Striker Devante Cole set in-form Fleetwood on their way into the top two with a 2-0 victory in their clash at fellow promotion-chasers Scunthorpe.
He opened the scoring in the 41st minute with a simple tap home at the far post from a low cross from the right by Markus Schwabl.
Town defended that lead solidly and in the 90th minute former Scunthorpe striker Bobby Grant was left unmarked as he burst into the box to steer a low left-footed shot into the bottom corner to make it 2-0.
It stretched Fleetwood's unbeaten run to 18 games, but in contrast Scunthorpe's promotion hopes continue to falter after seven games now without a win.
Handing a home debut in midfield to Rangers loanee Matt Crooks, Scunthorpe paid the price for not taking some first-half chances.
Crooks himself might have opened the scoring with a flashing close-ranger header which was brilliantly tipped over at full stretch by keeper Alex Cairns.
Cairns again denied the home side, keeping out an angled effort from Kevin van Veen, before Paddy Madden broke free to the edge of the box, only to lift his first-time shot well over.
Cole's strike close to the interval gave Fleetwood the edge and left Scunthorpe under pressure in the second half.
As the hosts chased an equaliser, Van Veen was just a whisker away with an effort that flashed across the face of goal and just inches wide of the far post.
They did have the ball in the back of the net after 64 minutes when Madden headed down in the box for skipper Stephen Dawson to steer his shot home with an overhead kick, only to be flagged offside.
Scunthorpe continued to press but could not break down a stubborn Fleetwood defence.