Ellis Harrison’s late goal helped MK Dons beat struggling Colchester 1-0 at Stadium MK on a record-breaking day for captain Dean Lewington.

It had looked like being a frustrating day for the Dons, who wasted several chances, but an 89th-minute goal by Harrison made the difference as they moved into the League Two play-off spots.

Dons man of the match Lewington was making his 771st appearance in a league game for the Dons, duly setting a new record for the most English Football League fixtures in history for one club.

The hosts came very close through former Colchester player Alex Gilbey, who saw an initial shot and rebound well blocked by Owen Goodman.

Joe Tomlinson later hit the post, before Max Dean saw a fine curling shot just land wide.

The home side continued to miss chances after the break, but Colchester almost struck when Joe Taylor’s shot at the end of a counter was denied by Craig MacGillivray.

With time running out, the Dons found a breakthrough when substitute Harrison fired home from Jack Payne’s free-kick.

There was still time for Colchester substitute Tom Hopper to hit the bar and have a goal disallowed for offside.

James McClean scored the only goal as 10-man Wrexham won at the County Ground for the first time since 1985 by beating Swindon 1-0.

McClean gave Wrexham an early lead as he capitalised on a loose ball on the edge of the box, got away from a defender and fired beyond Lewis Ward.

Ward had to be at his very best to keep the game in the balance after 59 minutes to keep out Sam Dalby’s bullet header that looked destined for the bottom corner before the Swindon goalkeeper got down to push the ball to safety.

James Jones got his marching after 75 minutes for a pair of yellow cards, the second coming after he brought down Tyrese Shade as he looked to burst into the area on the left.

Jake Young and Saidou Khan both had glorious chances to find a leveller for Swindon as they forced Wrexham back, but neither could find the target with their finishes from inside the penalty area.

Tranmere made it back-to-back wins with a comprehensive 5-1 League Two victory over 10-man Salford at the Peninsula Stadium to record their first away success since February.

Goals from Harvey Saunders, Kieron Morris and Connor Jennings put Rovers in control before Matthew Lund pulled one back.

Regan Hendry and Josh Hawkes added two more for a dominant Tranmere side, either side of Conor McAleny’s sending off.

The visitors were rewarded for their bright start when Saunders fired a shot into the bottom corner after 12 minutes.

Tranmere then doubled their lead through Morris before the break.

McAleny forced Luke McGee to produce a fine save at the start of the second half, prior to Jennings delivering a sucker punch by curling into the corner.

Lund placed the ball home from the edge of the box to give Salford hope, but Tranmere hit back through Hartley when he fired past Alex Cairns to make it 4-1.

Salford went down to 10 men after McAleny was sent off for a second bookable offence with 18 minutes remaining.

To make matters even worse, Hawkes scored a fifth at the death to leave Salford head coach Neil Wood under growing pressure after they extended their winless league run to eight matches in 21st.

Substitutes Nick Powell and Akil Wright rescued a point for Stockport as the Sky Bet League Two leaders secured a pulsating 2-2 draw at fellow high-flyers Barrow.

Dave Challinor’s side trailed 2-0 after 24 minutes as goals from former Edgeley Park favourite Ben Whitfield and Kian Spence put the Cumbrians on their way to what would have been an eighth successive victory.

Whitfield turned in Spence’s shot for his eighth goal of the season and then crossed for his team-mate to double Barrow’s advantage.

The Bluebirds’ biggest crowd since 1969 – 5866 – were in dreamland.

But Challinor’s brave double substitution three minutes from half-time turned the contest back in County’s favour.

In the second minute of stoppage time, Powell drilled a low shot beyond Paul Farman for his second goal of the season.

Challinor then brought on two more subs after the break, with ex-Barrow defender Wright heading in Odin Bailey’s cross for the leveller.

Stockport looked capable of ending Barrow’s unbeaten home record but it was Pete Wild’s side who went closest to taking all three points.

George Ray had a goal disallowed for a foul, while Emile Acquah was denied by a brilliant late Ben Hinchliffe save.

Notts County returned to winning ways with a comfortable 3-0 League Two win over Doncaster at Meadow Lane.

Two goals in the first half from Dan Crowley and Macaulay Langstaff gave the Magpies a commanding lead at the break, with Aaron Nemane adding a third early in the second half.

Despite the hosts early dominance, it was Rovers who could have taken the lead when Jodi Jones was penalised for a push inside the area – Joe Ironside firing the resulting spot-kick wide.

But Luke Williams’ side went in front as Jones’ delivery picked out Crowley inside the area, shortly followed by Langstaff’s 15th league goal of the season after being picked out superbly by David McGoldrick.

