Oxford United moved six points clear at the top of the Blue Square Premier table on Tuesday night as a James Constable double secured a 2-0 win over ten-man AFC Wimbledon at the Kassam Stadium.
Chris Wilder's men started brightly, though they spurned several chances before taking the lead through Constable's low 20-yard shot after 14 minutes.
The U`s nearly doubled their lead 5 minutes after the break but Sam Deering's free kick from just outside the area struck a post.
The hosts piled on the pressure, and Wimbledon's task of getting something from the match was made doubly difficult when Jay Conroy was shown his second red card of the season for a foul on Deering in the 58th minute.
From the resulting Anthony Tonkin free kick, only a fine save from Dons` keeper James Pullen kept the deficit to one goal.
Constable made sure of the points 10 minutes from the end with a strike from just inside the area.
Kettering Town continued their fine away form with a 3-1 win over Tamworth.
While they haven't managed to collect three points in front of their own supporters since September 26th, this was the Poppies` twelfth away success - comfortably the best in the league.
It's that form that has kept them in the play-off picture and it ensured they warmed up nicely for this weekend's tasty derby date with A6 neighbours Rushden & Diamonds.
Kettering had the game under control within the first 20 minutes, during which they established a two-goal lead.
After John Dempster had twice gone close with headers from Marcus Kelly corners and James Dance had been well denied by Lambs` keeper Danny Alcock, Kwesi Appiah put Kettering ahead on 17 minutes, slotting home at the second attempt after Alcock blocked his initial header.
Three minutes later, Darren Wrack's cross was turned into his own net by Jay Smith and the Poppies had breathing space.
Dance and James Jennings were further denied by Alcock before half time and the Poppies could have easily been four or five up by the break.
The home side needed a good start to the second half and substitute Jermone Murdock thought he'd won a penalty on 50 minutes but the referee instead booked him for diving. And Kettering rubbed salt in the wound 60 seconds later when Dance sprang the offside trap from Kelly's pass and ran through to finish well.
With the game won, the Poppies could afford to take their foot off the gas.
However, they twice went close to extending their advantage, first when Kelly had a free kick cleared off the line by Michael Tait and former Tamworth player Anthony Robinson then had a shot saved with his first touch after coming on as an 81st minute substitute.
Chris Smith's header from a corner late on was a consolation for Tamworth but Michael Wylde's missed from a yard out in injury-time, which just about summed up the Lambs` night.
Craig Baxter's fine strike gave lowly Gateshead a much-needed 1-0 victory over Altrincham at the International Stadium.
In the process, Ian Bogie's men moved three points clear of the relegation zone.
The Tynesiders were marginally the better side in a first half of few clear-cut chances, although Brian Wake headed over from close range in the 21st minute when he eprhaps should have done better.
Altrincham, who needed a win to keep their slim hopes of snatching a play-off spot alive, had their first real opportunity in the 56th minute when Greg Young's shot from 20 yards struck a post. However, the hosts pushed forward and were rewarded when Baxter's stunning 35-yard effort found the top corner in the 74th minute.
The Robins tried valiantly to find the equaliser but Gateshead held on to claim all three points.
