LONDON, CMC – Antigua and Barbuda forward Rhys Browne bagged an early brace as Woking kept alive their hopes of a third-placed finish in England’s fifth-tier National League after hanging on to beat Gateshead 2-1 on Saturday.
The 27-year-old Browne put the hosts ahead after three minutes at the Laithwaite Community Stadium when he headed home a corner.
He doubled the lead in the 11th minute, converting from the penalty spot after Sol Nwabuokei had been fouled.
The brace took Browne’s tally for the campaign to 20, including seven for rivals Wealdstone before he joined Woking last October.
Gateshead pulled a goal back in the 64th minute through Adam Campbell’s deflected shot from the edge of the penalty area.
The visitors were denied a late equalizer by goalkeeper Will Jaaskelainen’s save, but Woking (79 points) held on to finish the day in fourth place, two points behind but with a game in hand on third-placed Chesterfield, who have only one game left after losing 2-0 at Bromley on Saturday.
After 15 years away from the fourth tier Wrexham (110 points) sealed the one automatic promotion spot with a game to spare, edging out Notts County after hitting back to beat Boreham Wood 3-1 at the Racecourse Ground.
One other team from six in the playoffs will also go up to League Two.
In a League Two clash at the Cherry Red Records Stadium in southwest London, Grenada center-back Aaron Pierre put AFC Wimbledon ahead on eight minutes but was sent off in stoppage time as hosts Swindon Town roared back to thump their opponents 5-1, highlighted by Luke Jephcott’s brace.
Wimbledon’s early lead came from Ethan Chislett’s whipped short corner, with the 30-year-old Pierre rising highest to find the net.
The result was sealed when Tom Clayton’s header looped into the top corner, and Ronan Darcy struck a penalty in stoppage time following Pierre’s sending-off for handling a specific goal.
In the same tier, Jamaican striker Jamille Matt scored his second goal for Walsall since moving in January from League One bottom club Forest Green Rovers but ended on the losing side as the hosts went down 3-2 at Poundland Bescot Stadium against 10-man playoff hopefuls Salford City.
Walsall – who sacked boss Michael Flynn in midweek – level on 62 minutes as a stooping Matt, 33, headed home Liam Gordon’s cross.
At the Completely-Suzuki Stadium in League One, Jamaican winger Jordon Garrick scored a consolation goal for already relegated Forest Green at Gloucestershire neighbors Cheltenham Town, who won 3-1 after roaring into a 3-0 interval lead, highlighted by Alfie May’s double.
Rovers pulled one back three minutes into the second half when Corey O’Keeffe’s corner from the right was not cleared, and the 24-year-old Garrick touched in Dom Bernard’s shot.
It was Garrick’s fifth goal for the club since signing from Championship outfit Swansea City on an 18-month deal in January.
Forest Green returns to League Two next season after just one season in the third tier.
In the sixth-tier National League South, 35-year-old Grenada winger Ricky Modeste set struggling Concord Rangers on the path to a 2-0 win over visitors Hampton & Richmond by scoring in the 41st minute at Aspect Arena.
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