Conference Round-up: Oct 9

It was a tough return to his old stamping ground of Underhill for former Bees boss John Still. The Daggers manager had to sit and suffer as the table toppers raced off to a two-goal start inside the first six minutes. Ian Hendon bagged the first and Ben Strevens the second as Barnet looked to chalk up their fifth home success of the campaign. The score remained the same until a three-goal burst midway through the second half put paid to any hopes Dagenham had of a comeback. Lee Roache, substitute for Liam Hatch, who broke his arm early on, grabbed the third goal on 69 minutes before Nick Bailey added a fourth four minutes later. A Hendon penalty completed the rout in front of 1,894.

The Bees moved further ahead of Carlisle after the Cumbrians were held to a goalless draw at Exeter. In a match of few clear chances, United's defence held firm against a Grecians side looking to impress new Director of Football Steve Perryman, who returned to St James Park this week following the departure of Eamonn Dolan to take over Reading's youth academy. Defender Scott Hiley took charge of team affairs with Perryman and Perryman gave Hiley his vote to take on the player-manager's role.

City had twelve corners to the Cumbrians' one but keeper Matty Glennon and defenders Kevin Gray and Simon Grand had fine games to help the Conference's best defence to their seventh clean sheet in 13 games. The results set up next week's top-of-the-table clash between Carlisle and Barnet at Brunton Park nicely. The winners of that game will be top of the league.

Third-placed Aldershot Town came unstuck at Scarborough after charging into a two-goal advantage. Darren Barnard and Adam Miller were on target for the Shots, who were hoping to climb into the top two positions with the help of three points. But the Seadogs stormed back in the second half with Chris Senior bagging two goals in the space of just 90 seconds.

It's been a bad week for Gravesend and Northfleet who have lost twice in the past four days. They went down 3-2 at improving Burton Albion, for whom Craig Dudley and Robbie Talbot were on target in the first half to establish a two-goal lead for Nigel Clough's Brewers. But that lead was cut on the stroke of half-time when Andy Drury bagged one for the Fleet. Ex-Kidderminster star Andy Ducros extended the lead again on 63 minutes for Albion but Lee Protheroe's 78th-minue strike ensured an anxious finale for the home fans.

With Accrington not in action until Monday night Crawley Town took the chance to move up to sixth place but they will be disappointed with the manner of their goalless draw at home to bottom side Northwich Victoria. The crisis-struck Vics, who have -3 points on the board after a 10-point deduction for going into administration, recorded their seventh draw in 13 winless games at Broadfield. Manager Steve Burr claimed he would use 200 players if that's what it took to keep Northwich in the Conference. After yesterday's games though the Cheshire outfit have a mountain to climb with a 14-point gap to safety.

Halifax were fuming after they lost at Woking on Friday night to a 90th-minute Ian Selley penalty kick. Earlier 'fax striker Lewis Killeen was controversially sent off after collecting his second yellow of the game for diving. Down to 10 men, the Shaymen were unable to hang on to their 1-0 half-time lead, given to them by an Adam Quinn header. Justin Richards set up Steve Evans for a 64th-minute leveller before Matt Doughty fouled substitute Amos Foyewa in the dying seconds to concede the decisive penalty.

Shaymen boss Chris Wilder was angry afterwards. "In the first half the referee didn't give us anything from the first minute to 45. He let decisions go and their players went unpunished. But he blew up for everything against us. The sending-off was an absolute disgrace. My boys are honest and I asked Lewis and he said their lad clipped him."

At long last Canvey Island collected their first win at Park Lane after three successes on the road. Jeff King's men saw off Forest Green 2-1 with goals from a Neil Gregory penalty and Jon Keeling, with Matt Gadsby replying for Rovers.