With Blue Square Premier leaders Oxford United`s game against Rushden & Diamonds falling victim of a frozen Kassam Stadium pitch, it gave the chasing pack a chance to make up ground on Boxing Day.
And Stevenage Borough moved to within two points of the U`s but Wayne Hatswell's 28th minute dismissal for violent conduct proved the turning point as ten-man Cambridge United were beaten by second-placed Boro at the Abbey Stadium.
A bad-tempered first half saw Danny Crow convert from the spot after just 5 minutes for Cambridge before Yemi Odubade replied with another penalty for Stevenage ojn 27 minutes.
On 54 minutes Charlie Griffin latched onto Odubade's cross from a yard out to give Boro a second-half lead, and then Chris Beardsley fired home Ronnie Henry's cross 5 minutes from time to secure Boro's win.
York City`s top scorer Richard Brodie took his total for the season to twenty-two goals with a brace against ten-man Mansfield Town at the KitKat Crescent.
City took the lead after 21 minutes when Brodie headed home a Chris Carruthers cross from six yards.
He doubled his tally 3 minutes after the break with his seventh penalty of the season, after being brought down by Luke Jones, who was subsequently dismissed.
Nine minutes from time Brodie turned provider for York's third, setting up Michael Gash who fired home from the edge of the area.
AFC Wimbledon maintained their play-off aspirations with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Hayes & Yeading United at Kingsmeadow.
The Dons got off to flying start as Danny Kedwell found the back of the net after just 6 minutes.
Luis Cumbers doubled their advantage after 10 minutes and Kedwell netted again in the 17th minute to make it 3-0.
Jon Main put the hosts in a commanding position with a 31st minute effort and capped off a fine performance when he found the net again 11 minutes from time.
Kettering Town's poor home continued as they battled out a goalless draw with Tamworth.
The game was only given the go ahead after a fine effort by volunteers to clear snow off the pitch but the game failed to live up to any expectations.
Kidderminster Harriers recorded a comfortable 2-0 win against bottom-markers Chester City in their first game since Mark Yates' departure to take charge at Coca-Cola League Two side Cheltenham Town.
Harriers went ahead early after 16 minutes as Robbie Matthews set up Gavin Caines, who struck from close range.
The home side could have increased their lead but were denied by a series of smart saves from City keeper John Danby.
Although City went close through James Owen and Glenn Rule, Harriers secured the win in the last minute when a Damian Spencer cross was converted by Duane Courtney.
Relegation-threatened Eastbourne Borough twice came from behind to earn a point with Sussex neighbours Crawley Town and extend their unbeaten run to six games.
Charles Ademeno's low shot gave Crawley a 7th minute lead before Liam Enver-Marum converted from Simon Johnson's cross to level for Boro on 18 minutes.
Crawley were back in front 3 minutes later when Glenn Wilson headed home from Michael Malcolm's cross. But Jamie Taylor finished from close range 2 minutes after half time to ensure that the derby points were shared.
Barrow came from behind three times against north-east rivals Gateshead to earn a draw in a Boxing Day goal-fest at Holker Street.
Neale McDermott gave the visitors an early 2nd minute lead before Marc Goodfellow fired in an equaliser just 2 minutes later.
McDermott then teed up Daryl Clare from close range just before the break, but Andy Bond raced on to Goodfellow's pass to slot home 6 minutes after the interval.
Clare poked home his second from Craig Baxter's assist on 57 minutes while Gregg Blundell tucked away Barrow's third equaliser on the hour-mark and the only surprise was that no more goals came in the final half-hour!
Forest Green Rovers eased past injury-ravaged relegation rivals Salisbury City to earn their second successive victory.
Isaiah Rankin gave the hosts the lead after 29 minutes, but Matty Tubbs had the chance to level from the spot only for his effort to be saved by Terry Burton before a Daniel Webb own goal doubled Rovers' lead right on half time.
Daniel Powell's breakaway goal made it 3-0 in the second half, with Tubbs' free kick a consolation for Salisbury 7 minutes from time.
Ricky Shakes scored his first goal of the season as Ebbsfleet United recorded a win over Grays Athletic in another bottom-of-the-table clash.
The home side took the lead after 10 minutes when Leon Crooks set up Magno Vieira who fired in from inside the area.
Grays equalised on 31 minutes when Ryan James struck from just outside the box.
Shakes then scored what proved to be the winner when he fired home from just the outside the area with 11 minutes remaining.
