Oxford United extended their lead at the top of the Blue Square Premier table to five points on Tuesday night after a 2-0 win against pre-season title favourites Luton Town at the Kassam Stadium.
The kick-off was delayed to allow the crowd of 10,613 to settle into the ground and a few were still to get in when Mark Tyler produced a fine save to deny Oxford`s top scorer James Constable from the penalty spot as early as the 3rd minute.
However, within a minute he had opened the scoring and recent returnee Jamie Cook made it 2-0 with an excellent effort after 16 minutes.
Visiting skipper Kevin Nicholls was shown a straight red card 11 minutes into the second half and with his departure went any hope the Hatters had of getting back into the game.
Lincoln City and Northampton Town have both given Kettering Town boss Mark Cooper admiring glances and Cooper himself has spoken of his ambition to manage in the Football League.
The bookies certainly think he's on the shortlist for Sixfields where Stuart Gray was sacked on Tuesday. But for the moment, he' still in charge of the Poppies and he watched his side climb to second in second in the table after a comprehensive win over Gateshead at Rockingham Road.
The Poppies started at a pace and, unlike against Altrincham, this time they made the breakthrough as early as the 10th minute when Lee Fowler's corner was crashed home a volley from the edge of the box by Danny Thomas.
It should have been 2-0 soon after as Damian Spencer worked his way clear, only to be twice denied by a brilliant double-save from Tynesiders keeper Jim Provett.
But with the Poppies seemingly able to carve through the Gateshead defence at will, it seemed only matter of time before they scored again and it duly came on 32 minutes as Andre Boucard slipped Moses Ashikodi in for his second goal in as many games.
That left the Poppies in control at half time and Cooper evidently thought so too as, just past the hour, he amazed the home support by replacing recewnt signing Moses Ashikodi, who was having a superb game, with Patrick Noubissie and switching to 4-5-1, Cooper seemingly electing to held what he had.
Not that it made much difference to Gateshead's battered defence who left Francis Green all alone in the box to drill home the third on 73 minutes.
Green's reward was to be taken off soon after, Cooper resting players ahead of the weekend trip to York, it transpired.
It might have backfired on them as the Poppies finished with ten-men after Boucard limped off on 78 minutes.
Instead, the Poppies made it 4-0 on 82 minutes when Spencer nodded home from close range from Fowler's free kick.
Kidderminster Harriers earned a fine 3-1 win against Mansfield Town at Aggborough.
Matthew Barnes-Homer put the home side ahead after 14 minutes and Gavin Caines doubled their advantage 2 minutes after the interval.
Chris McPhee made it surely game over in the 69th minute to give his side a three-goal cushion, ensuring Rob Duffy's 88th minute penalty was nothing more than a consolation for the Stags.
Salisbury City gained a 2-0 victory against Grays Athletic at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium.
Chris Flood opened the scoring after 25 minutes and Matty Tubbs doubled their advantage in the 62nd minute.
Stevenage Borough eased to a 2-0 win over Eastbourne Borough at Broadhall Way and were in impressive form.
Goals from Jon Ashton after 28 minutes and Ronnie Henry in the 68th were actually scant reward for a dominant performance from Graham Westley`s men.
Amazingly, four of the eleven games ended goalless. Barrow and York City played to a goalless draw at Holker Street, while Cambridge United were unable to break down a determined Altrincham at the Abbey Stadium.
Following a fine display which brought six goals at Barrow last Saturday, Rushden & Diamonds couldn`t find one at Stonebridge Road against Ebbsfleet United.
At least the Diamonds could celebrate their first clean sheet since the opening away game of the season at York City last month.
And Forest Green Rovers picked up only their second point of the season with a goalless draw against their fellow strugglers Hayes & Yeading United, who ended the game with ten-men.
The visitors played over half an hour a man down after Danny Allen-Page picked up two yellows in 2 minutes.
Tamworth moved into the play-off places with a 2-1 win against rock-bottom Chester City at the Deva Stadium.
Richard Tait put the Lambs ahead after 37 minutes and Chris Smith doubled their lead in the 59th minute.
Nick Chadwick pulled one back 13 minutes from time, but the visitors held firm to claim all three points.
Crawley Town claimed a 2-0 win against Histon at the Broadfield Stadium.
The match looked to be heading for another goalless draw before Chris Carruthers broke the deadlock just 3 minutes from the end of normal time.
And then substitute Jefferson Louis popped up in injury-time to double Crawley's advantage and put the result beyond doubt.
