At long last Stevenage Borough have secured promotion to the Football League for the first time in their history when victory against Kidderminster Harriers at Aggborough confirmed the Blue Square Premier title.
Stevenage arrived at Kidderminster knowing victory would make sure of the title and promotion. And the game got off to a dramatic start when, with just seconds gone, Harriers keeper Jasbir Singh handled a back pass, conceding a free kick inside his own area.
Andy Drury took the kick quickly and Charlie Griffin fired past Singh, but Stevenage's celebrations were cut short as the referee called for the set-piece to be taken again. But if Kidderminster thought they had been handed a reprieve they were mistaken as Griffin found the net again - and this time his strike from 18 yards counted.
Boro continued to control the game during the first half but could not find a second to settle their nerves.
Jerome Anderson hit the post from close range before Drury dragged a shot on the turn just wide.
Harriers enjoyed their best spell after half time but aside from Jack Byrne's effort they produced little to worry the visitors.
Even so Stevenage knew a second goal was vital to erase any lingering doubts about their elevation to League Two and it finally arrived when Joel Byrom surged forward and unleashed a low drive into the bottom corner.
Luton Town`s hopes of automatic promotion were ended after they could only share a goalless draw with Altrincham at Kenilworth Road.
Richard Money's side - needing to better Stevenage's result - could take top spot with two games remaining but they had the tough task of seeing off Graham Heathcote's well-drilled outfit first.
And the hosts set about making in-roads into the Robins backline, with Asa Hall and Kevin Gallen both working the hands of Stuart Coburn.
Alty continued to frustrate the Hatters and rarely looked like scoring themselves as the hosts continued to pepper the goal, with Rob Williams bravely blocking to foil Kevin Gallen and Jake Howells.
Peter Doran registered the visitors` first chance when he curled over the bar on the hour but it remained deadlocked as Luton were consigned to the play-offs.
Oxford United beat Mansfield Town 2-0 at the Kassam Stadium to build-up momentum towards their play-off campaign.
Chris Wilder's team were already guaranteed a play-off place but they set about inflicting damage on a Mansfield side whose own promotion push has faded when it mattered most.
Adam Chapman was the first to try his luck with a speculative effort and Kevin Sandwith could only head into the heads of Alan Marriott from 12 yards.
The U's onslaught continued as James Constable and Chapman fired toward goal. However, Mansfield held firm to go into the interval level.
The resistence crumbled in the 74th minute, though, and it was Constable who made the breakthrough with an expert finish from 12 yards.
The Stages could barely muster an attack and Constable struck again 4 minutes from time as United coasted home.
A makeshift side picked up three points as Rushden & Diamonds returned to winning ways at the Racecourse Ground against Wrexham.
Stand-in skipper Aaron O'Connor got the only goal on 16 minutes by turning the ball inside the near post when Curtis Osano nodded down Matt Pattison's right-wing corner.
But the in-form striker was carried away on a stretcher in the second half to raise fitness concerns ahead of the play-off semi finals.
Diamonds` boss Justin Edinburgh made five changes – including a league debut for goalkeeper Joe Day plus midfielder Jake Beecroft's first league appearance of the campaign.
O'Connor and Sam Smith had early efforts saved before the deadlock was broken, while Day made his first save from Mansour Assoumani.
After the break Gareth Taylor lobbed over an empty net following Day's error and Christian Smith twice missed the target with long-range drives.
Six minutes of stoppage-time failed to prevent Diamonds from recording another away win.
Duran Reynolds grabbed a late equaliser for ten-man Grays Athletic to snatch a draw at promotion-chasing York City.
The home side took the lead when top scorer Richard Brodie fired into the top corner from 12 yards.
Grays keeper Glyn Garner was sent-off for using abusive language after fouling Brodie, but the striker missed the resulting penalty.
And the visitors grabbed a point when Reynolds met Michael Ingham's punched clearance with a first-time volley.
Kettering Town claimed a morale-boosting victory as they thrashed ten-man Eastbourne Borough 4-0 at the Elgood Brewery Arena.
Two Jean-Paul Marna penalties in the first half and goals from Marcus Kelly and James Jennings wrapped things up.
Eastbourne had goalkeeper Dan Knowles sent-off and then carried off with what looked like a broken leg immediately afterwards.
The first half started quietly but it ended in high drama.