It took County just eight minutes to add their third as Langstaff saw his initial effort saved by Ian Lawlor, only for it to fall into the path of Nemane on the line to tap home.

Luke Molyneux almost provided an instant reply with his effort hitting the post, with County unlucky not to increase their advantage as Jones and Langstaff saw their efforts repelled by Lawlor.

Bradford came from two goals down to snatch a point in a 2-2 draw against Morecambe in their first home game on Boxing Day for six years.

The Shrimps needed only three minutes to take the lead. Adam Mayor’s free-kick was not cleared by the home defence and the ball rebounded into the path of James Connolly to score from 10 yards.

Adam Smith spread himself to deny Tyler Smith a quick response before Morecambe doubled their lead when JJ McKiernan tapped home after good play on the left wing from Jordan Slew.

Smith again prevented Bradford from replying with a sharp save from Emmanuel Osadebe.

Morecambe almost made it 3-0 after 43 minutes but former Bradford midfielder Yann Songo’o sent a header against a post.

Bradford pulled one back just before the hour when Andy Cook created space from a Brad Halliday cross for half-time substitute Clarke Oduor to slide home.

Halliday completed the Bantams’ comeback as he swept in Ciaran Kelly’s deep pass.

Cook almost won it for Bradford with a powerful header that hit the crossbar.

Crawley manager Scott Lindsey credited his side’s “character” after they claimed a 2-0 League Two victory over his former side Gillingham – but admitted they were still far from their best.

Will Wright and Jack Roles sealed victory for the visitors with goals either side of the break.

Lindsey revealed that he was disappointed in his side’s lack-lustre performance, despite a return to their fighting spirit following a 2-1 loss to AFC Wimbledon last time out.

“I thought we were absolutely rubbish today, if I’m honest,” said Lindsey, who played for Gills in 1994/95. “But we found a way to win the game when we didn’t play well.

“The players showed real character but the performance wasn’t reflective of how we normally play.

“I questioned their character after our last game and they showed a different side to themselves today.

“They really dug in, so I’m really pleased with that. They’re a massive three points against a good side.”

Former Gillingham man Wright fired home Town’s opener with a free-kick from the edge of the box after 24 minutes before Roles doubled the lead just two minutes after coming on in the 71st minute.

His deflected long-range effort handed Town a pivotal win and lesson for the young side according to Lindsey.

“It was a really dogged performance,” he added. “We’re quite young and inexperienced, so we’re learning as we go. That means the players can only get better, especially playing away on Boxing Day and in front of a big crowd.

“I’m really pleased to have kept a clean sheet, especially for the fans, who sang throughout the game.”

On the other side of the score, Gillingham manager Stephen Clemence expressed his concerns over his team’s lack of goalscoring abilities – with several chances not going their way at Priestfield.

With Tim Dieng and Tom Nichols both shooting wide in the opening half and Town goalkeeper Corey Addai on top form, Clemence believes that finding the back of the net has become an “Achilles heel” in recent weeks.

“I understand everybody’s frustrations and I’m just as frustrated as they are,” he said.

“We tried to change the shape today to give us more of an attacking threat and we had a number of attacking players on the pitch in the second half, but scoring goals is still our Achilles heel.

“We’ve got to stick together and work harder, because we know there’s got to be improvement.

“I felt we didn’t start the game well enough. But in the last 15 minutes of the first half we got on top of them, then we were the better team in the second half.

“We had four very good chances, but we didn’t take any of them.”

Grimsby boss Dave Artell believes his side have a mental block away from home after Tuesday’s 2-0 Sky Bet League Two loss at high-flying Mansfield meant they remained winless away from Blundell Park this season.

The Mariners had the better chances in the first half but found themselves 2-0 down at the break and then saw the home side batter them through a one-sided second half without further score.

“I think there is a mental aspect – the record says that,” Artell said.

“There is no point in trying to sugarcoat it. You can’t go half a season without winning away from home. We have to work on their brains as much as anything.

“I thought we were the better team first half even though the scoreline suggests otherwise – we should have been 4-1 up.

“But the second half was a non-event from our point of view. We didn’t turn up.

“We didn’t compete enough and a Mansfield team that is up there on merit deserved to run out easy winners in the end.

“We should have had two stonewall penalties. And we hit the post and the bar and had great chances – all in the first half. As it is, we go
in 2-0 down due to two crazy mistakes. Not once did Mansfield carve us open in that half.”

