What a great weekend of football in League Two; once again we have a new leader, some shock results for sides near the top, the Devon Derby, wins for sides near the bottom and some great footballing action across the country.
League Two Review 21st February 2015
Accrington Stanley 1-1 Cheltenham Town
On Friday night, one game took place at the Crown Ground where an Accrington Stanley side who had won their previous two games hosted a Cheltenham Town team who hadn’t won in seven. The Robins run has now stretched to eight following a 1-1 draw, but were ahead in the first half courtesy of Wes Burns’ second goal for the club. Shay McCarton leveled in the second half to earn Stanley a point. The point wouldn’t be good enough after Saturdays games as Cheltenham stay 23rd, one point from safety, whilst Stanley slipped one place to 15th.
Dagenham and Redbridge 1-3 Burton Albion
Burton Albion are the new leaders in League Two following their 3-1 victory on the road over Dagenham and Redbridge. All the goals came in the second half, with on loan midfielder Alex Jakubiak giving the Daggers the lead just 23 minutes before the end. But cue a Brewers resurgence as they scored twice withing four minutes; firstly, Adam McGurk netted followed by striker Abdenasser El Khayati who opened his Burton account. Damien McCrory confirmed all three points in the final minute to send the Brewers top of the league, and extend their unbeaten run to 12 games. As for daggers, this was their first defeat in six games, leaving them 18th in the league, six points from the drop.
Tranmere Rovers 2-1 Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town let slip the reign at the top of the table follwing defeat on the road against struggling Tranmere. Rovers led 2-0 at the break, courtesy of goals from Rory Donnelly and Danny Holmes. Shrewsbury pulled one back late on through Connor Goldson but it wasn’t enough, as Rovers got their first win in four games, and the Shrews slip to second.
Carlisle United 2-3 Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe put back to back defeats behind them as they secured a 3-2 victory on the road against Carlisle United. The Chairboys had the lead at the break courtesy of defender Aaron Pierre, and extended their lead in the second half through Fred Onyedinma. Matt McClure gave the visitors a three goal advantage, before Kyle Dempsey pulled one back immediately. Danny Grainger reduced the deficit with an 82nd minute penalty but it was too late, as Carlisle suffered their third straight defeat and slip to 21st as a result, two points from safety, whilst Wycombe stay third, four points clear of the play-off chasers.
A.F.C Wimbledon 3-2 Luton Town
Luton missed the opportunity to move into the automatic promotion places for the second time in a week as a result of their second defeat in the week, this time a 3-2 result in Wimbledon’s favour. The Dons were two goals to the good at the break, thanks to strikes from two former Oxford United men Alfie Potter and Danny Bulman. Luton, like they did at home against York last week, came from two down to level, first through Jayden Stockley before Elliott Lee found the net 20 minutes before the end. But the Hatters joy was short lived, as veteran striker David Connolly struck home in the final minute of the match to give the Dons their first win in three condemn the Hatters to their second straight defeat. Wimbledon move up one place to 12th, with Luton staying fourth but now with work to do if their to achieve automatic promotion.
Stevenage Borough 4-2 Southend United
Like Luton, Southend suffered their second consecutive defeat following a 4-2 away thumping from promotion chasing Stevenage. The Boro took the lead through Roarie Deacon, before Joe Pigott netted his eighth of the season early in the second half. The Shrimpers then took the lead thanks to a Barry Corr penalty, before Stevenage took control and scored three goals in the last 15 minutes through Simon Walton, Ben Kennedy and Dean Parrett. This was the Boro’s second win following four without one, but stay ninth, whilst Southend stay fifth on 54 points in the league.
Exeter City 1-3 Plymouth Argyle
The Devon Derby. Lots at stake for both sides but it was the Pilgrims that took the bragging rights as they completed the double over their rivals following their 3-1 victory at St. James Park. Striker Reuben Reid gave the visitors the lead in the first half, before Arron Davies levelled for the hosts on the brink of half time. Reid then got his and Plymouth’s second from the penalty spot, before Olly Lee was sent off for the visitors with half an hour still to play for fighting. Exeter pushed for an equaliser but Reid completed his hattrick and gave the ten men a two goal advantage with 20 minutes remaining. Plymouth have won both of these fixtures this season, and have won four in succession which sees them move up to sixth. As for the Grecians, they haven’t won in six, and slip to 13th in the table. Worrying times for Exeter, especially after losing this important fixture.
Bury 1-0 Hartlepool United
Bury move back into the playoffs as they overcome bottom club Hartlepool 1-0 at Gigg Lane. In a tightly contested game, a second half goal from Andrew Tutte was enough to give the Shakers all three points as they’re now unbeaten in four. Hartlepool remain bottom, eight points from safety.
Newport County 0-1 Morcambe
Despite hitting a dip in form through January, Newport County come off the back of a win away to Wycombe and a point at home last time out, but lost this game against a Morecambe side that recorded their second win in six. A first half goal by Jack Redshaw was enough to give the Shrimps all three points, and move up to 12th as a result. As for the Exiles, they slide out of the playoffs into eighth, two points behind Bury ahead of next week’s league fixtures.
Northampton Town 3-0 York City
Northampton have won four home games in succession as a result of this 3-0 victory against struggling York City. Winger Chris Hackett gave the hosts the lead after just four minutes, before defender Brendan Moloney doubled Cobblers lead early in the second half. Ivan Toney rounded off the scoring in the final minute to move Northampton up to 10th. York slip to 22nd, just one point from safety.
Cambridge United 2-6 Portsmouth
Cambridge are still in search of their first win since mid-January follwing a home thrashing against Portsmouth. Jed Wallace netted his ninth if the season within the opening five minutes, before debutant Nathaniel Mendez-Long equalised for the U’s. Pompey regained their led through top scorer Matt Tubbs, before Paul Robinson gave Pompey a two goal advantage. On the stroke of half time, Tubbs netted his second and gave the south coast side a resounding three goal advantage. In the second half, Robbie Simpson pulled one back, simply a consolation before Pompey ran riot; first, Ryan Taylor, then Matt Tubbs completed his hattrick and takes his tally to 16 for the season, four for Pompey. Before this game, Pompey had only scored six goals away from home all season, they have double that within 90 minutes! They move to 14th, whilst Cambridge, still winless, slipped to 16th.
Oxford United 3-0 Mansfield Town
The final game came at the Kassam Stadium where the game was a labelled as a ‘six pointer’ for both sides. Despite not winning yet at home in 2015, the U’s were on top from the off, and former Burton winger Alex MacDonald opened his Oxford account midway through the first half. He then doubled his and Oxfords tally by netting his ninth if the campaign, before Danny Hylton stepped up to convert a penalty a few minutes later, taking his goalscoring record to 13 in the league. It was a massive result for the U’s, which sees them climb to 17th, now six points clear of the relegation places in the league. As for the Stags, they drop one place to 19th.
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