Blue Square Premier action returned with a full list of fixtures on Saturday after an interlude last weekend for action in the latter stages of The FA Trophy. As predicted in recent weeks, each set of results is proving vital for proceedings at both ends of the table, and this weekend was no different.

Aldershot Town took great strides towards their goal promotion this season by moving eight points clear at the summit. The Shots came from behind to record a 2-1 victory over Kidderminster Harriers at The Recreation Ground.

Ben Harding struck the winner after the sides exchanged goals in the opening five minutes of play. Matthew Barnes-Homer opened the scoring before Daniel Hylton levelled things and continued his own fine scoring form.

The news became even better for Aldershot when it became clear that Torquay United had lost ground by falling to defeat in a lunchtime kickoff. Grays Athletic maintained their fine record against the top teams by seeing off The Gulls 2-0. Each of the current top three sides in the division have been seen off by Grays since Christmas, lifting the Essex side to just below the top half.

Each of the other three sides in the playoff places recorded wins on Saturday, the points taking on added significance given that Burton Albion slumped to a rare loss. Histon rose to eighth by avenging their recent Trophy loss by securing a 3-1 win at The Pirelli Stadium. Daniel Wright netted twice and new strike partner Jack Midson made sure of the points as The Stutes bounced back from their midweek collapse against Stafford.

Despite having a game in hand, Burton now slip to four points outside of the top five and will be desperate to create an upturn in form in order to avoid a second consecutive season of finishing sixth.

Torquay also have a game in hand, but their loss means that they are now only two points away from falling out of the top two. Lee Boylan's double strike helped maintain Cambridge United's excellent home form to move them within a few points of challenging their southern rivals for second place. Defeated York City's thin hopes of reaching the playoffs seem over after two consecutive league losses in Cambridgeshire.

Exeter City and Stevenage Borough remain tied on 61 points after both securing home wins. Stevenage saw off Crawley Town 3-1 in a remarkable match in which the visitors played almost the entire game without a recognised goalkeeper on the field. Ashley Bayes was sent off after just five minutes for handling outside his penalty area. James Krause was also later sent off, leading to Steve Morison scoring the sealing goal against nine-man opposition.

Exeter saw off a spirited Altrincham challenge to win 2-1 against opponents making their longest trip of the season, Adam Stansfield and Matthew Gill scoring in close succession in the first half. The result could be of great importance to both sides, as other matches went against Altrincham.

Farsley Celtic moved out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 victory at Stafford, plummeting Weymouth into the drop zone for the first time all season and seeing Altrincham only a point away from the drop. Steve Torpey and a spot-kick from Dominic Krief made the difference, with Stafford had Wayn Daniel dismissed for conceding the penalty.

In their second season at this level, The Terras face a serious challenge to remain at this level as it becomes apparent that John Hollins and Alan Lewer have failed to arrest the side's slide down the table. They sit a point below Farsley and Altrincham. Weymouth have a game in hand and Altrincham have played still more matches, but this is often not decisive as teams at that level are more likely to lose their matches.

Weymouth succumbed 2-1 at The Shay, as Halifax Town ended a poor run of their own to earn the points. Andy Campbell and Simon Heslop netted the goals after Anton Robinson had given the visitors the lead. Weymouth's misery was compounded by the late dismissal of Scott Doe, but Jon Shaw's resultant penalty was saved by Stephen Henderson to keep the score at 2-1.

Rushden and Diamonds were the only other side to record a victory on Saturday, securing their tenth league win of the season in seeing off Woking 2-1. Jon Challinor and Michael Rankine scored the goals as Woking lost for their third match on a row, despite scoring the opening goal through Matt Pattison.

The final two matches ended with the points being shared. Forest Green Rovers and Oxford United played out a goalless draw, while the most notable point from the afternoon was the fact that there were more away fans than there were home fans, with over 800 Oxford fans making the trip.

The final match saw six goals shared as Northwich Victoria and Ebbsfleet United played out a draw. Ebbsfleet drop to eleven points outside the playoffs but will be satisfied with a point after being 2-0 down with ten men, and also recovering from 3-1 down to grab a point. Stacey Long and Chukki Eribenne netted the late goals which rescued a point for The Fleet, while The Vics climbed above Stafford to third bottom, still nine points from safety.

The season is now less than two months away from its conclusion and the weekend's action proves that competition for places is at its greatest peak so far this season. Starting with Aldershot's high profile clash with Torquay on Monday night, each round of fixtures is crucial in the run-in to this season's Blue Square Premier campaign.

Matt Ramsay