TRANMERE Rovers stayed in contention for back-to-back promotions by securing a sixth straight League Two win with a 2-0 success at Colchester United.

Rovers' 94-year stay in the Football League was ended in 2015, but they bounced back as National League runners-up last season.

James Norwood's 26th league goal of the season gave Micky Mellon's side a half-time lead and David Perkins put them 2-0 up early in the second period.

Tranmere, the form team in the fourth tier, are five points behind Milton Keynes Dons, who climbed into the third automatic promotion spot after a 2-0 home win against Yeovil Town.

Ryan Harley scored early in the game and Chuks Aneke added a second in the closing stages as the Dons leapfrogged Mansfield Town, who slipped to fourth after losing 2-1 at home to Crewe Alexandra.

Crewe thrashed Crawley Town 6-1 last week and followed it up with another three points courtesy of Callum Ainley's second-half double, with Krystian Pearce's stoppage-time header only a consolation for the Stags.

Lincoln City continue to march on at the top. They extended their unbeaten league run to 16 matches and moved eight points clear of closest rivals Bury with a 3-0 win at Crawley.

Bruno Andrade gave them 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 Town, while Forest Green Rovers consolidated their play-off place as Reece Brown's brace fired them to a 2-0 win at Port Vale.

Ten-man Exeter City 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 United a point in a 2-2 draw at his former club Carlisle United.

Jamie Devitt and Nathan Thomas gave Carlisle a half-time advantage after Rushian Hepburn-Murphy's early opener for the visitors, but Ibehre equalised in the 68th minute.

Danny Whitaker's stoppage-time equaliser clinched Macclesfield Town a 2-2 home draw against Stevenage.

Stevenage pair Ben Nugent and Danny Newton cancelled out Elliott Durrell's opener for Sol Campbell's side, but Whitaker struck in the third minute of added time.

Luke Varney scored twice in the first period as Cheltenham Town won 3-1 at home against Northampton Town.

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.