National League roundup: Cheltenham thrash Southport to stay top

Cheltenham Town have retained their position at the top of the National League table with a 4-0 away thrashing of Southport this afternoon.

Harry Pell netted the opener after just four minutes, before Billy Waters added two more goals to end the contest before the quarter-hour mark.

Gary Johnson's side wrapped up the victory with a second-half strike from Danny Parslow, keeping Southport rooted in the bottom four of the table.

Forest Green Rovers came from behind to keep up the pressure on Cheltenham with a 3-1 victory over Dover Athletic.

Nicky Deverdics had given the visitors the lead before half time, but two quick second-half goals from James Jennings and Darren Carter turned the game around for Rovers.

The victory was sealed on 71 minutes through Elliott Frear, keeping Forest Green just one point behind their title rivals in second, while Dover dropped out of the playoff places into sixth.

Andy Drury netted twice as Eastleigh won 4-1 at Guiseley to move up to third in the table. Joe Partington also found the net before half time.

The hosts' only goal came before the break through Adam Boyes, but Jai Reason's late strike sealed a result that saw Guiseley slip to 16th in the table.

Grimsby Town moved up to fourth with a 3-1 victory over Welling United, who remain in 18th place.

Sam Corne gave the visitors an early lead on six minutes, but Grimsby scored twice in four minutes through Nathan Arnold and Conor Townsend, before a late goal from substitute Jack Mackreth secured all three points.

Braintree Town moved into the playoff places after winning a nine-goal thriller 6-3 away at Halifax Town.

The visitors led 4-3 at the break as Alex Woodyard and Kenny Davies netted either side of a Michael Cheek brace, while an early Jordan Burrow goal and a Shaun Tuton double gave the hosts hope going into the break.

Braintree secured the victory in the second half, as Cheek completed a hat-trick, before Sammie Szmodics fired his side's sixth goal, leaving Halifax rooted to the foot of the table with just 10 points.

Lincoln City are one point away from the playoff places after a 1-0 victory over Tranmere Rovers, as a Luke Waterfall goal on the stroke of half time was enough to send the Wirral club down to 12th.

Wrexham move up to eight in the league with a 4-0 thrashing of Gateshead, who drop to 11th.

The Tyneside outfit had held their opponents until Patrick McLaughlin picked up a second yellow card on 49 minutes. Rob Evans, Blaine Hudson and a Dominic Vose double ensured that the visitors were punished.

At the bottom of the table, Kidderminster Harriers remain in 23rd place despite claiming a 2-0 win over Aldershot Town.

Second-half strikes from James McQuilkin and Ben Whitfield were enough to ensure the hosts are just six points from safety, while Aldershot sink to 14th.

Torquay United remain in the bottom four places after a 4-0 away thrashing by Barrow, who climb up to 15th in the table.

An Otis Khan double gave the hosts a 2-0 lead at the break, before Jason Walker and Andy Haworth added two more goals following Torquay defender Nathan Smith's sending off on the hour mark.

Boreham Wood have extended the gap over the relegation places to four points with a 0-0 draw against Chester FC, who move to 13th.

Woking slipped to 17th in the table following a heavy 5-2 defeat by Macclesfield Town, thanks to goals from Danny Whitehead, Neill Byrne, and a Kristian Dennis hat-trick.

Dan Holman and Joey Jones netted two late goals for the hosts, but Town's second win in a row had already been secured.

In this afternoon's early fixture, Altrincham claimed a first win in seven matches with a 3-1 victory over Bromley.

Results in full (half-time score in brackets): Bromley 1-3 Altrincham (1-1), Barrow 4-0 Torquay United (2-0), Boreham Wood 0-0 Chester FC (0-0), Forest Green Rovers 3-1 Dover Athletic (0-1), Grimsby Town 3-1 Welling United (2-1), Guiseley 1-4 Eastleigh (1-2), Kidderminster Harriers 2-0 Aldershot Town (0-0), Lincoln City 1-0 Tranmere Rovers (1-0), Southport 0-4 Cheltenham Town (0-3), Woking 2-5 Macclesfield Town 5 (0-2), Wrexham 4-0 Gateshead (0-0)

Written by
Stephen Topping