Manager Dave Challinor was left frustrated after Stockport’s goalless draw at home to managerless Swindon.

County slipped to second, behind Mansfield on goal difference, with the two dropped points and Challinor admitted, given the chances they wasted, they had only themselves to blame.

He said: “It was a frustrating afternoon for us.

“We should have won the game with all the opportunities we created but if you don’t take your chances then the eventuality is you’re not going to win games. That’s the unfortunate case.

“We created a lot of chances and that will give me some positivity – not at the moment but when I come to reflect on it it will.

“Because we have created good chances, you have to have that steely composure to be able to put one of them away and then the complexion of the game changes.

“Whether the outcome of the game changes I don’t know. I think we just have to do a little bit more so we’ll take our point and move on.”

The draw extended Stockport’s winless run to four games and Challinor conceded it is a mini slump in terms of results but challenged the squad to turn it around and get back on track for a title bid.

He added: “I’d say we’re in a bit of a slump but what difference does that make?

“If you look in the press, look at social media and read opinions they won’t change massively and if it affects the players then we’re in a bit of trouble.

“I don’t think it will, we have to be thick-skinned, stick our shoulders back, chest out and say ‘I’m a good player’.”

Swindon’s interim head coach Gavin Gunning was delighted to take a point from the side that started the day in top spot in League Two and hinted better times are to come for the Robins.

He said: “It was a great performance. We were solid when we got behind the ball, we transitioned well.

“A couple of times we didn’t make the right decision and a couple of times we didn’t show composure in front of goal.

“Instead of being one point it could have been three but coming to Stockport and getting a clean sheet is fantastic for the team.

“We condensed the space well against a fantastic side, one of the best in the league, so we knew it was going to be a tough game but I’m really proud of the lads.

“Obviously we had some chances where we should have shifted it and finished it but it’s a great point.

“We have been giving away some not great goals but when you come to the league leaders and you keep a clean sheet you can only be proud of the lads.

“They dug in well, we had to change the shape because of the personnel we had, it was squad effort and I’m very proud of them.

“We are where we are and that’s unfortunate. Has it been a great season? No. But where you finish is where your performances put you.

“I envisage some very positive results soon and I look forward to that.”

Grimsby boss Dave Artell said Gavan Holohan was “devastated” after missing a last-gasp chance to secure the Mariners a vital three-point haul at the Mazuma Stadium.

Holohan looked certain to bundle home Abo Eisa’s cross into the Morecambe goal with virtually the last kick of the game but a late bobble saw the ball come off his shin and spoon over the bar.

Coming into the game on the back of a 5-1 home defeat by Doncaster, the injury-hit Mariners produced a resilient performance with Danny Rose giving them the lead after just 80 seconds, only for Jordan Slew to level early in the second half and make it 1-1.

Artell, a former Morecambe player, said: “Gavan was devastated at the end after the late chance and you had to feel for him as he had done so well to get onto the cross.

“We had a few meetings in the week and a few open and honest conversations with the players after last week’s defeat and we had a really productive week. We all knew we needed a response after the Doncaster game and I thought we got that.

“We have had illness in the camp all week and were missing some players who had been involved in a car crash in midweek so we only had 18 fit players but every one of them put in a great shift.

“The lads showed great resilience and determination off the ball and if we had been a bit more clinical with it, especially at the end of the game, we could have taken the three points.”

Morecambe boss Ged Brannan said his side’s poor start cost them the three points.

He said: “It was a tough one to take really because it was criminal to give Danny Rose so much space in the box like we did.

“We have been conceding early goals far too often this season and we can’t expect to come back and win games all the time.

“I can’t fault the lads for their efforts to get back into the game and some of our football was excellent after a poor start but you can’t keep putting yourself under pressure week in, week out.

“There were lots of positives but we couldn’t get the second goal and they almost won it at the end so at the end of the day it is a point in the right direction and we will keep pushing up that table.”

After Rose tucked away Harry Clifton’s cross, Morecambe struggled to break down a resilient Mariners defence.

Gwion Edwards was the Shrimps’ main dangerman and, after forcing Harvey Cartwright into a neat save late in the first half, he went on to provide the assist for Slew as his cross from the right was converted by the striker.

Edwards then saw a shot from the edge of the box superbly saved by Cartwright before Slew’s dipping cross from the left hit the top of the crossbar, with the rebound put wide by Jordy Hiwula.

