League One roundup: Preston North End retain promotion spot

By Chris O'Keefe, Reporter | 25 April 2015

Sports Mole rounds up Saturday's League One action as Preston beat Swindon to retain the second automatic promotion place and Crewe and Notts County pick up huge wins.

Preston North End held onto the second promotion place in League One with a victory over Swindon Town at Deepdale this afternoon.

A hat-trick from the division's top scorer Joe Garner ensured that the Lilywhites remain in pole position to secure Championship football.

However, they will have to wait until next weekend to secure promotion after MK Dons kept their hopes of a top-two finish alive with a 3-2 away win at Rochdale.

Goals from Samir Carruthers, Dean Bowditch and Daniel Powell ensured that Karl Robinson's men remain only a point behind Preston ahead of the final round of fixtures.

That result also confirmed that Chesterfield will be in the playoffs, despite losing 2-0 at home to champions Bristol City, with Kieron Agard and Aden Flint scoring for the Robins.

At the bottom of the table, Crewe Alexandra moved two points clear of the drop by beating fellow strugglers Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena.

Strikes from Lauri Dalla Valle, Ryan Colclough and a late third from Marcus Haber gave the Railwaymen a 3-1 victory in the Midlands.

Notts County lifted themselves out of the bottom four after they beat Doncaster Rovers at Meadow Lane, thanks to goals from Garry Thompson and Liam Noble.

They go above Crawley Town, who led twice at Peterborough United before losing 4-3 at London Road, with Conor Washington scoring his second of the game in stoppage time for Posh.

Crawley are level on points with Notts, but have an inferior goal difference to the Magpies.

Colchester United kept themselves in the hunt for survival with a thrilling win at Fleetwood Town, although they remain second from the foot of the table.

George Moncur gave the Essex club the lead at Highbury Stadium, but goals from Jamie Proctor and David Ball looked to have sent them down to League Two.

However, Gavin Massey's equaliser and a Chris Porter penalty three minutes from time ensured that Colchester, who have a game in hand, can still stay up.

Leyton Orient are level on points with United after they could only draw with Sheffield United at Brisbane Road, but they have a better goal difference than all of their relegation rivals and that could count in their favour when they travel to Swindon next week.

Port Vale made sure of their place in the division as Michael Brown's late strike gave them a narrow victory over relegated Yeovil Town.

Walsall moved themselves into the top half of the table as a double from Tom Bradshaw saw them beat Oldham Athletic at the Bescot Stadium.

Scunthorpe United moved above Oldham in the standings after Gary McSheffrey's goal helped them edge out Gillingham in a game that was delayed for more than 20 minutes by torrential rain at Glanford Park.

Bradford City, who held a minute's silence to mark 30 years since a fire at Valley Parade claimed the lives of 56 fans, moved into eighth place after Jon Stead's early goal gave them victory over Barnsley.

Results in full: Bradford City 1–0 Barnsley, Chesterfield 0–2 Bristol City, Coventry City 1–3 Crewe Alexandra, Fleetwood Town 2–3 Colchester United, Leyton Orient 1–1 Sheffield United, Notts County 2–1 Doncaster Rovers, Peterborough United 4–3 Crawley Town, Preston North End 3–0 Swindon, Rochdale 2–3 MK Dons, Scunthorpe United 2–1 Gillingham, Walsall 2–0 Oldham Athletic, Yeovil Town 1–2 Port Vale