Scunthorpe hammered 4-0 by Mansfield Town
PROMOTION-CHASING Mansfield pushed Scunthorpe a step closer to relegation from Sky Bet League Two with a 4-0 win at Sands Venue Stadium – where play was held up during the second half when protesting home fans threw tennis balls on to the pitch.
Had results gone against them, the Iron could have been pushed through the trapdoor – but with Oldham and Barrow also losing, their fate is not yet mathematically confirmed.
An own goal from Iron midfielder Anthony Grant after 16 minutes set the Stags on their way to what was a comfortable victory, with Stephen Mclaughlin and Ryan Stirk making it 3-0 by the break.
Stephen Quinn added a fourth just seconds after the restart.
Played was briefly stopped with 15 minutes left after some of the home supporters threw tennis balls on to the pitch in an apparent protest against Scunthorpe owner Peter Swann.
Exeter left it late to take advantage as Padraig Amond headed in an 89th-minute goal to secure a 1-0 win at Carlisle.
Port Vale kept up the chase after beating Oldham 3-2 for a fourth straight win.
Jamie Proctor gave Vale an early lead and struck another in the 34th minute after Christopher Missilou had levelled things up.
Oldham equalised at 2-2 in firsthalf stoppage time through Davis Keillor-dunn, but Brad Walker had the hosts ahead again nine minutes into the second half.
Northampton saw their promotion push checked after being held to a goalless draw at home by Bradford.
Tranmere and Bristol Rovers drew 1-1 at Prenton Park to keep both sides in play-off contention.
Kane Hemmings had the home side in front nine minutes into the second half, but Rovers were level just after the hour mark through Elliot Anderson.
Newport won 1-0 at Swindon through a last-minute own goal by Town defender Dion Conroy, which puts them seventh.
Matt Smith struck twice in the final 20 minutes as Salford beat Harrogate 2-0 to move within a point of the play-offs.
At the other end of the table, Stevenage boosted their survival hopes with a 2-0 win at Colchester, where they finished with 10 men.
Jamie Reid put the visitors in front during first-half stoppage time and Luke Norris nodded in a second soon after the restart.
Boro striker Norris was then sent off for a second caution with seven minutes left.
Strugglers Barrow slipped to a fourth straight loss after they were beaten 1-0 at Crawley, where Kwesi Appiah broke the deadlock just before the hour.
Rochdale beat Walsall 1-0 with a goal from Conor Grant 10 minutes into the second half, while defender Joe Kizzi’s first-half header proved enough to give Sutton a home win over Leyton Orient.