As gaps opened up Grimbsy almost snatched victory at the death. Eisa smashed a free-kick inches wide before providing the cross that Holohan somehow failed to convert.

Sutton manager Steve Morison admitted he could not understand how his side had failed to beat Colchester following an entertaining 1-1 draw at the VBS Community Stadium.

Midfielder Cameron McGeehan fired the visitors into a welcome seventh-minute lead, but Lakin levelled for the home side just 11 minutes later with a cool finish.

Harry Smith then saw his 80th-minute penalty superbly saved by goalkeeper Owen Goodman, who made sure the visitors claimed a precious point on the road.

“I’m gutted to be standing here without the win,” said Morison.

“We’re desperate to get a win, the players are trying their hardest and leaving it all out there [on the pitch] for the football club.

“That’s all we can ask and I’m proud of what they put out there today. I’m just gutted we didn’t get the win.

“We had big enough chances and big enough moments in the game to win it, but I wish I had a different answer to why we didn’t.

“We had a clearance off the line and their keeper saved a penalty so, yeah, it’s just where we’re at the minute.

“We have to hold on to the fact that performances come first and hopefully the results will come.

“I wish I could put my finger on exactly why the ball isn’t going into the back of the net, but if you keep creating chances the old saying of ‘you need one to go in off your backside and it will start to run’, well hopefully that happens.

“The most frustrating thing is how poor the goal was we conceded. It was just so easy for them to score the goal. We’ve got to be better than that and we weren’t.

“But from that moment I thought we stuck to our task and we gave a good showing of ourselves. We had the big moments, but we just couldn’t quite get over the line.”

Colchester manager Danny Cowley admitted Sutton had proved tough opposition, saying: “I thought it was a really hard-fought game.

“Sutton United are a really awkward opponent, I’ve found them to be the most awkward team to play against since I joined the club.

“They played quickly with real purpose. They put balls into your box at every opportunity and really make you defend. You really have to stand up.

“The pitch is a challenge, but I think our goal showed that if you do connect passes you can have success and you can play some good football and score a good goal.

“They’ll be pleased with their goal of course, but from our point of view we’re disappointed.

“We always want to win, but you’ve got to respect your opponent. Sutton are a good side.”

Crewe manager Lee Bell wants his players to relish their 3-1 victory at Notts County after they jumped back into the Sky Bet League Two automatic promotion places.

Mickey Demetriou glanced Crewe’s opener home before Elliott Nevitt doubled their lead with a penalty. Josh Austerfield added the visitors’ third with a shot from outside the area and Jim O’Brien grabbed a consolation goal for the Magpies.

The Alex boss said: “I want the players to enjoy it, they have to enjoy it.

“I don’t quite tell them when they can stop enjoying it, they can switch off and enjoy it over the next couple of days and realise and put that real belief into them about what we’re after and what we want to achieve this season.

“It’s so hard for the staff to enjoy it because sometimes you are only as good as your last result, but I am in the house on my own tonight so I will enjoy it!”

With 12 games left of the season, Bell commended his side’s attitude and belief from everyone involved but did not want to get too carried away with their latest triumph.

“I think that is the important thing that we have been able to achieve this season is that we now have a competitive squad with good players,” he said.

“I keep saying it, but they are just good lads and if you have that, then you have a chance.

“They have outstanding character, and they were brilliant today and that takes you a long way, and winning football matches breathes confidence and the togetherness we have got, but they have got to keep wanting to improve and have high standards and in 12 games’ time we will see where we are.”

Magpies boss Stuart Maynard was once again left frustrated, with his side yet to win at home in the new year.

Defending attacks is something the County boss insists they are working on, while he felt Aaron Nemane’s wayward effort may have changed the outcome of the game had it gone in.

“It’s a game that felt like Gillingham,” he said. “I know we went 1-0 up in that game but if you look at the goals we have conceded as a group, it’s really frustrating because it is another team that has come to Meadow Lane that has not had to do a lot to beat us, and that is the frustration.

“When you give the opposition a head start in this division, it is very difficult to come back no matter who you are. As a group, we need to continue to work on it, we are working on it and we need to do because you can see it.

“We couldn’t get that goal just before half-time and if we score that, I think it becomes a different game.”

Ten-man Forest Green gave their League Two survival hopes a boost with a 1-0 home win over Tranmere.

Charlie McCann’s stunning strike was enough for all three points despite Ryan Inniss being sent off late on.

The returning Jordan Moore-Taylor headed narrowly past his own post after a mix-up with emergency loan goalkeeper Vicente Reyes.

