Oxford United were unable to take advantage of Stevenage Borough`s involvement in the FA Trophy on Saturday as play-off contenders Kettering Town produced another fine away-day in the Blue Square Premier.
James Dance grabbed Kettering a 1-1 draw after former Poppy Francis Green had given title-chasing Oxford the lead.
For a game featuring two of the top five sides, the opening stages were awful with neither team able to take a firm grip on things.
Jack Midson just failed to get a touch on Green's menacing cross while at the other end Kwesi Appiah fired just wide after Oxford had failed to clear a free kick.
But a nervy home crowd were celebrating on 36 minutes when Green ran on to Lewis Chalmers' ball and coolly clipped the ball over Nathan Abbey.
Their joy was only shortlived, however, as the Poppies hit back 3 minutes before half time.
Marcus Kelly floated in a corner and James Dance rose higher than anyone else to place his header into the top corner.
Both managers made early substitutions after the break but the second period started much like the first with both sides lacking quality when they were in possession.
There was a heart-in-the-mouth moment for the Poppies when Greg Taylor hauled down John Grant in the area but an offside flag spared Oxford a penalty and Taylor a red card.
The Poppies seemed happy with a scrappy game but the hosts were frustrated and that boiled over as U's assistant-manager Micky Lewis and Kettering boss Lee Harper exchanged words.
Marcus Kelly tested Ryan Clarke from distance but tempers flared again after Jean-Paul Marna had challenged Jake Wright. The incident earned both players a booking.
The Poppies were forced to go into stoppage-time with just ten players as Ian Roper was injured and all the substitutes were on the pitch.
But they saw it out to hold on to another point on the road.
Wrexham old boy Tom Craddock came back to haunt his old club as his thirteenth goal of the season helped maintain Luton Town's play-off push.
The Luton striker's 35th minute strike secured their third successive win as the ball eluded keeper Sam Russell.
Wes Baynes and Andy Mangan tested Luton keeper Mark Tyler while Andy Fleming's thunderbolt strike hit the bar.
Former Wrexham loan signing Craddock should have doubled the lead but his was kept out by Russell's feet.
A sensational performance increased Rushden & Diamonds` play-off hopes against relegation-threatened Gateshead at Nene Park.
Skipper Jamie Stuart marked his return with an early goal to open the floodgates.
He headed home Mark Byrne's corner after just 4 minutes and Max Porter slotted home for the second successive game before the break.
Jefferson Louis, Byrne and Lee Tomlin add further goals in a 15-minute spell at the start of the second half.
Louis made it six of the best, Craig Farrell fired home number seven and Simon Downer completed the rout.
Aaron O'Connor and Byrne both came close before Stuart opened the scoring, while Diamonds continued to create clear-cut chances.
Byrne, O'Connor, Tomlin, Louis and Michael Corcoran threatened to double the lead – although Dale Roberts twice denied Peter Winn from long range.
The second goal duly arrived on 43 minutes as Tomlin's clever flick fed Porter who claimed his first at Nene Park.
Four minutes into the second half Louis provided a crisp finish from Tomlin's left-wing cross.
Louis then set up Byrne for Diamonds' fourth goal and Tomlin's angled drive made it 5-0 before Louis nodded in substitute Farrell's right-wing cross.
Farrell found the far corner and forced a superb save from Paul Farman whose frustration led to a yellow card.
Farman's mis-kick provided a simple tap-in for Simon Downer to make it 8-0.
York City's winless run was extended to six games as Altrincham secured their fourth consecutive league draw at Moss Lane.
City's top scorer Richard Brodie had several chances to secure three points for Martin Foyle's side, who dominated the second half.
The Minstermen's clearest chance came late on when Brodie inexplicably fired over from close range.
York also had a penalty appeal turned down when Brodie was booked for diving.
Michael Gash and Brodie had both gone close to giving York a first half lead. But Gash's goal-bound effort was blocked by Greg Young and Brodie nodded over from close range just before the break.
