Mellon’s men really Perkin up in race for back-to-back glory
MICKY MELLON’S Tranmere stayed in contention for back-toback promotions with a
2-0 win at Colchester.
It meant six league wins in a row for the first time since 1991 for Rovers, whose 94-year stay in the Football League ended in
2015 before they bounced back as National League runners-up last season.
A 26th league goal of the season from James Norwood gave the visitors a half-time lead and ex-Rochdale midfielder David Perkins (below) put them 2-0 up early in the second period.
Tranmere, the form team in the fourth tier, are five points behind MK Dons who climbed into the third automatic promotion spot after a 2-0 home win against Yeovil.
Ryan Harley scored early in the game and Chuks Aneke added a second in the closing stages as the Dons leapfrogged Mansfield, who slipped to fourth after losing 2-1 at home to Crewe.
Alexandra thrashed Crawley 6-1 last week and followed it up with another three points courtesy of a second-half double from Callum Ainley before Krystian Pearce’s stoppage-time header.
Lincoln continue to march on at the top. They extended their unbeaten league run to 16 matches and moved eight points clear of their closest rivals with a 3-0 win at Crawley.
Bruno Andrade gave Danny Cowley’s outfit an interval lead before Shay McCartan and Cian Bolger added goals deep in the second half.
Bury remain second after being held 0-0 at Grimsby while Forest Green consolidated their play-off place as Reece Brown’s brace fired them to a 2-0 win at Port Vale. Brown broke the deadlock in the 69th minute and ended the contest four minutes into added time.
Ten-man Exeter retained their spot in the play-off places as Nicky Law’s stoppage-time header snatched them a 1-0 win at bottom club Notts County.
The Grecians’ Ryan Bowman was sent off in the 23rd minute for his second bookable offence.
Jabo Ibehre earned Cambridge a point in a
2-2 draw at his former club Carlisle.
Jamie Devitt and Nathan Thomas gave Steven Pressley’s hosts a half-time advantage following Rushian Hepburn-Murphy’s early opener for the visitors, but Ibehre equalised in the
68th minute.
Danny Whitaker’s stoppage-time equaliser clinched Macclesfield a
2-2 home draw against Stevenage. Cheltenham
Northampton.
Varney’s second came via the penalty spot after Ryan Hughes’ foul on Tyrone Barnett, who added Cheltenham’s third in the second half before Dean Bowditch’s late free-kick for the Cobblers.
Swindon climbed into the top 10 after a convincing 4-0 home win against Morecambe.
Theo Robinson and Kaiyne Woolery struck before the break with Dion Conroy and Kyle Bennett adding two more in the second half.