The impressive Rob Apter shifted a yard of space and struck a fierce left-footed effort towards Reyes’ near post but the Norwich loanee tipped around the post.

Reyes had to be alert to deny Apter again after his effort was deflected towards his top corner but he parried away from danger.

Forest Green then produced a flowing move just before the break that midfielder McCann rounded off with a superb 20-yard strike into Luke McGee’s top corner.

Early in the second half, Apter found Harvey Saunders inside the penalty area but his right-footed effort was stopped by Reyes.

Inniss was given a second yellow in the closing stages but the hosts navigated Tranmere’s late pressure for a precious win.

Timothee Dieng catapulted Gillingham into the Sky Bet League Two play-off spots after beating high-flyers Wrexham 1-0 at Priestfield.

A second-half goal from Dieng ensured the Gills move up into seventh, while the visitors fell to fourth place.

Wrexham dominated the opening 25 minutes as Jacob Mendy struck from range but was denied by Glenn Morris, who replaced the injured Jake Turner.

The visitors searched for an opener, but Steven Fletcher wasted a pinpoint cross from Andy Cannon.

As half-time approached the Gills took charge when Ethan Coleman’s shot from range was tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo.

And after many attempts, Conor Masterson connected with Max Clark’s free-kick at the far post, firing it into Dieng who tapped it home in the 55th minute.

Ashley Nadesan almost doubled the lead after Oli Hawkins’ set-up from a counter, but his shot drifted wide.

The Red Dragons came closest to netting when Fletcher struck an acrobatic effort but was denied by Morris’ goal line clearance.

Mansfield’s soared to the top of Sky Bet League Two with a 5-1 demolition of 10-man Salford.

The visitors arrived in Nottinghamshire unbeaten in eight games, but Mansfield went ahead in the 18th minute as Aaron Lewis’ teasing cross from the right was met by Will Swan’s flicked close range header past a helpless Alex Cairns.

Home goalkeeper Christy Pym denied Junior Luamba with his legs as the unmarked Salford player volleyed at goal from Elliot Watt’s far post cross in the 22nd minute.

Luamba did beat Pym to level three minutes before the break, after showing great pace to get away down the left and then inside two opponents before tucking away a low near-post finish.

However, Mansfield still went in at half-time ahead as a Davis Keillor-Dunn corner in the ninth of 10 added minutes was turned home by Baily Cargill at the far post.

It was 3-1 12 minutes after the interval as Aaron Lewis’ ball over the top sent Stephen Quinn clear and, as Cairns came to meet him, he squared for Keillor-Dunn to find the empty net for his 17th goal of the season.

City’s afternoon worsened in the 73rd minute as Theo Vassell hauled down Lucas Akins as he tried to go clear and was shown a straight red card.

The hosts added a fourth with nine minutes remaining as Akins ran clear onto Lewis Brunt’s ball over the top and slotted home a low finish.

In added time Hiram Boateng poked home the fifth with a first-time finish from Louis Reed’s cross from the right.

Relegation-threatened Sutton battled back from a goal down to share the spoils with Colchester in an entertaining 1-1 draw at the VBS Community Stadium.

It was a result that suited the Essex side more than Sutton, who remain rooted to the foot of the League Two table and wasted the chance to take all three points when Harry Smith’s penalty was saved 10 minutes from time.

The hosts almost scored inside the first minute as skipper Craig Eastmond blasted a chance just over the bar, but after Sutton goalkeeper Steve Arnold had made a good save from Arthur Read, the visitors went in front when Cameron McGeehan turned in John Akinde’s low cross.

Colchester came close to a second 10 minutes later as Read’s free-kick rebounded off the post, but instead it was Sutton who levelled the score as Charlie Lakin found the target when Josh Coley’s cross fell to him.

Lakin then almost turned provider when his free-kick was glanced just wide by Ben Goodliffe, while Smith’s chip over Owen Goodman was brilliantly cleared off the line by Riley Harbottle.

Just before half-time Arnold saved well from Jayden Fevrier and Read, with McGeehan flagged offside as he netted from the second rebound.

Chances were at a premium early in the second half, Craig Clay scuffing a shot wide from a Lakin corner, while at the other end Arnold made a superb reaction save to turn away an in-swinging Read free-kick that evaded everyone.

Sutton’s big chance came when substitute Stephen Duke-McKenna’s shot was handled by Harbottle, but Smith’s penalty was brilliantly saved by Goodman.