Jamie Clarke missed a great chance late on when he failed to connect with the ball from close range after a cutback from Michael Rankine.
The Minstermen should have secured three points when Rankine's shot looked to be heading into the back of Stuart Coburn's net. But as the ball was heading towards the goal-line, Brodie managed to fire it over the bar.
AFC Wimbledon boosted their hopes of claiming a play-off place with a 2-0 win over Eastbourne Borough at Kingsmeadow.
Goals from Glenn Poole and Danny Kedwell earned victory for Terry Brown's men, who were winless in three prior to this game.
The hosts started brightly, with Ben Judge heading over in the first minute, and although Eastbourne had the lion's share of possession thereafter, neither side could make inroads until Poole's low finish from Ricky Wellard's pass gave the Dons the lead in the 42nd minute.
Poole spurned two chances either side of half time as Wimbledon looked to double their advantage.
Jamie Taylor could have grabbed an equaliser for the visitors with 17 minutes remaining but Dons` keeper James Pullen pulled off a decent save.
Kedwell put the result beyond doubt with 5 minutes remaining as he latched onto Derek Duncan's cross before smashing into the far corner.
Crawley Town kept their play-off hopes alive with a 2-1 win at the Broadfield Stadium against strugglers Ebbsfleet United.
Substitute Michael Malcolm opened the scoring with 15 minutes remaining as the striker climbed above the Fleet defence to head home a Danny Forrest flick-on from six yards.
Charles Ademeno looked to have settled the game in favour of the hosts as he volleyed home a Glenn Wilson pass from 12 yards out after 86 minutes. But Moses Ashikodi gave the visitors a lifeline, as the striker fired home a free kick from the edge of the area after Karl Broadhurst had brought down Stefan Bailey.
But the home side saw out the 4 minutes of stoppage time to grab all three points.
Tamworth held Mansfield Town to a goalless draw as they secured a vital point in their battle against relegation
In an even first half, both sides had good early chances to take the lead with the Stags` Rob Duffy going close and the Lamb`s Bradley Pritchard heading wide from six yards.
Tamworth's Alex Rodman also had an opportunity to give the away side a half time advantage but he shot wide from 12 yards.
The second period saw Mansfield dominate the game but they were unable to find a winner.
Gary Mills and Kyle Perry both had shots blocked by the Tamworth defence, but the home side's best chance came on 59 minutes when Luke Foster headed an Andy Burgess free kick over the bar from close range.
Cambridge United came from behind to extend their unbeaten run to six games with a 2-1 derby win over Histon at the Abbey Stadium.
Andy Pugh fired the visitors ahead shortly after the hour-mark, but goals from Scott Neilson and Paul Carden ensured the U`s came out on top.
The Stutes had a chance to open the scoring in the 26th minute when Danny Crow was adjudged to have handled in the area, but Simon Brown pulled off a marvellous save to keep out Charlie Sheringham's penalty.
Cambridge were the better team in the opening stages of the second half but fell behind in the 61st minute when Pugh's low effort from 12 yards found a way past Brown.
The hosts were back on level terms within 6 minutes, Neilson slotting home from close range from Crow's cross.
Brian Saah hit the post with a header as the hosts pushed for a winner and they were eventually rewarded with 5 minutes remaining as Carden fired home a superb low shot from 30 yards.
Grays Athletic are now fourteen points from safety at the bottom of the table following a goalless draw at home to Hayes & Yeading United.
The result means that Julian Dicks` side have now gone fourteen games without win and look destined to be relegated.
The hosts dominated the first period but were unable to break down a stubborn Hayes side.
Grays' best chance came from Jamie Guy but the striker somehow managed to miss the target from six yards out after escaping the clutches of the visiting defence.
Harlee Dean also had a great opportunity for the home side but he guided his header from point-blank range into the arms of Clark Masters in the Hayes goal.
Hayes improved after the break, putting the hosts on the back foot and almost snatched all three points at the death, but Matt Ruby put his header over the bar from six yards out.
