Sutton breathed life back into their survival quest with a 3-1 victory over Accrington that lifted them off the bottom of League Two.

Goals from Harry Smith, Omar Sowunmi and Nino Adom-Malaki did the damage as United claimed back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.

Jake Bickerstaff bagged an 85th-minute consolation but the hosts deserved their first home win since November.

The visitors twice went close in the first 15 minutes as Dan Martin’s shot across goal just evaded Josh Woods, who was then sent clear but was unable to beat Steve Arnold in the Sutton goal.

However, Sutton went in front when Smith reached a Charlie Lakin pass just before onrushing goalkeeper Jack McIntyre and slotted into the empty net.

Arnold made a fine reaction stop from Joe Pritchard, while Olly Sanderson headed over for Sutton from a Josh Coley cross and then saw McIntyre beat away his shot after Smith’s neat flick had sent him through.

McIntyre frustrated Sanderson again early in the second half, acrobatically tipping away a fierce volley, and also saved from Smith but Sutton doubled their lead midway through the half when Lakin’s corner ended up in the net with Sowunmi claiming the final touch.

If that goal was a bit untidy, it was in contrast to Adom-Malaki’s first Sutton goal six minutes later – a superb dipping volley from the corner of the penalty area to secure a fine win despite Bickerstaff’s effort.

Gillingham twice came from behind to claim a 3-2 win over fellow League Two play-off contenders Morecambe at the Mazuma Stadium.

Connor Mahoney scored the Gills’ winner four minutes from time with a fine finish following a poor clearance from Morecambe goalkeeper Archie Mair.

Morecambe had got off to a great start with Jordan Slew firing them into an 11th-minute lead.

The visitors levelled shortly afterwards when Oli Hawkins produced a neat finish after the Shrimps failed to deal with Remeao Hutton’s right-wing cross.

The home side regained the lead in the 64th minute with a well-worked goal when Charlie Brown slid in at the far post to divert Ged Garner’s shot past Glenn Morris.

The Shrimps looked to add to their lead with Slew forcing two saves from Morris and Garner flashing a fierce shot inches wide.

But it was the visitors who stuck next when Timothee Dieng’s hopeful long-range effort squirmed through Mair’s grasp to make it 2-2 before Mahoney struck the winner as Morecambe slumped to a fourth successive defeat.

Promotion hopefuls Crewe and AFC Wimbledon had to settle for a share of the spoils after a contest lacking much quality ended 1-1 at Gresty Road.

The Dons swept into a second-minute lead with an incisive move catching the home side out down the left, Jack Currie driving to the byline before cutting the ball back for John-Kymani Gordon to finish from inside the six-yard box.

But Crewe were level by the 13th minute thanks to an eye-catching strike from Rio Adebisi from a well-worked corner routine.

The defender received Lewis Leigh’s flag kick on the edge of the box and drove a left-footed effort into the far corner as Crewe remained two points behind the fourth-placed Dons in League Two.

Ronan Curtis pulled an effort inches past the post as the Dons responded.

While Crewe had the better of the first half, the closest they came to taking the lead before the break was through a robust run from Shilow Tracey which ended with the visitors scrambling the ball clear from their box.

The Dons failed to make the most of a swift break soon after the interval with Josh Kelly blasting over, albeit from a difficult angle.

Crewe also wasted opportunities of their own with Leigh offering a tame shot from a free-kick within range which was easily held by keeper Alex Bass.

Conor Thomas then glanced a header over from close range after an inswinging corner was flicked on by Mickey Demetriou.

With time ebbing away, Charlie Kirk had a goal-bound effort blocked as the Dons held firm for a point they deserved.

Doncaster collected a third successive league triumph as they saw off struggling Forest Green Rovers 2-0 at the Eco-Power Stadium.

A Luke Molyneux strike and a Richard Keogh own goal helped the hosts continue their impressive recent run and compound the relegation fears of their opponents.

Doncaster dominated possession in the first half but struggled to convert it into clear-cut chances.

Owen Bailey headed wide from a great position at the back post as he met a James Maxwell cross while
Joe Ironside nodded straight at Forest Green keeper Vicente Reyes with Hakeeb Adelakun also drawing a save from the Norwich City loanee.

The hosts broke the deadlock after 62 minutes when Molyneux pounced on a loose ball and calmly finished from 10 yards.

Although Forest Green boss Steve Cotterill threw on plenty of attacking options, the visitors struggled to impose themselves on the game.

And Doncaster made sure of the win four minutes from time when Keogh turned into his own net as he attempted to block a cross from Molyneux.

Conor McAleny’s brace ensured Salford inflicted yet another home defeat on Notts County, emerging 2-1 victors at Meadow Lane.

County’s Jodi Jones threatened twice early on, testing Alex Cairns with a powerful effort before going dragging his shot wide of the near post.

