The battle for the title, and automatic promotion, from EFL League Two, took yet another twist on Saturday afternoon, Walsall slipping from first to third, and just four points separating the top four sides.

Notts County meanwhile, they find themselves four off the third automatic promotion spot after they lost 1-0 away to eighth place Colchester United, the Magpies behind AFC Wimbledon by the slenderest of goal-differences.

It’s Bradford City that lead the way now, by virtue of a goal-difference one better than Port Vale, they a point ahead of Walsall; the Bantams won 2-0 at home to ninth place Crewe when a quick start saw Bobby Pointon net after just twelve seconds, and Calum Kavanagh wrapping up the points with five minutes remaining.

Meanwhile there were five goals at Walsall, all coming in an exhilarating first half which also saw two penalties converted, one of which proved the winner as Lorent Tolaj netted twice, including the decisive fifth goal of the game, in first half stoppage time.

Doncaster Rovers are sitting in fourth, two points off third place, after a smash-and-grab raid at ten-man Cheltenham Town, Jamie Sterry and Rob Street netting at the death, Street’s goal coming in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

Wimbledon also won, to move ahead of County on goal-difference, Alistair Smith’s second half effort keeping their hopes of automatic promotion alive, and seventh place Grimsby Town, in the final play-off spot, won 3-1 at home to Morecambe, Kieran Green netting a goal in each half.

As for County, and following that stunning, midweek win over visiting MK Dons, their three-match unbeaten run was cut short when at Colchester, in a scrappy contest that was settled by one goal, on the edge of half-time.

Oscar Thorn had pinched the ball off Will Jarvis on the edge of the box, crossing nicely for Tyreece Simpson to tap home what proved the winner, from close range; both sides had more chances in the second period, but it would be the hosts who’d take all three points.

Notts County – Sam Slocombe, Lewis Macari, Matty Platt, Jacob Bedeau, Nick Tsaroulla (Jodi Jones, 72), Jack Hinchy, Matthew Palmer, Charlie Whitaker (Mai Traore, 73), Will Jarvis (Conor Grant, 83), David McGoldrick, Alassana Jatta.

With eight points separating first to seventh, and just three points splitting the top four, Stuart Maynard’s County need a string of positive results in their final five games to confirm a play-off spot at least.

That begins this coming Friday (11 April), when they host Salford at Meadow Lane, followed by high-flying Bradford, away, a week later; with County playing on Friday, they know a win will put them into fourth place.

Saturday meanwhile will see the following take place – Doncaster vs. Wimbledon, Swindon vs. Bradford, Barrow vs. Walsall, Harrogate vs. Grimsby, and Port Vale vs. Bromley.

That game between fourth and fifth (Doncaster and Wimbledon), in the lunchtime kick-off at the Eco-Power Stadium, has a classic written all over it – County though, they’ll hope for a draw in that one, surely….

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @Official_NCFC action during the Magpies defeat at Colchester.