Forest Green Return to Top Spot

...table for the first time in two months on Saturday with victory over Braintree Town.

Jon Parkin's 10th goal of the season in the 52nd minute made it seven home wins in a row for Rovers.

The deadlock was broken when Elliott Frear's cut-back was met by a powerful drive by Darren Carter, and although Braintree goalkeeper Michael Crowe made a superb save with his outstretched right hand, Parkin was on hand to head home from close range.

And they have now put the pressure on Cheltenham Town, who could return to the top if they get a point or more against Dover Athletic tomorrow.

Grimsby Town kept up the pressure on the top two with a 5-0 win over relegation-threatened Altrincham at Blundell Park.

The Mariners were in control throughout the game, having taken the lead in the 2nd minute through Andy Monkhouse with their first real attack.

Omar Bogle doubled the hosts’ advantage after 19 minutes, before Monkhouse’s second goal of the game made it 3-0 just 7 minutes into the second half.

Top scorer Padraig Amond netted Grimsby’s fourth of the afternoon just past the hour-mark to take his tally to 25 for the season and ensure he appeared on the scoresheet for the seventh consecutive league game.

And Nathan Arnold rounded off the scoring with a fifth goal in the first minute of stoppage time.

The result saw Grimsby close the gap to six points between themselves and new league leaders Forest Green.

Eastleigh are fourth, six points behind Grimsby after being held to a 1-1 draw at Meadow Park by fifth-bottom Boreham Wood.

Wood started the game well, with Billy Clifford and Dan Woodards both going close, while Jai Reason had a long-range effort go inches wide.

Five minutes before the break, Eastleigh keeper Ross Flitney saved well from Connor Clifford`s header and a Clovis Kandjo shot and it came as little surprise when the hosts took the lead in the 43rd minute when Jamie Lucas` left-footed effort from 18 yards beat Flitney.

The second half saw Kaid Mohamed go close for the visitors and Wood keeper James Russell saved a Jack Midson effort.

But it looked as though Wood were going to hold on for three vital points – until the 2nd minute of stoppage time when, following Reason`s corner, Andy Drury slotted home the equaliser.

FC Halifax Town extended their unbeaten run under Jim Harvey to eleven games as they drew 1-1 against ten-man Woking.

The game had yet to catch fire until the 25th minute when Cards` full-back Chris Arthur was dismissed for a reckless challenge on James Bolton.

But on 34 minutes, after Nicky Wroe uncharacteristically surrendered possession inside the Woking half, Joey Jones broke out towards the halfway line before sending Bruno Andrade away, who capped a scintillating run with an excellent low shot.

However, the Shaymen equalised just 4 minutes later when Sam Walker curled a lovely free-kick beyond Jake Cole.

And, despite enjoying more possession, the Shaymen struggled to break through a resilient Woking defence after that.

Macclesfield Town`s top five hopes took a blow as they were beaten 2-0 at the Moss Rose by Aldershot Town, who are now fourteenth in the table.

Danny Whitehead went close early on for the Silkmen and David Fitzpatrick had a header saved by Phil Smith in the 11th minute.

But it was the visitors who took the lead after 19 minutes when Alfie Pavey headed home a Dan Walker cross from a narrow angle.

Pavey had an effort saved by Richie Branagan just before half-time as the Shots went into the break one-up.

And on 65 minutes they doubled their advantage when, following a foul on new signing Ross Lafayette, Damon Lathrope beat Branagan with a neatly-taken free-kick.

And, despite just edging the possession stats, Macclesfield were unable to find a response.

Tranmere Rovers extended their good to four wins in five games, thanks to a solid 1-0 win at Bromley.

The goal came from the unlikeliest of sources, as defender Lee Vaughan celebrated making his switch to Prenton Park a permanent one with his first strike in nearly three years.

The right-back was on the end of an Adam Mekki pass in the 54th minute, and he thumped home to earn Rovers all three points.

Gateshead also extended their unbeaten run to four games in all competitions as they won 2-0 at the Launa Windows Stadium against struggling Torquay United.

Ryan Bowman headed the opener from a corner on the half-hour mark against his former club after the Gulls had failed to take a host of earlier chances.

Danny Johnson eventually doubled the Tynesiders` lead in the 52nd minute after CJ Hamilton had raced down the right and crossed in to the unmarked striker.

Johnson had a chance to make it 3-0, while debutant Toby Ajala went close for Torquay, who are now eight points from the safety mark.

Wrexham came from behind to secure their first win in five league games and extend Lincoln City's winless run to ten games.

Top scorer Matt Rhead gave Lincoln the lead after 14 minutes with a penalty after Jack Muldoon was fouled by keeper Rhys Taylor.

Paul Farman denied James Gray before Wes York equalised on 36 minutes with a glancing header from Connor Jennings' cross.

Three minutes after the break Wrexham went in front when Jennings got on the end of a Dominic Vose cross to score from close range.

And 4 minutes from time, Simon Heslop's secured Wrexham's first win of 2016 with a strike from outside the area.

Chester FC and in-form Southport were forced to share the spoils from a goalless home draw in their derby clash.

Ross Hannah should have put the game out of Southport's reach in the second half, but he ballooned a six-yard shot over the bar after on-loan visiting keeper Max Crocombe had parried Ryan Higgins' 25-yard drive.

Both sides looked dangerously in the final third in the closing stages but failed to find the target.

Barrow AFC secured a much-needed victory against relegation-threatened Welling United at Park View Road.

The visitors started the first half the brighter and twice went close in the opening few minutes with both Danny Pilkington and Grimes having shots deflected just wide.

But it was Welling who took the lead against the run of play when Xavier Vidal coolly slotted home a penalty after Kadell Daniel had been taken down by Andy Parry.

However, Barrow grabbed the leveller in first half injury-time when Danny Livesey headed home brilliantly from Danny Pilkington’s corner.

The away side were clearly spurred on by this goal and 10 minutes into the second half they took the lead.

Ashley Grimes headed home from another Pilkington corner to eventually seal the points.

A late goal saw Kidderminster Harriers fall to a seventh straight defeat against Guiseley AFC at Aggborough.

This was Harriers first home match of the year after a host of games were called off.

The only goal came in the 79th minute when Guiseley substitute Liam Dickinson made an immediate impact.

He had been 91 seconds on the pitch when he swept home at the far post after Harriers had failed to deal with a corner.