Jackson's winner sees leaders Yeovil pull away

Yeovil Town increased their advantage at the top of the Nationwide Conference to five points with a hard-fought 1-0 home win over Forest Green Rovers at Huish Park yesterday.

Yeovil Town increased their advantage at the top of the Nationwide Conference to five points with a hard-fought 1-0 home win over Forest Green Rovers at Huish Park yesterday.

The Somerset side had taken only one point from their previous two games during the holiday period, but cheered on by the majority of a crowd of almost 5,000 they gained revenge for a Boxing Day defeat by the Gloucestershire outfit. The Glovers claimed victory when Kirk Jackson fired home Nick Crittenden's cross in the 69th minute for his third goal in five games since his move from Stevenage Borough.

Chester City also have a prolific recent recruit in Daryl Clare, and the former Boston United striker was on target after 18 and 48 minutes to give Mark Wright's side what looked like a commanding advantage against Northwich Victoria at the Deva Stadium. But the visitors hit back in spectacular style with three goals in 12 minutes to snatch a 3-2 win.

Mark Devlin pulled one back five minutes after Clare's second goal, and then the Vics' player-manager, the former Northern Ireland target man Jimmy Quinn, converted a penalty after he had been fouled. Two minutes later Greg Blundell grabbed the winner.

Chester, who had Wayne Hatswell sent off late in the game, stay in third place, a point behind Doncaster Rovers, whose home game against Scarborough was postponed.