Northampton moved to within two points of the top three in League Two with a resounding victory over Harrogate.
The impressive Louis Appere netted in between two goals from Sam Hoskins as the Cobblers closed the gap on Port Vale to just a couple of points with three games to go.
Fraser Horsfall headed against the crossbar after only two minutes but Northampton were not at their best in the first half and it came as a surprise when Hoskins opened the scoring from Appere’s lay-off just shy of the half-hour mark.
Hoskins and Jon Guthrie blocked goalbound efforts from Luke Armstrong and Josh Austerfield respectively as the away side looked for a way back into it.
Appere twice cleared the crossbar late in the first half as Northampton sought to extend their lead and he was also thwarted by goalkeeper Joe Cracknell shortly after the restart.
He eventually got his goal on the hour mark when latching onto a short back-pass and finishing confidently.
And Northampton wrapped things up just three minutes later with Appere again involved, slipping through Hoskins who dispatched confidently past Cracknell.
League Two wide open
Bristol Rovers came from behind to beat promotion rivals Port Vale 3-1 and blow the race for automatic promotion from League Two wide open.
Third-placed Vale took an early lead through Jamie Proctor, but goals from Elliot Anderson and James Connolly turned the game around before Ryan Loft added a late third as Vale threw men forward.
The home side made the perfect start, with Proctor hitting his 13th goal of the season after only 90 seconds. Harry Charsley sent the ball across the face of goal and Proctor headed in from close range.
Paul Coutts’ measured through-ball split the defence and Anderson did the rest with a fierce strike into the roof of the net.
Rovers went close to a second when Antony Evans was picked out by Aaron Collins, but his looping header cleared the bar.
In the second half Vale’s Dan Jones spurned an excellent chance on the break and James Wilson scuffed an opportunity wide from a long throw into the area.
Goal! Port Vale 1, Bristol Rovers 3. Ryan Loft right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Sam Finley following a fast break.