield defender had turned the ball behind with his hand, but they scored from the corner. Lapslie made a nuisance of himself at the near post, and Weston's desperate lunge only succeeded in steering the ball into his own net.

There were angry scenes at the end as Torquay celebrated and the home side looked on in disbelief".

In the Grimsby Telegraph we read that "Paul Hurst has explained his thinking behind bringing another defender on for Grimsby Town shortly before they conceded an equaliser at Maidenhead United.

Despite not firing on all cylinders, the Mariners had taken the lead through Erico Sousa with just over 15 minutes to go as they looked to be closing in on a fifth straight win in the National League.

A few minutes after the goal, Sousa was brought off as defender Shaun Pearson made his way on, with Town switching to a back three.

Six minutes later though, the visitors were pegged back when Kane Ferdinand headed home an equaliser with just seven minutes remaining, with the midfielder afforded far too much space from a cross from the right.

The decision to introduce another defender with over 10 minutes to go was questioned by some supporters, with Town then unable to find a second goal to retake the lead as they had to settle for a point.

'I know a lot can be made of putting an extra defender on,' Hurst told Grimsby Live. 'Erico scored, I’ll give him that, but I didn’t feel he gave us as much going forward as I would’ve liked'...

Hurst added: “It was a performance overall where it looked like we’d maybe just done enough to win. For me, that would have been a little bit harsh on Maidenhead...

'Overall, it just looked like an overall lack of enthusiasm to get on the ball, and just the energy levels seemed to be lower than I anticipated or wanted'" Hurst concluded.

In front of nearly 8,000 spectators, Wrexham rpeot that they "fell to their second defeat of the campaign as Paul Mullin's early opener wasn't enough for three points.

Mullin scored after just two minutes, before Paddy Madden's header levelled just after the break and Ryan Rydal scored the winner with ten to play.

Phil Parkinson stayed with the same starting XI as that beat Dagenham a week previous but Devonte Redmond and Bryce Hosannah took a place on the bench in place of Dan Jarvis and David Jones.

The game began is perfect fashion for Wrexham as they took the lead with less than two minutes played. Rob Lainton picked up the ball and drove it down the pitch for Mullin to latch on to, dinking the goalkeeper and sending the 1,700 Wrexham fans wild in the away end...

The first half was dominated by Wrexham with the hosts rarely threatening...

If Wrexham had dominated the first half, then County had bossed the second. Within three minutes of the re-start they were back on level terms. A corner was swung in and Madden met it with his head to thump the ball into the back of Lainton's net...

As the half went on Wrexham looked ropey, with mistakes becoming more freequent as the minutes rolled on. County confidence continued to grow...

With ten minutes to play a mistake from Wrexham in the middle led to a Stockport break, and after some chaos in the box it was put home by Rydal.

Wrexham were unable to get back into the game and as such fell to defeat for the second time this campaign".

ALTRINCHAM 1-0 NOTTS COUNTY

Match report here

ALTRINCHAM: 1. Tony THOMPSON, 24. Joel SENIOR, 25. Toby MULLARKEY, 5. Tom HANNIGAN, 29. Joe BUNNEY, 6. Jake MOULT (c), 17. Ben PRINGLE, 7. Dan MOONEY, 11. Ryan COLCLOUGH, 15. Matty KOSYLO, 9. Marcus DINANGA. Subs: 23. Tom PEERS, 10. Josh HANCOCK, 19. David PITZPATRICK, 27. A-Jay LEITCH-SMITH, 28. Dean FURMAN

NOTTS COUNTY: 25. Anthony Patterson; 23. Adam Chicksen, 22. Ciaran Brennan, 2. Richard Brindley; 3. Joel Taylor, 16. Dion Kelly-Evans, 14. Ed Francis, 18. Matt Palmer, 10. Cal Roberts, 20. Ruben Rodrigues; 9. Kyle Wootton. Subs: 7. Kairo Mitchell, 11 Aaron Nemane, 6. Jim O'Brien, 19. Elisha Sam, 17. Frank Vincent

OPPOSITION VIEW

Despite dominating the vast majority of the game, we struggled to convert our possession into clear-cut chances and were left ruing a close-range first-half finish from Marcus Dinanga.

With all our recognised centre backs, along with keeper Sam Slocombe, out injured, loanees Anthony Patterson and Ciaran Brennan both impressed.

But we were unable to fully assert ourselves in an attacking sense and, after Ruben Rodrigues missed an excellent chance to score from an Aaron Nemane cut-back, the referee called time on a disappointing afternoon".

SATURDAY FIXTURES

• Aldershot Town 0-1 FC Halifax Town
• Altrincham 1-0 Notts County
• Barnet 3-1 Weymouth
• Boreham Wood 2-1 Yeovil Town
• Chesterfield 2-2 Torquay United
• Dagenham & Redbridge 5-1 Solihull Moors
• Dover Athletic 0-1 Bromley
• Eastleigh 3-2 Woking
• King's Lynn Town 0-1 Wealdstone
• Maidenhead United 1-1 Grimsby Town
• Stockport County 2-1 Wrexham

GOALKEEPER INS AND OUTS AT ALTY

But in his first season (2020-21) not only did Gould not make a league appearance until game 38 when Phil Parkinson fielded a much-changed side with league survival assured, he was only actually named in a league squad on four other occasions, and twice more in cup competitions, as the manager opted to risk having no keeper on the bench for most fixtures. Gould also made just one other appearance on the piutch, in a Cheshire Senior Cup tie.

And 2021-22 has been little different as Matt has made more appearances as an impressive Radio Robins match comentator than he has made between the sticks. Indeed he has not been named in a single matchday squad this season, a situation not aided by a pre-season injury incurred at West Dudsbury & Chorlton.

Now, on the eve fo the visit of Nottos County, Altrincham FC has announced that "Matt Gould has joined Nantwich Town on a three-month loan after it was mutually decided he would benefit from the opportunity of playing first-team football...

His loan spell with the Pitching In Northern Premier League team will last until January 9th, though he will not be allowed to play in the FA Trophy and the agreement includes a 24-hour emergency recall option.

Meanwhile, Steven Drench has returned to Alty as goalkeeping coach two months after he ended a distinguished playing career by hanging up his gloves. Drench, who turned 36 earlier this month and was at Farsley Celtic last season, will be registered as a player but will be at The J.Davidson Stadium primarily as coach to the club's keepers".

Footnote: Steven Drench (right) initially signed from Bradford (Park Avenue) on 28 January 2019, following the Yorkshire club's unexpected decision to allow players to leave. Earlier, Steven had played for Morecambe (2006-08) alongside Alty assistant manager Neil Sorvel when the Shrimps gained promotion to the Football League.

He made his Alty debut against FC United of Manchester on 9 February 2019 but, after just two further games, Steven was sidelined by injury and Tony Thompson resumed as first-choice till the end of the season. Steven started 2019-20 as first-choice keeper but in the sixth game of the league season, he ruptured his Achilles. That was the end of his Alty career and, at the end of the extended 2019-20 season, Steven moved on to Farsley Celtic.

In all, therefore, he made just nine appearances for Altrincham.

OPPONENTS NOTTS COUNTY HAVING A BALL

Semi-new Magpie boss Ian Burchnall has become a massive fan favourite by taking ‘County’ to the semi-finals of the National League play-offs last season and leading Notts County to a near perfect start so far!

The flying high Magpies didn’t have it entirely their way in the first home match of the season after falling behind early in the game due to miscommunication between Sam Slocombe and Connell Rawlinson. Later on, in the match, the big man’ Kyle Wootton scored a brilliant diving header to find the back of the net. With the match ending one a piece, the Magpie fans felt they should have taken all three points.

In nearly all matches for Notts County this season, the six-foot one forward has found the back of the net. Kyle Wootton originally joined Notts County on loan from Scunthorpe United back in 2019 before making It a permanent move in 2020 for a small fee of £60,000.

Every season playing in the famous black and white jersey, Kyle Wootton has finished as the top goal scorer for the club...

With the Notts County owners Christoffer and Alexander Reedtz being so honest, smart and incredibly responsible, the future does look good for the famous Notts County.

Since the arrival of the new owners, the club has been well run and has had a massive turn around since the last owner, Alan Hardy, who put the Nottingham side up for sale after posting a picture of his genitalia on Twitter. The Reedtz brothers have set a 5-year plan out and the Magpies have one goal this year, promotion".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

On topping the table, [James] Rowe said 'It is a good place to be, it is where we want to be after 44 games. We were 22nd 10 months ago or whatever so we have managed to flip that around but it is only the start of the season.

'If we can have similar form in the next 10 months then we will be where we want to be. It will be a miracle if we stay top from now until the end of the season, that is probably la-la land thinking, that is not going to happen...

'We are looking upwards rather than downwards and that was the most important thing when I first came in,' he explained. 'We needed to inspire people quickly and bring a togetherness and we have certainly got [that]. We have managed to change the mindset, it is not just me, it is the leadership from the board as well.

'There is a real wave of positivity at the moment and that is reflected in the attendances at home and the following away... The results have been positive so far and we want to maintain that momentum and continue the unbeaten run as long as we can,' he added..

'There is always room for improvement. Can we sustain high intensity levels for 90 minutes at the Technique? Because I don’t think we have done that. I think we can string together maybe a 90-95 minute performance at a high intensity, I think we have not reached that level yet.'”

The DAily Post reminds us that "Wrexham AFC make the short journey to Edgeley Park this weekend... There is increased interest in this match these days given that both sides have enjoyed significant investment in recent times...

John Rooney, the younger brother of former Manchester United and Everton star Wayne Rooney, spent a season at the Racecourse during the 2016/17 season and is an influential figure in County's midfield. Likewise, James Jones has been a consistent performer for the Dragons this season and this midfield battle could be a huge factor in the outcome.

There is expected to be a big crowd at Edgeley Park for this game and with over 1,700 visiting Wrexham fans it could make for a brilliant atmosphere...

County manager Rusk is under significant pressure to turn things around at Edgeley Park as the opening seven games of the season has seen his side pick up just eight points...

This match has been dubbed 'El Cashico' by some (not me) given the relative wealth of the owners of both clubs. Wrexham are owned by the world famous Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney whilst County are owned by the equally exotic Mark Stott of the Cheshire based Vita group."

NEW KEEPER FOR ALTY'S OPPONENTS

The Magpies are hoping to announce the arrival of the highly-rated goalkeeper after Sam Slocombe was understood to have picked up a knock in training.

Patterson is well thought of at the Stadium of Light and it is believed that head coach Ian Burchnall has utilised his relationship with Sunderland's goalkeeping coach David Preece.

The pair worked together at Ostersund in Sweden before Preece returned to England. Should the move be completed, Patterson could make his debut against Altrincham tomorrow along with Sheffield Wednesday defender Ciaran Brennan.

Brennan also arrived at Meadow Lane this week on a loan deal until November because of injuries to centre-back duo Connell Rawlinson and skipper Kyle Cameron.

Patterson has made four appearances for Sunderland this season. Two of them came in the EFL Cup and the others were in League One".

Later, the Northern Echo, added that "Anthony Patterson has joined National League side Notts County on loan...

Having stepped up to the first-team ranks during pre-season, Patterson was promoted to Sunderland’s starting line-up when Lee Burge suffered an injury during the warm-up ahead of last month’s league game with AFC Wimbledon.

The 21 year-old started against both Wimbledon and Wycombe, but found himself demoted to the role of third-choice goalkeeper when Hoffman arrived from Bayern Munich and Burge regained full fitness...

'Anthony’s joined Notts County with a view to being involved in their game on Saturday,' confirmed [manager Lee] Johnson. 'He’s joined on a loan, and moving to the Conference, there’s the potential for it to be a short-term loan... It’s the level we wanted to put him at... He’s a very good goalkeeper, so it’s a gift in one sense because he will do very well for them'".

ALTRINCHAM PREPARE

With two wins and two defeats, Alty lie fifteenth at kick-off, having played three fewer games than their guests who remain unbeaten after four wins and three draws in their seven fixtures to date. The Magpies lie fourth inthe table.

An enforced fortnight's break caused by Covid may have been a mixed blessing for Altrincham as the gap in games has at least given an extensive injured list of players time to recuperate further. With Connor Kirby definitely sidelined following his leg fracture, injured defenders Densmore, White, Hampson, Digie and Fitzpatrick have mustered barely half an hour's playing time in total between them this season.

Sickness prevented another defender, Tom Hannigan (left), from completing the game at Wealdstone last time out but he is presumably fit once again. Despite all of these defensive problems, three of only four players to have completed all four Alty matches this season are also defenders; they are goalkeeper Tony Thompson, right/left-back Joel Senior and centre-back Toby Mullarkey.

The only player to be named in a matchday squad but yet to get on the pitch is recent signing, Dean Furman, who brings exceptional experience to the team. Following Kirby's injury midfielder Sean Williams may come into the squad for the first time this season.

County's lineup for their most recent game comprised: Slocombe; Cameron, Lacey, Brindley; Taylor, Roberts; Francis, Palmer, Rodrigues; Mitchell, Wootton with the bench comprising Chicksen, Kelly-Evans, Nemane, O'Brien, Sam.

Earlier this week they signed young centre-back Ciaran Brennan on loan from Shefield Wednesday and he told the Notts County website, "I’ve spoken to the gaffer about the style of play and had conversations with other people who know about the club and it sounds like it’s going to suit me perfectly. Having a possession-based approach and playing out from the back is how I’ve been schooled at Wednesday, so I feel I can slot straight in.

“Getting out on loan to further my experience is something I’ve really pushed for, so now it’s up to me to grasp the opportunity and make the most of it. I’ve not got long before the weekend, two sessions, but I train aggressively and I’ll be trying to get straight in the gaffer’s thoughts for Altrincham.”

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 35 year-old is currently registered with Grimsby as a player, but Barnet want to discuss the possibility of Morais taking his next steps into coaching at the north London club. Morais spent time as joint caretaker boss at Crawley in 2018, where he coincidentally replaced Kewell...

'It was clear how much Harry Kewell wanted to have a positive impact, but ultimately the results and the poor start to the season have dictated our decision,' Dean Brennan, the Bees' head of football, said...

Morais has now emerged as a potential candidate... just six months after being involved in a bizarre incident which saw his former Grimsby teammate Stefan Payne being sent off for headbutting him... an incident Mariners boss Paul Hurst described as 'embarrassing'.

Hurst said the duo would not play again for the remainder of the season, but... Morais remains on Grimsby's books. Morais has played for 13 clubs in England and Scotland, including Hibernian...

Morais returned to England in 2010 and spent two seasons each with Oldham and Stevenage before joining Bradford City... After leaving the Yorkshire club in 2017, Morais spent 16 months at Bolton and helped the Trotters return to the Championship... before signing for Crawley in the summer of 2018".

Managerless or not, Barnet report that "David Sesay has put pen to paper on a new extended deal! Having joined the Bees on an initial one-month rolling contract at the end of August, the defender has been handed a new extended deal.

Sesay arrived at The Hive London after spending his youth at Watford FC before enjoying three seasons with Sky Bet League Two side, Crawley Town...The 23-year-old has been a regular within the Bees’ team in his first month at the Club".

In the Maidenhead Advertiser there is a report that manager "Alan Devonshire has acknowledged Maidenhead United’s supporters’ frustrations with the club’s recent results in the National League, but the Magpies’ boss insists nobody is feeling as disgruntled as him.

Saturday’s defeat to Notts County was United’s fourth in a row leaving them in 16th place in the table with six points. They face third-placed Grimsby Town at York Road this weekend...

'I know the fans have been [frustrated] but I doubt they are as frustrated as I am at the moment,' he said. 'We’ve been carrying a few injuries and I haven’t been able to field the strongest side I’ve wanted to field. Up top we’ve been okay, but it’s elsewhere that is hurting us.

'As a result, we’ve lost four on the bounce, but I think we’ve been competitive in most of the games; it’s not like we’ve been getting battered. The boys have also played four top teams and we’ve got another one coming to us on Saturday which is Grimsby.

'We will give it everything we’ve got but a couple more players could be missing for this game along with George Wells, Dan Sparkes, James Holden, and Remy Clerima. There are a few knocks in the squad, but I don’t want to give out their names because it will just alert the other team...

Devonshire said... 'At the end of the day, there’s lots of money going round in the National League and we’ve only got a small budget. We’ve just had to go week by week and hope we can get a few back by our next match'".

King's Lynn Town have issued a one-line statement saying that they "have terminated the contract of Rory McAuley by mutual agreement".

This follows the 31 year-old New Zealand international's court appearance on drugs charges.

The Halifax Courier spoke to Aldershot Town reporter Steve Gibbs whom they asked, "How have Aldershot started the season?".

He replied, "In tumultuous fashion. The sacking of Danny Searle perhaps wasn’t a surprise after five straight defeats, including three at home, but his departure on Monday morning still raised a few eyebrows given that it followed four points from six on the road in the last week. The return of two Shots heroes, in new manager Mark Molesley and assistant Terry Brown, will certainly give the EBB Stadium a much-needed lift this Saturday.

"The events of this week will have boosted morale in the dressing room and on the terraces but there might also be some bittersweetness in the timing of Searle’s departure given the upturn in victory against Southend and draw with Wealdstone. Most evidence, though, suggests that this is a very young and sparse squad which has failed to match the quality of last season’s...

"AFC Wimbledon loanee Corie Andrews has five goals in seven games and has rapidly become Aldershot Town’s main hope. Alongside him in attack, Mo Bettamer’s return from injury has been long awaited to provide extra firepower.

"Searle had introduced a new wing-back system in the summer but Molesley’s preferred formation seems to be a back four, and he will probably want to play a higher-tempo, more attacking style, so that may change.

"Seven new signings arrived at the EBB Stadium, along with the promotion of seven Academy players to the first-team squad. Andrews, although raw, has hit the ground running with a strong work-ethic and eye for goal. Imposing centre-back Kevin Lokko could have an equally telling impact in holding together a new-look defence. In truth, though, Searle’s recruitment was largely modest... The squad was rebuilt with a reduced budget so boardroom expectations may have privately been lowered".

The Grimsby Telegraph claims that "Bristol City loanee Ryley Towler will weigh up extending [his] Grimsby Town stay beyond January.

The 19 year-old... isn’t ruling out staying with Grimsby Town beyond January as he eyes up the potential of being part of a promotion-winning side. The young defender has impressed... starting all three wins against Torquay, Wrexham and Eastleigh last weekend.

Towler, who signed a new three-year deal with his parent club during the summer, is contracted to stay with the Mariners until January, although nothing has been decided upon beyond that...

'I’m really enjoying it, I want to take every game as it comes, and I want to play as many games as I can,' Towler told Grimsby Live. 'Everybody wants to be part of a promotion-winning side. It’s a great club, and the boys have been brilliant, I’m loving every minute of it, so hopefully it carries on'...

Despite his age, Towler has shown great maturity, particularly after being thrown straight in at the deep end against Torquay and Wrexham in quick succession. Having started out as a midfielder, the teenager is now looking to well and truly cement himself as a centre-back...

'I feel like this is my position now... I want to be a centre-back, I see myself as a centre-back in the future'".

The Dorset Echo reports that "Weymouth left-back Ollie Harfield wants to push his game to another level this season, adding goals in the process.

Harfield, 23, is into his third season with the Terras and has been a near ever-present in the side, clocking up over 80 appearances.

However, the defender is yet to find the net in a claret and blue shirt, mitigating that statistic with 17 assists.

He told Echosport... 'I know I need to add goals to my game... Recruitment-wise, I think we’ve done really well. There’s a lot of pace in the team, a lot more goals than we had last season and a lot more knowledge of the league'".

ALTY'S ABSENTEES

Jackson, normally a midfielder/winger, had been filling in at right-back in a defence badly affected by injuries with Shaun Densmore, Connor Hampson, Andy White and Kennedy Digie all having been sidelined since before the start of the current season. In addition left-back David Fitzpatrick picked up a knock on his debut, early in this campaign. The injuries have obliged Phil Parkinson to use first-choice right-back Joel Senior on the left of the back four in recent games.

Whilst midfielder Sean Williams, who has yet to be included in a squad this season, is the most obvious replacement in the squad for the injured Kirby, the choice of a back-four replacement for Jackson remains uncertain, though Joe Bunney or, if he has recovered, David Fitzpatrick, are likely candidates.

NEXT MATCH: NOTTS COUNTY

The Magpies have moved for the centre-back after it emerged that Kyle Cameron is set to miss the next two to three weeks of action with fellow centre-back Connell Rawlinson also out for a similar length of time.

Skipper Cameron suffered a hamstring problem in Saturday's win over Maidenhead and had to be replaced by Adam Chicksen in the second half...

Head coach Ian Burchnall, said 'As soon as Kyle came off against Maidenhead we knew we were going to have to dip into the loan market to add cover at the back. We have shortlists prepared for situations like this to ensure we’re able to act quickly to bring in someone of sufficient quality who suits our style.

'Ciaran was one of four-or-five players we looked at closely and he came out on top. He’s very well thought of at Wednesday and will fit in well in terms of how we want to play'.

Chesterfield had been keen on the former Republic of Ireland under-19 international but Notts have acted swiftly to get the deal done. And he is now in line to make his debut for Notts against Altrincham at the weekend.

Brennan made his Owls debut in an EFL Cup tie against Rochdale last season... He also spent time on loan at Gainsborough Trinity".

The Nottingham Post added that "Ciaran Brennan said his switch to Notts County was the 'perfect move' after admitting he was impressed by the away kit, and his brother is a Jake Bugg fan...

With the centre-back set to remain at Meadow Lane until late November, he is expected to make his debut against Altrincham...

Brennan... took a shine to the club while watching their clash against Wrexham on BT Sport... 'Notts were in green and I remember saying "That’s the nicest kit ever; how good would it be to sign for them and wear that?"

'My brother’s a big Jake Bugg fan, too, so we both saw it as the perfect move. Now it’s happened I can’t quite believe it'".

THROUGH THE YEARS: 25 September

Through the Years Alty meet Notts County on Saturday at the JDS.

It is 11 years since they last played on this date and they were also meeting a formerly long-established Football League club on that occasion too; Grimsby Town.

In a Blue Square Bet Premier match played on Saturday, 25 September 2010, Altrincham earned a well-deserved point when Shaun Densmore headed home James Smith's cross from the right in the first added minute after the ninety.

But it was arguably referee Harrington who really decided the outcome when, in the first half, he failed to give a penalty when Densmore was clearly upended deep in the penalty area and then allowed a blatant foul on goalkeeper Coates to go undetected which gave Grimsby their first goal, by Bore, after 27 minutes. With Nicky Clee out injured, Alty also lost Michael Welch, to a knock after half an hour.

Following a superb save from Coates, Alty broke away from the resulting corner and McCarthy fed Denham who raced for goal, kept his head and scored a fine equalizer (54 mins). Against the run of second-half play, Connell curled in a fine goal to make it 2-1 after 77 minutes. With time almost up, came Densmore's header at the back post.

Right: Alty players mob Shaun Densmore after his late equalizer.

A small section of the visiting fans did not take kindly to the outcome and neither did their captain, Ridley, who refused his Away Man of the Match award in no uncertain terms, before relenting. Chris Denham won the Home Man of the Match champagne

ALTRINCHAM: 1. James COATES; 5. Robbie WILLIAMS, 2. James SMITH, 22. Michael WELCH; 4. Marc JOSEPH, 16. Anthony DANYLYK, 7. Robbie LAWTON (capt), 15. Ryan BROWN; 6. Shaun DENSMORE; 10. Chris DENHAM, 23. James McCARTHY. Subs: 1. Stuart COBURN, 20. Sam HEWSON, 12. Kevin HOLSGROVE, 8. Damian REEVES, 18. Matty CROWELL.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The academy graduate has had more than his fair share of injury problems over the past year or so, having managed just eight games during the 2020/21 campaign.

The winger has made a bright start to the current campaign.. but then missed out on the victory over Eastleigh the following Saturday after picking up another problem with his thigh....

'He’s got another thigh injury, which is bad news for Max, for ourselves and everyone really,' Paul Hurst said... 'He should have come off from that game and been in such a positive mindset having scored the goal and the way that he took it. Unfortunately, he’s got another niggle in there. Nothing too serious, but I think it’ll be two to three weeks until he can return.'

Elsewhere, Sean Scannell will miss this weekend’s game after coming down with illness, although Hurst has confirmed it isn’t Covid-19. Meanwhile, Joel Grant remains on the sidelines, with no immediate end in sight for his injury problems".

At Wrexham, "Midfielder James Jones is relishing the big occasions, having already made an impression on supporters since arriving at the Racecourse Ground.

Jones, who signed from Lincoln City in the transfer window, hailed the impact of supporters in the two recent 1-0 home wins against Woking and Dagenham & Redbridge... Jones said 'I think it’s important that we make the Racecourse a fortress, especially having more than 8,000 fans again backing the lads, it makes a real difference.

'We wanted to show a reaction from the disappointment against Grimsby and I thought first half we played some really good football and dominated it. Second half it became a bit scrappy, and we had to dig deep and hold on and that’s where the supporters came into their own and got us over the line.

