Steve Cotterill has set his sights on dragging more teams into the League Two relegation picture after Forest Green moved out of the bottom two.

Two goals from Christian Doidge earned Rovers a 2-0 win at Bradford – their fourth victory in seven games.

That took them above Colchester into 22nd spot and Cotterill wants to keep building the momentum.

He said: “I’ve been in the game a long time and things can change in football. Let’s hope we can keep it going now and stay above that line and claw in another team or two.

“We’re happy, but we’re humble. We’ll now be a lot higher in the form table too.

“They’re really united in that dressing room and now they know what I’m talking about when I say team spirit. They’re doing the unsavoury jobs for each other.

“It was an unbelievable result and fully deserved as well. We were exceptionally organised, especially when you’re getting worked.”

Doidge scored with a first-minute header and then converted a stoppage-time penalty after a foul on Charlie McCann.

“I’m so, so pleased for him,” added Cotterill. “Those two goals are brilliant.

“He was at it from the start and he was at it right at the end.

“We’re not there yet. But I think that’s probably down to a couple of three-game weeks, when you get less time on the grass, as well as injury and illness.

“You’re gambling when you’re putting people on the pitch who have had very few minutes.”

The defeat ended a six-match unbeaten run for Bradford.

And Bantams manager Graham Alexander admitted the early goal played into Forest Green’s hands.

“The goal right in the first minute gave them the opportunity to play the game they wanted, playing so deep and blocking up all the space we need to try and create,” he said.

“We got sucked into playing at a pace that they were happy with.

“We thought we had control of the game and the possession but that’s what they wanted. They were in control of the pitch.

“It’s a poor goal from our perspective. It’s poor how they win a corner straight from the kick-off.

“We’re going backwards instead of coming on to it, which we’ve been really good at.

“We gave a team fighting for their lives a massive present in the first minute.

“In the second half we got into better areas but just couldn’t find the quality to get the equaliser.”

Substitute Jamie Walker came close to a second-half equaliser before a ricochet almost went over the line.

“I don’t know if it didn’t,” added Alexander. “I think we should score off the first one because it’s a great chance.

“The second one comes off their defender and looked over the line but it’s irrelevant now.”

Phil Parkinson believes Wrexham’s point in the goalless draw against Harrogate puts the Dragons a step closer on the road to League Two promotion.

The hosts were unable to break down the Sulphurites, one of the division’s best away sides this season, but the point saw Wrexham rise to second while Harrogate remain 14th.

Though Parkinson felt his side were unable to create the key moment to clinch a winner, he believes the point puts them a step closer to being in League One next season.

Parkinson said: “I think we did a lot of things right, I think we dominated the game, I thought our crossing was not at the standards it needed to be to create enough chances but we still had enough moments to have won the game.

“I thought the lads gave everything. There was nothing left out there tonight, but we just couldn’t find that killer moment to open the game up.

“We know Harrogate away from home have done well all season. They sit in, they disrupt, they make it difficult, we’ve had it before in the National League and they worked hard, you’ve got to give them credit for that, but really it was a game on the balance of play we should have won comfortably.

“It’s another point on where we want to get to. It’s not the worst point in the world and we move forward to the weekend. As I’ve said many times, if you can’t win it, don’t get beat and we’ve got a point.”

Harrogate’s Simon Weaver was full of praise for his side’s performance and believes if they can replicate their impressive away form at home next season, they will be “in business”.

Weaver said: “I thought the lads were absolutely superb. It was about getting a point from the game, finding a way and the lads remained organised and they just worked their socks off.

“They were relentless and we had to do a lot of defending second half. I thought first half there was nothing in it, and we competed well and played some really good football, but then as you get closer to the finishing line, you want to protect and we did. We protected our goal ever so well and restricted them to very few chances.

“They had a lot of territory, balls into the box, but we were clinical with our defending.

“Really the blip’s just been at home and we’ve got to solve that, it’s as simple as that. It’s the responsibility for all of us, mostly for me, making sure that next season our home form mirrors the away form of this season. If we do that, we’re really in business.”

John Doolan was overjoyed to get off the mark as interim Accrington manager with a 2-1 victory at Swindon in League Two.

Stanley ended a run of four straight defeats by coming from behind to win in Doolan’s second game at the helm.

