3rd April 2017

John Marquis netted a hat-trick to put Doncaster Rovers on the brink of automatic promotion after a 5-1 away win against Grimsby Town.

The Mariners took a first-half lead before Donny ran riot to put themselves in touching distance of League One.

Darren Ferguson’s side would have been promoted on Saturday if not for Stevenage’s three points over Barnet.

Tom Pett’s solitary goal was enough for Boro to record their eighth home victory in a row and keep the pressure on third-placed Portsmouth.

Pompey’s advantage over Stevenage remains at six points following their routine win at Hartlepool United.

Kai Naismith and Gary Roberts grabbed the goals to keep Paul Cook’s charges on course for return to the third tier of English football for the first time in four years.

Accrington Stanley made it 12 games unbeaten with a 1-0 win over high-flying Plymouth Argyle.

Jordan Clark scored in the eighth minute and keeper Marek Rodak pulled off some superb saves to deny the promotion-chasing Pilgrims.

Exeter City strengthened their grip on a play-off place with a last-gasp victory over Mansfield Town.

With the sides locked at 1-1, Reuben Reid slotted an injury-time penalty to move the Grecians up to sixth, two points ahead of eighth-placed Blackpool.

The Tangerines’ top seven hopes took a dent after they fell to 1-0 loss at Luton Town. 

Ollie Palmer’s dramatic stoppage-time goals proved decisive as the Hatters moved three points ahead of Gary Bowyer’s outfit.

At the bottom, Newport County recorded a massive win over Crawley Town in their fight for survival. 

Mickey Demetriou scored the games only goal with both sides having a man sent off following a second-half altercation.

The Exiles didn’t gain ground on Cheltenham Town after the Robins earned an emphatic three points at home to Morecambe.

Harry Pell’s double sandwiched Danny Wright’s penalty with the Shrimps having to settle for just a late consolation. 

Ten-men Leyton Orient suffered their 16th home defeat of the season as Wycombe Wanderers won comfortably at the EFL’s bottom club.

Tom Parkes saw red for Orient, who had manager Omer Riza sent to the stands for verbal abuse at referee Charles Breakspear, before strikes from Matt Bloomfield and Myles Weston sealed victory for the Chairboys.

Two goals from Shola Ameobi helped Notts County claim a third win on the bounce to dent Colchester United’s chances of a play-off finish.

It was the Nigerian’s first double since 2010 as the Magpies cruised to victory at Meadow Lane.

Elsewhere, Cambridge United ended Crewe Alexandra’s unbeaten run with a 2-1 win at Gresty Road.