But it would be the visitors who took the lead with their first effort on target as Sam Austin was dispossessed, allowing McAleny to take aim and fire the ball in off the post.

The Magpies drew level nine minutes after the restart, Austin atoning for his earlier error as his cross deflected into the path of Dan Crowley who finished high into the net.

Both sides continued to create opportunities for a winner as Macaulay Langstaff’s effort was saved well by Cairns, before McAleny went close once more but was unable to curl in his second of the afternoon.

However, McAleny had the final say, finishing smartly beyond Sam Slocombe to leave Stuart Maynard still searching for his first home win since becoming Notts head coach.

Crawley moved into the play-off places in Sky Bet League Two with an impressive 3-1 win over Tranmere at Prenton Park.

The visitors took the lead after just two minutes when Jeremy Kelly swept the ball home from 10 yards from virtually their first attack.

Kieron Morris almost levelled three minutes later when his 20-yard strike was tipped around a post by Corey Addai.

The Red Devils doubled their lead in the 10th minute when Jay Williams forced the ball home after Rovers failed to clear the danger from a corner.

Luke Norris had a glorious chance in the 19th minute, only to be denied by Addai, but the striker made amends two minutes later when he connected with a Rob Apter centre to half the deficit.

Tranmere began the second half brightly with Apter twice going close before substitute Reece McAleer blasted a free-kick just wide from the edge of the box.

But with Rovers pushing for an equaliser in the closing stages, Danilo Orsi fired home his 18th goal of the season with 11 minutes left to secure the points for the visitors.

Cole Stockton’s fierce finish was enough for Barrow to keep up their promotion push with a 1-0 win at home to Newport.

The striker fired in the only goal of the game after 20 minutes as the Bluebirds edged a game played out entirely in strong, swirling winds.

Barrow’s Dom Telford had gone closest as the hosts had Newport pinned back for most of the first half, clearing the bar by inches with keeper Nick Townsend off his line. But when Telford later found Stockton in space in the box, he beat Townsend with sheer power for his fifth league goal of the season.

Against the wind in the first half, Newport had struggled to make much of an impression on Paul Farman’s goal but would have been happy to turn around just one goal in arrears.

Stockton should have doubled Barrow’s lead two minutes into the second half, Ben Whitfield picking him out. But the unmarked Stockton got under his header and sent it over the bar.

Newport’s Will Evans almost poached an equaliser moments later but he couldn’t generate the power to beat Farman.

The keeper denied Seb Palmer-Houlden with a vital hand to his well-struck shot and, at the other end, Kian Spence could not make the most of two wonderful chances to seal the win.

Elliot Newby should have scored when Newport’s sub keeper, Johnny Maxted, parried Spence’s shot into his path, Newby somehow finding the side netting.

But Barrow were able to protect their slender lead and see out the win.

Wrexham strengthened their promotion bid with a comfortable 3-1 win at Grimsby.

Andy Cannon led the way with a first-half double and Paul Mullin also scored in a one-sided clash that moved Wrexham three points off top spot.

Substitute Arthur Gnahoua snatched a late consolation for the home side.

Wrexham opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Cannon fired low into the corner with his right foot from 20 yards.

Tom O’Connor almost produced a carbon copy moments later, but a second goal did arrive through Cannon’s tidy finish in the 36th minute.

Mullin grabbed a third in the 42nd minute with a left-footed snap-shot which left Grimsby goalkeeper Harvey Cartwright stranded.

With the damage already done, genuine chances were few and far between after the restart, before Gnahoua made his mark in a late cameo.

He cut inside and beat goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo with a left-footed drive, but the strike was too little, too late for Grimsby.

Harrogate boss Simon Weaver labelled his players a “team of heroes” after a commanding 3-0 home win over Yorkshire neighbours Bradford.

Weaver’s side ended a run of eight games without a win thanks to Josh March, George Thomson and a Daniel Oyegoke own goal.

The victory was also secured in front of a record Wetherby Road crowd of 3,905 and a proud Weaver said: “It was a derby game that is full of magnitude and means a lot to us and the people of Harrogate, so I’m really pleased that every one of the lads put in a committed display and they were a team of heroes today.

“Our form has been great away from home, but we haven’t had enough convincing performances in front of our own fans in recent months, so it was good to see that we were an attacking threat throughout and we had all the ingredients you need to be a top side.

“I want us to gain some positive momentum from this game now until the end of the season. We had a record crowd for the match and I don’t think anyone will have gone away from the stadium feeling that anyone in a Harrogate Town shirt didn’t want it enough today.

“Hopefully, through word of mouth, those who came to this match will encourage others to come and see what we’re trying to achieve at the club.”

