Jordan Ponticelli scored a brace as Coventry City boosted their League Two play-off bid with a 2-1 success at mid-table Crawley Town.
Ponticelli grabbed the decider 12 minutes from time to give the Sky Blues their first win in four games and put them back into seventh place.
Coventry got off to an ideal start with teenager Ponticelli firing them ahead in only the fifth minute following a Marc McNulty cross after Crawley failed to clear from a free-kick.
Fit-again Dutch striker Thomas Verheydt had a goal-bound shot blocked by goalkeeper Lee Burge before the hosts levelled when defender Lewis Young rifled a low shot into the corner after 13 minutes.
Jonson Clarke-Harris, one of four changes made by Sky Blues boss Mark Robins, had a powerful drive tipped over by keeper Glenn Morris midway through the half.
Morris was called into action again just before the interval when he saved a shot from Liam Kelly after Karlan Ahearne-Grant dwelt on the ball.
Crawley skipper Jimmy Smith, on his 150th start for the club, should have hit the target when he was off target in front of goal after being set up by Ahearne-Grant.
Top-scorer McNulty came close to restoring City's lead after 72 minutes when his goal-bound shot was deflected over by Morris.
But Morris was beaten six minutes later when forward Ponticelli fired the winner with an angled shot after being set up by substitute Max Biamou.
English League Two Standings
POS | Team | GP | GD | PTS |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Swindon Town | 19 | +10 | 36 |
2 | Forest Green Rovers | 19 | +11 | 35 |
3 | Crewe Alexandra | 19 | +10 | 34 |
4 | Exeter City | 19 | +4 | 33 |
5 | Cheltenham Town | 18 | +13 | 31 |
6 | Northampton Town | 19 | +9 | 31 |
7 | Bradford City | 18 | +8 | 31 |
8 | Plymouth Argyle | 18 | +6 | 29 |
9 | Port Vale | 19 | 0 | 28 |
10 | Colchester United | 18 | +6 | 27 |
11 | Newport County | 17 | +3 | 27 |
12 | Salford City | 19 | -5 | 25 |
13 | Cambridge United | 19 | +4 | 24 |
14 | Macclesfield Town | 19 | -3 | 23 |
15 | Mansfield Town | 19 | 0 | 21 |
16 | Scunthorpe United | 19 | -1 | 21 |
17 | Crawley Town | 19 | -6 | 21 |
18 | Grimsby Town | 17 | -2 | 20 |
19 | Leyton Orient | 19 | -8 | 20 |
20 | Oldham Athletic | 18 | -7 | 19 |
21 | Carlisle United | 19 | -12 | 19 |
22 | Walsall | 19 | -12 | 19 |
23 | Stevenage | 18 | -9 | 14 |
24 | Morecambe | 19 | -19 | 14 |
League Two News
Sources: Barcelona's Gerard Pique was close to Notts County purchase
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique was "close" to putting together a deal to buy English club Notts County this summer, sources have told ESPN FC.
'No precedent' for Bury re-admission, says EFL
The Football League played down expelled Bury's hopes of gaining re-admission next season into League Two.
Brewster shines for Liverpool in Bradford win
Rhian Brewster proved he can thrive in attack under Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool beat Bradford City 3-1 in a preseason friendly.
Leyton Orient manager Edinburgh dies aged 49
Leyton Orient manager Justin Edinburgh died on Saturday aged 49, after suffering a cardiac arrest a few days ago.
Tranmere secure League One promotion
Tranmere Rovers needed extra time seal their second straight league promotion, defeating 10-man Newport County 1-0 in the League Two playoff final.
Premier League referee Mike Dean wildly celebrates Tranmere Rovers reaching Wembley
Referee Mike Dean is no stranger to the camera and on Monday night he found it again, this time in a game he wasn't even officiating...