Preston North End closed the gap on League One leaders Bristol City to eight points with a 1-0 win over Rochdale this afternoon.

Jermaine Beckford's goal was enough for the home side, who kept their 19th clean sheet of the season at Deepdale.

Leaders Bristol were held to a 1-1 draw with Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park as Carl Winchester cancelled out Aaron Wilbraham's 71st-minute opener shortly after the visitors had taken the lead.

Struggling Yeovil Town threw away a two-goal lead as they slipped to a 3-2 reverse at home to Chesterfield.

James Hayter gave the home side the lead on 18 minutes before Sam Foley doubled their advantage shortly before the hour mark.

However, Jay O'Shea's introduction from the bench sparked a comeback from Chesterfield, and Sam Hird netted two minutes after Foley's goal before the substitute struck two in five minutes.

The defeat leaves Yeovil rock-bottom 12 points from safety.

Neither Walsall nor Notts County were able to find the breakthrough as they played out a goalless draw at Bescot Stadium.

Colchester United gave their survival hopes a shot in the arm with a 2-1 win away at Port Vale.

George Moncur opened the scoring for the visitors before Jacob Murphy extended their advantage on 77 minutes.

However, they were forced to endure a nervy finale when Louis Dodd netted for the home side with four minutes of normal time remaining.

Gareth Evans marked his 100 appearance with a goal for Fleetwood Town as they beat Gillingham 1-0.

Crawley Town and Crewe Alexandra played out a goalless draw to leave the former a point from safety in the drop zone.

Paddy Madden and Theo Robinson scored for Scunthorpe United as they recorded a 2-0 win over Peterborough United.

Results in full: Crewe Alexandra 0-0 Crawley Town, Gillingham 0-1 Fleetwood Town, Oldham Athletic 1-1 Bristol City, Port Vale 1-2 Colchester, Preston North End 1-0 Rochdale, Scunthorpe United 2-0 Peterborough United, Walsall 0-0 Notts County, Yeovil Town 2-3 Chesterfield