With all the games this season coming thick and fast, we have already had three rounds of matches in England’s fourth tier and sides are already getting to grips with what this season has in store for them. Although the underdogs had some success this weekend, there was also plenty of games which went the same way the bookies saw them. Below, we see just who has impressed and who still has work to do.
Notts County 0 – 4 Yeovil Town
- – Fisher (34′minutes, 36′minutes, 72′minutes),
- – Arquin (83′minutes)
One of the title favourites suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat at the hands of Yeovil Town on Friday evening. The home side thought they had taken the lead early on when Nathan Thomas turned in at the back post but he was adjudged to have been in an offside position. Yeovil went ahead when Elliott Hewitt made a hash of a clearance which eventually led to Yoann Arquin crossing low for Alex Fisher to turn the ball in from close range for the first of his three goals.
The pain did not end there for Notts County as they soon found themselves further behind as Wes McDonald fed a low cross into the area for Fisher to grab his second. Despite including three six-figure summer signings in Enzio Boldewijn, Kristian Dennis and Kane Hemmings, Notts struggled to get back into the contest.
Fisher grabbed his hat-trick as he capitalised on some dreadful defending to guide in off the post as Hemmings hit the bar from a penalty for the hosts. And a dismal night for Notts was ended when Arquin headed in Carl Dickinson’s free-kick.
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Swindon Town 3 – 2 Tranmere Rovers
- Adebayo (20′minutes) – Smith (10′minutes),
- Richards (60′minutes) – Norwood (13′minutes),
- Romanski (73′minutes) – Harris (Dismissed at 18′minutes)
It was a tale of what might have been for newly promoted Tranmere Rovers as they threw away an early lead to fall to defeat at the hands of Swindon Town. The hosts were rescued by Joe Romanski as they fought back from two goals down to win 3-2 against 10-man Tranmere at the County Ground.
The visitors needed just eight minutes to take the lead through Jonny Smith after he tapped in at the back post, and they were soon able to double their tally when James Norwood managed to slip his effort past Swindon goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux.
However, Rovers were then reduced to 10 men due to Harris’ needless challenge on Martin Smith in the middle of the park. The home side took advantage of the extra man in the 20th minute when Elijah Adebayo poked his effort into the back of the net.
The Robins continued their domination in the second half and were rewarded with an equaliser as Marc Richards made no mistake in finishing off fellow substitute Steven Alzate’s cross. Swindon completed their comeback in the 73rd minute after Alzate’s centre was met by Romanski who guided it calmly past Scott Davies in the Tranmere net.
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Grimsby Town 1 – 1 Lincoln City
- Woolford (33′minutes) – Akinde (71′minutes pen)
Lincoln City have started the season in excellent fashion but their steel was put to the test in their third league game of the season as they travelled to local rivals Grimsby Town. However, it was not to be their third successive win in League Two this term and it took a John Akinde second-half penalty to earn a draw for the visitors as they dropped their first points of the season.
The striker tucked away his second spot-kick in as many weeks after Martyn Woolford had given the hosts a deserved lead in the first half.
After a blistering start by both sides, it was Grimsby who took the lead when Jordan Cook laid the ball off to Woolford on the edge of the penalty area, with the midfielder stroking the ball home to get the Blundell Park crowd on their feet. However, Lincoln found themselves level when Akinde went down under the challenge of Collins before picking himself up to bury his penalty into the bottom corner and claim a point for his side.
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Exeter City 1 – 1 Newport County
- Stockley (21′minutes) – M Harris (81′minutes)
In a day where all the early leaders were dropping points, Exeter City had the chance to open up a lead at the top of the divsion when they welcomed Newport County to St James Park. However, a late equaliser mean that they had to settle for a point, although that was still enough for the Grecians to retain their spot at the top of the division.
Jayden Stockley gave the hosts the lead after 21 minutes, smartly heading the ball past Joe Day from a Jake Taylor cross. The visitors pushed for an equaliser and were rewarded for their efforts with 10 minutes remaining when Cardiff City loanee Mark Harris rifled home.
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Cheltenham Town 0 – 1 Carlisle United
- – Bennett (39′minutes)
It was another miserable day for Cheltenham Town as their quest to get their first points of the season proved to be unsuccessful when they hosted Carlisle United at the weekend.
Scott Flinders did well to touch Richie Bennett’s header over the bar after a cross from Jerry Yates after 11 minutes as the visitors started on the front foot. Yates headed over when well placed but Bennett soon grabbed the matchwinner, six minutes before the interval. Ashley Nadesan, back at the club on another loan spell from Fleetwood, fed Bennett and he calmly placed the ball past Flinders.
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