Grimsby had some big chances in the first half with Christy Pym denying Rekeil Pyke and Arthur Gnahoua with his legs while Kieran Green rattled the crossbar.

Gnahoua had already hit the home post before the Stags took a fortunate lead on 19 minutes as a deflection on Davis Keillor-Dunn’s shot left keeper Harvey Cartwright helpless.

The Mariners twice went close in added time before they allowed George Maris to fire home a low 25-yard shot in the fifth added minute.

The second half was one-way traffic with Cartwright making a string of fine saves, Ollie Clarke hitting the bar and Lucas Akins having an effort ruled out for offside.

It was a third straight win for the promotion-chasing Stags, leaving boss Nigel Clough pleased overall despite a slow start.

He said: “We didn’t start particularly well – they started the brighter and had a couple of chances.

“We looked a bit sluggish in the first 10-15 minutes.

“But once we got into our stride, especially in the second half, I can’t work out how we’ve not scored more than those two goals.

“There was poor finishing, good saves, blocks and a bit of bad luck. We could have gone on and won three or four.

“If we’d have got that third goal at any time, I think we’d have gone on to score four or five. But I would be more concerned if we were not creating the chances. We’ve had 39 shots today.”

Crawley secured back-to-back away league wins for the first time since January 2022 with a hard-fought 2-0 League Two victory at Gillingham.

Will Wright, who spent last season with the Kent side, fired home Town’s opener with a free-kick from the edge of the box after 24 minutes.

Tim Dieng and former Crawley striker Tom Nichols both shot wide for the hosts in the opening half.

Danilo Orsi almost doubled the visitors’ advantage five minutes after the break but blazed his effort from 20 yards just inches wide of the post.

Conor Masterson tamely shot at Town goalkeeper Corey Addai following a surging run through the Crawley half and Ashley Nadesan poked a loose ball over the crossbar as Gillingham sought an equaliser.

But Addai was always on hand and later produced a brilliant save to also deny Jonny Williams on the hour, before Nadesan shot into the side netting after going through on goal.

Substitute Jack Roles sealed Town’s victory with a deflected long-range effort in the 71st minutes, just two minutes after coming on.

First-half goals from Davis Keillor-Dunn and George Maris earned promotion hopefuls Mansfield a 2-0 home win over Grimsby.

Keillor-Dunn opened the scoring with a deflected shot that gave the unlucky Harvey Cartwright no chance in the 19th minute, with Maris slotting a superb low 25-yard finish inside the far post in the fifth minute of stoppage time before the interval.

The visitors will have felt hard done by to find themselves two goals down at the break, having had the better chances, but it was one-way traffic towards the away goal after the restart without further goals.

Stags goalkeeper Christy Pym had to save with his legs to deny Rekeil Pyke in the sixth minute and Arthur Gnahoua in the 31st after Kieran Green had rattled the crossbar.

Gnahoua also fired against the home post on eight minutes and Pym made another fine stop to keep out Harvey Rodgers a minute before the Maris goal.

Keillor-Dunn twice went close after the break, forcing Cartwright to save and sending another chance into the side-netting.

The busy Cartwright had to block a Maris shot on 57 minutes and then twice deny Keillor-Dunn in as many minutes before Ollie Clarke’s volley struck the bar from 20 yards 15 minutes from time.

Cartwright then kept out a Stephen McLaughlin header while Keillor-Dunn somehow planted a free header wide.

Lucas Akins thought he had netted a deserved third five minutes from the end but an offside flag was raised.

MK Dons manager Mike Williamson praised his side’s determination as they leapfrogged Morecambe in the League Two table with victory at the Mazuma Stadium.

Two goals from in-form striker Max Dean, either side of an excellent Joe Tomlinson strike, gave the Dons a 3-1 success after JJ McKiernan had levelled the scores early in the second half for the Shrimps.

Williamson said: “To come here and take three points is a thing in itself but it called upon a lot of areas of our game today.

“At times we showed how good we are in keeping the ball and at other times we had to show our determination.

“We lost control for a bit and it became a bit of a basketball game but the character of the boys came through and to keep going like we did got us the win.

“To come back like we did after they scored so early in the second half was fantastic. We showed some real bravery and I thought the boys were fantastic.”

Morecambe started the game well, with McKiernan sending a looping header inches wide and Jordan Slew seeing a shot superbly blocked by Cameron Norman.

But the visitors, who have been revitalised since Williamson took over from Graham Alexander, struck first as Dean ran on to Alex Gilbey’s defence-splitting through-ball before rounding Adam Smith and scoring.