Aaron Drinan put the hosts ahead early in the second half but Jack Nolan equalised from the penalty spot before substitute Alex Henderson scored an 82nd-minute winner.

Doolan said: “I’m buzzing for Alex Henderson because his goal was just brilliant.

“He had a Stanley season ticket as a boy and I know he had in his locker but to actually score a goal like that is magical.

“We had a horrendous journey down here because of problems on the M6. It was like a camel ride using the A-roads but I told they lads not to use it as an excuse.

“I celebrated with the lads at the end because it was emotional finally getting over the line to get my first win.”

Gavin Gunning was massively disappointed by the application that his Swindon side showed as their winless run extended to three matches and left them 18th.

“That was dreadful, there was no intensity, and no appetite to be a successful team,” the Robins boss said.

“That is why we are where we are in the table. It is not about formations. It is not about technical ability. It is heart.

“You need to wear your heart on your sleeve and graft, that is the bare minimum. If you don’t graft and you don’t work your tail off, you are going to come up short in every game at this level.

“The difference in teams and quality is minimal, so if you don’t graft then you are not going to get anywhere.

“They had a couple of chances that we just gave them tonight and they scored two goals. It is shocking.

“We don’t do our jobs and that is what happens when you are not professional enough as a whole, and I include myself in this. It has got to be better.”

Boss Nigel Adkins was delighted with the performance of Rob Apter after Tranmere extended their unbeaten run to three games with a 2-1 win over Mansfield at Prenton Park.

Apter, on loan from Blackpool, scored his 10th goal of the season to inflict a second defeat in three games on Nigel Clough’s Stags, who remain top of Sky Bet League Two by two points from Wrexham.

Adkins’ side took the lead when Regan Hendry fired past Christy Pym from the corner of the area after 12 minutes.

And they could have doubled their advantage with Brad Walker and Kieron Morris both coming close.

Mansfield made them pay just before half-time when Will Swan latched onto a Louis Reed through-ball to prod the ball home from close range.

But Rovers restored their lead 12 minutes after the break when Apter fired past Pym from the edge of the box after evading the efforts of the Town defenders.

Tranmere boss Adkins said: “The lads have consistently been putting in good performances and tonight we were playing the league leaders and we scored two really good goals and passed the ball well.

“We also defended resolutely when we needed to and the players have been doing that on a consistent basis and have been rewarded tonight with that win.

“Rob Apter has been producing the goods regularly. You give him the ball and he gives you that bit of flair out wide, he can take somebody on, link with a team-mate, he can use both feet and he scores goals.

“That’s 10 goals now since we changed things around in November and we would have been third in the league in terms of our form since then and you can see that by the team spirit and I thought we looked a really good footballing side tonight.

“The lads have been magnificent and we’ve got to keep doing that and keep building.”

Mansfield manager Nigel Clough said: “I thought we were a bit unfortunate as we had the situations and the chances in the game to take all three points.

“That’s the second time in a week that we’ve been beaten by a deflected goal as well, which is disappointing.

“It’s been the case in a few of our away games this season that we’ve been getting the chances but have not been able to convert them. When you get chances you have to make the most of them, as you saw tonight.

“We’re still top of the league and five points clear of the team in fourth place with nine games to go.

“We’ve got Bradford away at the weekend, which won’t be easy as at this time of the year when you’re top of the league you see teams raise their game against you.

“We’re still there at the top and we’re going to try and stay there.”

David Artell feels Grimsby have turned a corner in their ongoing bid for League Two survival after edging out promotion-chasing MK Dons at Blundell Park.

On-loan striker Justin Obikwu settled the scores with a first-half winner to move Artell’s men six points above the relegation zone with 10 matches to play.

Given that Forest Green won elsewhere, it was a significant result for Grimsby as they made it five games unbeaten with three clean sheets to boot.

Gavan Holohan also saw a penalty saved, after Obikwu had been felled, but even that did not derail Grimsby as they opened up a gap on Colchester.

Head coach Artell said: “It was an enjoyable night in the end.

“You could see we have turned a corner and you could maybe see that before.

“We were magnificent and I can’t remember them having a shot on target.

“We [should have] had another stonewall penalty in the second half plus we have also hit the post and had other chances on the break.

