Conference Round-up

Last updated : 01 September 2004 By Al Woodcock
The Bees of Barnet are buzzing after going top of the Conference over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The North Londoners recorded their third win on the bounce at Canvey Island on Monday, inflicting the first defeat on last season's runaway Ryman League champions. A Sinclair strike on 27 minutes was enough for Barnet to take the points, and left them a point clear of Aldershot Town and Accrington Stanley.

The Shots followed up Saturday's 3-0 crushing of Burton Albion with a hard-fought 2-1 success at Woking. Ferguson put the home team ahead on 10 minutes but Sills levelled for the visitors on 62 and Welsh international Darren Barnard grabbed the winner in the closing seconds. A league-best 3,718 turned out to watch. Accrington moved into third last night with a 1-0 victory at York City. The home team have made a poor start with four defeats in five games. To add to their woes, they had Chris Porter sent off.

Hereford bounced back after their shock 1-0 home defeat to Stevenage on Saturday with a comfortable 4-1 victory at Northwich. Adam Stansfield's double put the Bulls two-up in 17 minutes although Vics were back in it within a minute when Paul Brayson scored on 18. Green made it three for Hereford on the hour and David Brown completed the scoring with 19 minutes left.

Stevenage are going well with three wins in a row. The Borough saw off Tamworth 2-0 thanks to second-half strikes from Brady and Goodliffe. Nobody is going as well though as Gravesend and Northfleet who won their two Bank Holiday fixtures by an aggregate of 9-1. On Saturday they hammered sorry York 4-0 and on Monday afternoon they demolished bottom side Forest Green 5-1 at The Lawn. They were 2-0 up at the break with goals from Drury and Skinner. Beesley pulled one back, Roy Essandoh made it 3-1 and then Drury grabbed his second before the final strike from former Oxford forward Jefferson Louis in the last minute.

Joy at last for Morecambe who won at the fifth time of asking. Struggling Leigh RMI slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Christie Park as Jim Harvey's men went two-up through Hunter and Curtis before Meechan pulled one back for the Railway Mechanics.

Former leaders Dagenham and Redbridge suffered their first defeat at Crawley Town, who claimed another notable scalp with goals from Charlie McDonald and Ryan Palmer.

HOW THEY STAND
Barnet541011313
Aldershot54018212
Accrington540110712
Gravesend532015511
Hereford531111410
Dag & Red531111610
Scarboro53118510
Crawley53116610