Morecambe hit back with a McKiernan header from Adam Mayor’s left-wing cross five minutes into the second half and from there the home side looked the more threatening until Tomlinson scored with a well-struck effort from just outside the box that beat Smith to his left.

As the Shrimps pushed for a leveller they left gaps at the back and Dean scored his second six minutes into added time after a Morecambe clearance rebounded kindly into his path to give him the easiest of chances.

Morecambe manager Ged Brannan was unhappy with his side’s performance as they suffered their second home defeat of the season.

He said: “We knew exactly how they would play and we had a game plan but didn’t follow it. In the first half we didn’t press and we didn’t go with runners and they popped us all over the pitch.

“We had to have a really good chat at half-time and we got ourselves back in the game and were pressing really well but when they went ahead again against the run of play we dropped off them again, which was not like us and disappointing.”

Tranmere boss Nigel Adkins felt his side showed real character after they came from behind to beat Swindon 2-1 in League Two at Prenton Park.

The visitors had taken the lead with their first effort on goal as Daniel Kemp steered the ball home from a tight angle after some nice work down the right-hand side.

But Rovers pulled level 10 minutes after the break when Kieron Morris was in the right place to steer the ball home after Robins goalkeeper Murphy Mahoney failed to hold a fierce Harvey Saunders shot.

Mahoney was forced off with what looked like a hamstring injury with 20 minutes remaining and substitute goalkeeper Lewis Ward was helpless as Tom Davies popped up at the far post to fire the ball home and complete the comeback just moments later.

It is now four home league victories on the bounce for Adkins’ men, and he said: “From my point of view it was a really good performance from everybody today and it puts everyone in a good mood going into Christmas.

“I thought we started the game ever so well until they scored against a side who want to play out from the back.

“The first goal changed the complexion of the game and it gave them something to sit back and protect rather than being more expansive.

“But great credit to the players and we know we can go and win games of football, even when we are behind.

“We’ve got a team spirit, an organisation, a good structure and we’ve been on a good run of form and are picking points up.

“We’re going in the right direction and we’re on a consistent run of form, we’ve got an understanding of how we want to play and we’ve got a resilience about ourselves now.”

It is now three defeats in a row for Swindon, with Michael Flynn’s side failing to keep a clean sheet in their last 11 league matches.

Swindon boss Flynn said: “I thought we were unfortunate and it was a really good away performance until we made a mistake that allowed them back into it, but when you’re down, those things don’t go for you.

“We’re doing what we can with the players that are available and today they gave everything and didn’t stop but ultimately came up short.

“They are a group who are working hard for each other and sticking together, so that’s a positive.

“The two goals we gave away were avoidable, we stuck together, we tried and put a lot of effort in but ultimately we’ve given away two soft goals.

“It’s a tough place to come, we knew that, but if we cut out the mistakes we made, we would have won the game.

“I don’t want to feel sorry for myself, but we need to be better defensively because it’s too easy for us to concede goals at the moment.”

Phil Parkinson praised Wrexham for doing all the basics well in a scrappy game to set the foundation for their 2-0 League Two Welsh derby victory over Newport.

In a first meeting for five years, second-half goals from James Jones and Elliot Lee – both from long Ben Tozer throw-ins – secured victory as the Dragons maintained their automatic promotion chase.

The clash was played in windy conditions at the Racecourse Ground which made it difficult at times for both teams, but Parkinson felt the Dragons doing the fundamentals in football helped tee up their triumph.

He said: “It was a game played in very difficult conditions, swirling wind, but we’ve been training in those conditions this week so we’re kind of used to it.

“When it’s like that, the game’s always going to have a scrappy feel to it and it was important we were ready to scrap first and second balls all over the pitch.

“I felt we did that very well and the moments of quality in terms of football, we knew they might be not as often as what it is in normal conditions, but we still played some good football and we switched the play and got in some dangerous positions, so all in all I thought the lads have stuck to the job at hand and got another very important three points for us.

“We just kept saying to the lads at half-time ‘we’ve just got to keep grinding away today’.

“It was just one of those types of games. We’ve had them before and it’s about being ready to get your bodies in, to protect the ball upfront, to win those headers in midfield, to make sure the communication’s right when the ball comes from the keeper to our backline – and I thought they did that terrifically well.

“All those very basic things in football had to be in place for us to get us a win.”

Newport boss Graham Coughlan was left a frustrated figure after his side conceded from two set-pieces and failed to take their opportunities, but did not use the conditions as an excuse for defeat.

He said: “We had opportunities and chances. The first goal was always going to be big in this fixture and we had two or three chances in the first half to take them and we didn’t, so you leave yourself open.

