Former Carlisle United man Patrick Brough was on the scoresheet for the second time in four days as Barrow took a big step towards League Two safety.

The Silloth star, who scored against his old club on Saturday, netted in the Bluebirds' 2-1 win over Exeter last night.

Scott Quigley was also on target again as Barrow went nine points clear of the bottom two with a game in hand.

The result at Holker Street also did his former club a favour as Carlisle moved to within a point of eighth-placed Exeter, for whom Pierce Sweeney got a late consolation.

The top end of League Two, meanwhile, saw Bolton chalk up another crucial win to further boost their promotion chances.

Lloyd Isgrove got the only goal at Salford with Ian Evatt's side now four points clear of the play-off places in third.

Morecambe moved into fourth place with a 4-1 thrashing of Scunthorpe, ex-Carlisle man Cole Stockton getting his 11th of the season as Carlos Mendes Gomes, a Jacob Bedeau own-goal and Yann Songo'o eased the Shrimps to victory, Alfie Beestin replying for the Iron.

Tranmere are now fifth after going down 1-0 at Walsall, Emmanual Osadebe hitting the winner after the visitors had Jay Spearing sent off.

While Newport's 0-0 draw at home to Carlisle saw them move up to sixth - United ninth, three points outside the top seven - Bradford's hopes of a play-off run were checked by a 2-0 home defeat by Crawley, whose goals were scored by Jordan Tunnicliffe and Joe McNerny.

The Bantams, 12th, are one of three teams on 58 points, a point behind Carlisle.

Ahead of them on goal difference are Salford and 11th-placed Leyton Orient, who drew 2-2 at Harrogate, Connor Wilkinson and Danny Johnson netting for the Os and Dan Jones and Josh McPake on target for the hosts.