Pope inspires Vale to beat leaders Luton
LUTON were beaten for the first time in more than two months as in-form Port Vale clinched a staggering 4-0 victory over the League Two table-toppers.
The Hatters had been unbeaten in eight league games but fell behind in the 23rd minute through an own goal from Dan Potts, while Tom Pope soon doubled the margin.
The influential Ben Whitfield got himself on the scoresheet with 20 minutes to spare before Pope completed the rout eight minutes form time.
Secondplaced Notts County were unable to close the four-point gap at the top after going down
1-0 at Swindon, with Luke Norris scoring the only goal of the game.
Matt Rhead (above) struck in either half as Lincoln stayed third by edging out rock-bottom Forest Green 2-1.
The Imps striker opened the scoring in the eighth minute, while Christian Doidge pulled one back before Rhead’s second of the afternoon just before the hour settled matters.
Exeter are up to fourth after Jake Taylor’s last-gasp strike sealed a
2-1 win over Barnet, who drop into the bottom two after Chesterfield’s goalless draw against Colchester.
Bees midfielder Ryan Watson cancelled out Kane Wilson’s opener in vain as Taylor netted in stoppage time.
Elsewhere, Marc McNulty scored and then missed a penalty as Coventry climbed up to fifth with a 1-0 win at Carlisle.
Wycombe drop to sixth after surrendering a one-goal lead in their 2-1 defeat at home to Mansfield through second-half goals from Alfie Potter and Lee Angol. Accrington ended a four-match losing streak as Billy Kee, Sean McConville and Kayden Jackson scored to brush aside Grimsby 3-0 and move up to seventh.
Enzio Boldewijn’s goal steered Crawley to a 1-0 victory over Stevenage in spite of Josh Payne’s first-half dismissal.
George Maris scored inside the first 60 seconds, while further strikes from David Amoo and Uche Ikpeazu gave Cambridge a 3-1 win over Crewe.
Finally, Newport striker Padraig Amond’s goal was cancelled out by Mohamed Eisa as County drew 1-1 at Cheltenham.