CONFERENCE: MIDWEEK ROUND-UP
Nationwide Conference top scorer Giuliano Grazioli scored twice in Barnet's 3-1 over Crawley Town to take his season's tally to 16 and maintain The Bees' ten point advantage at the top of the table.
Paul Fairclough's side extended their unbeaten away record as Grazioli put them firmly in control with his goals on the half hour and three minutes into the second half. Crawley pulled one back through Danny Davidson but Dean Sinclair fired in from 30 yards in injury time to ensure another successful away day for the leaders.
Carlisle bounced back from their FA Cup defeat at the weekend to ensure that Barnet weren't able to stretch any further ahead in the title race, thanks largely to former Bury player-boss Andy Preece. The veteran striker came off the bench to hit both goals in the Cumbrians' 2-1 win at Accrington Stanley, who had taken the lead five minutes before the break through Rory Prendergast.
Accrington's manager John Coleman said afterwards: "We're not having any luck. I thought we had scored twice and the second one looked over the line. If there was any justice we would not have lost that game."
Hereford also kept themselves in the promotion hunt as two early goals were enough to give them victory over relegation fighters Forest Green Rovers. Craig Stanley hit the Bulls' first in the 12th minute and Adam Stansfield doubled their lead eight minutes later. Rovers halved the deficit just before the half hour, through Scott Rogers, but they couldn't find an equalizer as Graham Turner's side held on.
Halifax were held to a 1-1 draw at York, with both goals coming in the last five minutes. Kevin Donovan's last-minute strike earned the Minstermen a point, just four minutes after Lewis Killeen had put the visiting Shaymen ahead and seemingly earned them the points.
Scarborough were also denied victory by a last-gasp equalizer at Leigh RMI, having led for 80 minutes. Robert Gill gave the Seadogs the lead in the 10th minute, converting Colin Cryan's free-kick, and it seemed as though they would hang on for the win. But Gary Willilams struck in injury time to earn The Railwaymen a much-needed point as they battle to lift themelves off the foot of the table.
Scarborough boss Nicky Henry was not best pleased with his side's performance however, as he emphasized afterwards: "We did not perform. I don't think we were good enough, although we might have got away with it. To concede an equaliser ten seconds from the end was a kick in the teeth."
Wokingmoved level with Scarborough following their 2-0 win at Stevenage Borough, and could well be the dark horses for promotion this season. The Cards survived some early pressure and secured victory with two second-half goals, from Jefferson Louis and Luke Oliver, who headed in only the second goal of his career.
After six matches without a win Aldershot's push for promotion was given a boost with a 2-0 home success over Canvey Island. Nick Crittenden and Jon Challinor scored the goals for The Shots, who moved back above Stevenage and Crawley to eighth in the table.
After surrendering an early two-goal lead, ten-man Exeter had the resolve to produce a late winner at Dagenham & Redbridge to continue an amazing few days for the Grecians following their FA Cup success and dream Old Trafford draw.
Santos Gaia headed the visitors ahead in the 9th minute, and Gareth Sheldon made it 2-0 six minutes later, but Craig Mackail-Smith volleyed The Daggers back into the game and Chris Moore leveled the scores from the penalty spot after being fouled Alex Jeannin. Exeter keeper Martin Rice was dismissed in the 67th minute for a foul on Mackail-Smith, but substitute stopper Paul Jones saved the resulting spot-kick from Moore's and Wayne O'Sullivan struck the decisive 20-yard goal in the 81st minute to give City a memorable win.
Three first-half goals ensured Morecambe enjoyed an easy victory at Burton Albion, who could only manage to pull one goal back in the second period. Lee Elam drilled home the visitors' first goal from six yards after just 13 minutes, before Danny Carlton hit two goals in 60 seconds after 26 and 27 minutes. Andrew Ducros's excellent 25-yard free-kick shortly after the hour mark was only a consolation for Albion.
Gravesend & Northfleet staged an impressive comeback to earn a point at home to Farnborough after going two down within the first 18 minutes. Paul Harkness put the visitors in front in the seventh minute and struck his second goal 11 minutes later, but Chris Moore pulled one back for Fleet just before the break and Manny Omoyinmi levelled the match in the 77th minute.
On Wednesday night, Tamworth came from a goal down to beat Northwich, who led through Paul Brayson's 14th-minute penalty, following a foul on John Allen. The Lambs' leveller also came from the spot after Vics keeper Andrew Ralph brought down Bob Taylor in the box two minutes into the second half, with Marcus Ebdon keeping his cool from 12 yards. Tamworth then pushed for a winner and were rewarded with Tristram Whitman's fine low strike in the 65th minute, which was enough to give them the three points.