'I want to be involved in those games with big atmospheres and that’s what you get with Wrexham'...

Saturday’s victory wasn’t without its nervy moments...

'It’s not just those that are in the starting eleven that are making a difference but the whole squad is going in the same direction and we’re all stepping up in crucial moments.'

Jones was one of ten summer signings by Phil Parkinson and most of his experience lies within the Football League...

'For a lot of us players including myself, this project is why I joined the club; to be a part of that journey,' he said.. 'The wealth of experience that Phil Parkinson has was another factor for me joining the club... and he’s brought in coaches that have that level of experience as well'...

Ahead of this weekend’s trip to Stockport, Wrexham sit just outside the play-off places...

'I don’t think Stockport have had the start they would have wanted, losing a few games, but it’s going to be a really tough game'... he said... 'I’d be surprised if they aren’t in the top few places at the end of the season'".

Kent Online confirms that "Dover Athletic have announced the signing of a striker who has impressed in the United States.

Matthew Bentley, 23, has joined Andy Hessenthaler's Whites and made his debut as a second-half substitute in their 0-0 draw with Solihull Moors in the National League at Crabble on Tuesday.

The Londoner originally trained with Dover's squad before the national lockdown last year, before he headed back to university in the States.

He played for the Missouri State Bears and scored 15 goals for them and was selected by Minnesota United as the 88th pick in the 2020 Major League Soccer draft last January.

Discussing Bentley's debut, Hessenthaler said, 'I thought he was lively... We had him in the building before we stopped playing'...

In England, he had played for Hornchurch previously'".

Dover's next opponents are Bromley who "announce the loan signing of defender Jake Lawlor from League Two side Hartlepool United until 26th October 2021.

Our newest arrival, who signed for the Pools in July, began his career with Guiseley before he was loaned out to AFC Fylde in 2018.

Salford City proved to be Lawlor’s next destination, but after only two months at the Peninsula Stadium, the defender was on the move again, signing for Wrexham in September 2018.

After spending nearly two years in Wales, Lawlor returned to England and penned a deal with Harrogate Town before making 21 appearances for the League Two side last season...

The 30-year-old will be making his Hayes Lane debut for the U23s as they take on Cray Wanderers in a friendly".

MOSS LANE'S NEW NAMES

On Monday, Altrincham FC announced that the 2020-21 sponsors of the Golf Road end terrace, tax advisers Catax, had transferred their sponsorship to the Popular Side.

And a day later, Altrincham FC confirmed that the Golf Road end would now be sponsored by Director John Coyne's Venditan company, of which he is the Managing Director. Venditan has "a growing reputation for building unrivalled eCommerce solutions for ambitious retailers and distributors".

Right: The new branding of the Golf Road end was evident in Alty's only home game so far this season, against Dover Athletic.

NEXT OPPONENTS: NOTTS COUNTY

Lacey made his first County appearance since April 24 against Torquay United when he played 75 minutes of a 3-2 win over Aldershot Town at the start of September.

The 28 year-old had been sidelined due to an injury... Lacey said 'It's been very frustrating... It was almost four/five months since I last played. With Connell [Rawlinson] getting injured, I've been thrown back in but obviously it's difficult to get minutes, get up to speed.

'It was a bit of a baptism of fire but sometimes I think that's the best way... I feel comfortable in the team now. This summer was not ideal. Most days I was doing my rehab, preparing for the operation and then when that happened I had two weeks off to do recovery...

'I had a tear in the abdominal fascia. I had a couple of injections first to try and heal it that way. It was a big needle... two injections, steroid injections, to promote the healing. But they didn't really work and then we found out with the surgery that I had a nerve caught in the tear...

'I was very happy to have had the surgery and I'm feeling great now'...

Lacey insisted little has changed in the team's philosophy between the management of former boss Neal Ardley and Burchnall. He said 'We are a possession-based team wanting to play attractive football. We've got attacking players who, the quality they have got is incredible, create chances with bits of magic...

'In this league it can be difficult when you come up against teams who send it long and play the opposite style. We try to stick to our own principles. The gaffer is great at getting us to play football the way it should be played.

'That's the philosophy the club all the time I've been here. It's a possession-based team but more so this year than previous years'".

MACMILLAN FUNDRAISER AT THE JDS

"Every year, one of Britain's biggest charities, founded 110 years ago to provide specialist care, information and support for anyone affected by cancer, launches an appeal for people across the country to either attend or host a coffee morning to provide its finances with a much-needed boost".

Altrincham In The Community's Kate Dunn said, "It is open to all ages, and everyone can be sure of a warm welcome and, of course, a cup of tea or coffee and a slice of cake. If you want to bring a cake along to donate, then lovely, but we will be providing a range of cakes as well to make sure there is plenty available...

Entry is free, you will enjoy what's on offer and you can be sure there will be someone to chat to... Every penny from tea, coffee and cake sales will be going to Macmillan".

TUESDAY SCORE

• Dover Athletic 0-0 Solihull Moors

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

It was the perfect response to a first defeat of the National League after losing 3-1 at Grimsby Town...

'I have played six of the seven games and come away with three goals and two assists,' said Mullin. 'That is not a bad start for me but ultimately I want points and we need to get more points than we have done at the start of the season... It can only get better from here'...

'Last year I scored an array of different types of goals; free-kicks, penalties, headers, right-foot, left-foot, from [long] range and from close range. Part of my game is I like to try and get shots away and try to get on the end of things'...

Mullin is joint leading scorer with Jake Hyde who missed the Daggers win through injury".

According to the Southend Echo, "Josh Wright is back training at Southend United.

The 31 year-old midfielder is currently without a club after leaving Crawley Town earlier this season. And Blues boss Phil Brown will be taking a look at Wright... during the next fortnight.

'Josh is out of contract and he’s someone we have good a relationship with,' said Brown. 'He’s played at a higher level and he’s available. He’s trained with us today and he probably will do for the next couple of weeks.'

Wright scored twice in 26 games for Blues during the 2017/18 season".

Lynn News reports that "A suspended King's Lynn Town footballer is due back in court later today on drugs charges.

Rory McAuley, 31, is listed to appear before Norwich Crown Court in a hearing which was originally scheduled to take place last month.

McAuley, of George Fox Way, Norwich, was charged with conspiracy to supply a class A drug and possession of criminal property in May.

He was barred from all footballing activity indefinitely by the Linnets in June, as details of the allegations against him became public.

WE'VE MET BEFORE: NOTTS COUNTY

The Magpies first visit came in the FA Cup in 1972-73 season with the visitors winning 1-0 in the First Round.

Last season, behind closed doors, the sides drew 1-1 at the J. Davidson Stadium.

In that game, Altrincham were well worth their point against a Notts County side whose promotion aspirations looked very optimistic on their showing. The visitors did enjoy plenty of possession but created very little with it.

Indeed it was Altrincham who wasted the two best chances of the second half, both in the final ten minutes, as Senior side-footed wide and then Peers missed the target from close range after a Colclough effort had been parried.

Altrincham had played well in the first half against a faltering Notts County but, having got ahead, they conceded in first-half injury time, to leave the score 1-1 at half-time.

The Altrincham goal had arrived in the 24th-minute lead when Alistair Smith drove home a low shot from outside the box. Although County enjoyed plenty of the ball, a combination of their own errors and solid defending meant the visitors produced minimal threat to the home goal.

But, in added time before the interval, County won a freekick when Ogle was judged to have blocked-off Brindley. From the freekick from 20 yards out, or so, and fairly central, Rodrigues's dead-ball beat Thompson to give the visitors parity at the break. The defensive wall appeared to have been badly positioned.

This time County arrive unbeaten this season after four wins and three draws from their seven games. They lie fourth in the National League whilst Alty are fifteenth, albeit with three games in hand on their guests.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Barnet and Potters Bar Times reports that "Harry Kewell has been sacked as manager of Barnet after just seven games in charge, following another defeat at the weekend.

The Bees were beaten by Bromley on Saturday, meaning they remained winless for all seven matches for which Kewell was in charge.

In a statement on the club website Head of Football, Dean Brennan, said 'It was clear how much Harry Kewell wanted to have a positive impact, but ultimately the results and the poor start to the season have dictated our decision.

'The plan for this season was for Barnet FC to be challenging in the top half of the table and that is still very much our aim.'

Kewell's assistant Paul Butler has been sacked along with the Australian.

Brennan, who joined the club at the same time as both Kewell and Butler will take over responsibility for first-team matters while the club searches for a replacement.

After arriving in June, Kewell said he wanted to create a 'winning environment" at Barnet, saying 'We all seem to be singing off the same same sheet here, which is great. I’m sure there’s going to be altercations between everyone, but that’s what you want, you want to create that winning environment and that’s what we’re trying to create here.'

However, seven games into the season and the Bees find themselves second bottom of the table, with only two points on the board".

The 42 adds that "Brennan, 41, lined out [?played] for a plethora of English non-league clubs throughout his 12-year playing career, and as a manager steered Wealdstone from England’s National League South to the National League during the shortened 2019/20 season.

He later turned down an approach from Barnet to be their manager before eventually assuming the head-of-football role at the same club, with Kewell hired as head coach".

The other club to dispense with its manager at this early stage of the season is Aldershot Town, who "confirm the departure of Danny Searle as First-Team Manager with immediate effect.

Since taking charge at The EBB Stadium in the summer of 2019, Searle has led The Shots to finishes of 18th and 15th in the Vanarama National League.

Aldershot Town currently sit 21st in the standings and Searle moves on having guided the club during a difficult two-season period, following the club’s post-reprieval season in 2019-20 and also a difficult following season that was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw the 2020-21 season end prematurely.

Searle guided The Shots to a FA Trophy Quarter-Final last season, with eight academy debuts also awarded...

Chairman Shahid Azeem said... 'This has been a very difficult decision for the board to make, particularly with Danny taking over at the club in challenging times from the beginning, as we were unsure what league we would be in back in 2019-20 and also the Covid-19 pandemic affecting the 2020-21 season too, which didn’t see us start the season until October 2020 without any supporters in the grounds too...

'Danny is a well-qualified and fantastic individual with great morals and ethics and has been a great asset for the club'".

Soon after the sacking, Aldershot Town added that they "had "appointed Mark Molesley as First-Team Manager on a deal until the end of the 2022-2023 season.

The 40 year-old former Weymouth and Southend boss will be assisted by the returning Terry Brown and also Tom Prodomo as Assistant Manager, with Brown completing Molesley’s management team in a separate role to Prodomo.

This decision will also see former Assistant Manager Anwar Uddin leave the club too...

Mark Molesley said 'I’m delighted to be back at a club that is very close to my heart. My dream came true when I became a professional footballer at this club and I would be lying if I never thought of going back to the club as a manager...

'I know that there’s good people at this football club who want the same things I do'...

Aldershot Town Chairman Shahid Azeem added... 'If you look at Mark’s managerial career, he’s had success with Weymouth before, earning him a move to the league and not only that, they’ve been here before on and off the pitch, so they know the history of the football club and they know what it means to the club and also to the supporters too'...

Terry Brown said... 'My role is to work alongside the board to ensure that we have plans in place for our long-term future, I’m delighted to be able to bring Mark Molesley into the management position here. He’s an absolutely perfect person for the role here, he’s had successful spells with Bournemouth u23s working his way under Eddie Howe, then having first-team experience and winning promotion with Weymouth into the National League, then took an impossible task at Southend, working in an extremely difficult environment'...

Molesley rejoins the club in a managerial role, having previously become something of a cult hero for The Shots during his playing days...

Molesley... guided Weymouth to back-to-back promotions after reaching the Vanarama National League for the first time since the 2008-2009 season, with a 3-0 penalty shoot-out victory over Dartford FC...

Terry Brown previously managed The Shots between 2002-2007... Brown ended up winning the league by a clear 13 points from nearest rivals Canvey Island in his second season in charge... Brown has also had previous success with AFC Wimbledon, having led the Dons to the Football League for the first time in the club’s history".

The BBC reminds us that "Phil Brown's Southend have not won since their opening day victory at King's Lynn. Southend United manager Phil Brown says his side are in a 'chasm'" after just one win from their opening seven National League matches.

Former Hull boss Brown rejoined the Shrimpers with six games left of last season but could not keep them up...

'It's difficult but we've got to stop the haemorrhaging. I've said it all along, we're bleeding still,' he said.

Asked how deep a hole Southend are in, Brown told BBC Essex 'It's a chasm, it's massive.'

Brown, 62, signed a new two-year deal in May, having led the club to promotion to League One during his previous spell in charge at Roots Hall, between 2013 and 2018...

'We've lost three on the bounce when you're expecting to win three on the bounce; it's a big difference," he said.

The Grimsby Telegraph reminds us that "Grimsby Town’s unbeaten start to the season continued on Saturday as they saw off a resilient Eastleigh side to round off a perfect week.

It’s now six games without defeat for the Mariners, who sit in the top three in the early National League table having claimed five wins during that period...

After the thrill of the previous two games, Saturday’s encounter had a much more sedate feeling to it. Paul Hurst was quick to point out he wasn’t overly enamoured with his side’s performance, and in fairness the Mariners were certainly not clicking during the first half against Eastleigh...

The opposition played a big part in frustrating Town... as they lined up with five at the back... It’s a challenge Town fans will know well from the last stint in non-league...

They found a way to break the shackles, with Alex Hunt’s set-piece delivery the key to unlocking the Spitfires’ resilient defence, while Michee Efete made the most of the attention being paid to Luke Waterfall in the penalty area to break free and head home...

We are starting to see the makings of a ‘first-choice’ XI... Hurst though needs to know that, should McAtee, Giles Coke or any of the other players who might be seen as automatic picks have to spend some time out of the side, he has the back-up necessary to cope with their absences.

Based on the weekend’s display, he probably has enough to deal with some of the, shall we say, lesser sides in the division...

For the second game in a row, we had a 6,000+ attendance at Blundell Park as the new era continues to catch the imagination and the excitement of people around the area...

Of the 24 games played in League One and League Two on Saturday, only six of the confirmed attendances were above Town’s 6,051, a figure made all the more impressive considering there were just 29 away fans at Blundell Park."

According to the Leader Live "Phil Parkinson was delighted with Wrexham's response to a first defeat of the season but he wants his side to kill teams off when on top in matches.

The Reds, beaten 3-1 at Grimsby Town in midweek, bounced back by beating National League leaders Dagenham and Redbridge 1-0 at The Racecourse on Saturday.

Paul Mullin's spectacular early strike proved to be the difference...

'I am very pleased with the win,' said Parkinson. 'I thought the first half was probably as good as we have played. We have got to kill teams off in those periods when we are so dominant; we have only got the one goal...

'We had to dig deep again and I am so pleased with the victory... It is us against the world, it has got to be that siege mentality and I felt we showed that...

'We were hurting after Tuesday and I'm glad we were hurting because we are in this business to win...

'There are still elements of the team which I am visualising when we were putting this squad together which aren't quite how we want them, but as the season progresses will get better.'"

In the Maidenhead Advertiser we learn that "There was plenty of ‘frustration’ in the Maidenhead United dressing after the visitors failed to take a host of first half chances in their 1-0 defeat to Notts County...

With Barratt back in the starting line up for the first time since the side’s 2-0 victory over Dover Athletic on August 28, the last match Maidenhead won, they flew out of the traps to catch their hosts lukewarm if not completely cold.

Alan Devonshire’s side came into the game off the back of a frustrating 2-0 home defeat to Stockport County on Tuesday, in which both Remy Clerima and James Holden were sent off...

Notts County took the lead just minutes after the interval... Alex Lacey had got a crucial touch to take the ball beyond Rhys Lovett...

Reflecting on an improved performance, but a fourth straight defeat that leaves them 16th in the table, assistant boss Ryan Peters said, 'There’s a lot of frustration in there... We had four good opportunities in the first half, and we haven’t worked the goalkeeper at all...

'We were a little bit lacklustre, and... we allowed them to score and then they had a penalty which we saved. It wasn’t the same second half from us and it should have been because we had four attackers on the pitch.'"

NEXT OPPONENTS: NOTTS COUNTY

The Nottingham Post reports that the Magpies' "brilliant start continued with head coach Ian Burchnall's side showing a quality that should not be underestimated.

Notts County made it seven games unbeaten as they moved up to fourth in the National League table with a hard-fought win over Maidenhead. The Magpies toiled in the opening 45 minutes with chances in short supply...

But they were much-improved after the break as Kyle Cameron gave them the lead from a corner with Alex Lacey claiming he got the final touch.

Notts then had a glorious chance to double the lead from the penalty spot when Ruben Rodrigues was fouled but Callum Roberts saw his spot-kick saved...

But Notts saw out the game comfortably to secure a first clean sheet since the opening day as their fine start to the season continued".

Correspondent Leigh Curtis observed that "By Ian Burchnall's own admission, Notts County's first-half performance was a 'long way off' from reaching the level of quality he knows this team can and has produced.

They were too slow in possession, too safe and there was an unwillingness to run into the areas where they could unsettle Maidenhead's organisation... But following a half-time pep-talk, Notts were much more aggressive after the break which led to long periods of domination with the ball. Even then chances weren't quite as free-flowing but they still managed to get the job done without being anywhere near their best...

Kyle Cameron has proven to be an excellent signing after arriving from Torquay United in the summer, given the authority he exudes in the heart of the back three... It was a bit of a concern to see him come off midway through the second half just moments after he had a big hand in the opening goal. He complained of a tight hamstring which Burchnall hoped was the defender being extra cautious.

He will undergo a scan which will leave Notts facing an anxious wait but if it returns bad news then that would represent a significant blow... It would certainly leave Notts with a growing issue to deal with at centre-back given Connell Rawlinson is out for another two weeks after picking up an injury in training.

That has left Alex Lacey as the only fit and authentic central defender...

Notts have looked quite a threat from set-pieces so far this term which has been most welcome after struggling to score from them last season... Four wins and three draws from the opening seven games has not only left Notts unbeaten but also led to their best start to a league campaign since 2005/06... The club is certainly in a great place both on and off the pitch".

BIG WIN FOR YOUTH TEAM

GOALLESS DRAW FOR RESERVES

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Derbyshire Times observes that "The Glovers boss had some strong words to say about his own team’s mentality as goals from Manny Oyeleke and Kabongo Tshimanga gave the Spireites all three points on Saturday.

'I thought Chesterfield were very good in the boxes today, I mean very good,' Sarll said... 'They have got that strength of character and physique'...

Sarll said Chesterfield’s second goal was a ‘horrow show’ as Scott Loach’s long kick was not dealt with before Tshimanga slotted in. However... he explained 'My biggest disappointment in the first-half was the body language of some of the players, I did not think they showed enough. Too many of our players looked uninterested, de-energised and that is something for me to go and think about.

'That for me is the worst part of the day, that supersedes the goal. I had to question some of them at half-time

'The second-half was a better mentality and a better thirst for chances and opportunities and I thought we defended better. I thought in the second-half we were the strongest team by quite a way but the difference between teams that win leagues and teams that don’t win leagues is when they are on top they score so that was a big problem for us today.'"

From the Dorset Echo we learn that when The Terras hosted Dover Athletic "The lack of finishing product resulted in a share of the points.

The Terras started off particularly slow[ly] in the opening 10 minutes of the game... Weymouth were guilty of giving the ball away very cheaply in possession...

On 22 minutes, Dover got the opener. Koby Arthur was played a simple ball to his feet from wide by Tiensia, who then took a couple of touches without much pressure, in the centre of the attacking half, before striking the ball from outside the area into the bottom left-hand corner. A goal which came at the price of Weymouth giving the ball away in the middle of the park.

Weymouth responded well to the goal... Weymouth eventually grabbed the equaliser as a ball from Cameron Murrray [was] played to Ash just inside the box, which, on the turn, [he] played through McQuoid with some neat play and he confidently slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 1-1.

In the second half, it was more of the same from Weymouth... As the game petered out, there were a couple of chances for both sides...

In the end, a lack of clinical finishing and creativity cost the Terras. Notably, Weymouth were missing two influential players with Sean Shields and Josh Leslie-Smith absent from the game".

And from another coastal town, the Grimsby Telegraph reports that "After a tough week that has tested Grimsby Town to their fullest, Paul Hurst and his players get the chance to recharge their batteries...

The Mariners boss made a couple of changes on Saturday against Eastleigh after naming an unchanged side for the first time this season against Wrexham in midweek.

John McAtee, who had played nearly every minute of the campaign up to that point, and Giles Coke made way as Hurst gave Will Bapaga and Ben Fox the chance to stake their claims... He might [have] made more changes following a gruelling week which saw them make the long trip to Devon before facing this season’s title favourites.

Town now have a free week before their next encounter at Maidenhead on Saturday, and time for them to recover ahead of another testing couple of weeks, with three of their next four games away from home.

'I would have, in one sense, liked to have freshened it up a bit more, but then at the same time you don’t want to make too many changes and lose a bit of impetus,' Hurst said. 'We went a different way in terms of a holder and two lads in midfield in Harry (Clifton) and Foxy (Ben Fox) who certainly have got energy and legs, and two wide players again.

'It worked, as in we won the game, but I have to look at it myself and get a feeling of it. We’re all maybe getting closer to an idea of what we might consider the best 11... We have to be able to cope if people are injured, suspended, tired, whatever it may be. It’s early season to be tired, don’t get me wrong, but some lads are maybe new to full-time training or what’s being asked of them'">

The Maidenhead Advertiser tells us that "Maidenhead United produced a much-improved display but still slipped to a fourth consecutive National League defeat as they lost 1-0 at promotion hopefuls Notts County.

A big crowd at Meadow Lane created a good atmosphere for the game and Maidenhead certainly lived up to the occasion in the early stages.

With Sammy Barratt back in the starting line-up, the Magpies peppered the County goal with attempts in the opening 15 minutes... The hosts, who lost 3-2 at home to United last season, responded well... but the sides came off level at the break despite Maidenhead having arguably had the better 45 minutes.

But Alan Devonshire’s team talk went out of the window within three minutes of the second half starting when Callum Roberts’s corner found Kyle Cameron at the back post and his header crept into the bottom corner past Rhys Lovett.

Lovett had a fine game for the Magpies... keeping the Magpies in contention with a brilliant penalty save minutes later. The referee pointed to the spot when Ryan Upward brought down a County player in the area, but Lovett dived low to his left to push away Roberts’s spot-kick".

WEALDSTONE'S GENEROSITY FOR CONNOR KIRBY

Everyone at Wealdstone deserves heartfelt thanks for their generosity towards an opposing player.

FALLING BEHIND

As a result of their inaction, Altrincham dropped to fifteenth on Saturday. Their next match is at home to in-form Notts County.

NEXT OPPONENTS: NOTTS COUNTY

Yesterday the Nottingham Post reported how "The Magpies secured a 1-0 win over Alan Devonshire's side [Maidenhead United] which maintained their unbeaten start to the National League season

Ian Burchnall admitted Notts County's first-half performance against Maidenhead was 'really poor'... as Sam Beckwith squandered the visitors' best chance when he was denied by Sam Slocombe.

Notts were far better after the break and took the lead when Kyle Cameron headed Callum Roberts' into the bottom corner although Alex Lacey claimed he got the final touch.

Roberts then missed a penalty to make it 2-0 when his effort was kept out by Rhys Lovett and then wasted another chance when he blazed over when well placed.

But defensively Notts were solid at the back as they kept in touch with the division's pacesetters although Burchnall conceded they could play much better.

'It is always the points that matter but I thought the first-half performance was really poor,' he said... 'But in the second half we came straight out the traps, we were more dynamic, we were braver and we drove at their defence. We then started to create things...

'But we have a clean sheet. I don't really recall Maidenhead having big chances but again I just felt the passing and the intensity was a long way off where we want it to be.'"

ALTY OLD BOYS

Despite facing ten men for more than an hour after a red card for the visitors' striker, Trafford were unable to make a break through.

Watching the match was Alty assistant manager Neil Sorvel who, presumably, was keeping tabs on Curtis Miller who played the last quarter of the game for Trafford with whom he is dually registered.

Amongst the starters for Trafford were Astley Mulholland, now the captain at Shawe View, and winger Darius Palma.

Rylands featured two ex-Alty men in Luke Wall (right), the former Alty winger who was today deployed as a left-back, following a spell with Lincoln Red Imps.

And also starting for the visitors was Callum Dolan who made 1(+3) appearances in 2018-19. He started out with Manchester United and his former clubs include Blackburn Rovers.

Despite a goal from James Lawrie and an assist by Joe Mwasile, Nantwich Town bowed out of the FA Cup at home to Banbury on Saturday.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEW

The Shrimpers now sit 19th in the National League standings following their third successive setback...

Brown said, 'You always fear for your future in every game of football and, if you’ve lost three on the bounce when you’re expecting to win three on the bounce, it’s a big difference. It’s been a bad week but we’ve got a couple of weeks to dust ourselves down now and hopefully bring in a couple of new players.'

And Brown has to [speak to?] chairman Ron Martin about strengthening his Shrimpers squad. 'We’ve spoken about bringing players in and finding out what the issue is,' said Brown. 'I think its character and we’ve got to fight to get out of the position we’re in.'”

