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Scunthorpe on brink, Dale fight back

Image: Scunthorpe: Russ Wilcox's men edge closer to automatic promotion

Scunthorpe edged closer to automatic promotion after a 1-0 win against Oxford, while Rochdale came from behind to win 2-1 at Bristol Rovers.

Matt Sparrow's close-range finish after 15 minutes was enough to give the Iron all three points and maintain their place at the top of the table. One win from Scunthorpe's two remaining matches will guarantee automatic promotion although a point will probably be sufficient given their superior goal difference over fourth-placed Fleetwood. Chesterfield are still challenging Scunthorpe for top spot after they beat Dagenham 1-0. Eoin Doyle's first-half goal means Chesterfield are only two points off the summit. Rochdale remain third on goal difference after they came from behind to seal a 2-1 win at Bristol Rovers. Kaid Mohamed gave Rovers the lead but Joe Bunney and Matthew Lund turned the game on its head in the second half. The top three were all made to wait for any promotion celebrations as Josh Morris gave 10-man Fleetwood a 1-0 victory over Wycombe. Alan Goodall was sent off for a stamp just 13 minutes in but Fleetwood were undeterred and secured the win thanks to Morris' long-range effort. Burton's slim chances of clinching automatic promotion are all but over after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Newport. Andy Sandell gave the Exiles the lead before Michael Symes converted a penalty for Burton, who are six points behind third place with an inferior goal difference. Southend and York both strengthened their positions in the play-off places with narrow 1-0 wins. Southend saw off Accrington via Barry Corr's second-half strike while York edged past Bury thanks to Keith Lowe's effort in the fifth minute. York are a point behind Southend in seventh but have a five-point advantage over eighth-placed Oxford. At the other end of the table, Torquay's chances of surviving are still hanging by a thread after a gutsy 2-1 win at Exeter. The Gulls, who are bottom of the table and five points adrift of safety, came from behind as Courtney Cameron and Ashley Yeoman cancelled out Scot Bennett's opener. Defeats for Bristol Rovers and Wycombe gave Northampton the chance to climb out of the bottom two but the Cobblers lost 1-0 to Portsmouth. Danny East's early goal was enough for Pompey who are safe from relegation after recording five wins in a row. Hartlepool all but sealed their survival with a vital 2-1 win at home to fellow strugglers Morecambe. Morecambe, who are three points clear of the bottom two, took the lead through Kevin Ellison but Jack Compton and Jack Barmby made sure of the points for the hosts. Jamie Cureton ensured Cheltenham's safety as he scored two goals in a 2-0 win at Mansfield. Plymouth's faint hopes of a late play-off push were extinguished after a 2-1 loss at home to Wimbledon. Conor Hourihane gave the hosts an early lead but Jack Midson levelled before the interval and Kwesi Appiah scored the winner in the second half.

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