Second-placed Wigan took advantage of the Shakers losing to close the gap at the top to just one point with a 5-1 win at home to Shrewsbury, the Salopians having shipped a mind-boggling 23 goals now in a run of five straight league defeats.
Carlisle and Blackpool stay third and fourth due to the results around them while Preston remain in fifth despite a 2-1 loss at title-holders Oldham, that home win taking the Latics onto level points with North End. Meanwhile Walsall are now seventh after drawing 0-0 at Port Vale on Friday.
Burnley are dropping like a stone down the table having lost four out of their last five league games and their poor form continued at the weekend. Their scheduled game at Rochdale was even transferred to the Clarets's Gawthorpe training ground as the 'Dale's pitch was unfilt for play, that didn't help Burnley though as they lost an entertaining game 5-4.
Wrexham are another side falling away after a good start, the Red Dragons having now only won once in six games following a 3-0 defeat in their mini-derby at Chester. Tranmere and Stockport have both had disappointing seasons by their own standards and it was again County again struggling after losing 3-1 at Rovers.
Things have tightened up at the bottom of the table with wins for Accrington and Rochdale. Morecambe now holding onto the wooden spoon after losing heavily at Stanley, the Shrimps being thumped 4-1 at Accrington's Fraser Eagle Stadium. Hopefully things won't get much easier for Morecambe next Saturday either in their home game with Carlisle.
Results in the division from Saturday :
Port Vale 0-0 Walsall (played Friday)
Accrington Stanley 4-1 Morecambe
Bury 0-2 Macclesfield
Carlisle United P-P Blackpool
Chester 3-0 Wrexham
Oldham 2-1 Preston
Rochdale 5-4 Burnley (played at Burnley)
Tranmere 3-1 Stockport
Wigan 5-1 Shrewsbury
Fixtures in the division next Saturday :
Chester v Wigan (playing Friday)
Preston North End v Bury (playing Friday)
Accrington Stanley v Rochdale
Blackpool v Wrexham
Burnley P-P Oldham (Burnley playing Arsenal in FA Youth Cup)
Morecambe v Carlisle United
Shrewsbury v Tranmere
Stockport v Port Vale
Walsall v Macclesfield
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