“We probably should have won by more but, as it turns out, we had to fight, scrap and we have had to defend like warriors. That’s exactly what we did and I thought we deserved the victory.”

Grimsby started brightly as Obikwu fired goalwards and Michael Kelly saved with his legs.

Dan Kemp flashed wide at the other end with a cross-shot and the Dons had long spells on the ball without creating any clear-cut chances.

Obikwu netted in the 33rd minute when reacting quickest to an initial strike from Abo Eisa, before Holohan’s penalty was saved by Kelly.

Kemp came closest to finding an equaliser when his left-footed attempt was pushed wide by Grimsby stopper Harvey Cartwright.

Visiting manager Mike Williamson said: “The boys are very angry and frustrated in the changing room and we are very angry and frustrated with ourselves.

“For me, with the actual performance, we have always got to dissect based on our intention and control on the game.

“It was evident when we got into the final third our quality, from everyone, wasn’t where we needed it to be.

“The amount of times we got around their box was pleasing and I thought that our build-up was excellent with the way the boys moved the ball and played it.

“When we got into the final third, we couldn’t find that final ingredient.”

Kusini Yengi’s brace kept Portsmouth five points clear at the top of League One with a 2-1 win over Burton.

Yengi scored the opener from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time after being brought down and then turned in Abu Kamara’s cross just after the hour, with Burton captain John Brayford pulling one back late on.

Derby kept pace as Dwight Gayle scored his third goal in as many games to help them to a 2-1 win over Reading.

That kept Derby second, one point above Bolton, who thrashed Oxford 5-0 with goals from Nathanael Ogbeta, Josh Dacres-Cogley, George Thomason, Aaron Collins and Josh Sheehan.

Barnsley moved up to fourth as they came from behind to beat bottom club Carlisle 3-2 with goals from Jordan Williams, John McAtee and Jon Russell, while Blackpool moved to within a point of the play-off places as Matt Pennington’s scruffy second-half goal beat Northampton 1-0.

Jack Moylan and Joe Taylor each scored twice as Lincoln stretched their unbeaten run to 12 matches with a 6-0 rout of Cambridge, and an own goal from Wigan goalkeeper Sam Tickle gave Wycombe a 1-0 win.

Exeter picked up their first win in five by beating 10-man Shrewsbury 3-0 while Fleetwood remain six points from safety after a 0-0 draw with Bristol Rovers, as do Port Vale after a goalless draw with play-off chasing Leyton Orient.

Wrexham missed the chance to move level on points at the top of League Two as they were held to a goalless draw at home to Harrogate on the night that leaders Mansfield were beaten 2-1 at Tranmere.

Tranmere took an early lead against Mansfield through Regan Hendry, and although Will Swan levelled for the Stags before half-time, Rob Apter’s strike just before the hour proved the winner.

Elliott Nevitt’s 15th goal of the season earned Crewe a 1-0 win over basement boys Sutton, moving them above MK Dons who sit fifth after losing 1-0 at relegation-threatened Grimsby, with Justin Obikwu getting the goal. Sixth-placed Barrow took a point from a 1-1 draw at Walsall.

Omar Bugiel’s brace fired AFC Wimbledon into the play-off places with a 2-0 win over Gillingham, Ade Adeyemo’s late winner saw Crawley come from behind to beat 10-man Notts County 2-1, while Forest Green moved out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 win at Bradford as Christian Doidge scored in the first and last minutes.

Late goals from Harry Charsley and Seb Palmer-Houlden saw Newport take the points from a 5-3 thriller against Morecambe while Accrington ended a run of fourth straight defeats as Alex Henderson’s late goal saw them win 2-1 at Swindon.

The match between Colchester and Doncaster was postponed.

Substitute Ade Adeyemo hit a dramatic late winner as Crawley came from behind to clinch their fifth win in the last six games with a 2-1 home victory over 10-man Notts County.

Klaidi Lolos and Adeyemo, with his first league goal, scored in the last 11 minutes after midfielder Sam Austin had given County a first-half lead.

Crawley’s victory keeps them firmly in the play-off hunt, while the visitors, who had Scott Robertson dismissed at 1-0, have now lost their last five matches in a row.

The recalled Austin struck to put the Magpies ahead after 20 minutes, stabbing the ball home from close range for only his second goal of the season after getting the better of Harry Ransom from Dan Crowley’s cross.

