It's hard to imagine a better set of results for Oxford United's play-off aspirations than tonight's in the Conference, as many of their rivals lost, a few drew, and only a couple made up any real ground by winning. York City remain in third place despite losing 1-0 at home to Stevenage Borough, for whom Paul Hakim scored. The Minstermen remain four points behind Oxford, having played the same number of games. Stevenage are now seventh, 11 points adrift of United with three games in hand. The only other winners among Oxford's closest challengers were Morecambe, who beat Northwich Victoria 2-1 to move up to fourth place, six points beneath Oxford with one game in hand. The Vics are fourth from bottom.

Burton Albion, Oxford's next opponents on Saturday, were held to a 0-0 draw at Kidderminster Harriers, to leave themselves in fifth place, level on points with Morecambe and having played the same number of games as them. Kiddy are 11th, 11 points below the play-off places. Another significant loser this evening were Exeter City, who were beaten 2-1 at 15th-placed Forest Green Rovers, for whom Paul Hardiker scored in the 90th minute. This leaves the Grecians in sixth place, three points behind Burton but also having played 39 games.

Gravesend & Northfleet's play-off ambitions took a hefty blow with their 2-1 defeat at Tamworth, who are 18th, two points above Northwich. This leaves the Fleet in eighth place, seven points below the play offs. Another potential play-off semi-finalist, Weymouth, went down 1-0 at Aldershot. This leaves the Terras in ninth place, one above the Shots but four points clear of them.

At the other end of the table, Southport remain bottom despite drawing 1-1 with Halifax, who are 19th. Southport are eight points from safety, with just six games remaining. Grays Athletic did their survival hopes a power of good with a 3-1 win over Rushden & Diamonds. Grays remain third from bottom, but are just two points below 20th-placed Cambridge United, having played two games fewer. Meanwhile, Crawley Town aren't safe yet, and they would have been wanting better than a 0-0 draw at home to Woking. This leaves Crawley 17th, but just three points above fourth-bottom Northwich.