Carlisle United's promotion rivals Salford City missed out on the chance to make up ground on the Blues - losing a seven-goal thriller.

They were beaten 4-3 at Crewe Alexandra despite leading 3-2 after 85 minutes.

The dramatic Friday night defeat cost Neil Wood's seventh-placed side the opportunity to make further inroads in the promotion race.

They remain five points adrift of second-placed Carlisle having played two games more.

Louie Barry gave Wood's visitors a 19th-minute lead at the Alexandra Stadium before Dan Agyei's penalty brought Crewe level.

Joel Tabiner then put the hosts in front but Callum Hendry's Salford leveller made it 2-2 at half-time.

Stevie Mallan's 85th-minute effort then seemed to have put the Ammies on course for a victory that would have put them fourth and a point outside the automatic promotion places.

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But Lee Bell's Crewe hit back two minutes later through Connor O'Riordan - with Agyei making it 4-3 at the death.

Crewe, whose defence included former Carlisle man Kelvin Mellor, are 16th.

One of United's other promotion rivals - Leyton Orient - are out of action on Saturday after their trip to eighth-placed Mansfield Town was postponed because of heavy snow.

It means a win for Carlisle at Swindon Town would take Paul Simpson's side eight points off top spot.

Of the chasing pack, third-placed Stevenage are at home to Walsall, fourth-placed Northampton Town go to Hartlepool United, fifth-placed Bradford City are at Newport County, Stockport County are at Colchester United and ninth-placed Sutton United go to Barrow.