Conference Round-Up - Saturday 8th January

Barnet extended their lead to 14 points at the top of the Nationwide Conference as their two main title rivals, Carlisle and Hereford, slipped to away defeats that left them nervously looking over their shoulders in the play-off race.

The Bees gained an away point with a 1-1 draw at Woking’s Kingfield Stadium and now need to fall down a black hole in order to throw the title away. Lee Roache opened the scoring on ten minutes for the Herfordshire side with his fourth league goal of the season only for ex-Wycombe stopper Luke Oliver to grab the Cards a share of the spoils with a 68^th minute header from a corner.

United fell to their third away defeat in five outings going down 1-0 to Crawley Town at the Broadfield Stadium. Paul Armstrong’s goal on 67 minutes was enough to separate the sides, and with Carlisle unsure of their Brunton Park future due to extensive flood damage the Blues need to galvanise their away form and make sure they don’t miss out on the play-off spots.

Burton Albion came up a goal shy of last season’s 4-0 home win over Hereford as they put the Bulls to the sword with a 3-0 victory at Eton Park. A goal from Kris Taylor on nineteen minutes and two second-half penalties, duly dispatched by Craig Dudley on 49 and Jon Shaw on 73 left the Bulls ruing a loss of form that has seen them lose three of their last four matches.

Accrington Stanley moved above Hereford and into third in the table with a 2-1 home victory over Farnborough Town. Lee McEvilly put the home side ahead on eleven minutes with Gary Holloway levelling for the ‘Boro on 22 minutes. McEvilly’s eighth league strike of the season on 56 minutes was enough to seal the points for Stanley. Farnborough fell to 19^th with the defeat, only two points above Forest Green and the relegation trapdoor.

Stevenage and York City fought out a 2-2 draw at Broadhall Way. Ex-Tranmere striker Paul Robinson struck first on 24 minutes as the away side took a surprise lead. The lead lasted barely three minutes though as Anthony Elding fired home on 27 minutes to level. City regained the lead with a goal from Byron Webster on 34 minutes, his first goal in senior football. Elding bagged his 16^th goal of the season in all competitions with a 79^th minute leveller.

The game of the day came at the Recreation Ground as Aldershot defeated Tamworth 4-3. Kyle Storer gave the Lambs an early seventh minute lead only for Tim Sills to equalise for the Shots just two minutes later. The home side went 2-1 ahead in a hectic opening fourteen minutes as Nick Crittenden netted. Evergreen target-man Bob Taylor then made it 2-2 on the half-hour. The Shots took control in the second half with goals with goals from Jon Challinor on 61 and Tyrone Smith on 82 to put them 4-2 up. Taylor grabbed a last-minute consolation effort for Tamworth with his thirteenth goal of the campaign.

Morecambe thrashed Canvey Island 4-0 at Christie Park to leave themselves only one point away from a play-off spot in a congested top-half of the table. Second half goals from Danny Carlton on 47, a Garry Hunter spot-kick on 61, Garry Thompson on 69 and Lee Elam on 77 ensured that the Shrimpers coasted to a comfortable victory over their Essex rivals.

Scarborough and Forest Green fought out a drab 0-0 draw at the McCain Stadium which did neither side any favours but preserved the Seadogs unbeaten home league record this season. Scarborough sit in sixth on the edge of the play-off spots whilst the Gloucestershire side remain two points from safety in 20^th.

Northwich showed signs of life in their battle for Conference survival with a 3-2 victory at Dagenham and Redbridge. Mark Quayle’s eighth minute effort put the Vics ahead at the Glyn Hopkin Stadium only for Paul Bruce to level on 39 minutes for the Daggers. A second goal for Quayle on 61 and a 64^th minute effort from recent signing Danny Mayman put Northwich 3-1 up. A Chris Moore penalty on 72 minutes ensured a nervy last 18 minutes for the Cheshire outfit but the Vics held out for what could prove to be a vital away win.

Finally Leigh RMI went down to their 19^th defeat in 24 outings with a 1-0 home defeat to Gravesend and Northfleet who themselves hadn’t claimed three points since they beat the Railwaymen 4-1 at home in early October. An Andy Drury goal on 38 minutes in front of a crowd of only 251 was enough to see off an RMI side who finished with only nine men and must now realise their Conference adventure has come to an end.

Exeter City’s home clash with potential play-off rivals Halifax Town was postponed due to the Grecians’ third round FA Cup clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford. The Conference game has been re-arranged for Tuesday 5^th April.

Conference table as at Saturday 8^th January, 5pm:

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