Doncaster continued their strong run of form with a narrow 1-0 win over Wimbledon in Sky Bet League Two.

Hakeeb Adelakun netted the only goal after three minutes to make it five games unbeaten for Rovers and further dampen any lingering fears of being dragged into a relegation fight.

Lincoln loanee Adelakun latched onto a pass from Harrison Biggins before slotting into the bottom corner as Rovers made a bright start.

They looked the more likely to find the next goal for the remainder of the first half. Adelakun stung the palms of Wimbledon keeper Alex Bass with a low drive while Tom Anderson headed off target and Joe Ironside drew another good save.

Wimbledon – without a win in their last four – were more threatening in the second half as manager Johnnie Jackson threw on multiple attacking options.

But the visitors struggled for clear chances, with a pair of low drives from James Tilley testing keeper Thimothee Lo-Tutala as Rovers held on for the win.

Stockport were knocked off the top of League Two after enduring a frustrating afternoon as they were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Swindon.

The hosts made virtually all the running against managerless Swindon but failed to find a breakthrough, extending their winless run to four.

Both sides had decent chances in the first half, none more so than Swindon’s Zachary Elbouzedi.

He was first to a loose ball when Ben Hinchliffe palmed away Williams Kokolo’s low shot but his finish cannoned off the near post.

Most of the opportunities came Stockport’s way, though. Antoni Sarcevic skied the first of the game, with Paddy Madden heading Myles Hippolyte’s cross over a minute later.

Sarcevic was denied by a vital block by Kokolo and the left-back also took the sting out of Connor Lemonheigh-Evans’ shot, giving Jack Bycroft a simple save.

Bycroft rescued the Robins 10 minutes before half-time when Madden picked out the unmarked Isaac Olaofe, the keeper pulling off a fine stop.

County ramped up the pressure after the break and Madden was again thwarted by Bycroft, who somehow tipped his well-struck shot over.

The busy Bycroft then made two sharp reaction saves from Fraser Horsfall in quick succession.

Hinchliffe prevented Aaron Drinan from finding a late goal for Swindon and, at the other end, Olaofe’s glaring miss, heading way over from Lewis Cass’ cross, summed up County’s day.

Nick Powell almost snatched the winner in stoppage time but his glancing header went agonisingly wide.

Crewe moved into the Sky Bet League Two automatic promotion places following a comfortable 3-1 victory over Notts County at Meadow Lane.

The visitors took the lead inside five minutes when a short-corner routine saw Rio Abedisi’s cross find the head of captain Mickey Demetriou to glance the ball home.

And their advantage was doubled when Luca Ashby-Hammond was adjudged to have taken down Elliott Nevitt inside the area, the striker stepping up to double Crewe’s advantage.

Macaulay Langstaff had the best effort for the Magpies in the first half, seeing his effort saved by Harvey Davies, with Aaron Nemane firing an effort narrowly wide shortly after.

The second half was limited to few chances, but Josh Austerfield would add the visitors’ third with a shot from outside the area.

But Stuart Maynard’s side would add a late consolation when Jim O’Brien’s effort through a crowd of bodies was fumbled into the net by Davies. The result sees the Magpies drop to 13th in the table.

Improving Walsall racked up a third straight victory with a 2-0 success at Harrogate.

Liam Gordon opened the scoring for the Saddlers and Mo Saal was credited with a late second, even though his shot seemed to be heading wide before taking a big deflection off home defender Liam Gibson.

Matty Daly found the net for Harrogate in the first half after a spectacular Dean Cornelius strike had thudded against the crossbar, but home celebrations were dashed by an offside flag.

Mat Sadler’s men forged ahead in the 48th minute when Isaac Hutchinson released Tom Knowles and he pulled the ball back from the right byline for left wing-back Gordon to find the bottom right corner from 15 yards.

At the other end, Anthony O’Connor somehow fired over from three yards following a Matty Foulds corner, but Faal was also
guilty of a glaring miss from the same distance after being picked out by Hutchinson.

The on-loan West Brom forward went on to enjoy better fortune in the 84th minute when another attempt that appeared to be heading wide was diverted inside goalkeeper James Belshaw’s right-hand post by Gibson.

Douglas James-Taylor should have made it three but hit an upright with only Belshaw to beat in stoppage time.

Strugglers Grimsby earned a battling point with a dogged display in a 1-1 draw with Morecambe at the Mazuma Stadium.

