League Two leaders Mansfield boosted their promotion hopes with a battling 3-2 win over Swindon at One Call Stadium.

The Stags, looking for an immediate response to their midweek home defeat to MK Dons, hit the front early through Lucas Akins and looked in control at the break.

However, Swindon drew level at 2-2 before the hour mark thanks to goals from Paul Glatzel and Aaron Drinan either side of a Davis Keillor-Dunn strike.

But Town substitute Will Swan’s header moments after entering the pitch in the 65th minute wrapped up a crucial win for Mansfield.

Hiram Boateng fired a good chance over for Stags inside the first four minutes but Akins made no mistake seconds later when he slotted home after a perfect pass from Keillor-Dunn.

Swindon goalkeeper Jack Bycroft tipped away Keillor-Dunn’s long-range curler, before Akins clipped the post in the 13th minutes as Mansfield looked to build on their early advantage.

But there were no more goals in the first half and Glatzel levelled for the visitors in the 50th minute after Mansfield failed to clear their lines.

Stags regained the lead a minute later when Keillor-Dunn emphatically smashed home after a quick break, but Town hit back once more and equalised a second in the 59th minute when Drinan got on the end of a Zachary Elbouzedi cross.

Mansfield would not be denied though, and Swan headed home Ollie Clarke’s cross three minutes after coming on to secure the points.

Paddy Madden’s stoppage-time winner gave Stockport a dramatic 1-0 win at home to Newport in Sky Bet League Two.

The striker had wasted a second-half penalty but slammed home a loose ball to end Newport’s brave resistance and get the Hatters their first win in five games.

Stockport dominated and mounted periods of pressure on the visitors’ goal but struggled to find a way through.

Nick Townsend saved Madden’s improvised stab at goal, and shortly after raced out to stop Antoni Sarcevic after Kyle Wootton’s neat backheel put him in.

Stockport’s chances came and went. Nick Powell’s header was deflected just wide and Fraser Horsfall nodded the resulting corner over.

Newport mustered precious little going forward in the first half, other than Bryn Morris’ weak effort from distance.

Stockport went close a minute before the break, but Madden headed Miles Hippolyte’s cross wide.

Townsend came to Newport’s rescue again soon after the restart, saving from Madden after Wootton played him in.

He got a helping hand from Powell minutes later, who could not avoid blocking Madden’s goalbound shot. Townsend pushed Callum Camps’ shot wide and Kyle Jameson helped out with a vital block when Camps looked certain to score moments later.

Townsend’s best save came 17 minutes from time, after substitute Isaac Olaofe was felled in the box. The goalkeeper hurled himself left to get a firm hand to Madden’s spot-kick.

And though he thwarted Odin Bailey and tipped over a sliced clearance from defender Declan Drysdale in the dying moments, he was helpless when Madden made the most of one final chance in the box.

Kian Spence scored in first-half stoppage-time and Sam Foley in added-time in the second half as Barrow boosted their Sky Bet League Two promotion hopes with a 2-0 win over struggling Colchester.

Spence curled in a right-footed free-kick to register his seventh goal of the campaign but Pete Wild’s side were made to work hard for their second home 2-0 win in five days.

Danny Cowley’s visitors, beaten for only the second time in nine games, enjoyed the majority of possession.

However, they struggled to turn it into meaningful goal threats, although Tom Hopper did force Bluebirds goalkeeper and skipper Paul Farman into one first-half stop.

Farman, who was under Cowley’s management at Lincoln, was at full stretch to deny Cameron McGeehan in the second half.

Barrow defended resolutely towards the end of a win that keeps them in the play-off picture.

And as relegation threatened United pushed for an equaliser, the Bluebirds broke away and Ben Whitfield squared the ball for Foley to finish from close range.

Klaidi Lolos scored a second-half winners Crawley came from behind to beat off-form Harrogate 2-1 and give their play-off hopes a boost.

The Sulphurites, whose own top-seven ambitions are now fading, went ahead through George Thomson’s 13th goal of the season.

But Harry Forster levelled after the break and Lolos’ winner saw Simon Weaver’s Harrogate lose a home match after opening the scoring for the first time since April 2022.

Thomson opened the scoring in the 26th minute when he took a Jack Muldoon lay-off in his stride before emphatically finding Corey Addai’s bottom-right corner with his unfavoured left foot from the edge of the box.

