With over a third of the Blue Square Premier season now completed, several sides continue to defy expectations and remain competitive among the higher positions of the league tale. Kettering Town, Crawley Town and Histon were not universally deemed championship material before the campaign commenced, yet the three sides sit among the top four positions.
Histon and Crawley Town met at Bridge Road on Saturday, where the visitors could have gone eight points above their hosts if they had won. Having hit the woodwork several times, Antonio Murray sealed the points for The Stutes, ensuring the gap is just two points as well as holding the benefit of a game in hand.
The loss also cost Steve Evans' side the top spot in the division, as John Dempster's goal seven minutes from time moved Kettering Town to the summit. The 1-0 win was their fourth victory in a row, and handed Kidderminster Harriers their first loss in four on their travels.
Cambridge United's 2-2 draw at Forest Green Rovers on Thursday night ensures The U's remain third, three points off the lead, but Mark Preece's equaliser for Rovers cost Gary Brabin's men the chance to move into second. Despite not having won in six away fixtures, his side have lost only once in eight on the road.
The final side currently residing in the playoffs is Torquay United, who secured their seventh win in a nine game unbeaten run. Their 2-0 win at Ebbsfleet was revenge for their loss to The Fleet earlier in the campaign and extends their hosts poor run of form to four games without a point.
Nigel Clough's Burton Albion slipped outside the top five after a 2-1 loss at Oxford Unite, who now have three home wins in a row and sit three points above the drop zone. Wrexham and Stevenage Borough both climbed to only four points outside the top five after both securing wins on Saturday.
Steve Morison became the first player to reach ten Blue Square Premier goals this season, securing Stevenage's 2-0 home win against a Salisbury City side who have suffered six straight losses. Former Cambridge United centre back Mark Albrighton had opened the scoring with his first goal for the club.
Wrexham handed Mansfield Town their second home loss of the season in a clash between the two sides to be relegated from the Football League last season. The match was notable for each of the Williams brothers, Mike and Mark, to both find the net for the Welsh side as they came from behind to win 2-1.
York City sit next in the table after recording back to back wins for the first time since the opening two games of the season. Mark Robinson and Craig Farrell's goals sealed a 2-0 home win over Rushden and Diamonds, who have only four wins in their last fourteen fixtures.
At the bottom of the league, Northwich Victoria moved off the bottom of the division after a second consecutive victory, winning 3-2 against Lewes, who now sit bottom themselves. John Allen and Darryn Stamp struck early goals to put The Vics on the way to their first away victory all season, having previously earned just one point from seven games.
Northwich also climb above Grays, who were denied a rare win by Paul Lorraine's strike three minutes from time against Woking. The 1-1 draw leaves Grays only a point off the bottom, while Woking move out of the relegation zone at the expense of Forest Green on goal difference.
Eastbourne Borough sit four points above the drop zone after a 3-1 defeat at Barrow, who climb a point ahead of their visitors after a 3-1 win at Holker Street. Only a point above them is Weymouth, who ended Altrincham's excellent run of six games unbeaten with a 2-0 home win.
With Blue Square Premier football taking a step back for a week, The FA Cup takes priority for all the sides in the division on Saturday with clubs aiming to secure a place in the First Round before the fight for divisional position recommences.
Matt Ramsay
