LINCOLN City dropped points for a third straight game but still hold a two-point lead at the top of the table after a narrow defeat at Colchester United as nearest rivals Milton Keynes Dons drew.

Frankie Kent tapped home Colchester's close-range opener just before the half-hour mark as Lincoln suffered a 1-0 loss, while second-placed MK Dons struck back to claim a point from a 1-1 draw at Mansfield Town.

The home side took the lead as Jacob Mellis fired a beautiful 25-yard effort into the net before Jordan Houghton equalised midway through the first half for a share of the spoils.

Exeter City remain third despite a 2-1 defeat at home to Forest Green Rovers.

Reece Brown fired into the top corner to hand the away side the lead five minutes after the break for his second goal in two games and Liam Shephard made it two before Aaron Martin pulled one back for Exeter at the death.

Fourth-placed Newport County surrendered an early lead as they drew 1-1 at home to Morecambe after Padraig Amond's first-minute header was cancelled out by Kevin Ellison in the second half.

League Two top scorer James Norwood netted a brace as Tranmere Rovers recorded an impressive 5-1 victory at home to Crawley Town.

Connor Jennings slotted Tranmere's opener while Norwood struck their second just before the break and completed his brace as he headed home his 10th goal of the season 10 minutes into the second half.

Adam Buxton smashed a 58th-minute penalty into the top corner before Paul Mullin tapped in a fifth on the hour, while Ollie Palmer scored a consolation for Crawley.

Stevenage moved up to eighth after a 2-0 victory over Cheltenham Town thanks to summer signing Kurtis Guthrie's header and Steve Seddon's second on the half-time whistle.

Ten-man Northampton Town held on for a 2-1 victory at home to Oldham Athletic.

The Cobblers went ahead eight minutes before the break thanks to John-Joe O'Toole's close-range header but were reduced to 10 men moments later as Sam Foley received a straight red card for a foul on Christopher Missilou.

Kevin Van Veen doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time as he slotted home a penalty, conceded by Rob Hunt who pulled one back from close range as he tried to make amends.

Tom James grabbed the winner with a free-kick six minutes into stoppage time as Yeovil Town edged mid-table rivals Carlisle United 1-0, while goals from Corey Whelan and Shaun Miller saw Crewe Alexandra past Grimsby Town 2-0.

Tom Pope's second-half effort proved enough as Port Vale beat Bury 1-0, while Jabo Ibehre's goal with 10 minutes left earned Cambridge United a 1-0 victory over fellow strugglers Macclesfield Town, who remain at the foot of the table.