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League One roundup: Preston North End retain promotion spot

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

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Written by
Chris O'Keefe
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An assortment of Bristol City players celebrate their promotion to the Championship on April 14, 2015
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Walsall28185554302459
2Doncaster RoversDoncaster29157742321052
3Notts County28148645281750
4AFC Wimbledon27146739201948
5Crewe AlexandraCrewe291212536251148
6Port Vale2813963529648
7Bradford CityBradford28138738281047
8Salford City2812883326744
9Grimsby Town29133134045-542
10Chesterfield28109943321139
11MK Dons28115124240238
12Cheltenham TownCheltenham28108103739-238
13Colchester UnitedColchester2881373329437
14Swindon TownSwindon30910114344-137
15Fleetwood TownFleetwood279993735236
16Bromley2881193637-135
17Gillingham2795132529-432
18BarrowBarrow2887132732-531
19Newport CountyNewport2786133546-1130
20Harrogate TownHarrogate3086162541-1630
21Accrington StanleyAccrington2778123445-1129
22Tranmere RoversTranmere2868142146-2526
23Morecambe2865172644-1823
24Carlisle UnitedCarlisle2856172246-2421


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