MILTON Keynes Dons gained ground on top two Lincoln City and Exeter City as both failed to win at the weekend.

Newport County, who had started the day in third and with 38-year-old manager Mike Flynn on the bench because of a spate of injuries, suffered a 4-1 defeat at Crawley Town, which saw the home side move to the fringe of the play-off places.

Macclesfield Town remain bottom of the table despite a first league win of the season with a 2-1 home victory against Carlisle United.

MK Dons' home success over Northampton Town came courtesy of the only goal a minute before the break through Kieran Agard, who scored from close range at a corner.

Ten-man Lincoln were held 1-1 at home by Cambridge United despite taking an early lead through Matt Rhead's header. The visitors were level 10 minutes later as Jevani Brown shot into the top corner.

The Imps played nearly 70 minutes with 10 men as midfielder Ellis Chapman was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Gary Deegan.

Grimsby Town keeper James McKeown denied Exeter a win when he saved Pierce Sweeney's penalty early in the second half of their 0-0 draw.

Newport also finished with 10 men as they went down to Crawley. Joe Maguire gave the home side a first-minute lead before Jamille Matt equalised on the hour.

Filipe Morais' penalty, Ollie Palmer and Ashley-Nathaniel George made it 4-1 before Newport's Fraser Franks was shown a straight red card with eight minutes to go.

Macclesfield's success over Carlisle came after the visitors broke the deadlock 50 minutes in when Ashley Nadesan bundled home from close range.

Michael Rose converted a penalty and Peter Vincente hit the winner with seven minutes remaining to earn Macclesfield a rare victory.

Nicky Maynard, Dom Telford, Jay O'Shea, with a penalty, and Nicky Adams were on target as Bury defeated Notts County 4-0.

Courtney Senior scored the only goal as Colchester United won at Morecambe, and a Tom Pope spot-kick gave Port Vale a 1-0 success at Oldham Athletic.

Stevenage played almost 80 minutes with 10 men following Ben Nugent's red card and it was punished just after the hour as Jordan Bowery scored the only goal to secure three points for visitors Crewe Alexandra.

Joseph Mills got Forest Green Rovers' equaliser in the 1-1 draw at home to Cheltenham Town, who had led when Luke Varney's penalty was saved but Tyrone Barnett, who had won the spot-kick, forced home the rebound.

Yeovil and Tranmere played out a 0-0 draw.