In the match itself, Southend United reported that "Connor Lemonheigh-Evans’ 90th-minute strike for Torquay was enough to inflict a 1-0 defeat on Southend United at Plainmoor... The Gulls' number seven popped up at the far post to slot in Dean Moxey’s low cross and earn Gary Johnson’s side a first home victory of the season...

Phil Brown made two changes to the side that lost 3-2 to Aldershot in midweek as captain John White came in alongside the returning Abu Ogogo to replace Shaun Hobson and Jason Demetriou, as Blues reverted to the 3-5-2 formation deployed at the start of the campaign...

Southend did end the first 45 arguably the stronger of the two sides at Plainmoor and went close to breaking the deadlock... as it remained goalless at the interval....

After the hour mark, Torquay began turning the screw... As we entered the final few moments at Plainmoor it looked like both sides were happy to settle for a point apiece and a clean sheet each, but Torquay had other ideas as they broke through in the final minute of normal time to steal a huge three points for the home side".

Another troubled ex-EFL club is Stockport County who "made a relatively short trip across the Pennines to take on the ‘Shaymen’ of FC Halifax Town, but fell to a second successive three-goal Saturday defeat, as well as a first reverse on their travels in over six months.

One-time Edgeley Park favourite Matty Warburton came back to haunt the Hatters by converting a free-kick towards the end of a first half that they had largely dominated, before the hosts added a second 12 minutes from the end, and a third in time added on, to enjoy their 13 year-old phoenix club’s first-ever competitive triumph over County.

County took to the field in the mid-September sunshine with a line-up unchanged from that at Maidenhead four days earlier, whilst Ash Palmer returned from his one-match suspension to be named among the substitutes in place of Will Fish. Harvey Gilmour, as well as Warburton, started as half of an ex-Hatters’ contingent for the hosts...

Halifax had enjoyed precious little sight of the County goal until four minutes before half-time, when Warburton gave his new side the lead against the club he had helped to win promotion to the National League in 2019 breaching, in the process, the Hatters’ defence away from home for the first time in nine games and some 13 hours...

[From a freekick] Warburton duly stepped up to deliver, courtesy of a low drive...

The hosts made the immediate early running upon the resumption... A low cross that was bundled home at close range by Tom Bradbury(78"). And Waters added the third, after being played through in added time".

From the other side, the Halifax Courier reports that "Town boss Pete Wild said his side played to their maximum in their 3-0 win over Stockport County... a hugely impressive result against one of the pre-season favourites for promotion.

'It was a different experience today because we normally dominate the ball here, and I thought they dominated the ball first-half, but we controlled them,' Wild said. 'At half-time I asked us to be a bit more progressive, I thought we were easy to defend against when we had the ball high up in their half.

'And I thought we did that second-half, I thought we took our chance; three really good goals again, different goals, but goals that are what we're trying to be... I thought we played to our maximum, which you have to against good players like they have'...

Wild added 'Stockport will get it right, they'll get on a run and they'll end up at the right end of the table. It's really pleasing to beat one of the big sides in this league.'

Waters notched his sixth of the season in the game... Wild said, 'The kid's in red-hot form. I think special mention has to go to the back-four, I thought they were brilliant'...

It was announced before the game that Tyrell Warren had signed a one-year deal with the club, while fellow defender Javid Swaby-Neavin is on a month-to-month deal, which is due to be reassessed at the end of September".

According to Kent Online, "Dover picked up a creditable draw at Weymouth... Andy Hessenthaler's Whites led through Koby Arthur's stunning strike but were pegged back before half-time and are 14 points from safety.

Dover made four changes from the team that shipped four goals before half-time at Eastleigh in midweek. On-loan Keeper Adam Parkes made his first start while Junior Tiensia, signed on loan from Millwall until January ahead of kick-off, came into the side at left-back.

Skipper Sam Wood dropped to the bench so Ben Williamson took the captain's armband. Whites... were the better side in the opening 20 minutes.

Weymouth should have been reduced to 10 men after 18 minutes but the referee waved play on when Tyler Cordner clearly fouled Ben Williamson in the box; it would have been a red card and penalty had the referee ruled in Dover's favour.

Four minutes later the visitors were ahead when Koby Arthur was given time and space 25 yards from goal and he promptly found the bottom corner with a stunning right-foot strike.

Weymouth got into the game just before half-time and punished Dover for failing to track the run of Josh McQuoid, who finished off a move he started...

The hosts started the second half brightly... Dover looked a threat on the counter with their pace... Although Weymouth had plenty of territorial advantage late on, they were unable to fashion out any clear-cut chances in the closing stages".

Altrincham should have been playing at Yeovil yesterday but instead, in a rearranged game, it was Chesterfield who travelled to Somerset and "recorded their fifth victory of the season, winning 2-0 away at Yeovil Town, after an own goal from former Spireite Grant Smith and a wonder strike from Kabongo Tshimanga sent the Blues home with all three points...

The Glovers thought they had taken the lead in the 18th minute after Quigley’s header found the bottom corner, but the referee ruled it out for a foul on Scott Loach. Seconds later the Spireites found themselves ahead, after Manny Oyeleke fired an effort towards goal from the edge of the area which smashed off a post and deflected back off Smith into the back of the net.

Yeovil once again had the ball in the back of the net, after Quigley slotted home on the edge of the six-yard box, but the referee ruled the goal out for offside.

The Blues then fired themselves into a two-goal lead. After Loach spotted Tshimanga making a run in behind the defence, he fired the ball up field and sent the striker through on goal and he made no mistake... just before half time...

Yeovil went close in the 60th minute... The home side continued to pile on the pressure but couldn’t find a way through the men in Blue">

Devon Live reports on Torquay United for whom their 1-0 win over Southend United "was a much, much better performance from the team after such a worrying start to the season, with three home wins and only one win on the road in six games.

But if Torquay hadn't scored today it would have been a massive injustice after they ran the game from start to finish against a newly relegated Southend that haven't quite worked out what they are doing in the National League yet.

The big surprise was the inclusion of Shaun MacDonald, who left the club at the end of the season to find a new challenge. With Mark Halstead ill at half time during Tuesday night's defeat at Solihull Moors, MacDonald started in goal ahead of Marcin Brzozowski.

In came Klaidi Lolos for Dan Holman, after the striker scored his first goal for the Gulls as a substitute at Solihull, while Keelan O'Connell also began the game. Dropping to the bench was Ali Omar as Johnson went with a back four of Chiori Johnson, Ben Wynter, Joe Lewis and Dean Moxey...

Holman came on for Lolos with nine minutes to go; Lemonheigh-Evans was brought down 31 yards out but the free kick was taken short and came to nothing. And still it was all Torquay. It was Lemonheigh-Evans who got the goal, flying in at the far post to smash the ball home after a wonderful low cross into the box from Moxey...

There was some holding on to do, three minutes were added, but Johnson soaked up some of it by bringing on Omar for O'Connell; and although the ball was in Torquay's half, Southend never really threatened to burst the bubble".

SATURDAY FIXTURES

Saturday 18th September

• Bromley 2-0 Barnet
• FC Halifax Town 3-0 Stockport County
• Grimsby Town 2-0 Eastleigh
• Notts County 1-0 Maidenhead United
• Solihull Moors 3-1 Boreham Wood
• Torquay United 1-0 Southend United
• Wealdstone 2-2 Aldershot Town
• Weymouth 1-1 Dover Athletic
• Woking P-P Chesterfield (Covid at Woking)
• Wrexham 1-0 Dagenham & Redbridge
• Yeovil Town 0-2 Chesterfield (Re-arranged game)
• Yeovil Town P-P Altrincham (Covid at Altrincham)

NEW DATE

Howver, the game which should have taken place last Tuesday is now set to take place two weeks later than originally planned, on Tuesday, 28 September at 7.45pm.

ALTY ACADEMY TRIALS

The club placed assistant-manager Neil Sorvel in charge, aided by Paul Fay, and the system is now well and truly underway... Every 12 months, the pathway to the first-team opens up to a new batch of local prospects, and that moment has arrived, with the club announcing plans for next season's new intake.

Trials start next month and are aimed at current year 11 (under-16) players, as the academic element of the programme is of A level standard.

Places are limited and attendance at the trials is by invitation only, though the club will consider all applications and ask that each applicant submit by e-mail detailing name, date of birth, playing history, current team and preferred position or positions.

The initial trials on October 26th will be followed by further sessions in December and February and a final one next Easter before places are allocated for the launch of a new campaign next September".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 21-year-old has made a handful of senior appearances for the Owls since progessing through the academy ranks... The Irish youngster can play centre-back and right-back and is right-footed. He signed his first professional contract at Wednesday in May 2018 and he has represented the Republic of Ireland at youth level.

Chesterfield first-team coach Danny Webb... was tight-lipped on the link... 'I am not sure, you would have to ask the manager about that, he deals with all the transfers,' Webb said.

'I know that the squad we have assembled at the moment is firing, I think you saw the other night the players who did not play at Dover stepped up to the plate'...

Last week manager James Rowe said they might assess the squad at the ‘midway’ point of the season but the injury setback to defender Haydn Hollis may have forced his hand".

We learn from the Nottingham Post that "Notts County boss Ian Burchnall is pleased to have developed a good relationship with the fans following the six-month anniversary of his appointment...

Burchnall's side have 12 points to their name already, having won three and drawn three at the start of the season...

He said... 'I feel like I'm developing a good rapport with the fans; I think they can see since I've been here how I've tried to attack games. I don't say it's always perfect, and I definitely don't say that we're always the polished product that we want to be, but I think everyone can see the intentions either how we set the team up, how we attack the game or how we try to change it.

'I think fans want that. They want to see that kind of football down at Meadow Lane. Although we haven't been great defensively the last couple of games, we've scored six goals, got six points, and they have been quite thrilling games, really'".

According to the Grimsby Telegraph, "Grimsby Town look to continue their unbeaten start to the season tomorrow as they host Eastleigh..

Another bumper crowd is expected after Tuesday night’s magnificent win over Wrexham... with the Mariners having taken 13 out of a possible 15 points so far this season.

Heading into their next encounter though, they’ll face a different kind of pressure... Against Torquay and Wrexham, they were facing sides with huge expectation on them...

Tomorrow though, all the expectation is now on Town. They come up against a side who only picked up their first win on Tuesday, and even then it came against Dover who, realistically, already look down and out after a turbulent year.

So... the onus is firmly on the Mariners, and they’ll be fully expected now to keep up their perfect record at home... There doesn’t seem to be any need to change things up, although Hurst could end up being forced into one.

Ryan Taylor, who is of course Town’s sole striker at the moment with Lenell John-Lewis out injured... is going to be on high alert right up until kick-off with his partner expecting, and Hurst will no doubt have been looking at some alternative throughout the week...

The obvious solution would be to have John McAtee as the player furthest forward, but he will likely need more support in that role which would perhaps call for a front three, which in turn could see Max Wright, Will Bapaga or Seb Revan called into the side...

You can’t help but feel there’s something growing with the Mariners. Town are improving with every game, and even without the much-vaunted 20 or 30 goals a season striker in their ranks, they’re finding the back of the net with aplomb".

The Dorset Echo tells us that Manager "Brian Stock believes Weymouth are a 'different enemy' compared to last season as they prepare to host Dover Athletic in front of the BT Sport cameras...

After January and into this season Weymouth appear to have turned a corner, occupying 11th with seven points from five games despite playing four of the current top five in the table. They go into their clash with Dover at the Bob Lucas Stadium as genuine favourites....

Stock told Echosport 'I truly believe in this group of players. They’re a good, honest, hard-working bunch. We’ve looked a good team for the majority of the game in the last four games... I really do think we’re a different enemy now than what we were this time last year. I’m confident going into most games with this group'".

ALTRINCHAM'S BLANK AFTERNOONS

However, they still have some way to go to match last season when they suffered the loss of eight 3pm kick-offs, as follows...

1. Sat.17.10.20 home match v Bromley, postponed owing to Covid-19 at Altrincham
2. Sat.5.12.20 home match v King's Lynn Town, postponed owing to waterlogged pitch
3. Sat. 16.1.21 away FA Trophy game at Havant & Waterlooville from which Alty had to withdraw because of Covid
4. Sat.30.1.21 home to Macclesfield Town not played as Silkmen expelled from league
5. Sat.6.2.21 away at Torquay United, postponed as Torquay in the FA Trophy
6. Sat.6.3.21 home to Dover Athletic, not played as Dover had furloughed players
7. Fri.2.4.21 home to Yeovil Town, postponed due to death of Yeovil captain
8. Sat.8.5.21 home to Eastleigh, postponed owing to waterlogged pitch

ALTY AWAY IN FA YOUTH CUP

The teams know each other very well and met as recently as last week in the first game of this season's North West Youth Alliance campaign, when a late goal from Louis Morrison saw the Robins home by the odd goal in three.

Manager, Paul Fay, said 'Chester aren’t to be underestimated despite the league result from the youth team in our opening league game last week. We are a hybrid squad with part-time and full-time players so we are still trying to manage getting the full squad together for sessions'"

Altrincham FC also has an audio interview with Paul Fay.

VOTE FOR TONY AND JOEL!

Two Altrincham players are among the nominees.

Tony Thompson (left) is in the running for National League Player of the Season, after his consistently stunning form between the posts, while Joel Senior (right) is a contender in the Rising Star category after emerging as one of the best full-backs in the league...

We want Tony and Joel to get their just desserts and have their sterling efforts duly rewarded with some richly-deserved silverware, and you can help make it happen by registering your vote below.

The Ladbrokes Northwest Football Awards (NWFA) 2021 will take place on Monday, 22nd November 2021 at The Point, Emirates Old Trafford... Voting closes at 5.00 pm on Friday, 15th October 2021".

The voting form is here.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Bees went down to Chesterfield 4-2 on Tuesday and have yet to win any of their six games. They sit second bottom of the National League table... Barnet FC have the worst defence in the league, conceding 17 goals in just six fixtures.

Kewell, who took over the London outfit in June, was remaining positive after the loss... Hhe told reporters, 'We are getting there, we are finding our feet, but again we have got to stop some little individual errors.'

While the Socceroo great was staying upbreat, criticism of him is increasing. Barnet were smashed 5-0 by Notts County in the opening game of the season and were beaten 2-0 by Dagenham & Redbridge, and 4-3 by Grimsby Town.

Many Bees fans are not happy with the Australian, with one tweeting 'Bye bye, Harry Kewell is not working out, time to leave'...

Kewell has been sacked from his position at his last two clubs in Oldham Athletic and Notts County. Barnet FC were only saved from relegation during the 2020-2021 season because the National League was cut short because of the Covid-19 pandemic".

Meanwhile, Wrexham, "suffered defeat for the first time under Phil Parkinson, as three well-taken goals, including one from ex-Red Dragon [and ex-Alty loanee] Luke Waterfall, earned The Mariners all three points.

Parkinson made two changes from the side which beat Woking on Saturday: Max Cleworth returned to the back three in place of Harry Lennon, and Jordan Davies failed to recover from the injury he picked up on Saturday and was replaced by Devonte Redmond. On the bench, Shaun Brisley was included in a first team squad for the first time, with Cameron Green returning to the 16.

The match got off to an even start... In the 23rd minute Wrexham took the lead. A massive tackle on the half way line by Aaron Hayden allowed Luke Young to send Jake Hyde though on goal and he lashed the ball past James McKeown...

However, Grimsby soon struck back with a pair of quality strikes which turned the game on its head. First, a terrific pass by Hunt opened Wrexham's defence up, the threatening Erico Sousa drove an excellent cross in from the right and Ryan Taylor finished emphatically.

The home side took the lead when a drilled corner from the right was met by the head of Waterfall, who planted the ball firmly inside the far post...

Wrexham, for their part, showed little threat up front apart from a period around the middle of the half, their best of the match... Wrexham had to contemplate their first defeat of the season after failing to trouble Grimsby's defence often enough".

And in the Leader Live m,anager "Phil Parkinson bemoaned his side's lack of quality in both penalty areas after seeing Wrexham suffer a first defeat of the National League season... against high-flying Grimsby Town...

Parkinson felt the Reds did not have that cutting edge in the final third and he was disappointed with the defending for the first two goals as Grimsby took advantage of poor marking in the box.

'We got off to a great start,' said Parkinson... 'And we scored a terrific goal. The two goals we conceded, the first one we got done by a give and go, and the second one was a free header in the middle of our box which is disappointing to say the least.

'Games are won and lost in both boxes; the ball went in their box and it came out, they had two free headers from a wide free-kick and a free header which ultimately decided the game.

'The third goal, obviously we are chasing the game and that happens, you get done on the break sometimes when you throw caution to the wind. But the second goal in particular was disappointing for us because we were right in the game. It was nip and tuck, there wasn't a lot in it and two decent teams on show but you have got to head the ball out of the box when it comes in at any level of football and that is what cost us'...

A crowd of nearly 6,700, with more than 500 travelling supporters [were] in attendance at Blundell Park...

Said Parkinson... 'We knew it was going to be a vibrant atmosphere and the way you can quieten the crowd is by scoring a goal like we did but then we gave the whole place a huge lift with the two goals we conceded'".

From the other side, the Grimsby Telegraph states that "Grimsby Town may have enjoyed a great start to the National League season but manager Paul Hurst insists 'We haven’t done anything yet'.

The Mariners are unbeaten after five games, and have chalked up good results against fancied sides such as Stockport, Torquay and Wrexham...

'We are still in the very early stages of the season,' Hurst told Grimsby Live... 'There is a nice feel around the place, but we are fully aware how quickly things can change, whether that’s for an individual, the team, the club, the manager; whatever it may be, we have to stay very grounded...

'As soon as you get ahead of yourself, that’s when there’s usually something around the corner that brings you back down to earth'...

Hurst admits facing Eastleigh is a different sort of a challenge... 'We one hundred per cent mean this as no disrespect to Eastleigh but they haven’t got the history, hype or expectation that our opponents on Tuesday night had for example. There will be a different dynamic in the stadium too as they won’t bring as many fans as Wrexham...

'This is probably another test... We have to have the right mentality going into it... I’ve seen their last couple of games and I’ve seen a change of system, which throws question marks up in terms of how they will line-up'...

Hurst said 'We should be all good [i.e. fit]. The players all want to be part of it at the minute and everyone wants to be involved. Sean Scannell trained today... It’s what he needs to get up to speed. It’s pleasing to get him back involved.'

On Ryan Taylor and his wait for news of his baby, which is due, Hurst added 'He is still waiting'".

King's Lynn were short and to the point in announcing that the cluba has "terminated the contract of Alex Brown by mutual consent.

Joining the Linnets from Buxton in March 2020 he made 17 appearances for the club".

In the Derbyshire Times, "James Rowe says Chesterfield is a ‘great place to be at the moment’ with the Spireites having made their best start to a season for eight years.

Unbeaten Town are currently second in the National League table after four wins and two draws. Having thrown away a two-goal lead against Barnet, Rowe praised the home faithful for sticking with the the team and helping them to recover and win 4-2 ...

'It was a great night and I am really proud to manage this football club,' he told the DT... 'I think there is a smell in the air, you can feel it, it is a great place to be at the moment and I am delighted. I think the big difference from this season’s team to last is that we have got one-v-one dribblers so when teams are blocking it off deep we can go past players and that is a way of breaking a line not just forward runs and clever play,' he explained.

'I think [ex-Alty man] Jeff King and Calvin Miller cause major problems with their dribbling ability and that means it creates space in the middle'...

The Blues were scheduled to travel to Woking this Saturday but the match was postponed due to Covid in the opposition camp. Yeovil were available after their fixture against Altrincham was called off for the same reason and so it is a trip to Huish Park for Rowe’s men this weekend..

The Spireites will assess Laurence Maguire (ankle) and Curtis Weston (sickness bug) ahead of travelling to Somerset...

Rowe added, 'They are in good form, they have not played tonight [Tuesday] so they have got a rest but that does not bother me though because I know the fitness of the group'".

In the Maidenhead Advertiser "Maidenhead United boss Alan Devonshire once again called into question the standard of officiating in the National League after two of his players were sent off in Tuesday's 2-0 defeat to Stockport County.

United hadn't started the game well and were already trailing to John Rooney's well-taken finish, but their hopes of taking a point, or possibly three, from the match were hamstrung from the moment Remy Clerima was dismissed in the 23rd minute.

Clerima claims he was provoked by Will Collar into retaliating, with the County player having punched him and stamped on his foot as they jostled for position in the area, but in kicking out at his opponent he effectively handed the visitors all three points. United had struggled to create chances in the opening 20 minutes and they barely laid a glove on County in the remaining 65 minutes, failing to have an attempt on target in the match, while United's keeper James Holden was regularly pressed into action.

That is, until the 76th minute when he was sent off for a clash with Alex Reid. He came rushing out of his area and jumped to volley it clear but in doing so he caught the head, or upper body of Alex Reid and the referee had little hesitation in going to his pocket and pulling out a second red card for the Magpies. Reid had already nodded the visitors into a two-goal lead from a 63rd minute corner.

With midfielder Ryan Upward stepping in between the sticks you feared another capitulation, reminiscent of United's first half showing against Torquay United, however, they held firm, and the makeshift keeper wasn't really tested.

United now face one of their trickiest games of the season on paper, away at Notts County on Saturday...

'I wasn’t happy with his overall performance to be fair,' Devonshire said of the referee's performance. 'We’ve got bookings left, right and central and, even at the end there, Sammy (Barratt) has been smashed and nothing is given. I’ve said for ages about the referees in this league. It ain’t just him, but that was just appalling...

'We lacked quality going forward tonight, but I’ve looked at them, with their so-called budget, and both keepers, James and Uppy, haven’t had a lot to do. It’s not as if they were pummelled, making save after save. But as soon as you’re down to nine men you’ve got no chance'...

Devonshire and his management team didn't look to have the balance of the side quite right, even before Clerima's dismissal. They were second best in the early exchanges... They also looked toothless in attack, with Emile Acquah, Josh Kelly and Nathan Blissett failing to register an attempt on Ben Hinchcliffe’s goal....

The referee deemed the keeper's follow through as reckless...'So we could lose him for three games', said Devonshire".

JACKSON FACES THREE-MATCH BAN

Alty bosses challenged the decision to show summer signing Jackson (left) a straight red at The Vale on Saturday after feeling it was the sort of challenge that is routinely punished with a yellow card.

They viewed the foul near the halfway in that light at the time, and video footage subsequently reinforced the opinion that it belonged in the reckless category, for which a caution is appropriate rather than the ultimate sanction of dismissal.

Film of the incident showed the former Chester wing-back did not raise his studs to endanger his opponent or make forceful contact with the Wealdstone player in such a way, and the club argued that it did not constitute serious foul play.

However, after considering Alty's appeal, the panel decided against overruling the referee's interpretation, and, as a consequence, Brad will miss the next three games, at home to Notts County a week on Saturday, away to Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday, October 2nd and home to Grimsby Town on Tuesday, October 5th".

Footnote: With injury affecting a host of defenders (Densmore, White, Hampson, Digie, Fitzpatrick), midfielder Jackson had been filling in at right-back for Altrincham.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Shots ended a run of five successive defeats to record their first win of the season at Roots Hall,,,

'That basic fundamental flaw in our character whenever anyone lays a glove on us, we’ve got to get rid of,' said Brown. 'When the first goal went in and we took the lead I thought confidence levels would be raised and people would start expressing themselves. But we conceded a goal and again we go the other way in terms of motivation and the spirit that we showed'...

It was Aldershot who got on top after the break and soon took the lead after poor defensive play from the Shrimpers.

'The second goal goes in down the side of Josh Coulson and it’s an unforgiveable goal,' said the Blues' boss. 'But am I going to stand here and slag the players off? No'...

'“The bottom line is that you’re looking at a group of players who have let the supporters down, myself included,' said Brown. 'I’m not going to blame the players, it includes me too. I changed the system and put players in the right positions and coming into the game I was confident we would create chances...

'The supporters have every right to be saying what they’re saying and doing what they’re doing, 100 per cent,' said Brown... 'The fans got... frustrated in the second-half. The reason for that frustration is the two or three years that we’ve had...

'I’m firmly responsible for tonight’s performance. It has to change and it has to change drastically... We’ve got that target on our backs and we’ve got to accept we’re a big club in a small division supposedly...We have to have the character to stand up to that... The character of the team was found to be wanting to be brutally honest.

'We’ve got to go back to basics and go back to what made us as spirited team at the end of last season... If that means bringing players in and getting rid of players then I’ve got to try and find that as well'".

Tales of another troubled former EFL manager come from Devon Live, which reports that "Torquay United manager Gary Johnson said some of his players are 'not up to this level' after Torquay United lost 2-1 at Solihull Moors and that some players will be moving on.

The Gulls last their fourth game of six this National League season and the manager was forthright in his comments after the match saying he has to 'build again' to put things right.

Klaidi Lolos came off the bench to score a late consolation goal in the game and the Gulls should have had a penalty at the end to give them the opportunity to make it 2-2 but the referee booked Connor Lemonheigh-Evans for a dive instead...

