Wealdstone held after Jolly strikes

But the relegation-threatened hosts hit back through Hector Mackie in the 36th minute and a lively contest was to finish 1-1, depriving Stones of two precious points in their title challenge.

They trail Whitehawk, who had the day off, by ten points and now have only three games in hand. Wingate remain in 19th place and have played five more games than the two clubs behind them.

Lowestoft’s title hopes also took a knock as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Suffolk rivals Leiston. Michael Frew came closest to scoring for the Trawlerboys, who are 15 points behind the leaders but still have six games in hand.

Met Police moved to within two points of the play-off spots with a 1-0 home win over bottom club Carshalton. They wasted a host of chances in the first half, including a Dave Knight penalty, and struck the woodwork twice after the break before Chris Collins finally hit the target just after the hour.

Jim Cooper, the Met boss, is pictured by Chris Bushe receiving his manager of the month award for February from league director Des Flanders before the game.

Carshalton are four points adrift at the bottom and, like Wingate have played five more games than the other sides in the bottom four. They had Adriano Moraes sent off in the closing stages.

Bury also stayed in the play-off hunt thanks to a last-gasp winner by Craig Parker, who forced the ball over the line from a corner to give them a 2-1 home win over Enfield Town.

The visitors had taken the lead through Liam Hope on the half-hour. John Sands equalised in the 55th minute with his 23rd goal of the season, three more than his nearest rival in the race for the division’s scoring crown.

Midfielder Sam Adams was the Hastings hero as they won 2-1 at Lewes to give their survival chances a huge lift, They remain 21st but are right back in touch with the sides above them and have several games in hand over most.

Sean Ray’s header was quickly followed by an Alassane N’Diaye strike to put the visitors 2-0 up after only 13 minutes. But they lost keeper Matt Crutchwell to injury just after the interval and deputy Adams gave a defiant display, being beaten only by Karl Beckford’s 77th-minute penalty.

Harrow grabbed a useful point in their efforts to stay up but almost had all three. Rob Wolleaston headed them in front after four minutes and, although visiting Hendon dominated the rest of the game, Harrow still had the better chances on the break. Then, in the 90th minute, Sam Flegg headed home to make it 1-1.

It was a mixed afternoon for Kingstonian’s Matt Somner, who scored the only goal of their game at Hampton in the 11th minute but was sent off near the end, after which Hampton almost made the most of the extra man.