CONFERENCE: NEW YEAR ROUND-UP
After ending a mini losing streak in their final game of 2004, it seems normal business has been resumed at Barnet as they secured a late victory over Stevenage in their first game of 2005.
Paul Fairclough's side gained revenge over his former club for their Boxing Day defeat at Broadhall Way as Ismail Yakubu headed the winner in the 87th minute of Sunday's televised game at Underhill.
The Nationwide Conference's top scorer Giuliano Grazioli, formerly a Boro favourite, lobbed Andy Woodman to give The Bees the lead, but Simon Weatherstone equalized for the visitors just after half time. Yakubu then popped up to head home from a corner three minutes from the end, helping Barnet stretch their lead to 13 points at the top of the table.
Second-placed Carlisle slipped further behind the runaway leaders as they were pegged back by Morecambe at Brunton Park, watched by 6,571 spectators - and many more on Sky Sports. The Cumbrians raced into a 2-0 lead within the first ten minutes of the match, with goals from Glenn Murray and Andy Preece. Morecambe pulled one back through Wayne Curtis but Magno Vieira restored the home side's two-goal advantage before half time.
The Shrimps produced a stirring comeback in the second half however, as Gary Hunter bundled the ball over the line just after the hour and Gary Thompson headed an impressive equaliser for the visitors in the 77th minute - leaving Paul Simpson's side disappointed.
In yet another game broadcast live on Sky Sports, Accrington Stanley came from behind to beat fellow promotion chasers Halifax at The Shay on Monday night, denying the home side the chance to go third in the table. Dean Howell's back-heel put Halifax ahead in the 37th minute, but Stephen Jagielka levelled with a superb volley just before the break and Ged Brannan scored the winning goal for Stanley six minutes into the second half, as the visitors hung on to move level on points with their beaten opponents.
There was rather a slumberous start to 2005 for several sides on New Year's Day, as Saturday's fixtures produced three goalless draws; Gravesend & Northfleet v Crawley, Forest Green v Aldershot, and Farnborough v Woking all ended 0-0.
However, there were plenty of goals at Park Lane - six to be precise - where Canvey Island recorded their first win in nine games, in some style, against Dagenham & Redbridge. The home side made a flying start, as Neil Gregory and Ollie Berquez put them two up within eight minutes. Neil Midgley made it 3-0 just before the hour, but Dominic Sterling's own goal followed by Jake Leberl's neat finish for the Daggers gave the visitors brief hope of snatching a point, before Junior McDougald sealed victory for the Islanders ten minutes from time.
It was a game of three free-kicks at Edgar Street as the set-piece skills of Andrew Taylor and Adam Stansfield came to the fore in Exeter's 2-1 win over Hereford. Taylor's 21st-minute effort was deflected into his own goal by Stansfield, but the Bulls striker made amends by firing in with his left foot in the 66th minute. Not to be outdone, Taylor stepped up to strike another free-kick 11 minutes later, curling the ball in the top corner from 25 yards to give the Grecians an important victory.
Burton Albion picked up their second successive win of the holiday period as first-half goals from Jon Shaw and Kris Taylor were enough to see off Tamworth. Shaw met Craig Dudley's cross to put the visitors ahead in the 35th minute, and Taylor doubled their advantage in first-half stoppage time with a fine drive. The Lambs battled to get back into the game as both Bob Taylor and Mark Turner were denied, but Albion held on to get the New Year off to a perfect start.