Johnson wasn't holding back when he said 'As a manager I have to, A, take the responsibility, and B, we have got to turn the personnel around a little bit as quickly as we can. Because at the moment some of them are not proving quite up to this level. And I apologise for that because I am the one that recruits these people and we didn't have a lot of time to recruit people.

'There are a few out there that are not quite up to this level unfortunately and we have got to quickly turn that around. When you have had six games and you have had four defeats in those six games, of course you have to hold your hands up and say actually 'how long do we go?'

'Now I don't know how quickly we can turn it around, but I just know that at the moment teams are looking better than us and I can't keep making excuses for them... I am not down and out, at the same time I want to be honest, so that when they see things happening, they'll know that I have told them it's going to happen'".

And Devon Live adds that "Torquay United manager Gary Johnson quite rightly says the club cannot afford to pay 20 grand a month to a single player to win the National League...

Owner Clarke Osborne has reportedly spent millions on the club since taking control and appointing the manager while they were floundering in the National League South division.

Johnson was appointed three years ago last Monday, and things have been on-the-up since. But... key players like Kyle Cameron, Ben Whitfield and Aaron Nemane have left and it has been difficult to replace such quality...

After the comical takeover of Wrexham by Hollywood filmstars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, and the ridiculous spending of the owners of Stockport County, money is now speaking louder than coaching in this division....

Johnson said... 'We can't go out and buy somebody for two or three hundred grand like some teams are. We can't afford to pay five-six grand a week like some are doing. So we have obviously still got to keep the club in business to have a chance to turn it around, if you like.

'So we have got to look and keep looking and move some people on, which is not always easy because they are under contract, but some of them will find it difficult to find a group of games in our team.'"

"Following FC Halifax Town’s 2-2 draw at Boreham Wood, Manager Pete Wild spoke...

'It was a game of two halves,' Wild said. 'We looked tired, of course we travelled down this afternoon, and it was a long journey, so we looked a bit leggy. It took a bit of time to get going and our first goal was against the run of play. They came back at us, and they finished the half really strongly, we looked like we were holding on a little bit. I had to rally the troops at half time and get them going a little bit.

'We started the second half better and got on the front foot more. We had more of a purpose and the subs came on to [try to] win us the game.'

Forward Billy Waters netted the equaliser with just over ten minutes left on the clock. After that, Town looked like the only team that would win it and were unfortunate not to get a winner.

'It’s another set-piece,' Wild told Shaymen TV. 'That’s the second goal this week scored off a second phase set-piece. For Billy, everything he hits seems to be going in at the minute. Even with his left foot he scores tonight. We could have maybe won it, but I’ll certainly take a point. It was a really engaging game and a good one for the fans'.

Wild was on the side-lines today after his suspension from the Yeovil Game. The gaffer will also have to sit out the Stockport County match on Saturday...

'It’s been a great week... These are the games that you really want to be involved in. With Stockport at home, it’ll be a bumper crowd. We’ve got nothing to fear, we’ve just got to express ourselves. There’s no pressure on us, it’s all on them'".

And the Halifax Courier quotes Wild as saying, 'I want them to go and take the game to Stockport on Saturday and leave nothing unturned, really give them a good test'...

Only Solihull’s Joe Sbarra and Chesterfield’s Kabongo Tshimanga have scored more goals in the National League this season than Town’s Billy Waters, who netted his fifth of the season at Boreham Wood.

'We scored off a set-piece on Saturday; I wanted us to be better off set-pieces and we scored off a set-piece again on Tuesday,' Wild said. 'Everything Billy hits goes in at the moment, even a left-footer on Tuesday!... People will say number nine’s should be big, six-foot-four, aggressive etc, but Bill proves you can be quick and jinky, and he offers something different that maybe other teams in the league don’t have...

'Unfortunately the two full-backs have been injured and the other two lads have got their chance probably quicker than I thought they would, so it’s now making sure we blood our young ones who come in'.

The average age of the Halifax back four at Boreham Wood was 22.5, while the average age of the Halifax team that finished the game was 23.9.

'We’re very tired after that,' Wild said after the Boreham Wood game, 'and there’s a few knocks but hopefully nothing serious because we haven’t got any more players!'...

Wild confirmed... that defender Jay Benn could be out for between four to six months with a hamstring injury. The Town boss said midfielder Luke Summerfield is another ten days away from a return to fitness after his knee injury, but said defenders Jack Senior and Jesse Debrah could be in contention for the visit of Stockport...

Wild said 'I think the first ten points in a season are the hardest to get and we’ve got ten now after six games, so we can hopefully go and push on now as quickly as we can... The exciting stuff now comes on analysing the game and making sure we’re ready.'”

According to the Grimsby Telegraph, "Paul Hurst has revealed Grimsby Town have been knocked back in their attempts to sign a new striker.

The Mariners' boss has been on the lookout for a new frontman for some time, and looked to be edging nearer a new arrival as he held talks with two potential options.

Both players though have now been ruled out... Town though have been faring well without a new face leading the line, having continued their unbeaten start to the season with a superb win over Wrexham on Tuesday, with Ryan Taylor among those on the scoresheet.

With Lenell John-Lewis out injured at the moment though, Hurst is still keen to get some more competition in... Hurst said, 'I’d be kind of comfortable in one respect if they (Taylor and John-Lewis) were both fit. If they were both fit, I’ve got no issues at the minute. But I’ve said all along I would like a third one, in an ideal world one that might be slightly different, but I can promise you there’s not many out there at all'...

Taylor will likely get the nod again on Saturday as the Mariners look to continue their unbeaten start, with Eastleigh making the long journey north to Blundell Park".

The Derbyshire Times tells us that "Barnet manager Harry Kewell was disappointed with the ‘individual errors’ they made in the defeat to Chesterfield...

The visitors found themselves two goals down after just eight minutes and it could have been worse if the hosts had taken their chances.

Two deflected strikes before half-time got the Bees level but the Spireites took a grip of the game after the break and eventually won 4-2.

'We did not start bright, we let two silly goals in, one from a set-piece and another penalty,' Kewell said. 'But we showed great character to come back into the game and I felt from that moment on we kind of dominated the first-half. We were looking exciting, we were passing, moving, creating spaces and opportunities and I think we got a fair enough opportunity to get back in at 2-2 so I was pleased at half-time'...

The defeat leaves the Bees second bottom of the National League table with no wins from their first six matches...

'I can’t complain about my players, they worked hard tonight', he added. 'We are getting there, we are finding our feet, but again we have got to stop some little individual errors.'”

From the KIlburn Times comes news that "Wealdstone suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat to unbeaten Notts County in their latest National League fixture.

The Stones went ahead after 31 minutes as Josh Umerah bundled home from close range after Jerome Okimo's initial effort had caused panic in the Magpies' defence.

However, County turned it around with two goals in the final five minutes of the first half to go into the interval ahead.

Callum Roberts levelled after 41 minutes when he turned in Kairo Mitchell's left-wing cross before Kyle Wotton started and finished the move on the stroke of half-time to put County into the lead.

Kyle Cameron then extended that advantage after 57 minutes, heading home a Matt Palmer corner, before Wealdstone pulled one back when Alex Dyer evaded a couple of Magpies tackles before playing in Umerah for his second".

The Maidenhead Advertiser informs us that "Maidenhead United lost for a third league match in a row after going down 2-0 at home to Stockport County in a match which also saw their French defender Remy Clerima and on loan keeper James Holden sent off.

County deservedly left York Road with all three points, after goals in either half for John Rooney and Alex Reid, but that only partially tells the story on an evening when everything that could have gone wrong for the Magpies did.

Stockport didn’t look like they needed a helping hand in the early stages, having taken the lead through Rooney’s clinical strike in the 17th minute, but they got one anyway with some questionable decisions from the evening’s officials...

Momentum then swung massively in the visitors’ favour, just when it seemed United were getting themselves back into the contest... The Magpies were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position but, as the players jostled for position on the goalline, Collar went down clutching his leg and County’s players surrounded the referee demanding Clerima be shown the red card.

Clerima clearly felt he was provoked by Collar but did appear to kick out petulantly and this momentary loss of composure left his teammates chasing the game with only 10 men.

After that Maidenhead barely laid a glove on Stockport. They looked toothless in attack and threatened only sporadically from set pieces...

The Magpies lacked energy in the second half and made little impression on the County backline, who were content to keep possession and frustrate their hosts... Their second goal did arrive in the 63rd minute and it was simplicity itself. A corner was whipped in from the right and Reid got the jump on Holden, nodding the ball into the empty net...

Any slim hopes the Magpies had of getting back into the game then completely evaporated when Holden was shown a straight red card for his challenge on Reid as he ran out of his box to clear the ball. He made contact with the ball, but also with Reid’s shoulder and the referee swiftly pulled out the red without consulting his linesmen. Second half substitute Ryan Upward donned the keeper’s gloves for the final 12 minutes, but he didn’t really have a shot to save".

MIDWEEK GAMES

Despite not playing, Altrincham remain thirteenth in the National League table.

Tuesday, 14 September 2021

• Altrincham P-P King's Lynn Town (Covid at Altrincham)
• Boreham Wood 2-2 FC Halifax Town
• Chesterfield 4-2 Barnet
• Dagenham & Redbridge 4-2 Weymouth
• Eastleigh 4-1 Dover Athletic
• Grimsby Town 3-1 Wrexham
• Maidenhead United 0-2 Stockport County
• Notts County 3-2 Wealdstone
• Solihull Moors 2-1 Torquay United
• Southend United 2-3 Aldershot Town
• Woking P-P Bromley (Covid at Woking)

YEOVIL REFUNDS FOR ALTY SUPPORTERS

This means that the Yeovil Town’s trip to Chesterfield, which was originally to be played on the 2nd October has been pushed back to a later date and will now be played on the 26th February.

Tickets purchased for the fixture against Altrincham remain valid for Saturday’s game. Altrincham supporters who wish to request a refund should contact the Yeovil Town ticket office via e-mail."

CONNOR UPBEAT

Altrincham's on-loan midfielder had the operation at a London hospital yesterday afternoon, with the early indications being that the surgeons are happy with the alignment of his bones after they reset the tibia and the fibia, both having been broken in the incident...

Special mention should also be made of the exemplary way sports scientist and therapist Ryan Murray and strength and conditioning coach Ryan Spencer did their best to comfort the 23 year old and help him cope with what must have been a traumatic as well as lengthy wait for an ambulance to arrive".

Meanwhile, opponents Wealdstone "plans to stage a fund-raiser for him at the home match with Aldershot this coming weekend. It is a wonderful gesture that was warmly received by Alty co-chairman Bill Waterson, who said 'We thank Wealdstone for their generosity, and for the professionalism and concern they showed us on Saturday.

'They are old friends from the early days of the National League, and that friendship deepened and renewed at the weekend and subsequently with this fantastically heartwarming show of support for Connor. It is greatly appreciated, and we will look to do some fundraising for Connor ourselves at some point in the near future.'"

ALTY JOIN FAIR GAME INITIATIVE

The National League club join 26 other clubs across Non-League and the English Football League (EFL) that have revealed their vision this week. Fair Game is working with a team of over 40 world-renowned experts to find long-term solutions to issues around the game, including protecting the heritage of clubs, a fairer distribution of TV revenues and tackling discrimination...

Lawrence Looney (right), Co-chairman of Altrincham FC said 'Football is at a key point in terms of decisive action to ensure its long-term, sustainable future. Fair Game’s principles fit our club values perfectly and provide us with a real opportunity to influence change in a number of areas in a positive way.'"

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

However, the evening was to prove more fruitful for the visiting side; they levelled the game before half-time and hit a second-half double as they enjoyed their first victory of the 2021/22 campaign.

Jason Demetriou claimed a late consolation goal, but it was too little too late for the Shrimpers on the night...

The hosts opened the scoring, in bizarre circumstances. Mitch Walker went to clear the ball from a goal kick, he was halted by Murphy who was lurking by the Shots ‘keeper, [the] Blues’ captain nabbed the ball from Walker and walked it into an empty net. Despite Danny Searle’s side’s protests, the goal was given with Walker receiving a yellow card for his protests.

The Shrimpers looked comfortable in the game, until the 37th minute when they were pegged back by the visitors.... Alfy Whittingham... drilled a cross into the box, met only by the foot of Demetriou who turned the ball into his own net...

Six minutes after the break, the visitors took the lead. Coulson was beaten for pace by Corie Andrews, who whipped a ball in for Mo Bettamer... to calmly slot into the net... The fate of the game was sealed in the 88th minute, as the Shots scored their third of the evening... sending the 124 away fans into jubilation.

The home side did, however, score a consolation goal, as Demetriou’s dangerous cross crashed off the left post and into the net.

The Roots Hall faithful made their discontent known when Adrian Quelch blew the full-time whistle, as the Blues were beaten for the second time in four days".

Devon Live reported before Tuesday's defeat that "Torquay United go to Solihull Moors today with fitness concerns after three players left the field with injuries during the disappointing 3-1 home defeat by Grimsby Town on Saturday.

Goalscorer Armani Little, striker Dan Holman, and left back Dean Moxey were all taken off with knocks or pulls in the third home defeat of the season, while Chiori Johnson soldiered on despite being hurt himself too.

Add to that the absence of Jake Andrews so far this season and Tom Lapslie's knee injury that kept him out on Saturday, and Gary Johnson may have serious selection problems...

Striker Olaf Koszela is in good goalscoring form on loan at Tiverton Town, while young midfielder Scott Piper has been loaned out to Willand Rovers, and defender Louie Slough joined Bideford on loan last week. So numbers certainly are tight.

Johnson is yet to dip into the loan market himself... Johnson was hoping to bring Sam Sherring back from Bournemouth for another year but the defender ended up going to League One side Accrington Stanley.

'Last year, every now and again, we brought someone in when we needed them,' said Johnson... 'A couple of them didn't quite work out'...

While Torquay have lost all three of their home games, their away form hasn't been so bad with a 1-1 draw at Notts County and a 4-3 win at Maidenhead United. Solihull's start is not much better than Torquay's, though; they have only won one of their four games".

According to the Crawley Observer "Crawley Town defender Harry Ransom has joined Dover Athletic on loan until January 3, 2022.

The 21-year-old spent the majority of the 2020-21 campaign with the Whites before joining the Reds in the summer. Ransom was sent out on loan to Dover by former club Millwall in October of last year...

Ransom is yet to make a competitive appearance for the Reds after suffering an unfortunate period on the sidelines during pre-season".

In the Grimsby Telegraph we learn that "Grimsby Town have hidden weapon up their sleeve as Harry Clifton eyes up more goals. Paul Hurst has been able to use the academy graduate's versatility to his advantage since returning to Grimsby Town

Harry Clifton has been Mr Versatile for Grimsby Town over the past few seasons, filling in for whichever position he was called upon. The academy graduate has often been deployed on either wing in defensive or attacking duties... The Wales U21 international has carried out his duties with aplomb...

Torquay proved to be a prime example of that, with Clifton named as a left winger when it looked for all the world as though he might be playing as part of a midfield three with Alex Hunt and Giles Coke.

The plan worked perfectly for the Mariners, and Clifton even got himself on the scoresheet... Of course, by trade the 23-year-old is a central midfielder...

Hurst told Grimsby Live... 'The players so far have shown that, they can be very adaptable. With the squad of players we’ve assembled, I could probably put six, seven or eight formations out, and we could be okay at them. It’s just for me to try and find absolutely what the best one is...

'I think it’s quite good going into games with the opposition not quite sure what you’re going to do, and I think the same goes for Harry'...

Clifton said 'I’m just happy to be in the team, and it depends on the opposition we play or the style of play we want... I’ve spoken to the gaffer and the staff, and I think they want to use my energy to actually get into the box, and that’s 100 per cent what I want to do,' Clifton said...

Hurst added '“He scores goals in training... It’s hard to understand why on the training pitch he can finish but not in games, so I would hope he could get more goals'">

In the Leader Live we learn that "Wrexham AFC centre-back Ben Tozer is ready to roll up his sleeves again.

Wrexham were made to work hard for their weekend win... The Reds beat Woking 1-0 at a packed Racecourse on Saturday to maintain their unbeaten start... Jordan Davies gave Wrexham a deserved lead at the break but the Reds struggled in the second half as Woking came more into the contest and found themselves down to 10 men when substitute David Jones was sent off 15 minutes from time...

'Hopefully moving forwards we learn to see out games a bit better...

'Grimsby is always a really tough place to go, quite a hostile place, so you have got to roll your sleeves up and dig in,' said Tozer...

Wrexham have picked up two wins and three draws in their first five games... 'We have done well to stay unbeaten,' said Tozer... 'We have just got to get on a bit of a winning train and see where it takes you'.

Davies is doubtful after picking up a calf injury while Jones, who came on for the midfielder, will serve a one-match ban following his dismissal...

'There's about five, six, seven, eight lads missing out every game,' said Tozer. 'There's opportunities for lads when people get injured and sent off'">

Aldershot Town faced Southend on Tuesday. First-Team Manager Danny Searle said, 'I think we need to reward what’s actually been some very good performances recently with some points.

'In fact, I’m not even worried if the performance is good, we just need to get some points on the board and give these lads some breathing space, because to be honest with you, the efforts especially in the last two games, I think the efforts have been superb from the lads and some of the little bits of bad luck that have kind of gone against us a little bit, we’ve got to take that on the chin and move forward...

'We’ve played five games, four of the five against those in the top six and no one’s battered us... We’ve lost five games in a row and it doesn’t look good...

'The performances are getting there and I genuinely think as I’ve maintained, we’re not far away and it might sound like I’m coming out with a bit of an attitude with it. But I am, I’m coming out with a bit of a fighting attitude, because some of these boys are getting stick they don’t deserve'".

ALTY POSTPONEMENTS

This double postponement is similar to the early stages of last season when Altrincham's third and fourth fixtures of the season, at home to Solihull Moors and Bromley, had to be postponed with Covid having struck The Robins. This season it is games five and six which have had to be called off.

And tonight's postponement is also a mirror image of last season's home fixture against King's Lynn Town which, already having been postponed once through a waterlogged pitch at Moss Lane, had to be called off for a second time when King's Lynn Town had Covid issues.

This season Altrincham have already played one game fewer than thirteen of their competitiors in the National League, thanks to having a blank Saturday on 28 August as the demise of Macclesfield Town means that the division has an uneven number of clubs and therefore one club has to sit out each round of fixtures.

One possible silver lining from this fixture disruption is that the newly laid pitch at the J. Davidson Stadium will have only hosted one National League match by 25 September which, presumably, will help it to bed down the better in the short term.

"ALL OUR BAD LUCK AT ONCE" SAYS MANAGER

During the match Altrincham lost their senior defender, Tom Hannigan (right), to sickness after 20 minutes; had midfielder Connor Kirby suffer a double fracture of the leg; had defender Brad Jackson red-carded and then lost to a debatable penalty in the eleventh added minute of the game.

THROUGH THE YEARS

Howard Watts and the late Mike Garnett's Through the Years data remind us that Alty last played on this date in 2019 when they travelled to Aggborough in the National League North and lost 2-0 to Kidderminster Harriers.

Left: Ashley Hemmings in action at Kidderminster.

Alty went into the game in fourteenth position, whereas the Harriers had taken just one point all season at home in five matches. But Alty had not won a league match at Aggborough since 1994 despite fourteen subsequent attempts.

After this defeat it would now be at least 26 years and 16 attempts before Altrincham record a first win in the league at Aggborough since 1994 after a lamentable performance.

Kidderminster started the game as a club in some turmoil. One point gleaned by the Harriers from five previous home matches this season and an inability to pay some of their staff their earnings suggested that Altrincham might record their first away win of the campaign against a dispirited outfit. But the afternoon showed that it was the Harriers who had the spirit and organization to run out comfortable winners.

ALTRINCHAM: 1. Tony THOMPSON, 2. Andy WHITE, 3. Connor HAMPSON, 4. James JONES, 5. Tom HANNIGAN, 6. Jake MOULT, 7. John JOHNSTON, 8. Sean WILLIAMS, 9. Jordan HULME, 10. Josh HANCOCK, 11. Ashley HEMMINGS. Subs: 12. Max HARROP, 14. Tom PEERS, 15. Shaun DENSMORE, 16. Toby MULLARKEY, 20. Joel TORRANCE.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Mariners take on the favourites for the title at Blundell Park in arguably their biggest game of the season so far... They’ve already made a good impression, having taken four points off last season’s second and third-placed sides on their way to an unbeaten start, with 10 points from four games thus far...

'I still think it’s early to be honest,' Hurst told Grimsby Live. 'I’m delighted with the points tally we’ve got from the four games, and the draw at Stockport I think was a good result for us, but then they lost on the opening day at home and the other day, so maybe it doesn’t look quite as good a point.

'I still think it was, and I’m still pretty certain [they] will come through what some might call a sticky period, I’m not sure it is that, but they’ll want to be getting the wins on the board...

'Torquay, we don’t know yet just because of what they did last season if they’re going to be as good as they were; time will tell... I did feel like we were the better team... [They put]a lot of balls in the box and I think we got our head on quite a lot... Although there is more football played in the league now than when I was here previously, there are still certain teams where that’s what you’re going to come up against; direct play and big, physical teams.

'Tomorrow night, we’ve got an element of that certainly with the long throws and some good threats for them that we’re going to have to try and deal with if we want to be successful.'

The Mariners have no further injury concerns following their weekend win over Torquay, with Shaun Pearson coming back into contention after missing the trip to Devon due to the birth of his third child.

Sean Scannell... is expected to be back with the squad later this week, while Joel Grant is set to find out more about his injury as he heads to St George’s Park this week"

. Also from the Grimsby Telegraph, we learn that "Wrexham’s marquee signing Paul Mullin is back just in time to face Grimsby Town...

The former Cambridge striker made his return from injury on Saturday, and ... he’s already begun to make an impact, with two goals in his first three outings before adding an assist at the weekend...

'I think if you’ve been following us through pre-season and this season, you’ll have seen that Paul Mullin can produce moments like that and he can create chances for other players,' Dragons' boss Phil Parkinson said...

But there is a major doubt over goalscorer Davies after he was forced off at the weekend. Wrexham will definitely be without veteran midfielder David Jones, who lasted just 20 minutes after replacing Davies as he was sent off after picking up two yellow cards in quick succession...

Parkinson added... 'We had a practice game on Thursday between the first team and the others available and it was extremely competitive, so we’ve got plenty of good options'".

We learn from the Eastern Daily Press that "Joe Gascoigne has signed his first professional contract at King’s Lynn Town and the Linnets hope it is a sign of things to come.

The 19 year-old has come through Lynn’s academy at The Walks and director of football Robbie Back said... 'I’m delighted to see a local lad from the town in the first team squad'...

Gascoigne, who made his debut against Chesterfield earlier this season, hopes he can kick on from here".

Kent Online reports that "Dover Athletic manager Andy Hessenthaler wants to... strengthen his squad ahead of Tuesday night's trip to Eastleigh.

Whites could be without five first-teamers for the clash at Hessenthaler's former club. Travis Gregory (ankle) will be assessed at training on Monday evening but TJ Bramble is rated 50/50 after coming off against Chesterfield last weekend and Ryan Hanson took another blow to his knee.

Will Moses broke a metatarsal in training last Thursday while player-coach Reda Johnson is short of fitness after being rushed in for the season opener at Maidenhead...

Said the Dover boss, 'We've got four matches in 11 days. I had a conversation with the chairman and we're trying to do something to bring a centre-half in. We've only got two fit centre-halves at the moment and with Ryan Hanson who can also slot in there struggling we could be caught short.

'It's not over-training for sure, it can go against us that we're not training enough and then compete with sides who train every day. We're going to pick up injuries but what else can we do? We just need a bit of luck.'"

Hessenthaler is hoping his team can build on their excellent display against Chesterfield...

'At Altrincham the performance was good and we carried that on, it shows that we are clicking as a team now... We've got an honest bunch and they worked their socks off, that's the first thing we need to do. We had all of that but we're also a decent team and can play as well'...

Eastleigh are yet to register a win this term under boss Ben Strevens.. Said Hessenthaler 'Richard Hill took me to the club having worked with him at Gillingham and he's back there now as director of football. It will be nice to see him and what a proper guy their manager is. He was my assistant and is a very grounded lad... He still calls me gaffer now but he is a manager in his own right and I'm pleased for him.

'They are like us in the respect that they lost about 10 players at the end of last season and have signed 10 new ones. They've got off to a slow start but once they get going I'm sure they will go a run'".

The Halifax Courier considers that "FC Halifax Town face their toughest test of the season so far when they visit high-flying Boreham Wood on Tuesday night.

The hosts have the meanest defence in the National League, having conceded just twice and keeping four clean sheets in their first five games. They are unbeaten this season, winning four of their five matches...

Town manager Pete Wild said... 'We know what you’re getting there... Luke (Garrad, manager) will have his side technically, tactically and physically ready to rock and roll and we need to be ready for that challenge... He’s signed well, the players he’s brought in over the summer, which he always does.

'We know what’s coming but we go there full of confidence.'

