BOWMAN STRIKES AS EXETER MARCH ON

PACESETTERS Exeter produced another one of their late shows to dispose of Port Vale and march on at the top. The Grecians broke the deadlock in the 81st minute when Ryan Bowman headed in. And the points were in the bag when Lee Martin’s 89th-minute shot deflected in off the visitors’ Kieran Kennedy. Swindon dropped from second to fourth after crashing to a 3-0 home defeat against Colchester . Theo Robinson, who had a loan spell with the Robins last term, scored twice after Tom Eastman got the ball rolling for the U’s. Crewe took advantage of Swindon’s off night by climbing to second with a 2-1 victory at Leyton Orient. Eddie Nolan put the Alex ahead on 32 minutes, but the O’s levelled through Jordan Maguire-Drew ten minutes later. However, Maguire-Drew then saw his 57th-minute penalty saved by Will Jaaskelainen. The Londoners paid the full price when James Jones powered the ball home in the final minute. Cheltenham moved third thanks to an entertaining 3-2 home win against Bradford . Gavin Reilly (59 mins), Jake Doyle-Hayes (69) and skipper Ben Tozer (80) netted for the Robins, while Jermaine Anderson (51) and Ben Richards-Everton (76) were on target for the Bantams. Forest Green slipped to fifth after a 0-0 draw at Carlisle, but it was a creditable effort after having James Morton sent off for two bookable offences on 70 minutes. Cambridge romped to an impressive 4-0 victory at ten-man Mansfield. The Stags had Matt Preston dismissed for a tackle on Luke Hannant on 49 minutes, but kept the U’s out until the 74th minute when Jack Roles struck. Further goals followed from Sam Smith (86), George Maris (90) and Reggie Lambe (90+5, pen). Stuart Sinclair’s fourth-minute goal was enough for Walsall to win at Morecambe, while Mark Shelton’s deflected 21st-minute free-kick enabled Salford to edge out visitors Grimsby. Substitute Harry Smith (56) headed home Northampton’s winner in their 1-0 success at Stevenage, but was then sent off 12 minutes later after picking up two bookings. Newport dropped a couple of places to sixth following a 1-1 draw at Macclesfield. Padraig Amond netted for the Exiles in the first minute, but Macc’s Paddy Osadebe levelled things up on 19 minutes. Crawley and Plymouth drew 2-2. Reece Grego-Cox (9) and sub Ollie Palmer (85 pen) scored for the Red Devils, while Joe Edwards notched twice for the Pilgrims (73 and 79). Scunthorpe and Oldham also drew 2-2. Oldham led 2-0 through Christopher Missilou (62) and Johan Branger (64), but the Iron hit back courtesy of Matthew Lund (68) and Kevin van Veen (77).