BARROW halted their slide down League Two with an impressive 2-0 win over play-off rivals Gillingham on another intriguing night of midweek action.

Newport County AFC, who travel to second-placed Stockport on Saturday, remain 12th in the incredibly tight table, five points off the play-offs with Walsall now in seventh after Barrow's win.

Pete Wild’s Bluebirds had lost three games in a row and not played in over a fortnight with games against Bradford and Crawley called off due to waterlogged pitches.

The deadlock was broken five minutes before the break when former Wales international James Chester volleyed home George Ray’s flick-on from Robbie Gotts’ delivery.

Emile Acquah ended his drought as he scored his first league goal in almost five months as he slipped past two defenders and unleashed a stunning 20-yard strike in the 55th minute.

The Gills fired another blank and are the lowest scorers in the division, yet are still in ninth and are only outside the play-offs on goal difference.

Morecambe are one spot above them after beating Crawley, another team in the mix for the top seven, 1-0.

Substitute Jordan Slew was the Shrimps’ goal hero as he turned in Joel Senior’s right-wing cross when he sneaked in at the far post in the 68th minute to move Ged Brannan’s side level on points with Walsall.

AFC Wimbledon, 10th, failed to back up their dramatic late win over MK Dons after being frustrated by struggling Grimsby in a goalless clash while Bradford missed the chance to climb above County.

The Bantams scrambled a share of the spoils with Doncaster thanks to Tyler Smith making it 1-1 in the 84th minute after Luke Molyneux’s opener.

The battle for the play-offs is tight and so is the scrap for the three automatic promotion places after leaders Mansfield, who won at Rodney Parade last weekend, were beaten 2-1 by MK.

Stephen Quinn put the hosts ahead in the 15th minute after Lucas Akins missed a penalty, but the lead was short-lived as Alex Gilbey equalised five minutes later and Matthew Dennis found the winner.

The win means the fifth-placed Dons are level on points with Crewe, just two back on second-placed Stockport and third-placed Wrexham.