With Aveley in FA Trophy action, and Yeovil’s scheduled fixture with them this weekend being postponed as a result, it gave Mark Cooper’s men the weekend off! Let’s look at what the rest of the league have been up to in the league leader’s absence.
We’ll begin in the FA Trophy, as there were 8 NLS teams left in the competition. The biggest shock came at Park View Road, where Welling United saw off runaway National League leaders Chesterfield with a 2-0 win to book their place in the next round. Also causing upsets against tougher opposition were our expected hosts Aveley, and Hampton & Richmond, as they defeated AFC Fylde and Hartlepool United respectively.
Torquay United fell to a 2-0 defeat away to Hereford, while Chippenham Town and Weston-super-mare put on admirable performances away to National League opponents, both losing on penalties to Bromley and Gateshead. Chelmsford City fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat at home to Wealdstone, courtesy of former Glover Tahvon Campbell, while a shock came at Twerton Park as Bath City lost on penalties to Coalville Town. With the Fourth Round completed, our 8 league representatives drop to 3, and we will continue to bring coverage of their progress.
Onto league action now, and we’ll begin with Worthing, who hammered an in-form Truro City with doubles from Ollie Pearce and Danny Cashman handing the visitors a 4-1 win and three points on their travels. Slough Town remain winless against W*ymouth in all competitive fixtures, as the visitors fell to a 3-0 defeat on the South Coast, ex-Glover Brandon Goodship getting on the scoresheet once again; meanwhile next weekend’s visitors Hemel Hempstead recorded a 2-0 win at home to Tonbridge Angels.
Another ex-Glover was on the scoresheet on Saturday, as Ryan Seager’s double handed Havant & Waterlooville a surprising 2-1 win over Maidstone to assist in Yeovil’s title push, as well as aiding Havant’s relegation battle. Another relegation threatened side fell to a defeat, as Eastbourne Borough lost 2-1 at home to St Albans City, Shaun Jeffers getting himself involved in the goals, while Taunton and Dover Athletic played out a 1-1 draw that doesn’t really help either team.
National League South results – in full
Eastbourne Borough 1-2 St Albans City
Havant & Waterlooville 2-1 Maidstone United
Hemel Hempstead Town 2-0 Tonbridge Angels
Taunton Town 1-1 Dover Athletic
Truro City 1-4 Worthing
W*ymouth 3-0 Slough Town
FA Trophy 4th Round results (NLS teams in bold)
Aveley 1-0 AFC Fylde
Bath City 0-0 Coalville Town (Coalville won 4-3 on pens)
Bromley 1-1 Chippenham Town (Bromley won 4-2 on pens)
Chelmsford City 0-1 Wealdstone
Gateshead 2-2 Weston-super-mare (Gateshead won 4-3 on pens)
Hartlepool United 0-0 Hampton & Richmond Borough (H&R won 4-2 on pens)
Hereford 2-0 Torquay United
Welling United 2-0 Chesterfield
National League South table
Here's how the tables look ?
? @tamworthfc extend their lead
? @worthingfc up to second#TheVanarama | @vanarama_football pic.twitter.com/dGpq6yB2QI— The National League (@TheVanaramaNL) January 14, 2024