Addai then made smart saves to deny Matty Daly and Dean Cornelius in quick succession before a flying James Belshaw ensured Harrogate remained ahead on the stroke of half time when he got his fingertips to a rasping Forster strike.

The equaliser did arrive just before the hour mark, however, in scruffy fashion when Danilo Orsi and Lolos helped the ball across the six-yard box for Forster to stab in at the far post.

Greek striker Lolos then turned the game on its head in the 66th minute, taking one touch to deftly lift the ball on to his left foot before unleashing a 15-yard thunderbolt that whistled past Belshaw.

Substitute Adam Campbell also curled a 20-yard effort against the bar for the visitors as Harrogate suffered a sixth game without a win.

Conor Masterson rescued a vital late point as Gillingham claimed a 1-1 League Two draw at home to Tranmere which propelled them into the play-off spots.

Masterson struck in the 84th minute, cancelling out Regan Hendry’s early volley for the visitors.

The game was played at a frantic pace but often lacked the quality to match, with Ashley Nadesan and Connor Jennings wasting early chances for both sides.

Hendry struck just five minutes in, controlling a poorly-cleared cross before firing a volley back across goal to give Tranmere the lead.

Rovers asserted themselves after the strike and could have strengthened their advantage further had Rob Apter applied a cooler finish after a surging forward run.

The Gills nearly punished Tranmere’s profligacy when Max Clark clipped the crossbar with his free-kick.

Gillingham grew into the game as the second half wore on and – with only seven minutes to go – Masterson placed a fierce header past Luke McGee.

Tim Dieng thought he had completed the turnaround for the home side but his added-time goal was ruled out for handball leaving Gillingham in seventh and Rovers 17th.

Revitalised Doncaster got back to winning ways with a 2-0 win over promotion-chasing Crewe.

Goals from Hakeeb Adelakun and substitute Tommy Rowe secured a fourth win in seven for Grant McCann’s side, who had taken one point from their last two matches.

Adelakun – fresh from being named the League Two player of the month – set Rovers on their way after 17 minutes as he scored from a corner he had won after a mazy run and powerful shot.

Doncaster keeper Thimothee Lo-Tutala made a brave save at the feet of Shilow Tracey, while Owen Bailey made a vital block from Josh Austerfield as Crewe looked to get back on level terms.

The hosts doubled their advantage after 59 minutes when veteran midfielder Rowe poked in at the far post after meeting a volley from Joseph Olowu.

Rio Adebisi should have pulled a goal back for Crewe after being put clean through by Austerfield, only for Lo-Tutala to make a smart save.

Substitutes Maxime Biamou and Kyle Hurst both went close to adding a third for Rovers, who posed the greater threat in the later stages.

Struggling Forest Green ended 10-man Walsall’s five-match winning run with two second-half goals in a 2-0 League Two victory to boost their survival hopes.

The Saddlers started brightly but it was the home side who had the first effort of the game when Charlie McCann forced goalkeeper Jackson Smith into action before Kyle McAllister dragged an effort wide.

Walsall hit back with Jack Earing lifting a shot over the crossbar before Josh Gordon missed the best chance of the half when he managed to guide the ball into the arms of home stopper Vincente Reyes from six yards.

The visitors continued to dominate the chances going into the second half and should have taken the lead four minutes after the break when substitute Mo Faal flicked the ball on for Gordon, but his shot was saved by Reyes’ outstretched foot.

The game swung after 64 minutes when a quick break from the hosts saw Christian Doidge hit the post and Emmanuel Osadebe tucked away the rebound.

Walsall’s misery continued when Green keeper Reyes brilliantly saved an Isaac Hutchinson penalty and then, moments later, David Okagbue was sent off after picking up a second yellow card.

Salt was rubbed into the Saddlers’ wounds after 81 minutes when McAllister fired in a penalty at the other end to wrap up the points.

A late Charlie Lakin penalty rescued a point for basement boys Sutton in a 1-1 draw with Grimsby.

The visitors picked up another point on the road to safety, but it could have been more at Gander Green Lane.

Sutton had an early scare when goalkeeper Steve Arnold failed to gather a free-kick and Justin Obikwu’s goalbound header was cleared off the line by Craig Eastmond.

But Arnold was more convincing when he saved Harry Clifton’s low shot, and just before half-time denied Obikwu at close range.