Danny Rose handed the Mariners the lead after just 80 seconds with Jordan Slew levelling eight minutes into the second period for Ged Brannan’s Sky Bet League Two play-off chasers.

Grimsby enjoyed the perfect start when they quickly worked an opening down the right and Harry Clifton crossed for the unmarked Rose to turn the ball past Archie Mair from close range.

Grimsby continued to look the sharper with Gavan Holohan seeing a shot well blocked by Farrend Rawson and Rose drilling an effort over from outside the box before the Shrimps began to settle.

Slew had a great chance but saw his effort from 12 yards out deflected inches wide for a corner and, with the half drawing to a close, Gwion Edwards produced the home side’s first shot on target with a right-footed effort that was well parried away by Harvey Cartwright.

The Shrimps finally pulled one back eight minutes into the second half through Slew after Cartwiright failed to deal with Edwards’s cross from the right and the striker was perfectly placed to bundle the ball home.

In the scramble for the winner Edwards saw his goalbound shot blocked by team-mate Slew, who went on to see a cross hit the bar before Grimsby missed a golden chance to take all three points when Holohan somehow managed to miss the target from two yards out in the fourth minute of added time.

Harry Ransom’s first goal of the season made it three wins on the bounce for Crawley in their 1-0 victory over fellow play-off challengers Accrington.

Defender Ransom’s header went in off the inside of the post from a Will Wright corner in the 68th minute to seal the three points.

Stanley had the majority of the first-half chances but found Crawley keeper Corey Addai in top form.

Striker Jake Bickerstaff was clean through on six minutes but Addai pushed away his chip, and Jack Nolan had a couple of strikes saved by Addai while the Town keeper kept out a Ben Woods drive.

Crawley’s best first-half chance fell to top scorer Danilo Orsi but Radek Vitek was equal to it.

It was more open in the second half with both keepers producing superb saves.

Addai denied Nolan and league debutant Lewis Trickett, while Vitek dived low to stop a Klaidi Lolos strike finding the bottom corner.

Ransom then struck with his header and it needed another superb save from close range to deny Korede Adedoyin an equaliser late in the game.

Stockport manager Dave Challinor believes that his team 0-0 are lacking a “moment of quality” following their 0-0 draw with Gillingham in League Two on Tuesday night.

The league leaders came to Gillingham after sustaining back-to-back losses at the hands of Crewe and Tranmere.

Struggling in both defence and attack in recent weeks, Challinor is hopeful that keeping a clean sheet against Gillingham can renew confidence for his team after conceding seven goals in their previous two outings.

Having scored only once in three games since their 3-1 win over Grimsby at the start of February, Challinor’s next hope for his side is that they rediscover their touch in front of goal as they look to confirm automatic promotion to League One by the end of the season.

Challinor said: “After the last two games, we got back to where we were defensively and I thought we were really good there today.

“I’ve been critical of the team and they’ve been critical of themselves at times; we’ve got to be better and we were tonight and that gives us a platform to go on and get a result. If you’re not going to defend properly and to the level consistently then you’re going to struggle to win games.

“Before the game, would I have taken the point? No because I want to win, but will I have taken a clean sheet as a minimum? Absolutely.

“We needed to find that moment of quality. In fact, we found moments of quality but not moments of quality that gets us the goal, if that would have been the case it would have been the perfect away performance, but we’ll take that point.”

Each team had their chances at Priestfield Stadium but neither team were able to find the cutting edge to end the encounter with three points in hand.

Stockport did have a late opportunity to return to the north-west as winners, although Paddy Madden’s shot was blocked by Gills defender Shadrach Ogie.

A point has now put Challinor’s team two points ahead of second-place Mansfield, who have a game in hand and will welcome Salford to One Call Stadium this Saturday.

Thanks to Crawley beating AFC Wimbledon 1-0, Gillingham have now moved to eighth in League Two and are level on points with Harrogate, with only goal difference separating Stephen Clemence’s team from a playoff berth.

Clemence said, in a video interview posted by Gillingham on X: “It’s a very difficult game, they’re the top scorers in the division so we knew we had to be spot on defensively.

“They tested us at times but I don’t think they threatened us too much – one or two shots, and they hit the post with a wide free-kick that was probably a cross.

“Defensively we were very, very sound and we had to work hard for the clean sheet so I’m really proud of the boys’ efforts tonight.

“Yeah, we didn’t create enough ourselves, but we were better in the second half than the first and that’s a good point there today.”