Town look set to be without defender Jay Benn, who limped off against Southend on Saturday, adding to the absence of fellow defender Jack Senior... Midfielder Luke Summerfield will miss the game with a knee injury, with Kieran Green expected to keep his place... Centre-back Jesse Debrah could be a doubt after he jarred his knee towards the end of Saturday’s game".

The Maidenhead Advertiser claims that "Maidenhead United will look to bounce back after two straight league defeats when they host Stockport County...

It’s been a rollercoaster start to the season for the Magpies who kicked off with victories over Halifax Town and Dover Athletic but have since slipped to consecutive losses against Weymouth (3-1) and Torquay United (4-3)...

Having flown as high as third after the victory over Dover, the Magpies are now 11th with six points from four matches... United drew twice against Stockport last season, playing out a goalless draw at York Road in February before drawing 2-2 in April’s away fixture...

The Magpies didn’t have a league fixture scheduled for the weekend but warmed up for this week’s game against Stockport with a behind-closed-doors friendly against a Wycombe Wanderers development side on Thursday. United won the match 3-2 ".

COVID PROMPTS ALTY POSTPONEMENTS

Alty were due to face King's Lynn Town at The J.Davidson Stadium tomorrow night before heading to the West Country to take on Yeovil Town on Saturday.

But both games have now been called off on the instructions of the league after it emerged an Alty player has tested positive for Covid.

With a number of players having to self-isolate for 10 days as a consequence of the positive test, the decision was taken to postpone the King's Lynn and Yeovil games and rearrange them at a later date".

And Bromley "regret to inform supporters that tomorrow night’s (Tuesday 14th September 2021) trip to Woking has been postponed.

The league have made the decision following a Covid-19 incident amongst the hosts". Woking's following game at home to Chesterfield on Saturday is likewise postponed.

CONNOR KIRBY

A loanee from Harrogate Town, Connor Kirby (right) joined Altrincham in April 2021 and he had made five starts and two substitute appearances by the end of that season, adding energy to the midfield.

His performances induced Phil Parkinson to bring him back to Altrincham for the start of the 2021-22 season. Again, this was on a loan basis from Harrogate Town, an arrangement scheduled to run until early January 2022

Connor was 23 last Friday and comes from Barnsley. After signing in 2015 for Sheffield Wednesday, he made two appearances for The Owls in the Championship as well as two in the league cup.

2019-20 saw him make 39 appearances on loan at Macclesfield Town before joining Harrogate Town in League Two for 2020-21 season, a club for which he made 22 appearances, 16 in League Two, before his move to Altrincham.

He made his Alty debut on 24 April 2021 in the home defeat by Barnet and scored his only goal of that season at home to Yeovil Town. He added a second goal this season in the match at Torquay on the opening day of Altrincham's season. So, to date, he has made nine starts for Altrincham plus two more from the bench and scored twice.

Hopefully he will make a full recovery and return to make further appearances for the club, where he will be much missed in the coming weeks.

KING'S LYNN CURSE

Their first scheduled visit was to have been on Saturday, 22 February 2020 for a National League North game but the match got moved, firstly to 31 March 2020 and then it was brought forward to the preceding Tuesday, 24 March 2020. However, Covid then intervened and the League was aborted with the Linnets never making it to Altrincham that season.

Nevertheless, both clubs were promoted to the National League for 2020-21 and they were scheduled to meet at the J. Davidson Stadium on Saturday 5 December 2020, albeit behind closed doors. Unfortunately, the Moss Lane pitch was waterlogged that day and the fixture had to be rearranged for Tuesday, 12 January 2021. Then Covid infections hit the Norfolk club and that date also went by the board.

The game was finally played on Tuesday, 23 March 2021, a 7pm kick-off, which Alty won 3-0. But the fixture had to be played behind closed doors.

So, despite six dates being set for the two previous scheduled meetings of the clubs at Altrincham, no paying supporter of either club has ever witnessed the sides competing on the J. Davidson Stadium's pitch.

And after this piece was published, sadly, Covid affected the Altrincham squad and the game on Tuesday night has had to be postponed, as noted above.

HEAVY DEFEAT FOR RESERVES

Alty now lie fifteenth in the eighteen-strong Cheshire League. They have won just one of their eight games so far in the league.

ALTY OLD BOYS

Winger Dylan Mottley-Henry [right], who played for Alty in 2016 as a loanee from Bradford City and went on to play in the EFL, has joined National League North Bradford (Park Avenue).

He played for Barnsley, Tranmere Rovers, Harrogate Town and Chesterfield as well as The Bantams. Latterly he had been in Northern Ireland with Larne.

Joe Mwasile scored for Nantwich Town who lost to Radcliffe on Saturday, whilst Cameron Terry was the Dabbers' keeper. Ryan Brooke scored for Runcorn Linnets and former Youth and reserve player Ashley Woods played for Northwich 1874. They lost to Neil Young's Marine.

In National North, Craig Mahon played for Curzon Ashton.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Arnold was replaced between the sticks by Harry Seaden after dislocating a finger in training earlier this week...

'It happened on Wednesday but something like that you have to deal with as a manager,' said Brown. 'We signed Collin (Andeng-Ndi) in time for him to be on the bench and Harry Seaden deserves a chance where his career is concerned.

'Do I blame him for any of the goals? Probably not. Would I blame him for not having the character or experience of Steve Arnold? Absolutely but that’s life. That’s not any reason why we lost the game. The reason was the character of the team and that needs to strengthen now.

'That’s not gym work either, it’s about what’s under the shirt.'"

And the Shrimpers suffered another blow as the Southend Echo also reportsa that "On-loan Southend United winger Matt Dennis was forced to drop out of the squad for Saturday's defeat at Halifax Town after suffering a hamstring injury in the warm up.

Dennis, who is with Blues from Norwich, had been due to be on the bench at the Shay. But Blues boss Phil Brown was forced into making a late change with Hamzad Kargbo being selected among the substitutes.

'Matty Dennis tweaked his hamsting in the warm up,' said Brown. 'He’s only a boy and he doesn’t understand what football’s all about. I’m not blaming him for anything today but he tweaked his hamstring. He had been complaining all week about not being 100 per cent but he went out there because he wants to. We’ve got issues with young, old and indifferent.

'But the main issue is what’s underneath the shirt and we’ve got to improve that before we can improve anything'".

Weymouth "battled from a goal down to snatch a point against Notts County at the Bob Lucas Stadium. Brian Stock named 2 changes ahead of his 50th game in charge of the Terras with Josh McQuoid and Taofiq Olomowewe making way for Tom Bearwish and Andy Robinson...

Notts County were really pressuring the Terras goal, coming close from a set-piece in the 24th minute... Spurred on by the crowd, the Terras were attacking more, looking at building towards a goal...

Weymouth had started the second hand [half] the way they finished the first, pressing for another chance at goal...

Notts County were given a free kick in the 60th minute when Ben Morgan had brought down Ruben Rodrigues outside the box. Roberts stepped up to take the set-piece and curled it into the top left corner of the goal, with Fitzsimons rooted to his spot.

The visitors could not keep hold of the lead for long, it taking only 9 minutes for the Terras to find an equaliser. Mussa was dictating the play in the midfield and picked out Andy Robinson just outside the box. The midfielder was urged to shoot by the fans and obliged, with the ball going beyond the gloves of Slocombe, despite an attempted save.

The Terras had their tails up and were searching for another soon after... In the final seconds of the game, Weymouth fell like they should have been awarded a penalty".

In the Daily Echo we read that "Barnet and Eastleigh are still seeking their first win of the Vanarama National League season after drawing 1-1 at The Hive.

Mason Bloomfield broke the deadlock in the 24th minute, giving the hosts the lead when he finished well to round off good work by David Sesay.

Eastleigh came close to an equaliser when Sam Sargeant did well to save from Ben House.

The visitors pressed in the second half and it was no surprise when they made their breakthrough with 10 minutes remaining through House.

The striker picked up the ball on the edge of the home penalty box and beat on-loan Leyton Orient goalkeeper Sargeant with a low shot.

There was no further scoring, meaning both teams are still seeking their first win of the season".

At Stockport County, "It proved an afternoon for them to forget as they slumped to a three-goal defeat against Yeovil Town.

To make matters worse, they had Ash Palmer dismissed early in the second half, following which the visitors scored twice to add to their first-half opener.

County took to the field showing two changes from the starting line-up at Boreham Wood a week earlier, with captain Liam Hogan and Alex Reid returning in place of Will Collar and the injured Jordan Keane. Both new arrivals, namely Kenan Dünnwald-Turan, on a month’s loan from Scunthorpe, and Zeki Fryers – were named among the substitutes...

The first half was at its midway-point before the contest’s first attempt of note was unleashed, and Ben Hinchliffe turned Charlie Wakefield’s shot from the right around the near post.

But just a few minutes later, Wakefield had gone one better, courtesy of a low drive that ricocheted off the left post and into the Cheadle End net to give the ‘Glovers’ the lead, and see County’s defence breached for the first time in five hours...

While Scott Quigley remained frustratingly unavailable due to injury, his Yeovil namesake Joe was making his presence felt up front...

Fryers took his County bow in the back three immediately upon the resumption, and the Hatters proceeded to earn three corners within the first four minutes... But within another four minutes, County had gone two-down and been reduced to 10 men. Palmer was shown a straight red card for his challenge on Tom Knowles in the box, referee Jackson pointed to the spot, and Joe Quigley sent Hinchliffe the wrong way from 12 yards...

With four minutes remaining, Yeovil substitute Adi Yussuf took advantage... and calmly slotted past Hinchliffe for his team’s third."

Unofficial site, The Fishyreports that "Grimsby chalked up another impressive victory at Torquay, coming from behind for the second successive week to chalk up a win against one of the pre-season favourites. Goals from Efete, Cokes and Clifton once again saw Town scoring from across the whole squad...

Towler and Clifton replaced Pearson and Bapaga respectively, with Town playing 4-4-1-1, John McAtee and Ryan Taylor being the two attackers.

Despite a strong start by Town, Torquay took the lead following a foul by Coke from which Little took the set-piece and his shot went in with the help of a slight deflection...

Town levelled midway through the first half with a solitary goal from Efete who was allowed to run into the box and blast past the 'keeper to make it all square... Coke soon went one better when he put Town in front, flicking the ball in from a Hunt free-kick..

The second half turned into a stop-start affair... Town finally found daylight in injury time when Clifton was played through and slotted past Halstead to send the 450+ away contingent into ecstasy.

Grimsby's impressive start to the season is compounded by the fact that they have faced so many of the fancied sides already, and they face another on Tuesday when Wrexham come to Blundell Park".

The Derbyshire Times confirms that "The Spireites extended their unbeaten start to the season to five matches despite being held to a goalless draw by lowly Dover Athletic.

Chesterfield had the better chances in the game to win it but overall they did not hit their usual high standards and had to settle for a point in Kent on Saturday.

Also, it is important to remember that they did not lose here. They were far from their best but still managed to get something from the game. Last season’s play-off finalists Torquay United and well-fancied title contenders Stockport County have both won one of their first five, while Chesterfield are yet to lose and have only conceded in one game. It’s not all bad.

The performance against Bromley was Chesterfield’s best of the season and this one was their worst... Dover were the better side in the first-half but they failed to create a clear-cut chance.

The hosts were aggressive, athletic, dynamic and quick but for all their efforts they were restricted to shots from distance and corners. You wondered whether the part-timers might run out of steam but to their credit they never did...

Town lacked control in the midfield area and they did not string many passes together. Too many players were below-par apart from the excellent Gavin Gunning...

The most disappointing part of the afternoon was that Dover worked harder than Chesterfield in the first 45 minutes...

Boss James Rowe said 'We need to learn our lesson that we need to respect the opponent from the start'">

From the other side, Kent Online states that "Dover made the first dent into their 12-point deduction after holding big-spending Chesterfield at Crabble..

Dover started brightly and went close after 10 minutes... The visitors created little in the opening half-hour...

Whites introduced Ricky Miller late on in a bid to find a winner".

HEAVY DEFEAT FOR RESERVES

Alty now lie fifteenth in the eighteen-strong Chehsire League. They have won just one of their eight games so far in the league.

WEALDSTONE 1-0 ALTRINCHAM

With the game still goalless, thirteen minutes of added time were announced. Eight minutes into added time Brad Jackson was red carded for a foul to worsen Alty's afternoon. Moments later the referee gave a penalty for hands against Kosylo. Elito converted the penalty to hand victory to the hosts (101 mins).

Match report here.

WEALDSTONE'S FRENZY

A stoppage time penalty from Medy Elito sent Stones’ fans into a frenzy as they grabbed all three points in a thrilling finale.

The opening exchanges were balanced between the Stones and Robins...

The pick of the Robins’ chances came in the 23rd minute when they caught out the Stones’ defence with a quick free kick, but Marcus Dinanga could only direct his shot into the side netting.

As the first half progressed, Wealdstone began to galvanise further goal scoring opportunities...

Altrincham return[ed] from the interval brightly as Dinanga skipped past Cook to go through on goal, but Wickens was quick off of his line to thwart the forward’s effort.

In the 57th minute, Connor Kirby suffered a serious leg injury which required significant medical assistance on the pitch...

Despite late chances for both teams in regulation time, the match looked to be heading towards a goalless draw before the 4th official signalled that there would be 13 additional minutes...

Then in the 99th minute the visitors were reduced to 10-men. Stones broke from an Altrincham corner with some good work from debutant Jackson to play in Fasanmade, however he was scythed down by Altrincham's Bradley Jackson, giving the referee an easy decision to make.

However, four minutes later, Wealdstone duly snatched all three points at the death as Elito stepped up after being foul[ed] to coolly slot home from the penalty spot for his first goal for the Stones".

NEXT OPPONENTS: KING'S LYNN TOWN

Lynn were irresistible at times in the opening half, full of quality, inventiveness and swagger,

But within two minutes of the restart they were behind and a second goal, two minutes from time ended the Linnets’ hopes - although Junior Morias’s injury-time goal made for a frantic final few minutes.

It was harsh on Lynn, who again pushed one of the National League’s top sides to the brink without being able to push them over.

It took Dagenham half an hour to emerge from their shell, although initially only for a quick look...

The problem with being in the ascendancy is you can go to sleep, and Lynn did that within a couple of minutes of the restart, when half-time sub Myles Weston crossed from the left, George Saunders nodded the ball back across the area and Josh Walker tapped it home...

The tables had been turned in a big way and Lynn were in need of the battling spirit of a week earlier when they came from behind to draw at Eastleigh...

Dagenham then completed the job two minutes from the end of normal time when they ripped open Lynn’s right flank open and Weston made it 2-0.

Morias’s efforts were rewarded when he fired home in time added on, but it was too little, too late.

King’s Lynn Town: Jones, Barrows, Fernandez, Bowry (Sundire 80), Bird, Denton, Coleman, McGavin (Clunan 74), Rowley, Walker (Linton 67), Morias. Subs not used: Callan-McFadden, Jones. ".

ALTY OLD BOYS

Alistair Smith was a starter for Sutton United as their win lifted them off the bottom of League Two.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Ruben Rodrigues appeared to be hauled down in the box with the score at 1-1 in the final minutes but referee Scott Simpson turned down the appeals...

Notts had been pegged back by Andy Robinson's equaliser after Callum Roberts had opened the scoring with a terrific free-kick.

Burchnall... said... 'It's looks a very clear penalty. Ruben has gone past the man so he has no reason to go down...

'We created lots of chances and on the balance of the play we've done more than enough to win the game. But it's disappointing we haven't scored more.'"

Another unhappy manager is the subject of a report in the Southend Echo as Southend United manager Phil Brown was left questioning the character of his side following a 3-1 defeat at Halifax Town.

The Shrimpers have now failed to win in their last four outings. And Brown feels his players are lacking in fighting spirit.

'For six games at the end of last season people were laying gloves on us but we stood up to it,' said Brown. 'We haven’t got that strength of character that stands up to that glove being put on us. They’re letting down the support, they’re letting down themselves, their families, me and the chairman, everyone connected with the club.

'It cannot go on and it has to stop now...

'The way to stop it is change of personnel and by bringing in horrible players who can do the things I’m asking them to do,' said the Blues' boss. 'This is nothing to do with systems or fancy football. It’s about character and having heart...

'I don’t like saying it about individuals and I won’t say who to you guys but there are one or two in there that I need to get rid of,' said Brown. 'I’ve said it to them too... We came here with a game plan and within five minutes it should have been 1-0 to us,' said Brown.

'The striker we brought in missed a chance at the back post.

“If we go a goal up it might be a different game... I went to over to one of the biggest fans in the stand and I said to him I was embarrassed,' said Brown."

Meanwhile at Wrexham "Jordan Davies’s first half goal gave Wrexham their first home league win of the campaign in front of the highest crowd in the National League this season.

Parkinson’s side got themselves ahead five minutes before the break as Jordan Davies’s cushioned header nestled into the bottom corner after some great hold up play and vision by Paul Mullin.

Despite being a goal to the good Wrexham had to finish the game strong as Dave Jones received his marching orders for a second bookable offence in a matter of moments 15 minutes from time...

Mullin posed problems all afternoon for the Woking defence...

Today’s victory sees us go 8th in the league".

SATURDAY RESULTS

• Aldershot Town 1-2 Solihull Moors
• Barnet 1-1 Eastleigh
• Bromley 2-3 Boreham Wood
• Dover Athletic 0-0 Chesterfield
• FC Halifax Town 3-1 Southend United
• King's Lynn Town 1-2 Dagenham & Redbridge (k.o. 5.20pm)
• Stockport County 0-3 Yeovil Town
• Torquay United 1-3 Grimsby Town
• Wealdstone 1-0 Altrincham
• Weymouth 1-1 Notts County
• Wrexham 1-0 Woking

BEFORE THE GAME: WEALDSTONE v ALTRINCHAM

As usual Radio Robins will be covering the match.

Unless injuries dictate, it would be surprising if the side is changed much, if at all, after its 3-2 win over Dover Athletic last time out. The squad for that match comprised:

1. Tony THOMPSON, 16. Bradley JACKSON, 25. Toby MULLARKEY, 5. Tom HANNIGAN, 24. Joel SENIOR, 6. Jake MOULT (c), 14. Connor KIRBY, 7. Dan MOONEY, 11. Ryan COLCLOUGH, 15. Matty KOSYLO, 9. Marcus DINANGA. Subs: 17. Ben PRINGLE, 23. Tom PEERS, 27. A-Jay LEITCH-SMITH, 29. Joe BUNNEY, 28. Dean FURMAN.

With the news of Ritchie Sutton's move to Alfreton Town on loan, Alty continue to have cover for current centre-back incumbents, Tom Hannigan and Toby Mullarkey, in the shape of Jake Moult and new signing Joe Bunney as well as the currently injured Kennedy Digie.

ALTY CENTRE-HALVES ON LOAN

Right: Ritchie Sutton captained Alty in their opening pre-season game at West Didsbury & Chorlton.

With Ritchie short of game time, after just one Alty appearance as substitute this season, and Alfreton needing someone of his experience and know-how to steady the ship after a difficult start to the campaign, Reds boss Heath will be hoping the 35-year old's organisational skills and defensive resilience will have the desired effect on a squad that includes former Alty midfielder Conor Branson, who can also play at the back...

In other news, promising young Alty defender Will Hall has made such a favourable impression at Ramsbottom that his loan spell at the promotion-chasing Northern Premier League Division One West side has been extended for a further month".

Footnote: 35 year-old Ritchie made 15(+2) appearances last season in the National League, completing the ninety minutes on just eleven occasions. He made one further outing in the FA Cup.

This campaign he has played just sixteen minutes, at Torquay on the opening day of the campaign. With Toby Mullarkey and Tom Hannigan established as the first-choice pairing at the heart of the Alty defence, Ritchie is in need of regular action.

Teenage centre-back Will Hall has yet to appear for the first team, though he was twice named in National League match squads last season.

PRINGLE'S PROWESS

Right: Ben Pringle.

Alty were trailing 2-1... when Parkinson turned to his bench and sent on Pringle and another recent acquisition A-Jay Leitch-Smith.

With Pringle pulling the strings in midfield and Leitch-Smith poaching an equaliser soon after going on, the scene was set for a late bout of Alty pressure that led to an 86th-minute penalty winner by Ryan Colclough.

'I think 1,800 Alty fans had value for money there,’ said Alty boss Parkinson... 'It’s no mean feat to come back from 2-1 down in this league, and I thought we were brave with the substitutions we made and the way we changed the whole face of the team and dynamic of how we play.

'Ben has got bags of quality and should be one of the first names on the team sheet. I think he has had his eyes opened a bit in terms of what is needed off the ball at this level, but, on it, there’s no doubting his ability. He is going to be a big player for us. He did exactly what I wanted him to do, in terms of controlling the play.

'The penalty at the end was a real Ryan Colclough moment and I’ve given him some praise in the changing room. There was so much pressure, and the keeper went the right way, but Ryan nailed it. We expect a lot from him, and it really is all down to how much he wants it, because he can be as good as he wants to be. He’s got so much going for him.'”

ALTY OLD BOYS

As reported here yesterday, former Alty winger Yusifu Ceesay has joined Alfreton Town.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Burchnall said he understood why the squad was inflated with loan signings when he was appointed given the hectic schedule the Magpies endured last season.

Notts are yet to utilise the loan market to bolster the squad and that will only happen if there are injuries or the team suffers a drop in form. And Burchnall says...'Everybody feels like the competition's there, and the squad is fairly well balanced. I think when I came in last season, there were 27 players. We had five or six loan players and it was a big squad...

'It was also quite difficult to manage when so many players are not involved and then it can be counterproductive. Having a slightly smaller squad has everybody feeling hungry and feeling involved creates a better atmosphere.'"

Having a tight-knit group has certainly reaped dividends on the pitch for Notts who remain unbeaten in their opening four games".

Meanwhile the Grimsby Telegraph reports that "Grimsby Town facing unique selection problem ahead of Torquay United clash....

Paul Hurst could have to deal with the most unique of problems on Saturday, with two of his players doubts for Torquay, but not through injury.

Shaun Pearson and Ryan Taylor could both potentially miss the Mariners' long trip to Devon this weekend, although both are unlikely to know whether they can play until the last minute. Both the defender and the striker are expecting the births of their children very soon, with both of their partners overdue...

Hurst told BBC Radio Humberside... 'With all the preparation you do and all the planning, it could all be thrown out of the window!'

Thankfully, Hurst has been able to add another defender to his squad this week, with Ryley Towler arriving just in time from Bristol City, and he may well get called upon straightaway. A slightly bigger headache might arise though if he’s left without Taylor, who scored his first goal for the club against Barnet last weekend.

With Lenell John-Lewis out injured, and of course attempts to bring Omar Bogle back not working out, Hurst may need another plan up his sleeve this weekend".

And, regarding Grimsby's opponents, Devon Live informs us that "With expectations tempered by two defeats in the first four games, Torquay fans at last saw 'Gary Johnson's game' in their 4-3 win at Maidenhead United on Saturday; that quick passing and fluid game that he loves his sides to play but there were hearts-in-mouths for the last quarter after the home side fought back to 4-3.

However, a win is a win and it will have done the squad the world of good ahead of the game against Grimsby...

'We have had a good look at them and they are a good football team,' said Johnson... 'From what I hear I don't think he [Hurst] quite knows his best team so he is still learning about that particular team that he has brought in. It is always difficult when you have got relegated to know who to keep, who to move out, who to move in but they have been a League side now for a little while and we have got to treat them with respect'...

Grimsby were beaten 2-1 at Chesterfield on the first day of the season but have since picked up seven points from a draw at Stockport County and home wins against Weymouth and Barnet for fifth place...

Johnson believes the Maidenhead win could be a catalyst for change...

Right-sided midfielder Chiori Johnson will come back into the reckoning following his one-match suspension... and there are no obvious injury concerns, apart from Jake Andrews's absence for all of the season so far. Johnson is unlikely to make any changes, though, with Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Armani Little both having their best games of the season on the right and left wings.

At Grimsby, Hurst does have a few injury concerns, and this week did something Johnson is yet to do; dip his toe in the loan market. Ryley Towler joined on loan from Bristol Rovers on Wednesday and with David Longe-King set to be out for at least three weeks, the 19 year-old could make his debut in the Mariners' defence.

Hurst said... 'He can play left-back as well, and he started his football as a midfielder and worked his way back, so you can see he’s comfortable on the ball'".

Aldershot Town "continue their season... against Solihull Moors this Saturday...

First-Team Manager Danny Searle had to say [the following]...

'We’ve had what I would say probably three and a half performances that justify more than what we’ve got. The message has been this week those have to be turned into points... The confidence is there within the group because there’s a belief that we are better than what our points total shows us, but until you actually stick them on the board, you’re always going to have an element of doubt...

'It’s not about me. It’s about the boys as we’ve got a young squad... I don’t think anyone can work any harder than they are... We’ve started to score goals now, we’re creative, we created just as many chances as Notts County did and although they had a lot more of the ball on Saturday, I’d say we created the better chances...