However the Grimsby striker was not to be denied, and when Sutton failed to clear a corner his neat flick found the corner of the net a minute before the break.

Sutton’s first shot of note came from substitute Olly Sanderson but was comfortably wide.

Arnold was again called in to action to save from Kieran Green, and Harvey Rodgers hit the bar with a header from Gavan Holohan’s corner.

A handling offence spotted by an assistant following a corner saw referee Alex Chilowicz point to the penalty spot and Lakin hammered the penalty past Harvey Cartwright with two minutes left.

Wrexham came from behind to beat 10-man Morecambe 3-1 at the Mazuma Stadium.

Ged Garner gave the home side a fourth-minute lead but goals from James McClean, a Paul Mullin penalty and Steven Fletcher gave Phil Parkinson’s side a confidence-boosting away win.

Morecambe were gifted the early lead after an error from keeper Arthur Okonkwo gave Garner time and space to fire the ball into the empty net from six yards out.

Jacob Bedeau then handed the visitors a leveller just after the half-hour. His shocking back pass played in Mullin, who held the ball up well to square for McClean to rifle the ball into the Morecambe goal.

Morecambe were reduced to 10 men just four minutes into the second half when Max Melbourne clipped Ollie Palmer and received a second yellow card.

The visitors took advantage of the extra man and took the lead 10 minutes into the second period when Mullin scored from the spot after David Tutonda was harshly adjudged to have handled Elliot Lee’s shot.

The visitors added a third 10 minutes from time when substitute Fletcher headed home a left-wing cross from six yards out to seal the points for the visitors.

Tyreik Wright scored a double as Bradford made it six league games unbeaten with a 3-0 win at Accrington.

It was Stanley’s first game in almost 10 years without John Coleman at the helm after he was sacked last Sunday.

Interim manager John Doolan couldn’t stop a fourth successive loss for the Reds while Bradford remain in a large group chasing a play-off place.

The Bantams opened the scoring after 12 minutes when Andy Cook flicked the ball on for Plymouth loan striker Wright, who fired past Radek Vitek.

It was two after 23 minutes when a Lewis Richards long throw left Wright one-on-one with Vitek and he slotted into the far corner.

Number three came after 38 minutes when a long goal kick from Sam Walker found its way to the prolific Cook, who fired home his 16th goal of the season.

Tommy Leigh headed against the crossbar soon after as Stanley looked to get back in it but after the break it was Bradford substitute Calum Kavanagh who had a number of chances to increase the score.

MK Dons boss Mike Williamson said his promotion-chasing side had shown real character to come from behind to win 2-1 away at Sky Bet League Two leaders Mansfield.

Dons were smarting from Saturday’s defeat by rivals AFC Wimbledon but bolstered their promotion hopes as Stags lost at home for only the second time this season.

“I thought it was a fantastic game between two good teams and you could see from the first whistle that both sides wanted to win,” said Williamson.

“I thought we showed every area of our character today and we played as much as we were allowed.

“We were under a lot of pressure as they are a really high-intensity, hard-working team. And we had to put bodies on the line as well.

“It was a good response from Saturday’s defeat and that is what these players are about and the chemistry they have in there.

“We had to play with a lot of courage and bravery today.

“Ultimately we had to respect who we are playing – they are top of the league for a reason. So I am proud of the boys tonight. They all put a real shift in.”

Mansfield went ahead after 15 minutes when MJ Williams’ handball gifted them a penalty.

Michael Kelly kept out Lucas Akins’ spot-kick and he then also saved the former Burton forward’s follow-up but could not stop Stephen Quinn burying the loose ball at the third time of asking.

However, five minutes later Lewis Brunt’s powerful header unluckily hit the onrushing Alex Gilbey who raced onto the gift and crashed home a fine 20-yard finish.

The winner came on 54 minutes through Matthew Dennis, who had cleared an Aden Flint header off the line and missed a six yard header in the first half.

He cut in from the left and saw his low finish take a deflection past Christy Pym.

Mansfield manager Nigel Clough said: “I don’t think we got a break tonight playing against an extremely good team – technically they are probably the best in the league.

“But I thought we were a bit unlucky with both goals tonight.

“For the first Lewis Brunt won a brilliant header and it just went straight to their lad off his thigh into his path and he’s put a great finish in.

