Vanarama National League: Matchday 26 Review of the teams from the North as Stockport County go top

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It was a busy night of football for the teams from the North in the Vanarama National League. Here is a review of Tuesday night’s results and how the sides from the North faired as Stockport County go top.

Stockport County v Maidenhead United

Dave Challinor’s men have been in outstanding form recently and continued their winning streak with an impressive home performance to send County top of the league.

The breakthrough came after 53 minutes when Antoni Sarcevic nodded home after some fine work from Macauley Southam-Hales. Stockport doubled their lead in the 62nd minute when Ryan Croasdale drilled the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Maidenhead failed to make any impression on the game and looked a shadow of the team who beat promotion hopefuls Halifax at the weekend and John Rooney completed the scoring in stoppage time to send County top.

FC Halifax Town v Boreham Wood

Halifax boss Peter Wild will be kicking himself after Halifax missed the opportunity to return to the top of the league after defeat to fellow promotion hopefuls Boreham Wood.

The only goal of the game came in the 37th minute after the impressive Jacob Mendy pulled the ball back for Josh Rees to fire his shot into the bottom corner. The visitors should of been head earlier through Rees who saw his right-footed volley cleared off the line.

Halifax seemed to have a little more intensity about them in the second half and were unlucky not to equalise. Some good work in midfield saw Jack Senior break free from the Boreham defence only to have his shot cleared off the line by David Stephens.

Boreham Wood held on to take a valuable three points and make it 10 games unbeaten, whilst Wild reflected on two defeats in a week for the Shaymen that saw them lose vital ground in the race for promotion.

Wrexham v Grimsby Town

Wrexham new boy Ollie Palmer had a dream debut as he grabbed the only goal of a highly entertaining game for Phil Parkinson’s men as they continue their quest for promotion.

The game itself was enthralling throughout and Grimsby’s John McAtee saw his sixth-minute strike saved superbly by the impressive Rob Lainton in the Wrexham goal.

Grimsby had moments through out the game and were again unlucky not to take the lead after Tristan Abraham’s found space only to his strike saved by Lainton.

This seemed to waken Wrexham and they began to settle into taking control of the game. After some fine work from Reece Hall-Johnson on the wing, however, his cross was well gathered by Max Crocombe to prevent Palmer from pouncing.

The pressure finally paid of after Lainton attempted clearance was nodded down for Mullins who had his shot cleared by Crocombe and after a scramble in the six-yards box, Palmer slotted the ball home to give Wrexham a well deserved lead after 35 minutes.

Although the visitors had plenty of possession at times they looked nervous and once again failed to make any impression on the game and slowly drifted away as Wrexham began to press and indeed Wrexham could of extended their lead were it not for the exploits of Crocombe.

The result for Grimsby Town was their eighth successive away defeat and with former town man Palmer grabbing the winner adding salt to the wound it leaves boss Paul Hurst answering questions from fans over his job security.

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