'Now they need to put points at the end of it...

'We have to back our young players because I would rather give a young Aldershot home-grown player the opportunity to go and prove himself and earn a career. Go and get a loan player from somewhere that’s going to be a squad player, I don’t see the point. I’d rather bring in a loan player that when they come in, they go straight into the team...

'We’ve only got a small squad to a certain degree but within reason, we nearly have a full quota to pick from... At this moment, I see enough in the players we’ve got to do well and win games...

'We’re trying to shift the mindset from looking at it as tough opposition but more what an exciting challenge and let’s upset a few people.. In most of those games, we are going to be the underdogs, but what we’ve proven in the past is when you put us in that position, we can come out fighting and the bottom line for our lads is that fight has got to result in some points'".

TWO ALTY FACES JOIN ALFRETON

Alfreton Town firstly announced "the signing of vastly experienced defender Ritchie Sutton on a 1 month loan from National League side Altrincham FC subject to FA approval.

The 35 year-old defender has garnered a wealth of experience during his career. He began at Crewe but did not make an appearance for them before being loaned out to Leek Town and Stafford Rangers. After further spells in non league with Northwich Victoria and Halifax Town he moved into the Football League with Port Vale. He then went on to enjoy success with Mansfield Town... and helping Tranmere Rovers triumph in the National League play off final over Boreham Wood in 2018.

More recently he joined the Robins after a stint at Morecambe FC. He has made 1 substitute appearance for Altrincham this season and goes straight into the squad for the visit of AFC Telford United to the Impact Arena tomorrow as Billy Heath hopes he can bring some defensive solidity to the Reds backline."

And then Alfreton Town added confirmation of "the permanent signing of 26 year-old ex-Altrincham midfielder Yusifu Ceesay (left) subject to FA approval.

The Spanish born midfielder who can also be used as a pacey winger joins the Reds after being released by the Robins at the conclusion of the 2020/21 season...

Across his three spells at Moss Lane he scored 6 goals in 56 appearances including a brace as Altrincham romped to a 7-0 victory at the Impact Arena on a day to forget for the Reds in April 2019".

WE'VE MET BEFORE: WEALDSTONE

Both clubs regained their top-flight status in non-League in 2020; in Wealdstone's case it was for the first time in 32 years but, having guided them to promotion, in February 2021 the club surprisingly sacked manager Dean Brennan, with his former assistant Stuart Maynard taking over to lead them to a 19th placed finish.

Before their 2020 return to the top-flight, Wealdstone had enjoyed two spells at that level. Like Altrincham, they were founder members of the Football Alliance in 1979 but, after just two seasons, they were relegated in 1981, only to regain their status a year later in 1982.

This second spell in the Conference lasted for six years and in the 1984-85 they won the then-named Gola League, albeit with the fewest wins and most defeats of any champions up to that date. So, like Altrincham they are a club who have won the top level of non-League but have been denied promotion to the Football League.

Previous Altrincham league matches against Wealdstone have resulted as follows:

• At Altrincham: P9 W6 D0 L3 F11 A6
• Away: P9 W3 D3 L3 F12 A10
• All: P18 W9 D3 L3 F23 A16

AN ALTY LOANEE AT TRAFFORD

Sean has played in each of Trafford's last three games, which have yielded seven points and Danny Caldecott's side is currently unbeaten and sits in a play-off position having taken 12 points from its opening six league encounters.

On Tuesday night, The North took on league leaders, Workington, and the 18 year-old full-back was up against the highly-rated winger Rowan Roache, who was at Alty last season and has been a big part in the Cumbrians achieving a 100% record". Trafford drew 2-2 in front of 489 spectators.

Brian Flynn's audio interview with Sean is to be found through the above link.

As well as Higgins, former Alty players Astley Mulholland and Darius Palma were in the starting eleven at Shawe View for Trafford.

AWAY TRAVEL

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Linnets have brought in attacking midfielder Zain Walker on a month's youth loan from League Two Bristol Rovers. The 19 year-old midfielder has made 11 league appearances (four starts) for Rovers...

Born in Wandsworth, Walker started his career with Fulham, joining Rovers' Academy at the age of 16. 'I think this lad we've got in is a real player and he arrives here very highly-rated,' said Back. 'There's no loan fee involved, that's been covered, so it's not costing the club a penny which is great.'

Walker... is an attacking player who likes to take defenders on, typically on the left-wing coming in on his right foot, but can play either side or centrally.

Lynn are still hoping to add another striker to their squad with Swiss frontman Gold Omotayo out with ankle ligament damage and likely to be sidelined for several weeks...

'I know we've got Junior (Morias) back but now we've lost Gold,' admitted Back. 'We'd love to bring another striker in but it all comes down to money and we can't keep expecting the chairman to splash out. We might have Cameron King back in a couple of weeks too, so if that's the case it will be like signing another player'...

Back said 'It would be fantastic to see a big crowd on Saturday with it being the first live TV game in front of fans since we played Oldham 15 years ago'".

The Leader Live reports on "the build up to Saturday's fixture against Woking... This week, the Wrexrent stand throws open its turnstiles to welcome fans back into its newly-refurbished arms...

Last Saturday's performance showed a grit and determination that I think we all, as fans, like to see in our teams...

As this team starts to really gel, I think we are very quickly going to become everybody's least favourite opposition in the league. The 10 new signings we made this off-season required a great deal of work behind the scenes...

The addition of Kevin Mulholland as Head Physio spoke of the desire to give the club the best possible support in the medical department and plans are now being laid to improve other areas of the off-field operations. Supporters can look forward to a number of further appointments as the club looks to improve or supplement its recruitment, analysis and sports science departments".

The Huddersfield Examiner reports that Sheffield United "have returned to the National League to sign 19 year-old defender Joe Starbuck

The 19-year-old has joined from Grimsby Town and will go straight into Paul Heckingbottom's under-23 squad. The Mariners' youth team captain progressed through the academy system at Blundell Park and signed his first professional contract last year.

He made his Town debut in the Football League Trophy in September 2019, before going on to make a total of nine appearances in all competitions...

Starbuck is not the only talented youngster to be signed by the Blades from the National League. Two years ago Ndiaye, also 19 at the time, arrived after catching the eye at Boreham Wood and went straight into the academy set-up, before making his first team debut last season.

The division has grown in standard in recent years and is now regarded as being as good as League Two".

Chesterfield "joined 23 other teams at a prestigious launch in London calling for a new direction for our national game.

Chesterfield are one of the founding members of Fair Game, a group of value-driven clubs, supported by 40 world-renowned experts and backed by politicians of all colours.

The government is currently developing policies on how to change the national game as part of Tracey Crouch’s football governance review. Fair Game aim is to help develop the long-term realistic solutions needed.

The details of that vision are outlined in Fair Game’s 48-page manifesto... It details solutions to various problems within football, including the owners' and directors' test, financial sustainability, protecting the heritage of clubs, a fairer distribution of TV revenues, opposing the European Super League, and tackling discrimination...

Spireites' chairman Mike Goodwin said 'We fully support Fair Game’s values as sustainability, integrity and community are at the heart of what we are about as a football club owned by a Community Trust'".

Southend remind us that manager "Phil Brown heads back to his former club this weekend. Brown spent three years as a player with Halifax Town from 1985 to 1988...

'I’m going back to where it all started,' said Brown. 'Everybody thinks Hartlepool is the place it all started; yes it’s where I made my debut and played 200 odd games, but my first move south, as it were, was to Halifax Town so I’ve got really fond memories of the place. They say once a Shayman, always a Shayman, and that is true...

'The ex-players' association have invited me to the boardroom after the game so it’s nice to know that I’m still regarded in those circumstances, but bottom line is I’m going there simply with one thing in my mind which is to win the game. If we win the game it could kickstart our season'...

Brown added [of Halifax] 'They’ve got a decent squad, the coach is a very innovative coach, he changes system on a regular basis. He’ll throw a back three, a back five or a back four at you and change during the course of a game so we’ve got to be ready for it and prepared...

'We’ve won one of the four [games played]. Is that a good return? Well, I’ve got to say it, I thought we deserved to win against Stockport and I thought we deserved more against Wrexham'...

Brown will have to take a late check on Nathan Ralph for this weekend, who came off having suffered a concussion last time out".

A report from Kent Online tells us that"Nicky Southall says Dover Athletic need 16 or 17 wins to survive in the National League

Assistant manager Nicky Southall saw enough from Dover’s players during their defeat at Altrincham to prove they are up for their survival challenge... They have lost their first three National League fixtures after losing 3-2 on Saturday.

But Southall said... 'You are looking at the league table and we are 13 points from survival with the bottom three going down. We have a figure in our mind of how many games we need to win, probably 16 games over a 44-game season, with a few draws, or an extra win in there, to stay up. We are not really looking at the points table, we are just looking for 16 or 17 wins. If we can get that, I think we will be okay.'

Whites were well in the game against Altrincham despite, ultimately, losing once again.. Whites were without defenders Will Moses (knee), Jake Goodman (concussion) and player-coach Reda Johnson (calf).

Southall admitted 'We are down to the bare bones. We knew it would be like this. We are under no illusions that it is going to be tough this season. But looking at the way the boys played on Saturday, it looks like they are right up for this challenge'.. Southall, 49, says he is hoping to see more of the same from AFC Wimbledon loanee Aaron Cosgrave... 'He is only young and has just come out of non-league from Lewes (where he played last season). There is more to come from him. He reminds me of a young Stefan Payne. Me and the gaffer had Stefan at Gillingham, and he went to Dover and did really well. Aaron is very similar to him in terms of physique, power and pace'...

'There are some real green shoots coming from our players. If we can just get that first win or first point on the board, I think you might see the team develop and blossom even more'" concluded Southall.

NEW STRIKER FOR ALTY'S OPPONENTS: WEALDSTONE

The striker had his first taste of league football with the Mariners last season, scoring three times in 15 games. The forward will wear the number 16 shirt for the Stones this term.

Prior to his league debut the striker spent a lot of time in the Kent non-league football scene, playing in the National League for Dover Athletic aged 19 back in 2016.

He has also played for Faversham Town, Ashford United, Ramsgate, Canterbury City, Lordswood, Whitstable Town, Worthing, Margate, Leatherhead, Sittingbourne and Folkestone Invicta, where his 24 goals in 36 games in the 2019/20 Isthmian Premier League season earned him his big EFL move.

Ira Jackson will go straight into Stuart Maynard's squad to face Altrincham this weekend subject to FA and National League approval.

The addition of Jackson will provide more competition up front, especially with Danny Parish joining Billericay Town on loan recently".

THROUGH THE YEARS

Prior to that the previous game on 11 September was away at Southport in the Conference North in 2004 when Alty suffered a 2-1 defeat. But Altrincham had arrived with the best defence in the division and had been beaten only once that campaign, which was to end in promotion.

Above: Action at Southport before the worst of the weather.

Altrincham saved their best play for after the interval after going two goals adrift inside 24 minutes. Employing Stephen Rose on the left of midfield, they fell behind to a well-taken Fearns goal after the referee had allowed play to continue where others might have penalised the combative Lynch for foot-up against Hussin as he won possession (16 mins).

A close-range bullet header from the unmarked Fearns doubled the lead as Alty failed to deal with a cross from the right (24 mins). As the wet and windy conditions descended into monsoon-like periods of torrential rain Alty had the better of the second half and deservedly got a goal back when Kilbane glanced a cross from the right by Potts into the top corner of his own net (72 mins).

The nearest Alty came to an equaliser was when Maddox's shot from a Band knock-down was blocked by he keeper, two minutes into added time. But the real heroes today were those Altrincham supporters who were forced to stand in the wind-swept heavy rain to cheer their team on, which they did impressively.

ALTRINCHAM: 1. Stuart COBURN, 2. Stephen ASPINALL, 3. Chris ADAMS, 4. Mark MADDOX, 5. Gary TALBOT, 6. Peter BAND (capt.), 7. Colin POTTS, 8. Eddie HUSSIN, 9. Niell HARDY, 10. Colin LITTLE, 11. Stephen ROSE. Subs: 12. Peter WRIGHT, 14. Marcus HALLOWS, 15. Kieran LUGSDEN, 16. Ged KIELTY, 17. Stuart WRIGHT.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The national planning inspector approved a modification suggesting it is reasonable to build fewer than 100 homes on the Kingfield site, rather than the proposed 1,048 flats put forward by developer Goldev. An action group which fought the plans, called South Woking Action Group (SWAG), have welcomed the recommended cut.

Wayne Gold, director of the developer Goldev Woking Limited, said he will submit a comment on the allocation this week... The inspector has been reviewing a Woking Borough Council document that allocates land in the borough for a range of uses, from houses to retail and employment.

In the original version, Woking Football Club was the only site allocated for housing for which the borough council gave no indication of numbers... South Woking Action Group (SWAG) are hoping this amendment will thwart a planning application for 1,048 flats, which was refused permission but is being appealed".

The Grimsby Telegraph reports that "Grimsby Town fans are daring to dream of a return for Omar Bogle once again amid reports he could be heading to the National League.

The former Mariner finds himself out of favour at Doncaster Rovers, having rejected the chance to move to League Two during the summer transfer window. Bradford City were understood to have targeted the forward.. And with Doncaster adding free agent Joe Dodoo to their ranks over the weekend, Bogle finds himself falling further down the pecking order at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Reports are now suggesting that the striker will be offered on loan to a non-league club, and plenty of Town fans are hoping it will be the Mariners...

Doncaster boss Wellens told the Doncaster Free Press 'I just don’t get why players, when you tell them they’re free to move on, and they want to stay at the club. I’ve been in that position at this club. Darren Ferguson pulled me into his office and said you’re 36-37 now and we don’t want you.

'I couldn’t wait to get out of the door. It wasn’t a slight on the club, I just wanted to play. I understand the big boys at Premier League clubs who are on £100,000 a week and no one else is going to give them that. I get that'...

Wellens added 'He’s been at this club for quite a period of time and the goal return hasn’t been great. I’ve watched him over three or four games now. He’s not had any chances, the runs that we want him to make aren’t there. He’ll just come in and train and we’ll see how it goes'".

Menahwile the Grimsby Telegraph confirms "the signing of Bristol City midfielder Ryley Towler on loan...

The Mariners are of course able to continue signing players, with the National League not restricted by a transfer window, and Paul Hurst has made the most of it with his 15th signing of the summer.

Towler joins Town on a loan deal until January... A left-footed midfielder who can also provide cover at left-back or centre-back... The 19 year-old has previously spent time out on loan with Frome Town and Taunton Town",

Southend's Echo News reveals that "Southend United manager Phil Brown insists he has been given the green light to add to his Shrimpers squad if required.

The Blues' boss has made 10 signings already this season. But Brown has now been told by chairman Ron Martin that 'If someone comes out the woodwork who we want then, by all means, he will support me. It was music to my ears and I think that’s come from a direct result of what he’s witnessed so far. We’re not top of the league or anything that like but he’s seen a turn in mentality, certainly where the supporters are concerned because they’ve been unbelievable so far...

'But I’ll wait for the moment and hopefully there will be someone out there who can improve us.'”

King’s Lynn Town "have completed the loan signing of Bristol Rovers Zain Walker who is joining us for a month.

Zain is an attacking player who likes to take defenders on, typically on the left-wing coming in on his right foot, but can play either side or centrally.

Zain made his Bristol Rovers first-team debut at just 16... in 2018".

In the Leader Live, we read that "Phil Parkinson would like more points on the board but the Wrexham boss is not unhappy with his side's unbeaten start to the season.

Three of the first four games have been away from home... Wrexham return to The Racecourse on Saturday with Woking the visitors...

'The three away games have been tough ones and we have come through them all unbeaten,' said Parkinson... 'It is not a bad start'...

Wrexham have been behind in three matches but managed to get a result each time...

Parkinson was delighted with the character and battling qualities shown by his side at Southend. 'After going two-nil down you have got to be pleased with a point,' said Parkinson".

NEXT OPPONENTS: WEALDSTONE

The Stones twice led through Josh Umerah and Dennon Lewis but the goals were cancelled out by Daggers Paul McCallum and George Saunders.

'Dagenham away was a really good point for us, but a little disappointing, and the group was disappointed after to come away without all three points,' Maynard said.

'It’s not so much that we deserved three points, it was that we led twice, and quite late on so that makes you disappointed even though a point overall was a fair result as it was an even game. It was also a good advert for the National League as it was a very high standard game.

Dagenham manager Daryl McMahon was full of praise for the way the Stones play football and Maynard reiterated... 'We’ve got our philosophy, we’ll stick with it and keep working on it, it’s a process and ours will take longer than other clubs because of the contact time that we have with them...

'We’re happy with where we’re sitting at the minute'... The boss also feels although they’ve only managed two points from the opening four fixtures... 'I believe we probably deserve more from the defeats than we actually got...

'Chesterfield away.... we controlled that game for large periods, without really creating too many opportunities. The performance levels in all of the games have been really high'".

YOUTHS KICK-OFF WITH A WIN

"The team started the game well with a lot of possession and Ryan Morton looking very dangerous on the ball.

With Chester growing into the game and getting into some dangerous positions Alty scored on the counter through Angus Bailey.

Alty led 1-0 at the break.

The seconnd half started with Chester enjoying a lot of possession and they were a threat in the final third. Alty... withstood the pressure from the opponents.

With legs beginning to tire, changes were made with Tom Jones and Ben Lawson replacing goalscorer, Angus Bailey and Louis Morrison. With the fresh legs coming on to the pitch on a warm sunny day, it gave the team more energy...

McGeady came on for Jayden Matthews and Aiden Kelly for Ryan Morton pushing Lucas Aldcroft further up the pitch and finally Dylan Giblin replaced Danny Watson after a dangerous knock to the head...

Chester equalised when a long throw was flicked on the home side converted the second ball and this sapped the energy from the young Robins in the Sunday afternoon heat.

To their credit they dug-in and started getting better in possession with Louis Morrison coming back on replacing Aldcroft for the last five mins Alty started to look more dangerous with Ben Lawson, Joel Trevor and Harlan Rogers-Morris getting into good positions... Altrincham won a corner with a great ball in from Harlan Rogers-Morris and Louis Morrison popped up with winner, just minutes after being reintroduced to the game!...

Eight of the squad are involved with the Academy and six of the squad have came through from the Juniors including 15 year-old Lucas Aldcroft.

SQUAD:- 1 Ryan Forde, 2 Ewan McGeady, 3 Aiden Kelly, 4 Danny Watson, 5 Louis Morrison, 6 Ben Lawson, 7 Lucas Aldcroft, 8 Harlan Rogers-Morris, 9 Angus Bailey, 10 Michael Vale, 11 Tom Jones. Subs: 12 Ryan Morton, 13 Joel Trevor, 14 Jayden Matthews, 15 Liam Evans, 16 Dylan Giblin".

REVIEWING THE FIRST MATCH

He told the Altrincham FC website that it was "absolutely fantastic to see so many of you back at The J. Davidson Stadium... There were so many positives from the day, so much that was good; a stunning debut for the new pitch, an exciting game culminating with an Alty win and a bumper crowd of 1,871.

That remarkable attendance was our largest for an opening home fixture since the inaugural Northern Premier League season in 1968, when 3,123 turned up to see us beat Bangor City.

Above: Alty celebrated their second-half equaliser against Dover, with delighted spectators much in evidence.

And a simple subtraction of 1,871 minus 65 in the away end tells us there were over 1800 home fans in the ground, the most for many years, even eclipsing the Stockport game a couple of years ago.

In addition, it’s the first time we’ve won two out of our first three National League games since 2008 and only the second time since 1994, when we finished fourth..

On Saturday morning, we sold our 400th season ticket, far surpassing last year's record of 329. And we sold over 600 e-tickets, which meant that over 1,000 of you had paid for and secured your entry to the ground in advance.

Heartfelt thanks to all who did so, and we hope more will follow suit, if able to, as this is a hugely important trend for the football club and one that will let us handle bigger and bigger crowds in the future...

But there were some important lessons for us to learn, too. Not everything went to plan...

First of all, we are going to make certain we prioritise entry to the ground for season ticket holders and ensure they do not need to queue along with those waiting to pay, and we will have implemented this change in time for the King’s Lynn game.

We were hampered on Saturday by some technical difficulties, and by having fewer turnstile operators than the number of fans would require. I am pleased to say we did manage to have all spectators in the ground by just after five past three, but we recognise we need to do better.

So, from now on, we will have dedicated turnstiles for e-ticket access... We will have more turnstile operators in place... We ask again for your support in moving more towards the online model...

We will be taking steps to increase speed of service in the bar, and we expect to take delivery of card payment terminals this week to be used across all of our outlets from the King’s Lynn game onwards.

We are awaiting delivery of a new toilet block for the away end, delayed by the shortage of materials prevalent across the industry, and this will allow us to install portaloos on the Pop Side/Golf Road, near the Fan Zone, with a longer-term solution being progressed in parallel...

You stood by us through the COVID suspension, and then through a season with no fans. We are looking to repay you with brilliance on the field, matched by facilities off it that will make you want to keep coming back to The J.Davidson Stadium".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

• Yeovil Town...have added two defenders... Jack Robinson, who can play left-back or centre-back, has joined from Middlesbrough until January. On the opposite flank, Dan Moss has linked up from Millwall until November.
• At Dagenham and Redbridge Former Ipswich Town and West Ham academy product Ryley Scott has signed.. Scott has most recently been playing his football in Portugal with Farense 1910.
• Boreham Wood have signed experienced striker Adrian Clifton, 32, on a free transfer. He was most recently with Dagenham and Redbridge and Bromley...
• At Bromley full-back Haji Mnoga has joined the Ravens on loan from Portsmouth until January...
• Aldershot Town... have brought in striker Wassim Aouachria on loan from Charlton Athletic for an initial three months. The French forward joined the Addicks in 2019...
• King’s Lynn Town have swooped to sign Ipswich Town midfielder Brett McGavin on a season-long loan from Ipswich Town...
• At Barnet Norwich City goalkeeper Aston Oxborough has linked up with the Bees until the end of the season".

According to the Halifax Courier "Town manager Pete Wild wants his side to up the tempo when they host Southend...

Halifax slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Yeovil last weekend, producing a timid display in a poor game...

'We’re really looking forward to it, we’ve reviewed things we need to be better at from the Yeovil game'... Wild said. 'We’re excited about the Southend game, I think it’s our toughest test so far... We need to play with a better tempo, with and without the ball'...

Wild gave little away when asked whether he was tempted to make changes after the Yeovil match... 'I’ve got a lot of personal learnings from last Saturday, on and off the field, and I need to make sure I get it right on Saturday'...

'We’ve had friends at other clubs who’ve played against them [Southend] and told us they’re strong, physical, direct, quick forwards, Dalby and Murphy are a handful,' Wild said... 'What we’re trying to do this year is concentrate on ourselves more, and I’ve got to learn from some of the mistakes I made last Saturday'...

Wild said, 'Southend at home, then you go to Boreham Wood, who are flying, on Tuesday night, then Stockport at home. What a great week for everybody, the players, the fans, the staff... These are the weeks you get involved in footy for'...

'Dom (Tear) is back out running and hopefully will be cleared by the end of the week to be training next week. Jack Senior’s still really sore on his shoulder, he’s still icing that so he’s still got a good couple of weeks.

'One good bit of news is that Matt Stenson is running at full pace now, which is great to see'... Wild says he hopes Stenson could be available for selection by the end of November...

Midfielder Luke Summerfield is expected to feature on Saturday, despite carrying a knock... Striker Gerry McDonagh has made just one substitute appearance since joining Town, but Wild says the club will be patient with him.

'Like we said when we brought him in, Gerry’s a project,' Wild said... 'It’ll probably take six to eight weeks to get him to exactly where we want him to be'...

Wild was sent-off near the end of the Yeovil game, and is anticipating a touchline ban as a result".

The Derbyshire Times reports that "The Spireites travel to rock-bottom Dover Athletic on Saturday and opposition manager Andy Hessenthaler says Chesterfield are ‘a million miles away’ from where the Whites are as a club right now...

The Kent club went part-time in the summer and now only train twice a week. To make matters worse, Dover have a number of players out injured...

Hessenthaler said 'Chesterfield are a million miles away from us as a club. It’s ridiculous this league. It’s not a level playing field any more, financially. We can’t compete with that. It’s totally changed to what it was four years ago.'

Despite three defeats on the spin... They hope to have centre-back Jake Goodman (concussion) back but Will Moses (knee), Marshall Wratten (ankle), Reda Johnson (calf) and Ryan Hanson (knee) remain out.

'When you only train once or twice a week and you are playing against teams who train every day... their fitness levels are going to be better than ours,' Hessenthaler explained.

'The problem we are getting is players are picking up injuries because they aren’t fit enough yet. Because we lacked a pre-season in terms of time on the training ground and that means they are playing catch-up and we aren’t training every day which doesn’t help'...

'That is what we are dealing with but we knew that and unfortunately we have got to deal with it... But if I thought it was a challenge which was pointless then we would be giving up and we are not going to be giving up'".

