Cambridge 2 Burton 0
Cambridge did their promotion hopes the world of good with a hard-fought win over runaway league leaders Burton.
A cagey first half saw chances few and far between with the best opportunity falling to Cambridge forward Courtney Pitt, but he was unable to keep his close-range shot on target.
The deadlock was broken on 54 minutes when Pitt broke down the right and sent an inch-perfect cross straight into Scott Rendell’s path, leaving the forward – on loan from Peterborough – with the simplest of finishes.
Robbie Willmott doubled The U’s advantage with just 15 minutes left on the clock, before Burton’s Martin Butler saw red late on for serious foul play.
Forest Green 3 Oxford 3
Adam Murray and Conal Platt both scored superb free-kicks as the points were shared in this six-goal thriller at The New Lawn.
Two penalties in five minutes from James Constable put the visitors in total control after 26 minutes, after Jeremy Gill and Mark Preece both committed fouls in the penalty area.
But Forest Green found themselves back on level terms before the half-time interval, courtesy of Darren Jones’ fine strike and a header from Platt.
Former Derby midfielder Murray put Oxford back in front with a superb free-kick on 63 minutes, before Platt followed suit five minutes later to ensure both sides claimed a point.
Kettering 1 Histon 0
Gareth Seddon’s solitary goal was enough to earn Kettering their fourth straight win at Rockingham Road and dent Histon’s chances of promotion.
Seddon’s 16th strike of the season put The Poppies ahead just eight minutes into the second half, as he thumped home Jean-Paul Marna’s fine cross.
But the visitors were given a boost just after the hour mark when home defender Guy Branston was shown a straight red for a professional foul.
Nathaniel Knight-Percival had an excellent chance to rescue a point for The Stutes at the death but his looping header sailed just wide.
Eastbourne 1 Wrexham 0
Matt Smart’s late strike earned Eastbourne their first win in five matches and dealt Wrexham’s play-off chances a severe blow at The Langney Sports Club.
Smart’s fourth goal of the season came with just five minutes left on the clock after an excellent run and cross from Daniel Brown presented him with the easiest of headers.
Wrexham had chances of their own to take the lead but their misfiring attack was severly blunted when top scorer Jefferson Louis was carried off on 61 minutes.
Substitute Wes Baynes came closest to finding an equaliser for Dean Saunders’ men, but his snap-shot, in the fourth minute of injury time, was well held by Sports’ stopper Lee Hook.
Grays 2 Altrincham 1
Former Tottenham forward Jamie Slabber gave Grays’ hopes for survival a huge boost, as his unstoppable drive proved good enough for his side’s first win in nine games.
Slabber was instrumental throughout and it was the 24-year-old that created Grays’ opener, as he found Barry Cogan, who raced clear to score on the stroke of half-time.
The Blues were two up and cruising just six minutes into the second half when Slabber rifled into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Matthew Doughty ensured a nervous finish when he smashed home an 89th-minute penalty after Rob Beckwith had fouled Joe O’Neill but the hosts clung on for the points.
Mansfield 1 Lewes 0
Lewes’s chances of surviving the drop took yet another hit at Field Mill as Nathan Arnold’s goal was enough to hand Mansfield the victory.
Rooks stopper Rikki Banks had to be on top form in the first half as Mansfield surged forward and was on hand to deny Aaron O’Connor and Michael Blackwood.
But Mansfield boss David Holdsworth rung the changes at half time and it soon paid dividends as winger Arnold fired home Ryan Williams’s cross.
Substitute Tim Rivers could have snatched a late equaliser for Kevin Keehan’s strugglers but his effort was saved by Alan Marriott.
Northwich 0 Stevenage 1
Promotion-chasing Stevenage played for almost an hour with ten men but held on to sink relegation-threatened Northwich.
The struggling Vics were handed a lifeline in the 38th minute when Ronnie Henry was sent off for violent conduct after hacking down debutant striker Kyle Perry.
But Stevenage – who sit in the Blue Square Premier play-offs – dominated and took the lead in the 55th minute when Mark Roberts tapped home from close range.
Northwich – under the guidance of caretaker boss Andy Preece – threw everything at the Boro defence late on but couldn’t force an equaliser.
Torquay 1 Rushden & Diamonds 1
Lee Tomlin’s goal ensured Rushden came from behind to secure a point against high-flying Torquay at Plainmoor.
Torquay’s goal on the stroke of half time was no more than they deserved as Tim Sills nodded home Mustapha Carayol’s corner after 41 minutes.
And it was more of the same after the break as Dale Roberts was forced to make point-blank saves from Kevin Nicholson and Danny Stevens.
But Lee Tomlin ensured Rushden stole a share of the points against the run of play, blasting the ball home from the edge of the box.
Woking 1 Barrow 0
Oliver Bozanic handed Woking a vital three points in their fight for survival as they edged past fellow strugglers Barrow.
Bozanic netted the only goal of the game after just 22 minutes when he cannoned the ball home from outside the box past the dive of Alan Martin.
Bozanic then went close to adding a second for the Cards on the stroke of half time but his close-range effort was snuffed out by keeper Martin.
Martin was again called into action after the break while at the other end, Mark Boyd and Peter Winn could have equalised but fired wide.
Salisbury 0 Kidderminster 0
Adam Bartlett was the Kidderminster hero as he saved an injury-time penalty from Matt Tubbs to deny Salisbury all three points.
Referee Simon Long pointed to the spot with just seconds of the game remaining after Brian Smikle had felled Charles Ademeno.
Smikle had earlier stung the palms of Whites stopper James Bittner while Darryl Knights went close for Mark Yates’ men.