Hawkins swoops in for Clough’s outfit

MANSFIELD moved into the Sky Bet League Two play-offs and dented

Northampton’s automatic promotion hopes with a 1-0 win.

Oli Hawkins scored the only goal for Nigel Clough’s side, who made it four games without defeat to move sixth.

Northampton finished with 10 men after Paul Lewis was sent off.

Forest Green left it late to beat Scunthorpe, with a strike by Dan Sweeney (right) proving the difference between the two sides.

Meanwhile

Exeter stretched their unbeaten run to seven games as a battling 1-0 victory over fellow promotionhopefuls Newport helped them keep the pressure on Rovers above them.

Timothee Dieng’s 72nd-minute goal was enough to secure the Grecians all three points.

Port Vale came from behind to win 2-1 at relegation-threatened

Barrow to jump up to third.

Josh Kay put Barrow ahead after 24 minutes, but promotion-chasing Vale hit back after 59 minutes through Jamie Proctor.

Such is the tight nature of the promotion race, Vale were outside the top seven until Aaron Martin’s 89th-minute winner.

Bristol Rovers are up to fifth after coming from behind to beat

Bradford 2-1. Mark Hughes’ side went ahead through Dion Pereira just after half-time.

But Rovers were quickly level as Sam Finley struck. And Connor Taylor scored after 75 minutes to turn things around.

Tranmere were held 2-2 by Carlisle after finishing the game with nine men.

Salford won 2-0 at

Hartlepool to boost their play-off hopes.

Oldham came out on top with a 1-0 victory in their relegation battle with Stevenage while

Rochdale Swindon