“For the second Louis Reed’s had a shot from outside the box, it’s been blocked and gone in their lad’s path again and they have broken away and scored.

“There was bags of effort tonight but not a break. The lads gave absolutely everything.

“It took us three go’s to score from a penalty which probably summed up the night after scoring 14 goals here in the last couple of home games. We were maybe due one of these sorts of days.”

Grant McCann admitted that Doncaster paid the price for not killing off Bradford after Tuesday night’s Yorkshire derby finished in a 1-1 League Two draw at Valley Parade.

Substitute Tyler Smith scored a late equaliser for the home side after Luke Molyneux’s fifth goal of the season had put Rovers on course for victory.

Doncaster manager McCann said: “I’m really disappointed we’ve drawn the game. I thought we were outstanding in the first half.

“We need to get to that point when we’ve got teams on the ropes that we need to kill them off and we will do.

“We passed around them and exploited the angles and were very good on a shocking pitch. But this pitch was better than Walsall’s pitch on Saturday – it’s a little bit flatter.

“We knew there would be a reaction from (Bradford boss) Graham (Alexander) and his team. They are combative but we had some good opportunities and had chances to score in the second half.

“Any other time you come to Bradford and it’s a decent point but I’m disappointed because of the way we played.

“The team is performing to a really good level at the moment. We just didn’t kill the game off.

“You need to get a point where you can go again and score again. We will get to that point.”

Bradford were playing their first league game for 17 days after consecutive postponements.

They looked rusty and trailed when Harrison Biggins played Molyneux through to score on the stroke of half-time.

But Smith converted a cross from fellow substitute Harry Chapman to earn a point, five minutes from time.

Bradford manager Graham Alexander said: “Not playing for a couple of weeks could have been a potential problem but I don’t want us to take the easy option by blaming that.

“We train at a high intensity and know what’s expected of us when we go into games.

“It was a poor first half. We weren’t good at any level and we can’t afford to repeat that.

“We were just hoping to get to half-time to make a change to the mentality but unfortunately conceded a really poor goal. We gave ourselves a bit of a hole to get out of.

“We’ve been really good defensively for a long time but it was poor from our perspective.

“It’s hard for me to have a go at the team defensively because they’ve been superb. Even tonight, I don’t think Doncaster caused us a load of problems.

“But the response was good from the players. We still probably didn’t create the amount of chances that we needed to win the game but I think we certainly deserved the equaliser.

“It was a fantastic goal from Tyler. I think the point was a fair result but we obviously wanted more.”

Barrow boss Pete Wild hailed his players as “outstanding” after they fired themselves back into the League Two play-off places with a fine 2-0 win over Gillingham.

Goals from experienced centre-back James Chester and Emile Acquah – his first in the league since October – ended a three-game losing streak.

It was the first game the club have played in 17 days after fixtures against Bradford and Crawley were called off due to waterlogged pitches.

“I think you’ve seen three or four lads who have played the best they ever had in a Barrow shirt,” said Wild.

“They were outstanding.

“It was really nice last Saturday when I went and had a chat with the fans and the fans who have been with us through thick and thin knew we were having a blip and we would come through it and we’ve delivered for them.

“I’m really pleased that we’ve done that because some of the things they were saying was humbling to say the least.

“I keep saying this, we must remember what this squad is doing for the football club and the distance it’s travelled.

“We’ve put a pin in the ground. Where we were 12 months ago in March we were out of the play-off picture and nowhere near it. Twelve months on we’re in the play-off picture.

“I think the staff and the squad deserve so much credit for what they’re doing for this football club.”

Stephen Clemence’s side slipped out of the play-off spots after defeat.

And frustrations boiled over as Conor Masterson and Remeao Hutton were booked for squaring up to one another at the end.

On the incident, Clemence said: “It’s an emotional game, football. You have to keep your emotions in check.

“I don’t like to see that, but I’ve nipped it in the bud. They’ve shaken hands and they’re fine.

“They both just want to win and sometimes in the heat of the moment your emotions can get the better of you, but they’re fine now.”

On the game, the Gills boss added: “I felt we were off it and we didn’t hit the levels we have set recently.

“It’s difficult when you play two away games on the spin, especially with the amount of miles we have put in in the past few days.

“I don’t want to use that as an excuse, but we were a little bit flat.

