Bolton suffered a shock defeat to bottom side Grimsby as the League Two campaign took further twists today.

Ahead of their clash with Carlisle United next Tuesday, Ian Evatt's side went down 2-1 at Blundell Park.

Jay Matete's first-minute opener was followed by a late strike by Ira Jackson junior for the Mariners.

Ex-Blues striker Shaun Miller pulled back an injury-time consolation but it left the Trotters with a second defeat in four games.

They remain third, while Paul Hurst's Grimsby have given themselves a survival lifeline, the Mariners now four points from safety and having lost just once in their last 10 games.

Of Carlisle's rivals in the play-off race, Forest Green and Leyton Orient made progress while Newport, Exeter and Salford all failed to win.

Forest Green, under caretaker boss Jimmy Ball, ended a four-game losing run by beating Scunthorpe 3-2 thanks to goals from Jordan Moore-Taylor, Ebou Adams and Chris Stokes, with Harrison McGahey and Abo Eisa scoring for the Iron.

Forest Green are now sixth, four points clear of eighth place, with Newport slipping to seventh after losing at home to Cambridge.

Declan Drysdale hit a second-half winner for the visitors, who returned to the top of the table.

Exeter remain eighth, a point outside the top seven, but failed to see off second-bottom Southend at home.

The Grecians were left with a 0-0 draw which sees Phil Brown's Shrimpers three points adrift of safety.

Orient leapfrogged Carlisle into ninth - level on points with Exeter - by beating Barrow 2-0 at home, Dan Happe and Daniel Kemp getting the Os' goals, and fourth-bottom Barrow now sitting eight points above the drop zone.

Salford, a point behind Carlisle in 11th, played out a 0-0 draw at fifth-placed Tranmere.

Morecambe are fourth and now a point outside the automatic places, after chalking up a high-scoring win over Keith Curle's Oldham.

Derek Adams' side prevailed 4-3 with ex-Carlisle man Cole Stockton getting a goal along with Carlos Mendes Gomes (two) and Aaron Wildig; Conor McAleny, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Kyle Jameson staging a late fightback for the Latics.

Bradford's hopes of a late play-off charge, meanwhile, were hit by defeat to Yorkshire rivals Harrogate.

Ex-United man Andy Cook cancelled out Jack Muldoon's Sulphurites opener but Josh McPake won it for Simon Weaver's hosts, who are United's opponents next weekend.

Mansfield picked up a 1-0 win at Stevenage thanks to Ryan Sweeney's first-half goal, while the day's late kick-off saw Colchester beat Walsall 2-1 to go six points clear of danger.

Michael Folivi and Ryan Clampin scored for the hosts after James Clarke had put the Saddlers ahead, and it was only Colchester's second win in 26 games.

Crawley beat high-flying Cheltenham 1-0 on Friday night thanks to Jordan Maguire-Drew's goal.