Carpi edged Ternana 1-0 at the Stadio Libero Liberati on Saturday afternoon in Serie B.
A strike from Simone Romagnoli was enough to claim all three points and send the Biancorossi nine points clear at the top of the table.
Ternana were on top for the start of the match as three crosses were whipped in but none were touched convincingly and all went wide.
Then, a better chance fell for the hosts as Fabio Ceravolo laid the ball off to Giuseppe Russo who volleyed over from 10 yards when he really should have done better.
Ceravolo was the next player to come close to scoring as he fired from range but the ball was easily dealt with by Gabriel.
Against the run of play, the visitors took the lead with their first meaningful effort on goal. Romagnoli leaped highest from the corner and his header crashed off the bar and in.
The second half saw more dominance from the home side as first Ceravolo fired across goal which as agonisingly close to being converted by Davide Gavazzi but he couldn’t reach the ball.
Then, Felipe Avenatti tried his luck from distance but it was thwarted by Gabriel.
The league leaders should have doubled their lead at the death. Jerry Mbakogu was one-on-one with Alberto Brignoli but off balance, he could only strike it against the far post.
It ended there and Carpi extended their lead at the top to nine points as Bologna drew 0-0 with Trapani.
Vicenza upped their chase for promotion as they defeated Modena 2-1 away from home.
Modena took the lead in the first minute through Pablo Granoche but before half-time Andrea Cocco levelled for the Biancorossi.
Then, Stefano Giacomelli netted to wrap up the game for the visitors, who are now only one point behind second-placed Bologna.
In a vital relegation battle, it was Crotone who came out on top as they defeated Brescia 2-1.
After a scoreless first half, Camillo Ciano and Adrian Stoian put the Rossoblu 2-0 up before Ernesto Torregrossa was sent off.
Daniele Corvia converted a penalty in the 87th minute to pull one back but it wasn’t enough for the Leonessa.
Livorno dropped down to eighth in the league as they were beaten at home 1-0 by Cittadella.
Alessandro Sgrigna’s first half penalty won the game for Citta, whilst the Amaranto also had Alessandro Bernardini.
Fourth-placed Avellino also lost at home 2-1 to Perugia, who are now just short of the play-offs.
Marcelo Trotta put the Lupi in front in the first half but two late goals from Diego Falcinelli stole the game for the visitors.
Virtus Entella comfortably beat Catania 2-0 to lift themselves up to 12th position.
A brace from Gaetano Masucci in the first half all but won the game for Entella as Catania also had Raffaele Schiavi dismissed in injury time.
Spezia kept their hopes of automatic promtion alive as they defeated Latina 2-1 away from home.
Nicolo Giannetti put the Aquilotti in front in the first period and then Andrea Catellani doubled their lead midway through the second.
A goal was pulled back minutes later through Nnamdi Oduamadi but they just couldn’t level the game.
Pro Vercelli moved out of the relegation play-out positions as they beat Virtus Lanciano 2-1.
All the goals were scored in the first half as Nunzio Di Roberto and Ettore Marchi put the hosts 2-0 up but a goal was pulled back by Fabrizio Paghera.
Lanciano couldn’t find an equaliser and the game ended there with a 2-1 for Pro Vercelli.
