CONFERENCE: WEEKEND ROUND-UP
Brannan Inspires five-star Stanley
The most impressive result in the Nationwide Conference was undoubtedly Accrington Stanley's 5-0 win at Dagenham & Redbridge, which lifted the Lancashire side up to second in the table.
Experienced midfielder Ged Brannan, formerly of Tranmere, Manchester City and Wigan, hit a hat-trick against The Daggers - two from the penalty spot - while Ian Craney and Paul Mullin added the other goals at the Glyn Hopkin Stadium.
Stanley boss John Coleman said: Coleman said: "If somebody had told us we would go five games without a booking and four without conceding I'd have thought they had taken something. The fact we didn't concede on Saturday will do the defence and the keeper the world of good in terms of confidence."
Stanley remain three points behind leaders Barnet however, after Paul Fairclough's team continued their early-season form with a 2-0 win at Tamworth. Goals from Dean Sinclair and August's Nationwide Conference Player of the Month and the division's top scorer Giuliano Grazioli secured another three points for The Bees.
Last minute Shots count double
Aldershot rescued a point in an entertaining game at Leigh RMI that saw six goals and a sending-off. Steve Watson saw red for The Shots in the first half and the home side took advantage as they led 3-1 going into the final minute of the match at Hilton Park. However, goals from Jon Challinor and Aaron McLean ensured the match ended 3-3 as the visitors denied Leigh their second home victory of the season.
Fleet knocked off course by Bulls
Gravesend & Northfleet came back down to earth as they were beaten at home by strongly-fancied Hereford. After picking up the manager of the month award for August, Fleet boss Andy Ford admitted following the 2-1 loss: "Everyone might have been getting excited but we have a long way to go. There have been elementary errors made for both goals. I knew it was going to be our toughest test so far and it was. We have just failed with our second half performance as our first half was good enough."
Gravesend remain in fourth place, while The Bulls have moved up to sixth, and in-between the two lie Halifax, who were comprehensive 4-0 winners against the division's bottom club Forest Green Rovers - still without a point this season.
Crawley pile misery on Minstermen
Crawley Town continued their solid start to their first Nationwide Conference campaign as they recorded a 1-0 win over York City to keep in touch with the top six. The Minstermen have yet to win away from home and will be hoping to record two good results in their forthcoming home games against Northwich Victoria and Leigh RMI.
Honours even
Northwich came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Morecambe on Saturday, while Scarborough and Exeter, and Woking Carlisle drew 1-1.
Better news for Burton
Nigel Clough's Burton Albion recorded their first victory of the season as a Craig Dudley penalty earned them three points at Stevenage Borough. Albion remain third from bottom of the Nationwide Conference, but as it says on their official website 'confidence and moral should be a lot higher following a week that has seen four points taken from two tough away games'.
