CONFERENCE: WEEKEND ROUND-UP
Barnet cruise to another victory
Nationwide Conference leaders Barnet maintained their six-point advantage at the top with a convincing 4-0 win over York City on Saturday.
After their 3-1 win over second-placed Carlisle last weekend, Paul Fairclough's impressive side put the other relegated Football League outfit to the sword in emphatic fashion at Underhill.
Nicky Bailey, Dwaine Lee, Ismail Yakubu and Dean Sinclair were all on target for the Bees, who have scored an incredible 15 goals in their last four matches.
Vieira keeps Cumbrians in touch
While millions were wondering whether Patrick Vieira would be fit enough to face Manchester United at Old Trafford at the weekend, his namesake Magno was busy ensuring Carlise United remained on the heels of Barnet.
The striker, whose loan spell from Wigan was extended for a third month last week, scored his sixth and seventh Conference goals of the season to help the Cumbrians to a 3-1 win over fellow promotion hopefuls Hereford.
The Bulls took the lead through Adam Stansfield's deflected shot, which was credited as an own goal to Lee Andrews, but Vieira scored twice in a minute to put the home side in front just before half time, with Peter Murphy sealing three points for Carlisle two minutes after the restart.
Shaymen sink Fleet
Halifax shaded a close contest with Gravesend & Northfleet at The Shay on Saturday to leapfrog them into fourth place in the table.
There was little to choose between the two teams in a game of few chances, but Ryan Mallon provided the decisive strike just half a minute into the second half to strengthen Town's challenge for a return to the Football League.
Stevenage close-in on top six spot
A third successive away win saw Stevenage draw level with Gravesend and Hereford in the table as they came from behind to beat Morecambe 3-1.
Kieron Walmsley put the home side ahead in the first minute, scoring from the first attack of the game, but Anthony Elding levelled it up just before the hour mark and Matthew Hocking headed Boro in front a minute later. Substitute Jon Brady sealed the victory with an unstoppable drive in stoppage time to help Stevenage climb above their opponents and into contention for a play-off place.
Seadogs flatten Stanley
Scarborough enjoyed an emphatic 4-0 win over Accrington Stanley to move to within a point of the Lancashire side and the four others battling for position in and around the play-off positions.
The Seadogs' biggest home win of the season came courtesy of goals from Tony Hackworth, Neil Redfearn, Kevin Nicholson and Chris Senior - the first three scored in the opening 15 minutes of the match.
Canvey carry on climbing
Canvey Island stretched their unbeaten run to five games to climb into the top half of the Nationwide Conference table as they swept aside a struggling and depleted Leigh RMI side.
The visitors were reduced to just eleven fit players after an illness had hit the squad, and Conference newcomers Canvey took full advantage to record a 3-0 win, with goals from Ollie Berquez, Jon Keeling and Junior McDougald.
Grecians stop the Shots
Exeter claimed their first victory under new manager Alex Inglethorpe, but the success was marred by the broken leg suffered by City defender Barry McConnell just before the end of the match.
Sean Devine volleyed The Grecians ahead, and their lead was increased either side of half time, by Andy Taylor and Santos Gaia. Aldershot pulled one back through Tim Sills but their hopes of rescuing anything from the game were effectively ended when Aaron McLean was dismissed for a second bookable offence.
Speaking after the match, Inglethorpe admitted McConnell's misfortune had soured the taste of victory: "That takes the gloss off the performance, and the players are a bit deflated," the Exeter boss said. "We needed to make sure we did the basics very well and played to a structure - and the back four gave us a solid base from which we could play."
One goal wins it for Woking
Luke Oliver's second-minute strike was sufficient to give Woking victory over Burton Albion as the home side made it three games without loss.
Oliver poked in Ian Selley's free-kick to score his first goal since arriving from Wycombe in February, and Woking keeper Shwan Jalal kept the visitors out to ensure the three points stayed at Kingfield.
Early strike enough for Tamworth
Marcus Ebdon's fourth-minute goal earned the Midlands side a 1-0 win over Crawley Town, but Tamworth boss Mark Cooper will have to shuffle his squad for the next match as on-loan striker Shaun Harrad returns to Notts County.
Cooper admitted: "What we're after is a striker to replace Shaun. I've had to release Marvin Brown due to budget constraints, and Aaron Brown - who I feel needs more experience - has gone to Stafford on loan."
The Lambs face Burscough next week in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round, and Cooper added: "Dave Robinson is cup-tied, having played for Grantham in a previous round, but we should be okay at the back."
Vics back into positive figures
Northwich Victoria claimed their second successive victory to move onto three points as they won the basement battle against fellow strugglers Forest Green Rovers.
Having been deducted 10 points by the Football Conference under the Sporting Sanctions rule, for going into administration, The Vics are still propping up the table, but are now just a point behind Rovers and a further two adrift of third-from-bottom Leigh.
The visitors took the lead after 14 minutes through Mark Quayle, and doubled their advantage when Mark Foran converted Jon McCarthy's free-kick. Greg Young hit the third from close range and though Jefferson Louis headed one back for Forest Green, Vics held on to record a crucial win.
