Harrogate hit the top after victory against Mansfield

HARROGATE moved top of Sky Bet League Two with a 3-1 win at Mansfield, who finished with nine men.

Rhys Oates had given the Stags an early lead when he headed home from a free-kick in the third minute.

Harrogate, though, were soon level when Luke Armstrong nodded in from a corner and Jack Muldoon put them in front during first-half stoppage-time.

There was a flashpoint in the 73rd minute when former Bristol Rovers midfielder Ollie Clarke was dismissed for bringing down Town forward Jack Diamond.

Players from both sides then squared up, with Mansfield midfielder Stephen Quinn shown a red card for clashing with Josh Falkingham.

Once calm had been restored, Harrogate went on to make their extra men count with nine minutes left when George Thomson headed in from a corner.

Forest Green were edged off top spot on goal difference after they were held to a 0-0 draw at Exeter City.

Bradford City are third following a 1-1 home draw against Walsall, who played the second half with 10 men.

Elliot Watt put the Bantams ahead following a corner in the 14th minute, but Jack Earing equalised shortly before half-time.

The Saddlers, though, went into the break a man down after captain Joss Labadie was dismissed for violent conduct following a foul on Gareth Evans.

Swindon continued their promising start to the new campaign with a 1-1 draw at Stevenage, thanks to a stoppagetime penalty from Jack Payne.

The deadlock was broken by the home side in the 54th minute when Ben Coker slotted in from a tight angle.

That looked to have been enough for all three points before a dramatic finale which saw Payne convert from the spot after Jayden Mitchell-Lawson had been sent sprawling - and the players squared up following the full-time whistle as tempers boiled over.

Northampton beat 10-man Scunthorpe 2-0 at Sixfields.

Iron defender Emmanuel Onariase saw red after just 20 minutes for a professional foul on Danny Rose. It was Rose who eventually broke the deadlock just after the hour, with Sam Hoskins wrapping things up in stoppagetime.

Harry Smith scored in each half as Leyton Orient drew 2-2 at Newport County, where Dom Telford struck a late equaliser.

Tom Davies scored with a minute left to give Tranmere a 1-0 win over Hartlepool at Prenton Park. At the other end of the table, Oldham’s poor start continued as Barrow ran out 3-0 winners at Boundary Park.