Slocombe was brought into action throughout the contest as County looked to hold on, but they were reduced to 10 men when Robertson received his second yellow card.

Lolos dragged Crawley level in the 79th minute with a low shot from close range after being set up by Harry Forster.

Adeyemo struck to give the Reds victory with a low shot from the edge of the area five minutes from time.

Accrington ended a run of four straight League Two defeats as Alex Henderson’s late goal earned them a 2-1 win at Swindon.

Aaron Drinan gave Swindon the lead early in the second half but Jack Nolan’s penalty was followed by substitute Henderson’s 82nd-minute winner.

The hosts forced the best chance of the first half when Dawson Devoy had a shot that led to a bit of pinball inside the six-yard box, with Charlie Austin, Drinan and Paul Glatzel all having swipes that could not quite put the ball in the Accrington goal.

Two minutes into the second half a Swindon corner dropped in the middle and Drinan was the most alert in the penalty box and he stole a march on the defenders before crashing a shot home from close range.

The visitors levelled 10 minutes later as Shaun Whalley was tripped by Devoy in the box and Nolan stepped up to score his 13th goal of the campaign.

And they won it with eight minutes remaining when Henderson was given space to drive infield and he let fly with an effort from 30 yards out that flew beyond Jack Bycroft at his near post.

Crewe kept the pressure on League Two’s top three as Elliott Nevitt’s 15th goal of the season saw off bottom-of-the-table Sutton 1-0.

The London strugglers matched their high-flying hosts for long periods but Nevitt’s 71st-minute strike means they have now gone 16 games without a clean sheet.

During a disjointed first half, home midfielder Joel Tabiner saw his early effort pushed wide by Steve Arnold after the Sutton keeper had spilled a dangerous left-wing cross by Charlie Kirk.

Arnold then somehow escaped any punishment after racing out of his goal to clatter into Shilow Tracey, with referee Andrew Humphries, taking charge of his first EFL game, waving play on to the astonishment of the Gresty Road faithful.

After the break, Sutton’s unmarked defender Joe Kizzi squandered a great opportunity to open the scoring when he failed to hit the target from four yards after being picked out by Charlie Lakin’s corner.

Kizzi was then unable to prevent Nevitt’s shot from crossing the line after he had raced on to a through ball from Aaron Rowe and clipped the ball past an advancing Arnold.

Omar Bugiel scored twice as AFC Wimbledon marched into the League Two play-off places with a 2-0 triumph over promotion rivals Gillingham at Plough Lane.

The result means the Dons leapfrog their opponents into seventh, while Stephen Clemence’s side drop into 10th.

Gills goalkeeper Glenn Morris got down quickly to prevent Bugiel’s driven effort from nestling in the bottom left corner early in the first half.

Then Wimbledon defender Lee Brown made a crucial block in the box to stop Connor Mahoney’s goal-bound strike.

Bugiel opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, nodding Jake Reeves’ fabulous cross from deep past Morris and into the bottom right corner.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors, as Conor Masterson received two yellow cards for two needless challenges in just two minutes to cap a disastrous half.

Shadrach Ogie had a penalty appeal waved away by referee Thomas Kirk after the break, much to the disgust of the away fans.

Morris did well to stop Reeves’ thunderbolt from range 11 minutes later, only to see Bugiel tap the rebound into an empty net to wrap up a comfortable evening for the hosts.

Late goals from Harry Charsley and Seb Palmer-Houlden sealed all three points for Newport as they beat play-off chasing Morecambe 5-3 in a thriller at Rodney Parade.

Aaron Wildig opened the scoring for the hosts in the 12th minute when he slotted in Lewis Payne’s cross and Adam Lewis made it 2-0 six minutes later with a sublime volley to convert Bryn Morris’ chipped cross to the far post.

Welshman Gwion Edwards waltzed through the home defence and confidently swept the ball past Exiles goalkeeper Nick Townsend to half the deficit.

But Wildig re-established a two-goal cushion for his side as he diverted in Lewis’ cross on the volley nine minutes into the second half.

Morecambe then stunned the Welsh side with a quickfire double as defender Chris Stokes rolled one in off the post and Edwards nodded in his second to level in the 74th minute.

Edwards then missed a big chance to complete his hat-trick as he blazed wide from close range.

