AARON IS HOT TO TROTTER

AARON COLLINS struck a hat-trick as Bolton boosted their automatic promotion hopes with 5-2 home win against Reading.

Former Royal Jon Dadi Bodvarsson (above) also grabbed a double as Ian Evatt’s Trotters moved to within three points of second-placed Derby who travel to leaders Portsmouth tonight.

The defeat leaves Reading in 18th place, six points above the drop zone, having played one match more than fourthbottom Port Vale.

PETERBOROUGH also maintained their top-two challenge after bouncing back from successive defeats to win 2-1 at LEYTON ORIENT, helped by Ephron Mason-clark’s 16th goal of the season.

And half-time substitute John Mcatee (circle) scored twice as BARNSLEY recovered to win 3-1 at BURTON to clinch a 12th away win of the season and remain level on points with Posh.

LINCOLN’S late play-off charge continues to gather pace as the Imps extended their unbeaten run to 15 games with a 3-1 win at bottom club CARLISLE who moved one step closer to the drop.

Mark Harris scored twice as OXFORD registered their biggest win of the season with a 4-0 defeat of second-bottom FLEETWOOD to leave them outside of the top six on goal difference.

But STEVENAGE’S top-six challenge is losing momentum after they were held 0-0 at CHARLTON, with Steve Evans’s side now without a win in seven games.

Reece Cole’s last-minute penalty completed EXETER’S 2-1 comeback win at CHELTENHAM who remain two points from safety.

PORT VALE lost 2-0 at NORTHAMPTON but CAMBRIDGE’S survival efforts received a lift when Gassan Ahadme scored twice in a 3-1 win against WIGAN.

BRISTOL ROVERS and SHREWSBURY played out a scoreless stalemate.