PORT Vale avoided setting an unwanted club record with a stunning upset of promotion-chasing Mansfield Town in League Two.

Defeat would have made it seven in a row at Vale Park but two goals in three minutes early in the second half from Ricky Miller earned a 2-1 victory.

Nicky Ajose made home nerves jangle by pulling one back with half an hour remaining but Vale held on.

With bottom two Macclesfield Town and Notts County both losing, it was a potentially decisive win for Vale in their bid to avoid the drop.

Sol Campbell's Silkmen took a shock lead against high-flying Milton Keynes Dons through Nathan Cameron in the 19th minute but David Wheeler equalised just before half-time and Callum Brittain put the visitors ahead eight minutes after the interval.

Kieran Agard's third made sure of the points and a 3-1 win that, coupled with Mansfield's loss, saw the Dons climb up to third.

It was a thoroughly miserable afternoon for County, who went down 4-1 to Cheltenham Town.

William Boyle's 29th-minute opener was added to seven minutes later when Luke Varney converted a penalty. Billy Waters netted Cheltenham's third 10 minutes into the second half.

Kane Hemmings did pull one back from the spot but Tyrone Barnett had the final word with the Robins' fourth two minutes from time.

Bury left it very late against Stevenage, with Nicky Maynard scoring the only goal of the game in the fifth minute of injury time to move the Shakers back to within two points of leaders Lincoln City, who beat Yeovil Town on Friday.

Northampton Town made it three victories in a row with a 2-1 success against promotion-chasing Exeter City.

Defender Aaron Pierre scored the opener in the 32nd minute and Andy Williams doubled the advantage 11 minutes after half-time. Aaron Martin halved the deficit five minutes later but Exeter could not find an equaliser.

Colchester United climbed into the play-off places with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Newport County in Essex.

Sammie Szmodics opened the scoring in the 20th minute, with Courtney Senior adding the second just before half-time and Franck Nouble netting the third in the second half.

In a game affecting both ends, Morecambe moved eight points clear of the relegation zone and dented Forest Green Rovers' play-off hopes with a 3-0 victory.

Rhys Oates put the hosts in front after only six minutes and further goals from Aaron Collins and Alex Kenyon added up to a comprehensive win.

A first-half brace from Ollie Palmer helped Crawley Town to a 2-1 victory over Grimsby Town, who had taken the lead through Wes Thomas.

Paul Scholes' Oldham Athletic were unable to win for a fifth successive match, drawing 1-1 with Cambridge United. Peter Clarke gave the Latics the lead in the 12th minute but Jevani Brown levelled straight after half-time.