Away fans vented their frustration during a sorry second-half showing from their side, with last season’s play-off semi-finalists having plummeted to 17th in the League Two table following four straight defeats.

The last three have seen 11 goals conceded and just one scored, with manager Graham Alexander saying: “The supporters are angry because we went close last season and this season things have not panned out as anyone would have hoped.

“But scorelines are also important and we’ve not been on the end of scorelines like the last three since I’ve been here. We’ve always been in games until the final whistle and we’ll see now who gives up and who has the strength to say they want to be part of this club long term because, when you go a goal down, you’re looking for a response and, while we got that today from certain players, we didn’t get it from the group as a whole.

“We had a great chance to equalise to give us that spark, but didn’t take it and that lack of a cutting edge has been a recurring theme.

The league table shows that we don’t score enough goals to win games or relieve the pressure when we make defensive mistakes.”

Colchester boss Danny Cowley paid tribute to his relegation-threatened side’s “gritty, determined and resilient” 1-1 draw away to League Two leaders Mansfield.

Harry Anderson gave Colchester a 13th-minute lead with a well-struck low shot from the right of the box that went inside the far post in a frustrating first half for the Stags.

But, after U’s goalkeeper Owen Goodman had made a wonder save after 62 minutes to somehow keep out Baily Cargill’s close-range header, he was beaten a minute later from the resulting corner as a scramble ended with Lewis Brunt poking home.

It was a sixth draw in eight winless games as the visitors remain just one place above the drop zone ahead of Saturday’s 3pm kick-offs.

“They are the best team in the division – there is a lot to respect in Mansfield,” Cowley said.

“So to come here and put on the performance that we did, I think we have a lot to be proud of and, ultimately, we’re disappointed not to have won the game.

“I know the home fans were getting a bit frustrated, I am not sure if they were getting frustrated with us or with their own team.

“I am not sure if people expected us to just turn up here and lie down and let them run all over us.

“But that won’t happen on my watch – over my dead body. We want to be winners. We were gritty, determined, resilient and also streetwise.

“We showed all the qualities I like in one of my team’s performances and I was proud of our efforts.

“We’re not about to give up our League status easily – we now have nine games left and we will give it absolutely everything we’ve got.”

Goodman tipped over a Will Swan header before home goalkeeper Christy Pym had to make a vital save to turn a low Samson Tovide shot onto a post as United broke well and he also turned over a dipping Ellis Iandolo header near the end.

“In the end we’re satisfied with a point with the way the game went and the conditions,” said Mansfield boss Nigel Clough.

“It was one of those games that, having given a soft goal away early on, we could have easily lost that 1-0.

“Even at the end we could have lost 2-1 with the corners and set plays they had.

“The result keeps our little run going. We haven’t had enough draws of late, those defeats should’ve been draws.

“So we go to Wrexham next week in better heart than we would’ve done had we lost the game.

“We’re still top of the league, let the others battle it out this afternoon and it could be a very valuable point come the end of the season.

“We did not start the game anyway near as well as we would have liked and we gave Colchester too much encouragement and a goal as well.

“We had enough situations and chances today but couldn’t quite get more than the equaliser.”

Harrogate eased to a 3-0 victory over Yorkshire rivals Bradford in front of a record home league crowd of 3,905.

Josh March opened the scoring in the 21st minute, heading in from Warren Burrell’s cross.

George Thomson then doubled Town’s lead from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute before a Daniel Oyegoke own goal sealed the victory six minutes later.

Struggling Colchester earned another vital point in the battle against relegation with a fine 1-1 League Two draw away to leaders Mansfield.

The visitors, who have now drawn six of their last eight games, took a 13th-minute lead when Harry Anderson picked up a pass on the right side of the box and rifled home a superb low shot across Christy Pym and inside the far post.

Stags almost levelled after 28 minutes when Stephen Quinn sent over a fine cross from the left, but top scorer Davis Keillor-Dunn sent his header wide from seven yards.

Just before the break, Will Swan raced onto a Lucas Akins lay-off and stabbed in a low finish that goalkeeper Owen Goodman managed to block.

Goodman then produced a world class save after 62 minutes as he somehow kept out Baily Cargill’s close-range header from Quinn’s cross.

But from the corner, the hosts were level as, amid a scramble, Lewis Brunt poked home from almost on the goal line.

Goodman was there again to tip over a Swan header after 76 minutes, while – seven minutes from time – a Colchester break saw Pym stretch to turn a low Samson Tovide shot against a post.

Stuart Maynard praised Notts County’s bravery after they beat Bradford 3-0 for a first win in seven games.

Two goals from Alassana Jatta and a 25th of the season from Macaulay Langstaff earned only a second victory under Maynard since he replaced Luke Williams as manager in January.

Maynard said: “I feel it is just a start. It’s been coming within the group.

