CONFERENCE: WEEKEND ROUND-UP

Aldershot Town 2 - 3 Barnet
Bees boss Paul Fairclough admitted the Nationwide Conference leaders were fortunate to claim victory at Aldershot after an exciting game at the Recreation Ground. Jonny Dixon twice equalised for The Shots after Giuliano Grazioli and Richard Graham had put Barnet ahead, but the home side were finally beaten by Simon King's volley six minutes from time.

Fairclough said afterwards: "They really came at us and had the better of the first half. It was the first time for a long time that we have been dominated by a side, but we managed to come out on top."

The hard-fought victory ensured the Bees stretched their lead at the top of the table to seven points as second-placed Carlisle were beaten at York.

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York City 2 - 1 Carlisle United
The first meeting of last season's two relegated Football League sides in the Nationwide Conference produced something of a surprise result, as York avenged their FA Cup defeat to the Cumbrians with a 2-1 home win, giving caretaker boss Viv Busby his first victory.

The Minstermen were aided by Peter Murphy's 21st-minute dismissal, after his reckless challenge on Paul Groves, and Lee Nogan put them ahead just before half time.

Dave Merris put the home side two up on 69 minutes and they held on to claim three much-needed points despite Kevin Henderson's late consolation for the visitors.

Northwich Victoria 1 - 2 Halifax Town
Carlisle's loss enabled third-placed Halifax to close the gap to four points as two late goals gave them victory at Northwich. Adam Quinn and Lewis Killeen scored in the 70th and 82nd minutes respectively, which was enough to secure the win for the Shaymen, though Vics substitute Paul Brayson pulled one back for the home side with the final kick of the game.

Hereford United 2 - 1 Tamworth
It wasn't quite Lambs to the slaughter but The Bulls kept their promotion challenge on course with a 2-1 win over Tamworth thanks to first-half goals from Tamika Mkandawire and Lee Mills. Veteran striker Bob Taylor pulled one back for the visiting Lambs eight minutes before the break, but they were unable to draw level with their hosts, who remain in fourth place.

Accrington Stanley 1 - 0 Canvey Island
Paul Mullin's ninth goal of the season was enough to give Stanley a well-deserved home win over Canvey Island. The goal came just two minutes into the second-half as Flitcroft's cross found its way to Mullin who calmly slotted it home. The visitors were unlucky not to equalize when Jon Keeling narrowly missed the target on a couple of occasions, but Accrington also had chances of their own, and were worthy of the three points.

Crawley Town 2 - 1 Scarborough
Crawley kept pace with the promotion hopefuls with their third straight victory, helped by a Scarborough own goal. Kevin Nicholson headed the ball into his own net as The Seadogs struggled to clear a Neil Jenkins free-kick, and Allan Tait double the home side's lead shortly after the break. Sagi Burton set up a tense finish with his 88th-minute goal, but Crawley held on to move up to sixth spot in the table.

Stevenage Borough 2 - 2 Forest Green Rovers
Stevenage snatched a point against relegation-threatened Forest Green thanks to two goals in the dying minutes from substitute Dino Maamria. Mark Beesley's double put Rovers two up, and the visitors looked the likely winners until they were denied by Maamria's late brace. He pulled one back on 89 minutes, stabbing home from close range, and then struck the equalizer two minutes into stoppage time.

Gravesend & Northfleet 1 - 1 Woking
Justin Skinner's second-half penalty earned the Fleet a point against Woking, who had taken the lead just after the break through Raphael Nade. In a game of few chances, the home side dominated the first half, but could not find a way through the Woking rearguard, and had to rely on a spot-kick to earn a draw after Amos Foyewa fould Andrew Drury in the area.

Burton Albion 1 - 0 Exeter City
Albion edged out Exeter thanks to Jon Shaw's goal three minutes before half time. In a game of few chances, The Grecians had the better of the opening exchanges but they were unable to break the deadlock, and failed to find a way past the Burton back-line in the second period as they chased the game.

Dagenham & Redbridge 2 - 1 Morecambe
The Daggers came from behind to beat Morecambe and climb to 15th in the table, with Craig Mackail-Smith volleying home the winner. Michael Twiss had given the visitors a 20th-minute lead with his eighth goal of the season, but Ashley Vickers leveled the score on the half hour and Mackail-Smith struck the decisive second for the home side eight minutes into the second half.

Leigh RMI 1 - 2 Farnborough Town
The Nationwide Conference's bottom club were denied a precious point by Paul Harkness, who struck two minutes from time to give Farnborough victory.

The Railwaymen looked to have earned a worthy draw after Gareth Stoker equalized just before the hour mark, following Stephen Hughes's opener for the visitiors. However, Harkness headed home a Hughes cross to leave Leigh rooted to the foot of the table and with just four points from their nine home games this season.