The race for automatic promotion from EFL League Two had a bit of a meltdown when, on Tuesday night, and with a full schedule of matches being played, four of the top nine sides lost, and three were held to a draw, Notts County and leaders Walsall among those to drop points.

County, who welcomed lowly Barrow to Meadow Lane, were beaten 2-1 thanks to a goal in each half from Kian Spence, after ten minutes and Sam Foley’s header just after the hour mark.

Substitute Conor Grant, on for Will Jarvis less than ten minutes prior, would halve the deficit minutes after Foley’s goal, the right-footed shot coming on the end of some great work Jacob Bedeau; they could have equalised as well when, late on, loanee George Abbott saw his driven effort, down the middle, take a deflection off Nick Tsaroulla and into Farman’s net, however, and after some protest, it was given as offside.

The result means that County have won just one of their last five outings, having previously been on a six-match winning streak – that turn-around alone shows the nature of this seasons’ League Two.

Notts County (versus Barrow) – Alex Bass, Lewis Macari (Zak Johnson, 63), Matty Platt, Jacob Bedeau, Kellan Gordon, George Abbott, Matthew Palmer, Will Jarvis (Conor Grant, 57), Charlie Whitaker, Mai Traore (Nick Tsaroulla, 63), Alassana Jatta

As mentioned though, the rest of the promotion pack were also in meltdown, excluding Bradford City, in second place, who set a new club record with a tenth consecutive home win, seeing off visitors Cheltenham Town 3-0 thanks to a brace from, of all people, ex Mansfield Town midfielder, George Lapslie (2020-2023).

That result for the Bantams sees them close the gap on leaders Walsall to just two points, and moved them five ahead of third place Doncaster Rovers, as they close in on the final ten games of the season.

Walsall, they were held to a 1-1 draw away to bottom-of-the-table Carlisle United, both goals coming in the first quarter of a match that, possession-wise, was pretty even, the leaders failing however to capitalise on numerous chances.

Beneath the top two is where the meltdown really kicked in as Doncaster, Notts County, AFC Wimbledon, Port Vale, Crewe Alexandra, and Grimsby Town (third to eighth), all dropped points.

As County were losing at home to Barrow, Doncaster and Wimbledon were witnessing similar when on the road at Bromley (they moved into ninth) and Morecambe respectively; Bromley have now beaten both Doncaster and Wimbledon in their last two outings, 1-0 in each.

Sixth place Port Vale were held to a goalless draw at home to Harrogate Town, stretching their unbeaten streak in the league to ten matches, which includes wins over fellow promotion hopefuls Doncaster (2-1), and Notts County (1-0) in January and February.

Holding the last play-off spot, Crewe Alexandra were thumped 4-1 away to mid-table Fleetwood, the visitors having netted twice in each half before the hosts nicked a consolation at the death.

For Fleetwood, they’ve now taken points off of Crewe, Notts County, and Wimbledon, in their last five matches and, although twelfth, could fancy a late play-off push themselves, much like Salford and Colchester right above them.

Just outside the play-offs, in eighth, are Grimsby Town, and they were also held to a 1-1 draw, when hosting third bottom Tranmere Rovers; Bromley meanwhile, they continued their late charge with a fifth narrow win in their last six outings (four have been 1-0), the latest, that success against Doncaster.

Eyes in the division now turn to Saturday, and ‘that’ lunchtime kick-off at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, Stuart Maynard takes his fourth-placed Notts County side to Johnnie Jackson’s fifth placed Wimbledon, the two separated by just a point, with both needing a win to kick-start that push for automatic promotion.

Port Vale and Crewe Alexandra are the two clubs in the immediate vicinity of County and Wimbledon, both of whom are on the road at the dangerous Fleetwood, and Salford, respectively.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @Official_NCFC action at Meadow Lane as Notts slip to Barrow.