“The confidence has stayed very high and the performance levels have been very good. The work ethic from everyone was outstanding.

“It was a huge credit for the lads to play the way they did with the ball on the ground on that pitch.

“The message at half-time was that we needed to keep playing with the same intensity and you saw the answer.

“You have to be brave when you come to somewhere like Bradford and the expectation they have. To keep moving the ball and take the sting out the game is huge.”

Langstaff struck the opener after 12 minutes as Jodi Jones’ deflected shot diverted into the striker’s path to convert.

Substitute Harry Chapman had Bradford’s best chance, heading against the post from Daniel Oyegoke’s cross.

Jatta, a January signing from Danish club Viborg, headed home Jones’ free-kick for County’s second before adding a third in added time from Luca Ashby-Hammond’s long clearance.

Maynard added: “We’ve had to manage him from the minute he’s come to the club.

“He’s come from another country and it takes time to settle. But you’re starting to see little glimpses of what he can do.

“The two up front set the tone from minute one.”

It was a third home defeat in a row for Bradford, who had been beaten 5-1 by Mansfield at the weekend. They were booed off by frustrated supporters at the final whistle.

Manager Graham Alexander said: “That was nothing like Saturday. I thought the players committed to the game and the supporters responded to that.

“There was loads of energy and we had enough opportunities in the final third before they scored.

“But the first time they enter our box, a deflected shot lands on their striker’s toe three yards out and he pokes it in.

“I was wanting to see how the players reacted and they responded well. The supporters could see that.

“We hit the post but then the opposition have gone up the other end and scored.

“I don’t want it to be a narrative that pre-empts the next few games. We can’t just talk about luck because we have to be more clinical when we have those chances.

“I think they showed why they’ve scored 70-odd goals this season and over 100 last season – and why we have struggled to score the goals we need to win.”

Notts County claimed their first win for seven games to condemn Bradford to a third home defeat in a row.

Macaulay Langstaff, with his 25th goal of the season, and two from Alassana Jatta sealed a comfortable 3-0 win for Stuart Maynard’s side, who had picked up just one point from their previous six matches.

Langstaff struck in the 12th minute as Jodi Jones’ deflected shot diverted into the striker’s path to convert.

Bradford responded with Andy Cook and Tyler Smith both firing wide but County threatened again through defender Lewis Macari with a curling drive that was tipped away by Sam Walker.

The Bradford keeper pulled off a good save to deny Langstaff a second goal after he was played clear by Aaron Nemane.

Substitute Harry Chapman came close to equalising for Bradford with his first touch but his diving header from Daniel Oyegoke’s cross came back off the woodwork.

Jatta scored the second with a firm header from Jones’ free-kick before lashing home a third in stoppage time.

Stockport boss Dave Challinor admitted his promotion-chasing side should have gone on to beat Crawley after letting themselves down with a “very poor first half” at the Broadfield Stadium.

Antoni Sarcevic headed the visitors in front just after the hour mark but Klaidi Lolos ran through to drag Crawley level seven minutes from time.

The late goal denied Stockport the chance to cut the gap on leaders Mansfield to two points and leaves Challinor’s men with only one win from their last seven games.

He said: “It’s frustrating because for me the feeling is it’s a carbon copy of last Thursday (when Stockport drew 2-2 at Salford).

“It was a poor first 45 minutes followed by a second half in which we do enough to win the game but don’t do it.

“They (Crawley) will be disappointed with the way we scored but we work hard on the training ground on set-pieces and sometimes it comes off. “

Challinor believes his men must respond better after going in front in games, adding: “What happens to players I don’t know. Sometimes you think it’s fear when they’re in front and it leads to a sort of panic.”

“I can speculate on many things as to why there was such a difference between the two halves, but what’s the point?

“We’ve got to move on to the next game and it’s a big one (at home to MK Dons on Saturday).”

A Crawley win would have earned them a place in the top seven and manager Scott Lindsey confessed the mood in the dressing room afterwards was “a bit flat.”

However, he tried to concentrate on the positives after Lolos’ late goal left his team with only one defeat in their last eight games.

The former Swindon boss said: “The overriding feeling is a bit flat because we knew we’d be in the play-offs had we won.

“But to come back against a really strong side like Stockport, a side who are going to get promoted, and to take points in both matches we’ve played against them makes me proud.”

Crawley are only a point outside the play-off places and Lindsey still believes they are in a good position.

He added: “If you look at the table, the Gods are shining on us at the moment.  We’re in the best position of all the teams who want to get in the play-offs. “

Greece-born Lolos has now scored in his last three games and Lindsey believes he is the type of player he needs to keep on the pitch for as long as possible.

He explained: “Lolos had a quiet night but I know even when he’s not playing at his best he has that threat to make things happen and it was a great finish.”