That proved costly as Charsley curled in County’s fourth and Palmer-Houlden completed a crazy game in the seventh minute of added time.

Walsall defender Rollin Menayese went from hero to zero on an eventful return in a 1-1 Sky Bet League Two draw with Barrow.

Menayese, recalled from Vanarama National League side Aldershot on the day of the game, crashed inside the far post Taylor Allen’s inviting corner to give the Saddlers a 38th-minute lead.

However, that same combination allowed the Bluebirds to level eight minutes into the second half.

Allen rolled the ball back into his own box to Menayese, who brought down Emile Acquah as he attempted to deal with the unexpected pass. Dean Campbell converted to earn a point for Barrow.

Menayese put Walsall ahead at the break and Mo Faal should have doubled their lead 40 seconds into the second half, but fluffed his lines after Josh Gordon had robbed Chester on the halfway line to put it on a plate.

Barrow’s Kian Spence hit the base of the post from a half-cleared corner five minutes before the equaliser.

Dean Campbell levelled from the spot and the hosts push for a winner when substitute Sam Foley’s deep corner was headed against the far post by Rory Feely eight minutes from the end.

Walsall could have nicked it deep into added time when Douglas James-Taylor had a close-range effort deflected wide and then another chance from the corner that followed blocked in an almighty scramble.

Forest Green moved out of the League Two relegation zone with a 2-0 win at Bradford.

Christian Doidge scored in the first minute and added a second from the spot in second-half stoppage time to earn Steve Cotterill’s side a fourth victory in seven league games.

Defeat ended Bradford’s six-match unbeaten run in the league.

The visitors made the fast start with a goal inside the first minute.

Jonathan Tomkinson conceded a corner from Forest Green’s opening attack and Dominic Thompson’s delivery was nodded home by Doidge.

Cotterill’s side could have doubled their lead soon after as Charlie McCann fired over from Emmanuel Osadebe’s low cross.

Tyreik Wright had Bradford’s first threat on the Rovers goal, flicking into the side-netting after Lewis Richards picked him out in the box.

Richard Smallwood set up Wright for another chance just before half-time but visiting goalkeeper Vicente Reyes managed to smuggle it away from the near post.

Bradford livened up in the second half with Jamie Walker’s arrival and Reyes produced a superb save to deny the substitute.

But Doidge made sure of Forest Green’s win in added time with a penalty after Ciaran Kelly tripped McCann.

Promotion-chasing Wrexham were held to a goalless draw by determined and resolute Harrogate at the Racecourse Ground.

The Dragons were unable to break down the Sulphurites, one of League Two’s best away sides this season, but the point still saw Wrexham rise to second while Harrogate remain in 14th.

Derrick Abu nodded wide inside five minutes for the Yorkshire side, while Will Boyle’s effort went just over as the hosts responded.

Elliot Lee cut inside to curl straight at James Belshaw after 25 minutes, while the Harrogate keeper later stopped Jacob Mendy’s run into the box in an overall flat first half.

Paul Mullin blasted off-target immediately after the restart as the hosts pressed for the opener, and Ollie Palmer fired inches wide before the hour mark.

Mullin headed across goal but no Dragons team-mate could apply the finishing touch, before Boyle’s header drew Belshaw into action before 70 minutes.

Wrexham substitute Luke Young forced Belshaw to tip over before full-time as Mullin fired over with the game’s last kick.

Tranmere extended their unbeaten run to three games with a 2-1 win over League Two leaders Mansfield at Prenton Park.

The Stags enjoyed much of the early possession and were almost rewarded after seven minutes when Will Swan headed over from six yards.

However, it was the home side who took the lead after 12 minutes when Regan Hendry fired home from the edge of the area with Christy Pym helpless in the Stags goal.

Rovers could have extended their lead with Brad Walker seeing a free-kick parried by Pym before Kieron Morris fired wide from a narrow angle.

And they were made to pay six minutes before half-time when Swan found himself free at the far post to stab the ball past Luke McGee from Louis Reed’s through ball.

Rovers were ahead once again after 57 minutes when Rob Apter’s 18-yard effort squeezed inside the post with Pym helpless.

Town’s best chances to level fell to substitute Davis Keillor-Dunn and skipper Aden Flint who were both denied by McGee, but Rovers held on to take the points.