“I will go to bed wondering whether that’s my fault because you don’t want to change a team that’s done well.

“We dust ourselves down and get ready to start a new run on Saturday.

“We didn’t create enough. I have to say Barrow are very well organised. It was difficult and we didn’t have that spark that we needed.

“It is what it is, we’ve been beat. It’s one game.

“The division is the division and a lot of teams can beat each other. Is it a surprise? I came here thinking we’d win the game.

“We’ve got 10 games left and we’ll be trying to win them all.”

David Artell believes Grimsby proved they are a tough team to beat in their 0-0 draw against play-off-chasing AFC Wimbledon at Plough Lane.

Artell’s side had the better of a closely-fought first half, with Donovan Wilson rattling Wimbledon’s crossbar.

Both sides struggled to carve out a clear-cut chance during a cagey second half, and Grimsby held on to secure back-to-back clean sheets in League Two.

The result moved the Mariners seven points clear of the relegation zone, while the Dons are now three points off the play-off places.

“We know we are hard to beat, it was a hard-fought point,” he said.

“In the second half Wimbledon asked questions of us but that is back-to-back clean sheets for the first time in, I don’t even know how long.

“I thought we were the better team in the first half, we hit the bar, we had a great penalty shout turned down, Harvey Rodgers has had a great chance from a free-kick and we looked the better team. It was a really good point in the end.

“I thought the referee missed a couple of big decisions if I am being honest but that is the way it goes when you are away from home, that is what can happen.

“We should have scored while we were on top, that’s the next stage, we made it hard for ourselves in certain respects in the last 15 minutes.”

Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson was happy with a point in the wake of Saturday’s memorable 1-0 win over MK Dons.

“I think it took a lot out of all of us, it was a monumental occasion and to have to go again three days later, that is difficult,” he added.

“To put the effort in that they did on the back of a huge effort on the weekend and get four points from two games in three days, it is not bad.

“I think on the balance of the game the result was about fair, it was close but it is another point on the board.

“We wanted to win and the plan was to get the three but you can also lose these games and our opponents are fighting for their lives so credit to them for making our lives difficult.

“I don’t think we were at our best and when you are not at your best it is important you don’t lose.

“It is going to be a real fight, you have seen today there are no easy games, the team that we beat here on Saturday has gone and won at the league leaders.

“This is League Two for you, they were never going to come here and roll over, they were always going to put up a fight.”

Morecambe boss Ged Brannan was full of praise for his players as they battled to a 1-0 victory over Crawley that took them level on points with the League Two play-off spots.

Brannan’s side were forced to defend for long periods against a good Town side but a goal from substitute Jordan Slew in the 68th minute was enough to give them the three points.

Brannan said: “They were a really good team and got behind us a few times but we defended superbly and put our bodies on the line and did everything we could to get the three points.

“We were solid all over the pitch and looked a great unit and there were good performances all over the pitch and it was fantastic to keep the clean sheet.

“We showed our heart tonight and showed what a good unit we are. I could not ask for any more from the lads and I’m delighted with the win.”

Slew made it two goals in two games when he slotted home a superb right-wing cross from Joel Senior at the far post.

Before that Crawley had the better of the game.

The closest they came to an opener was in first-half stoppage time when Klaidi Lolos saw his header from Will Wright’s corner superbly saved by home keeper Archie Mair.

The Reds wasted another glorious chance just before the hour when top scorer Danilo Orsi volleyed Kellan Gordon’s right-wing cross over from just two yards after some more excellent approach play.

The visitors continued to push with Harry Forster seeing two shots blocked by the excellent Farrend Rawson and Lolos stabbing an effort wide after a great run into the box as the Shrimps defended their lead superbly.

Forster made a great chance for himself with time running out but skewed his final shot well wide of the Morecambe goal.

Crawley manager Scott Lindsey was left frustrated.

He said: “It’s a tough defeat to take because we played really well tonight. We created a lot of chances but you could feel that the longer the game went on the more possibility they might have of getting round the back and sneaking a goal and that is what happened.

“When you dominate the game as much as we did and miss the chances we have, that is more reason for us to concentrate more at the back and we did not do that and it cost us the game.

“The biggest frustration was the lads think the perfect goal exists but it doesn’t and sometimes you have to make a better decision than try and walk the ball over the line.”