DOVER MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

As Sean Williams (far left) just about gets into the image, we see Ben Pringle, Brad Jackson and Connor Kirby warming up before the game against Dover whilst, in the foreground, spectator Curtis Miller (red top) exchanges pleasantries with new signings Dean Furman and Joe Bunney.

NEXT HOME GAME

NEXT OPPONENTS: WEALDSTONE

Wealdstone rpeort that they "earned an impressive point on the road against table toppers Dagenham & Redbridge...

An early goal from Josh Umerah was cancelled out before half time by Paul McCallum for the home side, while substitutes Dennon Lewis and George Saunders each scored for their respective sides in the second half to share the spoils.

Manager Stuart Maynard made two changes to the side that secured their first point of the season on Monday against Southend United, with Dan Wishart and Craig Fasanmade starting for the Stones.

The Stones had the perfect start to the match in the 8th minute of play when Umerah latched onto a poor defensive header and coolly slotted home past Elliot Justham to send the visitors into an early lead, and notch his second goal of the season.

Wealdstone enjoyed the lion’s share of possession during the early stages... As the half progressed, the Daggers began to pose more of an attacking threat...

However, ten minutes before the interval, Dagenham duly equalised through McCallum... but the Stones responded excellently with some resolute defending to ensure they went into half time on level terms.

The second half saw the Stones push to seize the initiative from the outset... In the 74th minute, newly introduced Lewis... fired past Justham into the far corner to send the Stones into the lead.

However, six minutes later, the Daggers pegged the visitors back again... The points were shared. Wealdstone return to action next Saturday 11th September, when they entertain Altrincham...

WEALDSTONE: Wickens, Cook, Cawley (Tavares 84), Okimo (c), Eleftheriou, Charles, Dyer, Cooper, Wishart (Lewis 73), Fasanmade (Browne 73), Umerah. Subs not used: Buse, Elito.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Armani Little (two), Asa Hall, and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans were all on target for the Gulls while the Magpies struggled to get a grip on the match beyond the opening 10 minutes at York Road.

They did improve after the interval, in both attack and defence...

'I think the second half papers over the first really,' said Massey. 'It was nowhere near good enough. I think everyone that was involved in the first half needs to have a good long look at themselves because that is nowhere near what we should be doing this season.

'We didn’t start the game too badly but then we folded. To go 4-0 down at half-time is unacceptable... to be losing like that at the break. The boys showed some character in the second half to get back into it but there are a lot of things that need to be worked on'... added Massey...

On his individual performance Massey said 'You always enjoy scoring but maybe not in that situation. My main job is to defend, and to concede four isn’t good enough from me or anyone else. That’s where I need to be looking rather than the goal I’ve scored'."

According to the Derbyshire Times, "James Rowe said the behaviour of one of Bromley’s backroom staff at Saturday’s match was ‘disrespectful.’

The Ravens scored a 96th minute equaliser to make it 2-2 which sparked wild celebrations on the touchline...

'I think they are disrespectful in what they say, they should not be saying the things they do,' Rowe said. 'You have got to stand up to it... You have got to protect yourself and you have got to protect the club when things are said that are wrong and go over your non-negotiables...

'The person who said those things has got to have a long look in the mirror at themselves because we don’t want that in the game... You have got to maintain that respect.'

When asked if he could reveal what was said, he added 'No, I am not going to go into that because I don’t wash my dirty linen in public... I have said my bit as well on it to him so hopefully he will learn from it.'"

We learn from Hampshire Live that "Portsmouth defender Haji Mnoga made his debut in the National League on Saturday afternoon against Chesterfield [for Bromley].

Signed on loan by the fifth-tier side until January on deadline day (August 31), Bromley boss Andy Woodman opted to start the 19-year-old defender who played for 75 minutes of the 2-2 draw against the Spireites... Mnoga, who made ten first-team appearances last season, signed a new three-year deal prior to leaving on loan, highlighting that Pompey are keen on helping him develop... with Mnoga playing last season primarily as a wing-back or a right-back...

Bromley boss Woodman was pleased by the teenager’s first outing and is hopeful of seeing him improve in the future... 'We threw him right in at the deep end and he will only get better. He is a bit disappointed in there, which amazes me, because he is an 18 year-old boy chucked in against a proper player who I tried to put off by having a bit of banter with him.

'But I thought Haji did a real, honest job. I can't ask any more from that... I thought he was excellent'".

According to the Leader Live, "Paul Mullin's injury is not serious and Phil Parkinson is hoping the striker will be available for Saturday's home game against Woking.

Summer signing Mullin, who has scored twice since arriving at The Racecourse from Cambridge United, missed the 2-2 draw with Southend United at the weekend due to a knee problem...

'Paul's fine,' said Parkinson, who saw Mullin's replacement Dior Angus score the equaliser. 'It kind of disrupted us a little bit. We trained Thursday and he had problem with his knee. We sent him for a scan Thursday night and it came back with nothing really on it. He...probably could have played'..

Parkinson was pleased to see Angus mark his first start of the campaign with a goal... 'He hasn't played a lot of football,' added the Reds' boss. 'At the start he was a bit caught in the traps but he got better as the game went on@".

"Brian Stock described Weymouth’s pulsating 4-3 win at Solihull Moors as a 'huge win' for the Terras" reports the Dorset Echo. Stock’s men went 4-1 up after 47 minutes as they took Solihull apart in the transitional phases of the game...

Solihull made a number of tactical changes to change the game... Weymouth eventually held on to secure back-to-back wins.

'It’s a huge win,' Stock told Echosport... 'We had to do a lot of homework on Solihull to try and get our tactics right. The goals we scored was exactly what we worked on in the training field. The lads that have played and haven’t played have all bought into the process'....

Weymouth... immediately imposed themselves on Solihull. 'It was again something we worked on, to exploit their back three,' Stock said. 'We attracted them in and Josh (Leslie-Smith) on the overlap had joy... When you look at all four goals, we’ve been very clinical.

'The gulf between us and Solihull and what they have in terms of resources, they’re a full-time side, fitness does become an issue... It was inevitable they put on some pressure and they threw everything at us. We stood strong and it speaks volumes for this group of players. Last year we would have probably caved in'...

He said 'We worked on counter-attacking. They’re quite a good side in terms of possession but I felt with the pace we have in the team, and players we have in wide areas, that we could hurt them... I felt they’re wide open on transition, so it’s pleasing when things are transferred from the training field into a game@".

ITV tells us that "It was an away day to savour for Torquay United fans at the weekend after watching their team win, and getting free pizza from the manager.

The Gulls survived a second-half comeback to beat Maidenhead 4-3 in the National League and register their first win of the season.

And the result was made even better for the travelling fans when boss Gary Johnson was filmed handing out free pizza.

Footage posted on social media showed the manager getting off the team bus with pizza boxes to give to fans...

'Top bloke all round,' one fan wrote. 'Love this, this is why I’m Torquay,' another posted.

AFTER THE GAME

ALTY DUOS

Altrincham's A-Jay Leitch Smith and Daniel Mooney were both scorers for the club against Dover Athletic on Saturday and they are pictured, (above, left), during the game. A-Jay is in the foreground.

Meanwhile the J. Davidson Stadium got its first glimpses of the club's two latest recruits, Joe Bunney and Dean Furman (above, right), who were unused substitutes in Saturday's match. Dean is the player in the foreground.

RESERVES' CUP WIN

This was a Cheshire Conty FA Amateur Cup 1st Round match.

ALTY MONTHLY DRAW WINNERS

• £500 cash | #1| Ciaran Wiggins
• £75 cash | #183 | Paul Aldridge
• £25 cash | #347 | Roseleen Opie
• Robin Polo Shirt | #429 | Rob Downs
• Replica Alty FC Shirt | #212 | P. McIver
• Alty FC Polo Shirt | #542 | David Lewis

Congratulations to all the winners!

ALTY OLD BOYS

Macclesfield FC have announced "the signing of commanding 27 year-old defender Luis Morrison (right), on an initial two-year contract".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Sam Dalby’s header midway through the first half put Southend in front at the break before Rhys Murphy scored his first competitive goal in Blues colours shortly after the restart to put Southend in the driving seat.

But Wrexham scored almost immediately after Murphy’s strike to reduce the arrears through Jamie Reckord with Dior Angus equalising from close range to ensure the spoils were shared.

'It was a battle and I’ve got to say I love games like that,' said Brown... 'You get two teams who are genuinely going after each other, and to get 2-0 up and to just get a point of the game is a disappointment for us. We always knew they were a threat all the way through the game and I though the key moment in the game was when Nathan Ralph came off. He got a little bit of blindness in the corner of his eye so defending was going to be a bit of a hazard.

'It certainly weakened our defence and it lost the balance in our team'.

The Blues' boss though was more than delighted to see both his front men get on the scoresheet, with Sam Dalby scoring his first goal on home soil while Rhys Murphy opened his Southend account... Brown said... 'If Sam scores one goal a game like the way he did he’ll be a find. It was a fantastic goal. At the end of the day [Dalby and Murphy] are selfish, they’re individuals...

'I think they’re both different in terms of the way they play which is something I like. One’s a big hold-up player that’s got quite a talented left foot; one’s a jack-in-the-box that comes alive in between lines and in the penalty box...

'The way we passed the ball in the first-half was a joy to watch. It was a pleasure watching Jack Bridge exposing them down the left side and all in all it was a good, solid team performance but to come away with a point when we were 2-0 up is disappointing to me. It was a great advert for the league'".

In the Derbyshire Times, "Chesterfield manager James Rowe said they can’t let conceding a late equaliser against Bromley ruin their good start to the season.

Leading 2-1, the Spireites conceded deep into six minutes of added time when Michael Cheek scored his second goal of the game to end the Blues’ 100% start to the campaign.

Cheek gave the Ravens the lead in the first-half against the run of play from the penalty spot but George Carline struck an instant equaliser.

Manny Oyeleke deservedly put the Blues in front with less than 20 minutes remaining before Cheek pinched his second".

According to the Halifax Courier, "Town boss Pete Wild thought neither side did enough to deserve the win in Halifax's 1-0 defeat at Yeovil.

'We probably paid them too much respect first-half, and should have had more of a go. But it should be a 0-0, we should be coming away from here saying "We've both got to be better in-front of goal". Naz (Niall Maher) is clearing the ball and he falls over his leg; how's that a pen?

'These decisions seem to happen week-in, week-out and nothing gets done about it'.

Wild added, 'I think there was no impetus first-half, everybody was worried about where they needed to play, and how they needed to play within the 3-4-3, so we addressed that at half-time, tried to give them a bit more comfort and let them express themselves better... I don't think there was enough chances for either side to deserve to win... We didn't test the keeper enough, we looked tired, and we've got to be better than that'.

Defender Jack Senior... 'will be out for about three weeks with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder, sustained last week,' Wild said.

Tyrell Warren came in for Senior at left wing back for his full debut. 'I thought he did alright. He'll only get better, he's a top player,' said Wild.

The Town boss missed the final whistle having been sent-off late in the match.

'My frustrations boiled over, I shouldn't be getting sent-off and I apologise for that,' he said. 'My yellow, apparently, is for getting the ball back in play, which is ridiculous. And then my red, the fourth official's looked at me, smiled, and given the ball the other way, so I just said "You've done that on purpose". Highly frustrating, but until the issue of refereeing's addressed in this league nothing's ever going to change.

'I possibly got it tactically wrong first-half, I thought they were going to be more of a physical threat than they were,' Wild said. 'We reverted back to a 4-3-3 second-half, tried to go after them, and I thought we dominated the second-half'".

Meanwhile, on an afternoon of teams making comebacks, at King's Lynn Town report that "The Linnets twice came from behind to take a share of the points in a six-goal thriller at Eastleigh.

Ian Culverhouse made two changes to the team that lost against Chesterfield with Joe Rowley and Malachi Linton replacing Michael Clunan and Michael Gyasi who both dropped to the bench.

Lynn got off to the worst possible start, after less than a minute, when Pierce Bird, playing against his old club, received the ball from Paul Jones around 25 yards from goal. Under pressure from Ryan Hill the Lynn centre back lobbed Jones when passing back, the ball ending up in the back of the next.

After eight minutes Lynn were two down. Harry Pritchard picking the ball up from just outside the Lynn penalty area and sen[t] a curling effort past Jones.

Lynn suffered a blow on 21 minutes when Gold Omotayo was forced off with a knee injury which could keep him out for several weeks, the striker being replaced by Michael Clunan with Rowley pushed up in support of Linton.

Lynn did create chances before half time... [and] made a change at half time with Brett McGavin replacing Bird and changing shape to a 4-4-2. The change worked quickly as they pulled a goal back on 49 minutes when Clunan’s low effort took a deflection and found the back of the net

Lynn pulled level on 68 minutes, Rowley’s cross was cleared only finding Coleman who smashed home the lose ball for his second goal of the season...

Eastleigh took the lead again on 78 minutes when Ben House headed home... There was still time for a Lynn equaliser. Munashe Sundire was fouled on the edge of the area with McGavin firing home the free kick in the top left hand corner to the delight of the travelling Lynn fans...

The Linnets unbeaten away form continues picking up a win and draw from their 2 away games ahead of next weekend’s home game against Dagenham & Redbridge. Lynn will be boosted by the return of Junior Morias from suspension but its likely they will be without Omotayo".

SORVEL SAVOURS "GOOD GAME"

Above; A-Jay Leitch-Smith scores Altrincham's second equalizer against Dover.

"We showed good character to come back twice and win it at the end. I was disappointed with how we conceded the goals but we stayed composed and kept playing.

"It's progress, we're in a better position than we were this time last year, six points from three games and six goals already, which is something we struggled with last year".

Dover boss Andy Hessenthaler commented "I'm gutted but we have to keep showing the character we've been showing. There were a lot of positives to take from the game.

"All we can do is dust ourselves down and go again'".

ALTRINCHAM 3-2 DOVER ATHLETIC

The Whites opened the scoring after just seven minutes when Arthur scored from about 15 yards out with a low shot after Dover had advanced up the left. Altrincham levelled when Mooney swept the ball home from the edge of the box after Colclough and Senior had combined on the left (21 mins).

Cosgrave restored Dover's lead with a finely struck rising shot in the 57th minute but substitute A-Jay Leitch -Smith levelled again just six minutes after coming on (71 mins).

Above: Colclough strikes the winning penalty.

In an entertaining second half Ryan Colclough was brought down by Collinge and Colclough got up to convert the winning penalty (86 mins).

Match report here.

DOVER PERSPECTIVE

Dover started bright[ly] and were almost ahead within five minutes... However, moments later Whites were ahead though Arthur who was in the right place at the right time to knock the ball home after Cosgrave did very well to get behind the home defence.

Above: Alty walk back to the centre circle after Dan Mooney's equaliser in the first half against Dover. Despite the goal, Colcough (far left) and Mooney (centre) appear to be in earnest conversation.

Cosgrave almost doubled Dover’s lead shortly after as he picked the ball up in the box, but his shot was blocked well by Brad Jackson...

Altrincham levelled through Mooney... Alty continued to put pressure on the Dover defence...

Alty’s goalkeeper Tony Thompson – who was unbeatable when these two sides played at Crabble last season,then made a great save to keep the scores level as he made himself big to deny Ben Williamson’s header from five yards out.

Altrincham started to control the game during the second half, with chances coming from both Mooney and Matty Kosylo.

However, these missed chances looked to have proved costly when Cosgrave gave Whites the lead just before the hour mark with a brilliant strike from the edge of the area, turning the defender and striking into the top corner, giving Thompson no chance.

Despite going behind, Alty continued to control the game and got their just rewards through second half substitute Leitch-Smith as he connected to a cross into the box to convert past Bexon.

With minutes left, the home side went ahead for the first time in the afternoon through Colclough who scored a penalty after the winger was fouled in the box by Danny Collinge".

RESERVES' CUP WIN

This was a Cheshire County FA Amateur Cup 1st Round match.

ALTY INJURIES CLEARING

But Altrincham FC now reports that Digie and Hampson "have had successful surgery and are ready to start working their way back to full fitness.

A cartilage-related knee injury threatened to cast a shadow over summer signing Kennedy Digie’s debut season at the club, but he is now setting his sights on playing again sometime next month, following an operation that showed the problem was less serious than feared.

And left-back Connor Hampson [right] is also on the mend and targeting a return before long after surgery on a double hernia".

There were also good signs as regards Andy White who was involved in the warm-up on Saturday.

SATURDAY RESULTS

It was a day of comebacks in the National League, mainly from the home teams...

• Altrincham 3-2 Dover Athletic (Dover led 1-2)
• Boreham Wood 0-0 Stockport County
• Chesterfield 2-2 Bromley
• Dagenham & Redbridge 2-2 Wealdstone
• Eastleigh 3-3 King's Lynn Town (Eastleigh led 2-0)
• Grimsby Town 4-3 Barnet (Barnet led 1-3 before a red card for ex-Alty man Josh Doherty, his second in a week, changed the match)
• Maidenhead United 3-4 Torquay United (Torquay led 0-4 at the interval)
• Notts County 3-2 Aldershot Town (Aldershot led 1-2)
• Solihull Moors 3-4 Weymouth (Weymouth led 1-4 at one stage)
• Southend United 2-2 Wrexham (Wrexham trailed 2-0)
• Yeovil Town 1-0 FC Halifax Town

ALTRINCHAM OLD BOYS

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The visitors had looked set to end their wait a first win of the season when goals from Serhat Tasdemir and Mason Bloomfield put them 3-1 up at Blundell Park after John McAtee’s early penalty for Town.

But the game turned on its head shortly after, with Barnet reduced to 10 men when [ex-Alty defender] Josh Doherty was sent off for handball, with McAtee giving his side a lifeline as he scored again from the spot.

Kewell was also shown the red card for his protestations in the aftermath, and things only got worse for his side as Ryan Taylor levelled the scores with the a superb diving header.

Deep into stoppage time, their misery was compounded when Alex Hunt struck a superb free-kick to claim all three points for the Mariners...

'I’m disappointed, absolutely disappointed,' Kewell said. 'I felt we were the better team from the get-go, from the first half to the second half, but when you come up against decisions that are totally ridiculous, it just doesn’t help. The referee helped them today.

'We played all over them in the first half, and the referee was probably upset. He gave a penalty in the first half which for the life of me I just don’t understandand then the second one, Josh has said it hit him in his armpit.

'I can’t fault my players today, they were excellent, it’s just a shame that the ref ruined it.'”

Meanwhile the Southend Echo reports that "Southend United manager Phil Brown has no problems with Shrimpers striker Rhys Murphy showing his frustrations.

Murphy was substituted during Monday’s 0-0 draw at Wealdstone...

'He doesn’t like me at the moment but he’s fine,' said Brown. 'He came off the field of play and I like the fact he wasn’t happy being subbed. He wasn’t his normal self and he had a minimal contribution to the game against Wealdstone when I’m expecting him to grab hold of a game in the final third...

'I think he gets a bit down when people don’t pass the ball to him in the right area or at the right time,' said the Blues' boss...

'But he needs to keep making those runs and hopefully the players can provide the right kind of service.'”

According to the Dorset Echo, "Weymouth survived a late Solihull Moors onslaught to record a well-earned 4-3 win in a dramatic seven-goal Vanarama National League thriller.

Josh Leslie-Smith scored his first Weymouth goal and Brad Ash scored a double in the first half, while Moors replied with Joe Sbarra.

Josh McQuoid made it a richly-deserved 4-1 lead but Sbarra completed a brace and had a late penalty saved, which was tapped home by ex-Terra Andy Dallas.

It set up a maniacal finish but Weymouth did not cave under the weight of pressure to record back-to-back wins.

Weymouth boss Brian Stock named a completely unchanged squad from the one that beat Maidenhead United 3-1 on Bank Holiday Monday...

Weymouth made an impressive start as they dominated proceedings... The Terras took the lead through an unlikely source in the eighth minute. Quick thinking from a throw caught Solihull fast asleep and McQuoid picked out Leslie-Smith who rifled home a composed, sweet finish into the far corner...

Midway through the half, Weymouth’s dreamy[sic] start yielded a second goal as Ash notched his first competitive goal for the club...

With the signs of a Solihull recovery there, the Terras did not take note as Sbarra strolled through one-on-one to beat Fitzsimons...

Weymouth regained their two-goal advantage, Ash darting inside and bending a stunning finish into the top corner for 3-1 at half-time...

Mussa... played in McQuoid who... slammed home into the far corner... but the goal prompted retaliation from the hosts...

Justin Donawa, on just two minutes previous, crossed for Sbarra to tap home his second following a lovely team move...

However, a madcap finish to the game came when Shields was booked for tripping sub Jordan Cranston in the box, conceding a penalty. Sbarra stepped up to seal his hat-trick, only for Fitzsimons to tip his spot-kick onto the bar, Dallas stalking behind to tap home in the 91st minute...

In the end, Weymouth saw out the six minutes of injury-time to take a win that was threatened far more than it should have been".

TODAY: ALTRINCHAM v DOVER ATHLETIC

However, the five-year ups and downs of Alty since the last meeting with The Whites mean that Jake Moult is the only player still at the club who played in the 2016 match.

Then, Altrincham were in the relegation places whilst Dover were seeking to consolidate a play-off position. How different are things today as Dover start the game with minus twwelve points to Altrincham's plus three points from their two previous fixtures this campaign.

The sides last met during last season in a match at Crabble, although that game's record was officially expunged when Dover stoppped playing matches. Clashes between Altrincham and Dover Athletic have produced the following statistics, including that expunged 1-0 win...

• At home: P7-W3-D2-L2-F14-A8
• Away: P8-W3-D2-L3-F14-A11
• All: P15-W5-D4-L5-F28-A19

ALTY'S "FAN ZONE"

Right: The site of the new Fans' Zone as it looked in May 2021, before re-development began.

The Fan Zone was selected as one of the first projects in the 10-year plan for the overhaul of the ground, and people were enthused by it... and we raised funding into five figures to finance the first phase of the project...

We have been joined on the journey by two new "players" in recent weeks. Armstrong Projects, who are construction project specialists... are now driving the onsite works... Grono, a business newly moved to Altrincham and who specialise in creating outdoor living spaces are now coming in as the main sponsors of the Fan Zone...

Gavin Watts, Managing Partner at Define Architects explains, 'After the initial set-back of the pandemic, we have since had to face issues surrounding material supply and labour shortages across the construction industry... and finally have two pods which are in place and will be tiled by the first game of the season against Dover Athletic this weekend for everyone to see.

It is our hope that the rest of the construction will be finished, and the Fan Zone will be fully operational for the Notts County game on the 25th September'...

Paul Rooney from Libero adds... 'We’ve got the Fan Zone up and running and we are in place and ready to pour pints for the new season... We have reached agreement with our first food vendor, who will be installed in the second pod by the time of the Notts County game'.

We will be installing the roof next week and extending it to cover all of the Fan Zone in this next phase of works which will also see the addition of decking, artificial turf and landscaping from our new friends at Grono. And we are planning an external event to launch the Fan Zone before the Notts County game".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Adrian joins the Wood with a wealth of non-league experience, having enjoyed spells with Romford, Waltham Forest, East Thurrock United, Maidenhead United, Havant & Waterlooville, Staines Town, Bromley and most recently Dagenham & Redbridge.

The 32 year-old striker began his youth career with Arsenal before spells at Norwich City and West Ham United. After leaving the latter, he dropped to the non-league to join Isthmian League Division One North side Romford ahead of the 2011/12 season, having impressed in a pre-season trial. After spending a season in East London, he joined Waltham Forest and took the captain’s armband...

East Thurrock United was his next destination... before leaving for the first of two stints with Maidenhead United... before departing for Havant & Waterlooville in the summer of 2015. This was short-lived however, owing to an injury that ruled him out for four months and was subsequently loaned to Staines Town on a one-month loan in February 2016, making four appearances before making the move permanent ahead of the 2016/17 season... and a return to Maidenhead United at the end of the season

After a season at Bromley, he joined Dagenham & Redbridge last season but left Victoria Road at the expiry of his contract".

The Derbyshire Times reports that "Kabongo Tshimanga says it was an ‘easy’ decision to join Chesterfield.

The striker, 24, is enjoying life at the Spireites with three goals in as many games after joining from Boreham Wood...

'I did not think I would settle in so quickly but I am loving my time here so far,' he said... 'It is a club which does not deserve to be at this level. The club is ambitious to get into the EFL and climb up the leagues again so that matched my ambitions as well...

'It was an easy decision for me because the manager registered interest in me quite a while back when he first signed for the club so he sort of kept in touch with my agent and they kept talking,' Tshimanga said....

'I have been working on different aspects of my game like my long-range shots and my heading as well. I am trying to add more to my game to be a more complete striker'".

Also from the Derbyshire Times reported before kick-off on Chesterfield's home game today against Bromley...

'We owe them one from last year when they beat us late on,' Rowe said... 'They have had a difficult game at Dagenham who are in great form from the back end of last year and they have started really well. But they have responded to a bit of adversity with a good win against Eastleigh and a clean sheet so I am sure they are going to come here with confidence'...