There were good chances for both sides as Simon Weatherstone forced Nathan Abbey into a fine save and within seconds Marna was sent clean through but could only shoot straight at Knowles.
Jennings and James Dance both went close for the hosts while Abbey saved again from Jamie Taylor.
But the afternoon was turned on its head on 37 minutes when Marna was sent through by Andre Boucaud.
He was brought down by Knowles, who was immediately shown a red card by the referee. But Knowles stayed down and it became clear that he had suffered a serious injury.
He was eventually carried off and Marna stepped up to beat substitute goalkeeper Dean Lightwood, who was only added to the bench after Neil Jenkins was withdrawn from the Eastbourne starting line-up ahead of kick-off.
Jennings managed to shoot high over the bar from close range in stoppage time but a second did arrive before half time and again it was from the spot as Ben Austin was penalised for handball. Marna made no mistake from 12 yards.
It proved to be something of a cruise for the Poppies after the break as Eastbourne looked to have had the stuffing knocked out of them.
Kelly made it 3-0 after good work from Dance. And Jennings made it two goals in two games as he fired into the corner after bursting into the area.
Jamie Taylor and Danny Thomas sent headers wide at either end but it was comfortable for Kettering.
Crawley Town ended their home campaign with a 2-0 win over Tamworth at the Broadfield Stadium.
The Reds looked weary in a goalless first half, hardly surprising as it was their fourth game in week. But they took the lead in the 58th minute when Charlie Ademeno was clipped by defender Michael Wylde in the penalty area and Danny Forrest despatched the penalty for his seventh goal of the season.
Ben Smith sealed Crawley's fourteenth home win of the campaign with a superbly struck curling effort inside the far post seven minutes later.
Nick Jordan kept a clean sheet with a smart save from Des Lyttle's header but Tamworth offered little threat, despite their precarious position at the bottom of the table.
Danny Crow's double helped Cambridge United secure their sixth successive home victory with a 4-1 win over relegation threatened Hayes & Yeading United.
Hayes' Justin Cochrane could have opened the scoring after just 2 minutes but his header was tipped over by Cambridge keeper Simon Brown.
The home side took the lead in the 16th minute when Rory McAuley nodded home his first league goal of the season.
Crow doubled the advantage slotting in his twenty-first goal of the season from close range after his initial effort hit the post.
Hayes pulled a goal back through Adam Green's 20-yard strike but United snuffed out any thoughts of a comeback just 4 minutes later when Crow netted his second of the game and Adam Marriott made the game safe when he scored with an 18 yard free kick.
Barrow were made to pay for a second half penalty miss as Jake Reid scored the only goal of the game giving nine-man Salisbury City a 1-0 win at Holker Street.
Barrow dominated the first half with Nick Chadwick having their best chance after 27 minutes but he shot wide from close range.
The away side started the second half on the front foot though and Chris Shephard should have given them the lead but he cleared the bar from close range.
However, Barrow had a great chance to take the lead against the run of play but Jason Walker's penalty was saved by Salisbury keeper James Bittner after Walker himself was fouled by Ronnie Bull.
They were made to pay for that penalty miss when Reid fired home from 20 yards 9 minutes from time.
There was still time for Bradley Gray to be sent-off for City for foul and abusive language, and Ben Adelsbury to pick up his second yellow card in stoppage time, but they hung on for the win.
Forest Green Rovers moved out of the relegation zone with a win against fellow strugglers Histon at the New Lawn.
Rovers took the lead on 39 minutes when Daniel Powell set up Jonathon Smith who fired in from inside the area.
The home side made it 2-0 just 5 minutes later when Tomi Ameobi teed up Reece Styche who powered the ball in.
Histon struggled to make an impact and were restricted to a handful of efforts as Rovers held on to secure a vital win in their battle against relegation.
Early and late goals from Magno Vieira and Alex Stavrinou were enough to secure a vital win for Ebbsfleet United in their relegation six-pointer with Gateshead at Stonebridge Road.
The home side got off to a flying start after just 2 minutes, as Moses Ashikodi crossed in from the right and Vieira tapped home from close range.
Ashikodi had a chance to double the lead 10 minutes later after hitting the bar with a header from six yards.
Peter Winn had a few early chances for Gateshead, whilst in the second half Chris Swailes, Andy Ferrell, Kris Gate and Paul Heckingbottom also had opportunities for the away side.
But 2 minutes from time, Stavrinou wrapped the game up from close range after Ricky Shakes` pass.