“Yes, the conditions were there but they were the same for both teams, so by no means will we use that as an excuse.

“We had one or two sloppy moments and that’s probably what cost us, but we’ve seen them moments so many times this season and that’s what’s hurting us because we were in the game.

“Both teams tried to make a decent fist of the conditions and it was tough on both teams and both sets of players, but it’s disappointing when it comes down to two set-pieces and two long throws. That’s bitterly disappointing.

“If you don’t take those chances, then you’re going to leave yourself vulnerable.

“We didn’t take them, so we were always vulnerable and they were always going to put a bit of pressure on us, they were always going to be a different team in the second half.

“The game certainly changed at half-time, but they’ve taken their chances with two set pieces, which is probably sticking in my throat at this moment in time.

“I’d love to be honest and tell you what I’m really feeling but you can’t concede from two set-pieces from long throws. That should be bread and butter to people in our team.”

David Artell admits Grimsby got exactly what they deserved as Harrogate came away from Blundell Park with a 2-1 win.

Goals from Liam Gibson – against his former club – and Matty Daly earned Town three points to move them up to 14th in the table.

Grimsby were unbeaten in six Sky Bet League Two matches after sacking Paul Hurst and former Crewe manager Artell tasted defeat for the first time since his appointment last month.

Kieran Green scored a consolation goal for the Mariners in the 90th minute after the midfielder was sent on as a late substitute, but it proved too little, too late for Artell’s men to salvage anything from the game.

Artell said: “We got what we deserved. I thought it was frustrating and disappointing as we huffed and puffed without working out how to hurt a well-organised and well set up Harrogate team.

“Harrogate are becoming an established League team. They understand they are not going to have a lot of the ball, but I thought we played into their hands and gave them similar questions to answer.

“We were very similar throughout the game and tried a few different things in the last 10 minutes and looked a bit better.

“It was book-ended by some good ideas and some good play, but in the majority of the game we didn’t play well enough to pick up anything.”

Harrogate manager Simon Weaver said: “It was a great performance from the lads.

“We were thoroughly professional and created some good opportunities to score as well as the goals we did score.

“A great three points with the conditions and against that opposition.

“We were so good in the first half, but only a goal to the good.

“At that stage it was about us being level-headed no matter what happened.

“We didn’t want to become sloppy and let Grimsby back in and I thought we were superb throughout.”

Gibson headed in from a corner to put Harrogate in front and Daly added a second in the 72nd minute. Green offered Grimsby hope with a low drive in time added on.

John Coleman said Accrington’s 2-1 win against Walsall was a “present for the fans” as they moved to within a point of the play-off places.

Eighth-placed Stanley took the lead after nine minutes when Jackson Smith could only parry Joe Pritchard’s shot into the path of Tommy Leigh and he slotted home his sixth goal of the season.

Walsall equalised in the fourth minute of added time at the end of the first half when Joe Gubbins was adjudged to have fouled captain Donervon Daniels in the area and Freddie Draper drilled home the penalty.

Stanley scored the winner in the 57th minute when Pritchard got the ball on the left and his cross evaded everyone and nestled into the far corner of the net.

Coleman said: “It’s great to get the win on board, that’s a present for the fans.

“You could see how hard everyone worked and we were very unlucky to be going in level at the break, as it wasn’t a penalty.

“But the lads were determined not to let anything hamper us from getting the win, that’s what we talked about before the game and we believed we could and thankfully we have.

“They are a great set of lads to work with. They have mine and the club’s culture and ethos. We play for each other, everyone puts the team first, they gave every last drop, they gave their all and fought for every ball. I’m proud of them.”

Coleman praised captain Pritchard – who scored and provided an assist – following his battle with injury problems.

“Joe is a very good captain, he organises the team well, he has a lot of confidence and he can deliver,” Coleman said.

Walsall manager Mat Sadler said: “There will be no throwing teacups as we have done fantastically over the last four games, but we were just not up to our standards today.

“The conditions were awful to play football in. We were sloppy at the start, which is not like us, but you can never question our willingness to keep working and keep going but we didn’t really settle down.

“We weren’t up to what we expect from ourselves, and that’s everyone, and that’s the most disappointing thing.

“In the key moments they had that bit of luck. I’m not sure if the first goal was offside and then, for the second goal, the ball has gone past everyone.

“We huffed and we puffed but didn’t have the ability to put our foot on the ball.

“The challenge for us now is how we react to that and we have to show a positive reaction. We have to dust ourselves down and put it right on Tuesday.”