Rowe said it would be ‘disrespectful’ to Aldershot, Wealdstone and King’s Lynn Town to comment on whether this will be Chesterfield’s toughest test so far this season but Bromley’s play-off finish last season would suggest it will be.

Woodman’s side have lost 4-2 at Dagenham and Redbridge and beaten Eastleigh 3-0 so far. 'They have recruited new players, they have got a decent budget there and a manager who has started quite well in his tenure,' Rowe added".

In the Nottingham Post we learnt before kick-off that "Notts County boss Ian Burchnall is prepared for the threats posed by a 'hungry' Aldershot Town ahead of their meeting at Meadow Lane...

A 5-0 win over Barnet and 1-1 draws against both Torquay United and Wrexham have put the Magpies into a good early position... Aldershot, meanwhile, are lingering at the other end of the table and are yet to pick up a point having lost to Chesterfield, Boreham Wood and Yeovil Town.

Jamie Waller's side have conceded five goals in their first three matches but, despite Saturday's opponents struggling for form, Burchnall is by no means expecting an easy route to three points.

'I expect Aldershot are a team who have been very disappointed with their start and I'm sure they've been working hard on the training ground to get it right,' the Magpies' boss said... 'I think they will be very hungry to prove themselves and get their season started... They will certainly not be coming here easy to open up and play against. I think we will really have to work hard to put ourselves on the game'

Kyle Wootton has been crucial to the Magpies' form so far, scoring three times in as many matches... BUrchnall said 'Since I've come in he's been brilliant. Not just in how he plays but his general application too. He's a great lad who is hungry to learn and improve, brilliant around the group, that's why he's one of the leaders of the group this year being vice captain...

'Everybody is fit. We had Tyreece Palmer back training a little bit and Lewis Knight was back out on the pitch albeit with the physios'">

On Friday, in Hampshire's Daily Echo, we read that "Ben Strevens’s Eastleigh side are without a point following their two opening National League games of the 2021-22 season, but the boss insists 'I’ll be putting pressure on myself to win this game of football Saturday.'

The Spitfires welcome King’s Lynn Town, who have picked up three points from their opening three games with a 2-1 win at Yeovil Town... But for Strevens’s men, they will have disappointing memories of facing the Norfolk side after two disappointing defeats to the National League newbies...

'It’s just about bouncing back on Saturday now, putting a bit of pressure on ourselves to get three points against King’s Lynn... We just have to do what we’ve been doing. We will be ready for it... We are going to lose games of football this season, anyone who thinks we won’t is crazy'...

Strevens had a handful of senior players missing from selection during the Bank Holiday weekend, including new star centre-back Tom Broadbent and reliable veteran striker Tyrone Barnett.... 'I’m hopeful Tom Broadbent will be back soon, bringing him in was a big part of it. We had two young centre-halves next to (Andrew) Boyce (on Monday) and Broadbent is a bit of experience. Danny Hollands has had to have something done to his knee which kept opening up... So he’s had that sorted. And obviously Ty (Barnett) was missing too'" said Strevens.

According to the Dorset Echo, "Weymouth manager Brian Stock is seeking another high-quality performance from the Terras ahead of their trip to Solihull Moors

On Monday, Stock’s men beat Maidenhead United 3-1 and could arguably have scored more, hitting the post twice and having 11 shots at goal... eymouth are aiming for back-to-back victories – a feat only achieved twice last season.

Stock said, 'That would be nice!... One of the main things to concentrate on from our perspective is back-to-back performances... I’m a believer that if performances are right then results will take care of themselves. I don’t know how to coach to win a game of football ugly, if you could possibly do that.

'In terms of our process and identity on the training ground'...

Weymouth will be up against a Moors side rejuvenated by ex-Notts County boss Neal Ardley, who has made former Weymouth loanee Andy Dallas a key summer signing. Dallas notched 12 times in 25 games for Weymouth while on loan from Cambridge United last season.

Stock said 'He’s a threat and we know what he’s all about, he wants to play on the shoulder. We’ve got to stop the supply to him... It’s a good signing for them. They’ve had to put their hand in their pockets to sign him from Cambridge'...

On opposite number Ardley, he said 'He’s a very experienced manager, a good guy, knows how he wants his team to play... They’re a good side and prepared to pass the ball'...

Weymouth have a minor injury concern over Ben Morgan (Achilles), while Xander McBurnie (tendonitis) and Ben Thomson (Achilles) were in line to return to training.

Stock said 'Everyone’s OK. Ben came off as a precaution with a reoccurrence of his Achilles, but he’s looking to train... Then we’ve got Ben Thomson and Xander both knocking on the door. They’re not too far away but they’ve missed out on quite a lot of minutes over the last few weeks@".

SATURDAY'S MATCH ARRANGEMENTS

"The capacity limitations in place last season have been lifted and so, therefore, we look forward to welcoming you back without restrictions. The snack bars, Community Sports Hall, Manchester Glass Sponsors' Lounge and Fan Zone will all be open for business, and we look forward to enhancing your matchday experience with these facilities.

We are encouraging everyone to buy tickets in advance, and these can be purchased here...

Buying a ticket in advance will accelerate access to the ground and give us a better idea of crowd numbers, allowing for better planning. Tickets will be available on the day, in cash, on the turnstiles, but we would greatly appreciate your purchasing an e-ticket through the link above.

Please do not attend the game if you are showing any symptoms of COVID-19 and please make yourself familiar with our Code of Conduct.

The game will be segregated, with Dover Athletic occupying the Chequers End and accessing the ground through the turnstiles at that end of the ground.

Home fans, whether with e-tickets or paying cash, can access the ground through any other open turnstile, on the Golf Road or to the right of the Main Stand.

If you want to be seated in either the Main Stand or the Family Stand, please enter the ground through the turnstiles to the right of the Main Stand. If you wish to stand in any part of the ground, please enter through the Golf Road turnstiles.

To reiterate, all open turnstiles will accept cash, e-tickets and season tickets. If you only have a card, you have two alternatives; buy an e-ticket on your phone and gain admission that way or visit the new ATM cash machine situated across the road from the ground, outside Premier Stores Hale Convenience Store.

Turnstiles 5 and 6 by the main stand will be open from 1.30pm, and all turnstiles will be in operation by 2pm...

Alcohol will be on sale in the Community Sports Hall and the Libero Bar in the Fan Zone, but... this cannot be consumed on the terraces or in sight of the pitch."

AWAY TRAVEL

ALTY OLD BOYS

ALTY THROUGH THE YEARS

Based on Howard Watts and the late Mike Garnett's Through the Years data we recall a previous match on the same day of the year.

On today's date in 2012, the league fixtures had dealt Altrincham the dubious pleasure of a nearly 170-mile cross-Pennine round trip to Gainsborough on a Tuesday night. And the journey was made difficult by trouble on the three most direct routes, namely a landslip on the Woodhead Pass, an horrendous traffic jam on the M67 and major disruption on the trans-Pennine M62 caused by a crash in Yorkshire.

But having arrived just in time for 7.45pm start time, the match actually kicked off an hour and two minutes late due to a partial floodlight failure at The Northolme!

However, four goals from Damian Reeves before half-time provided great entertainment once the action had started.

Right: As the players waited for the floodlights to be fixed at Gainsborough, Alty's James Lawrie amused his team mates with a new way of wearing his shorts.

Reeves's first goal came after just three minutes from James Lawrie's feed. Then, after Watmore had won a corner, taken by Clee, Lawrie fed Reeves and he scored again 0-2 (23 mins).

After another fine pass from Lawrie, Reeves passed the ball into the net for 3-0 (33 mins). And, a few minutes later, Carl Rodgers's goalbound shot was judged to have been handled just inside the Trinity penalty area. Although Reeves's penalty was saved, he netted the rebound to make it four goals inside 34 minutes (37 mins).

However, Trinity came back strongly in the second half with substitute Stamp heading a back-post goal on the hour and a screamer from Clarke after 74 minutes making it 2-4. Clee hit the post at the other end but Alty were under pressure for much of the half, however they worked hard to retain their lead to the final whistle.

Altrincham had retained the same starting eleven which had beaten Histon 5-0 three days earlier.

ALTRINCHAM: 1. Stuart COBURN, 2. Shaun DENSMORE (capt), 5. Gianluca HAVERN, 6. Danny HALL, 3. Matt DOUGHTY, 7. Duncan WATMORE, 4.Carl RODGERS, 8. Jake MOULT, 11. Nicky CLEE, 9. James LAWRIE, 10. Damian REEVES. Subs: 12. Scott LEATHER, 14. Patrick LACEY, 15. Danny MITCHLEY, 16. Ryan BROOKE, 18. Adam REID (gk)

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

We... are delighted to have got off to a fantastic start to this season with three wins out of three and a 100% defensive record going into the fourth game!

All local support will be most welcome as the crowd against Aldershot was slightly disappointing, but you can count on the dressing room to give it everything they’ve got for the Wood Army against Stockport County! After witnessing solid performances against Weymouth, Aldershot and Dover in our first three fixtures, we are sure our home tie vs. the League title favourites will be no different".

The Grimsby Telegraph informs us that "David Longe-King remains a major doubt for Grimsby Town on Saturday as they prepare to take on Barnet.

The defender pulled up during Tuesday night’s goalless draw at Stockport County, with Mariners boss Paul Hurst revealing after the game he was suffering from a groin problem.

Longe-King is due to undergo a scan to find out the full extent of the injury...

'My first impressions were it was maybe not too bad, but I think it’s an injury he’s had previously and it kept him out for some time, so he’s obviously a concern on that side,' Hurst told Grimsby Live.

'Ultimately, we’ll have to wait for the scan results... but he’s clearly a doubt for the weekend.'

Asked whether there were any other knocks after Tuesday, Hurst added... 'There’s no concerns on that front... I feel like we’ve had enough injuries for the season, so fingers crossed!'

Meanwhile, Joel Grant has suffered a setback in his recovery from injury after being forced to pull out of training... Sean Scannell though remains on track following the injury he picked up at Hyde during pre-season...

'Joel’s felt something today, although I haven’t got a definitive on that, but there was certainly something that has stopped him doing some more work, he only did a bit of the session that was planned for him.'”

In Wrexham's Leader newspaper, we read that "Ben Tozer says there was no way he could turn down the offer of a three-year contract and believes Wrexham paid a fair price for his services.

Tozer has joined Wrexham for an undisclosed fee from Cheltenham Town, with reports suggesting the Reds paid around £200,000 for the centre-back who was captain of the Robins.

Two earlier bids were rejected by the newly promoted League One side.. The 31-year-old says the lure of a lengthy contract was the major factor in making the switch to The Racecourse.

'What's happened has happened,' said Tozer. 'Unfortunately it seems to have gone a little bit sour between the club [Cheltenham] and whoever has made the decisions but at the end of the day, they knew what I wanted. Ultimately, the club never put a contract in front of me at all so, nine months left on my contract compared to three years, it was an absolute no-brainer for my family first and foremost.

'Then when you start looking into the club and see what is going on, it is incredibly exciting... I knew for a week before it was in the press but I managed to keep it under wraps and away from the lads,' said Tozer.

'I played three games [for Cheltenham] knowing the situation. It was nice to finally get it done... I think the offer [transfer fee] is more than fair'...

'Dropping down two leagues is what it is,' said Tozer".

"THAT'S WHERE WE WANT TO BE" SAYS PARKINSON

SATURDAY AT THE J. DAVIDSON STADIUM

But Thursday, September 2nd is a date worth noting, too, after the club decided to throw open the doors of The J.Davidson Stadium and invite everyone in for a close-up of the new playing surface and so much more besides.

From 6pm to 8pm, the ground will be at your disposal... There will be a Pop-Up Store in the Manchester Glass Sponsors’ Lounge, where replica kit, training wear and a wide variety of gifts will all be on sale, along with matchday hospitality and the official Robins Review match programme for Saturday’s visit of Dover Athletic.

On top of that, there will be the opportunity to cast an eye over the refurbishment work that has transformed the Sponsors’ Lounge and to do it with a drink purchased from the lounge bar, which will be open throughout the two-hour slot...

Last but not least, the club’s new major investment - the pitch - will be stretched out in all its lush, green glory, with the piece de resistance being the spectacle of Phil Parkinson’s first-team squad training on it for the first time from 7pm to 8pm.

The evening will end at 8pm, allowing the players to continue being put through their paces behind closed doors for a further hour in preparation for Saturday’s big event... Just turn up at Gate 4, to the right of the main entrance, and make your way in.

And the club adds that "The lifting of Government restrictions has meant that we can return to a more “normal” capacity for The J. Davidson Stadium, having been restricted to 1,200 or fewer for the last three games of last season. With no Premier League fixtures, we are hoping for a bumper crowd to get behind Phil Parkinson's side.

There will be the option to purchase tickets on the day in cash at the turnstiles, but we would encourage you as much as possible to purchase in advance, using our e-ticketing system. This will make it easier for the club to manage access to the ground. You will be able to access the ground through all sets of turnstiles if you have an e-ticket. The same applies to season ticket holders".

"Having issued digital programmes for all but the very last home fixture of 2020/21, the club have returned to printed copies of the matchday programme for this season.

Issue 1, available now, is 44 pages, full colour gloss, packed full of exclusive columns, special features, player insights, fantastic photography and lots of stats, all unavailable elsewhere.

Please note: All programmes ordered online will be dispatched on Friday's before Saturday home games via Royal Mail Large Letter, so may or may not arrive on Saturday given Royal Mail's current service levels.

We have a limited print run to ensure the programme remains financially viable. Any remaining copies will be on sale inside The J.Davidson stadium on Saturday prior to kick-off".

The cover price of each issue is £3, but with postage and packing the two programmes available (for Dover and King's Lynn games) add up to £11.74!

ALTY OLD BOYS

NEXT OPPONENTS: DOVER ATHLETIC

Whites travel to Altrincham... after losing 2-0 at Maidenhead last weekend and going down 1-0 at Crabble to Boreham Wood on Bank Holiday Monday.

'We've got to be positive and be brave, but brave in the right areas,' said Hessenthaler. 'Knowing Altrincham from last season they are a good footballing team. We lost 1-0 to them at home but they only had one chance and took it, we had chances and didn't take them.

'We've got to believe a bit more at times. We didn't do that enough against Boreham Wood for me. We have to be positive and stay solid; we can't afford to give away two goals like we did against Maidenhead.

'I can't ask for any more effort or desire in the first two games and we could have easily picked up one or two points. We created some good chances away from home, if you do that it's a real positive. we need one of them to go in and be a bit more ruthless...

'There's a bit of tension out there, they know the situation we are in and want to give ourselves a chance to get out of it. But the only way to do that is by winning matches'...

The hosts were missing Ryan Hanson through injury but without a bulky target man in attack, the Dover boss wants his team to be a bit more subtle in their play.

'The only real disappointment is that Boreham Wood are a big and strong team and they play in a certain way,' added Hessenthaler. 'We played into their hands a bit and went too long from back to front and that's not our game, we don't have that target man up there. We almost went too long too many times and we missed Ryan Hanson in that regard as he's the one who gets us on the ball'".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Demetriou (33), who missed out on Monday's 0-0 draw at Wealdstone, has already lined up at right wing-back and in midfield this season...

'My biggest dilemma with Jason is where does he play?' said Brown. 'Does he play right-back, right-wing back, right midfield or centre of the park? Against Stockport I thought he was outstanding in the second half in midfield in terms of how we played'".

And the Southend Echo also reports that "midfielder Abu Ogogo will be missing for at least another fortnight with a hamstring injury.

Ogogo picked up the problem during the 1-0 defeat to Stockport County on Saturday...

Said Brown, 'He will miss two or three games but he’s already showing good signs and he’s got a fantastic attitude. But he will be a big miss for us.'"

In the Halifax Courier, FC Halifax Town manager Pete Wild says he knows exactly what to expect in their televised tea-time game at Yeovil on Saturday.

The Shaymen go into the match, which will be live on BT Sport at 5.15pm, having recorded back-to-back wins against Woking and Altrincham over the Bank Holiday weekend...

'You know what you’re getting, you know what’s coming, they’re going to be big, strong, aggressive, they’re going to try and bully us, they’ll think they can bully us,' said the Town boss. 'Don’t get me wrong, they’ve got some really good footballers as well but I’m sure their aim will be to bully us on Saturday. One of our core values is tactical awareness, which is about our style of play, not the opposition’s'...

Yeovil’s 6ft 3in forward Joe Quigley was their second highest scorer last season and already has three goals this term.

'He’s a good striker in this league, and I really like Tom Knowles, the winger, I think he’s a really good player,' Wild said.... 'Darren (Sarll) sets his teams up fantastically well. I know what’s coming on Saturday, I’m ready for it'...

Striker Gerry McDonagh and defender Javid Swaby-Neavin were both not involved over the Bank Holiday weekend. 'They’re not in the squad at the moment, unfortunately for them,' said Wild. 'Obviously Dom (Tear) has still got an injury. They’ve just got to wait their turn.”

Devon Live informs us that "Torquay United manager Gary Johnson said he had a ‘difficult talk' with some of his players after the Gulls were beaten 4-0 by Woking at Plainmoor on Monday.

Following a gutsy performance in the 1-1 draw at Notts County on Saturday, where central defender Ali Omar was red-carded early in the game, hopes were high going into the game against Woking, but Torquay were already 2-0 down when Chiori Johnson was shown a second yellow card in 23rd minute, making it two red cards in three days.

It was an incredibly disappointing display from a team that only came close to getting a goal back when substitute Gabby Rogers hit the crossbar with a shot from distance.

With only one point from the first three games, it is not the start to the National League season anyone expected, not least Johnson, who may be looking to bring in some loan players now before the trip to Maidenhead United on Saturday.

Johnson said 'It was a very difficult afternoon and a difficult talk after the game with some of the boys. Part of you knows that we had a sending-off at Notts County, early, and we had a sending-off against Woking, so it was a difficult chat with them because they didn’t do enough, but we were 2-0 down anyway before the sending-off.

'We didn’t get anywhere near the sharpness, the cleverness, and Woking started well and got their two early goals. We only had two days [after the Notts County game] and things went against us, but that doesn’t stop us passing the ball to each other'".

In the Grimsby Telegraph "Paul Hurst hailed his Grimsby Town side’s character after they claimed a hard-fought point on their travels to Stockport County.

The Mariners maintained an unbeaten start to the new season, and claimed a superb point at one of the pre-season favourites for the title at Edgeley Park.

The hosts should have taken the lead before the break as Alex Reid spurned a couple of golden chances, although Town will themselves feel aggrieved not to have claimed all three points after seeing a John McAtee goal ruled out for a soft foul.

Nevertheless, Hurst and his side could reflect on a fine evening’s work on the road as they were backed by 1,200 travelling supporters...

Hurst said, 'I was disappointed with the performance in the first half, the second half was better in some regards, but we played backwards far too often in the first half and almost played completely within ourselves. We didn’t get tight enough to people... Overall we haven’t given much up, but obviously haven’t created much ourselves...

'Itmakes life easier if you have the five subs available. People might say ‘you should be fit’, but we haven’t been able to train, so that’s not really our fault... Two clean sheets is obviously pleasing, and if you’re not going to win the game then you don’t lose it... I thought we made life difficult for them'">

SIX DEBUTANTS SO FAR

The latest to make that step were left-back Joe Bunney who started at Halifax on Monday and played for 76 minutes, whilst two others made their debuts from the bench, namely A-Jay Leitch Smith, who came on after 66 minutes, and Ben Pringle, who played the last fourteen minutes at The Shay.

There had been three other debutants in the opening game of the season, at Torquay, namely David Fitzpatrick (right) who had to go off injured after 31 minutes, Marcus Dinanga who played 65 minutes at Plainmoor and Brad Jackson who was on the pitch for almost an hour as a substitute.

So none of the six new faces actually completed ninety minutes on his debut. The only new signings (who are not on loan) not to appear at all are Kennedy Digie, who picked up a pre-season injury, and Dean Furman, who only joined a few days ago.

Of the players who were at the club last season, midfielder Sean Williams is the only apparently fit outfield player not to have been named in the squad this season. Goalkeeper Matt Gould has likewise been omitted from both squads to date as Phil Parkinson has opted for five outfield substitutes.

Also missing from action, so far, have been injured defenders Shaun Densmore, Connor Hampson and Andy White as well as winger Matty Kosylo.

Seven players have been on the pitch throughout the first two fixtures. They are Ryan Colclough, Tom Hannigan, Connor Kirby, Jake Moult, Tony Mullarkey, Joel Senior and Tony Thompson.

The only player who has started both games to date but not completed either, is Dan Mooney (left).

This continues a trend from last season when the winger made 12(+9) league appearances but only completed ninety minutes once.

"ALTY ARE A GOOD SIDE"

Halifax came into the game after beating Woking less than 48 hours prior, a victory which Billy Waters scored in. The goal against Woking and his strike past Altrincham was added to an opening day goal verses Maidenhead, which means Billy has scored in every game this season.

'I’m really pleased to have got three in three, it’s the best start I’ve had to a season,' Waters said...

'I was relieved I scored because I ruined the first chance,' Waters said about his goal, then added... 'I didn’t realise there was a man behind me, so I should’ve just hit it first time. Instead, I took a touch, and to be honest, I should’ve picked Jamie Allen out at the back stick, but we kept the ball alive in the box and then the header came down, I felt a man behind me, so I knew I had to hit the ball with my left foot. Luckily, it went in....

'I thought we did well, we knew Alty are a good possession-based team and that we had to be tactically aware... The staff prepared us right today, as we all knew our roles, but I didn’t feel like Altrincham cut through us at any point... On their day, Alty are a good side.'"

ALTY LOANEE SCORES

TUESDAY SCORE

Tuesday, 31 August at 7.45pm

• Stockport County 0-0 Grimsby Town

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Football writer Pete O'Rourke tweeted 'Swindon Town have rebuffed several Wrexham bids for defender Rob Hunt with a number of clubs also keen on the full-back.'

Hunt's contract at the County Ground runs out next summer after the 26-year-old signed a 12-month extension to his original deal last year. The versatile defender, who can operate in either full-back position, would be a big loss... and it is thought that Town will try to hold onto their man...

Hunt has made 68 appearances for Swindon, scoring one goal and assisting seven others".

In the Lynn News "Paul Bastock says King's Lynn Town players need to learn quickly from their defeat against Chesterfield

Kabongo Tshimanga scored both goals, the first from the penalty spot on 15 minutes and then from close-range inside the first minute of the second-half to condemn Lynn to back-to-back home losses... Lynn's assistant boss feels there are certain aspects of Chesterfield's game that his players can take on board.

Bastock said 'Two mistakes cost us today. Paul Jones has made one great save but other than that I don’t remember him having too much trouble. We look organised but a bit toothless going forward but we only had Gold Omotayo up top. I'm afraid our hands are pretty tied.'

For the third consecutive game, Lynn found themselves a goal down within the first 15 minutes before a clever Chesterfield outfit doubled their advantage shortly after the interval...

'You look at them, when we are breaking they are giving petulant fouls away. They are professional fouls, but they are happy to take the yellow card because it stops our momentum and to get back behind the ball. We've got to learn from teams like this, they are experienced, we are a young group of lads. That’s what they are going to learn every week now, to do things, to go down early, like their players did.

'Football’s changed now, it is not the old fashioned game anymore, it’s people diving all the time, we have just got to learn that. We are proud of the way the players tried to play, they dug in. This time last year we would have been talking about a different story'...

The Linnets travel to Eastleigh on Saturday... 'We'll go and give them a good game and hopefully get the same result as we got there last year. We have a very small squad, we need everyone fit and not suspended but we will be all right. There were glimpses today of good football, and especially at Yeovil, we moved the ball.

'I would much rather us play like that rather than huffing the ball down the channels and playing off second balls.'”

Yeovil Town admit that "The impact of playing without supporters has been a major financial challenge for Yeovil Town. During the lockdown... the club took out a payment agreement [with?] HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs), something offered to all National League clubs. As of August 2021, we are pleased to confirm the club has paid back all liabilities and no longer has any debts with HMRC.

This week, as a result of the government lockdown being in force after April 1st, restricting our capacity to welcome supporters until the final two home fixtures, we have received another £112,000 loan from Sport England. This loan is a top up on loans given to clubs due to the lost revenue from last season’s lockdown period. This means that the loan itself is in relation to the costs and creditors from last season, and that is what the loan will be used for.

The loan itself is a 20-year term, which includes a four-year holiday period at a 2% interest rate per annum.

As has already been widely reported, clubs within the National League had expected funding to come in the form of grants rather than the collective loans that have been received. Yeovil Town, along with a number of other National League clubs will be looking to the Sports Minister for the loans to be eventually turned into grants, as has been previously suggested".

Aldershot Town "announce that Charlton Athletic forward Wassim Aouachria has signed for the club on loan on an initial three-month loan!

Aouachria, who is a striker by trade.. [was] born in Roubaix, Northern France. The striker played for his local club Aubagne from the age of six. Since then the forward was scouted by Ligue 1 side Marseille, who signed him at Under 14s' level in 2013.

However, Aouachria moved over to England for a new challenge with Charlton Athletic in 2019".