Ruthless Mansfield put Scunthorpe on brink of relegation

MANSFIELD Town pushed Scunthorpe a step closer to relegation from Sky Bet League Two with a 4-0 win at Sands Venue Stadium - where play was held up during the second half when protesting home fans threw tennis balls on to the pitch.

Had results gone against them, the Iron could have been pushed through the trapdoor on Saturday afternoon - but with Oldham and Barrow also losing, their fate is not yet mathematically confirmed.

An own goal from Iron midfielder Anthony Grant after 16 minutes set the promotion-chasing Stags on their way to a comfortable victory, with Stephen McLaughlin and Ryan Stirk making it 3-0 by the break.

Stephen Quinn added a fourth just seconds after the restart.

Table-topping Forest Green saw their lead cut to five points after being held to a 1-1 draw at home by

Hartlepool.

Midfielder Regan Hendry fired Rovers ahead eight minutes into the second half but Omar Bogle struck an equaliser after 68 minutes.

Exeter left it late to take advantage as Padraig Amond headed in an 89th-minute goal to secure a 1-0 win at Carlisle.

Port Vale kept up the chase after beating Oldham Athletic 3-2 for a fourth straight win.

Jamie Proctor gave Vale an early lead and struck another in the 34th minute after Christopher Missilou had levelled things up.

Oldham equalised in first-half stoppage time through Davis KeillorDunn, but Brad Walker had the hosts ahead again nine minutes into the second half.

Northampton saw their promotion push checked after being held to a goalless draw at home by