Saturday has been and gone, and with that so does another weekend of football in League Two. Burton increase their lead at the top of the league, second played against third, play-off movers and vital relegation points all came over the weekend. Here is your League Two Review:
League Two Review March 14
Friday 13th March
Newport County 1-1 Cheltenham Town
Newport County made in five games at Rodney Parade without a win following a draw with relegation threatened Cheltenham Town. Both goals came in the first half, with Wes Burns netting his fourth Robins goal after just 13 minutes, before Miles Storey leveled for the hosts before the break. The Exiles stay 9th, two points off the playoffs, whilst Cheltenham remain 22nd, but thanks to a vital away point, move two clear of the strugglers.
Saturday 14th March
Burton Albion 3-0 Accrington Stanley
League leaders Burton extended their lead at the top of League Two with a comfortable victory over mid-table Accrington. The Brewers went ahead thanks to a Damien McCrory penalty after 27 minutes, before Stuart Beavon and Matt Palmer scored late on to put back to back defeats behind them by recording their second successive win. As for Stanley, they’re without a win in four, but stay 15th.
Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury have had a real dip in form of late and recorded their third defeat in six games away to Wycombe. Sam Wood got the games only goal in the opening minute to move the Chairboys above the Shrews and into 2nd, and extend their unbeaten run to five. Wycombe find themselves three points behind league leaders Burton, with Shrewsbury now just three points ahead of the chasing play-off pack.
Dagenham and Redbridge 1-3 Southend United
Southend keep the pressure on the automatic promotion places as a result of extending their unbeaten run to four games following victory at Dagenham. Joe Pigott opened the scoring for the Shrimpers inside 15 minutes, before defender Ayo Obileye leveled for the hosts. Ryan Leonard then regained the Southend lead on the break, before Barry Corr confirmed all three points with a penalty five minutes into the second half. Southend stay 4th and find themselves just three points off Shrewsbury in 3rd, whilst Dagenham, who have won three and lost three of their previous six games, slip to 18th.
Mansfield Town 0-1 Bury
Bury put last weeks defeat behind them and bounced back with a win at Mansfield. The Shakers only goal of the game came in the shape of a Ryan Tafazolli own goal in the first half, but moves them up to 5th, one point behind Southend. As for Mansfield, they stay 19th, eight points from safety.
Portsmouth 2-0 Luton Town
Luton made it three consecutive defeats with another loss, this time at Portsmouth. Matt Tubbs gave Pompey the lead after just three minutes before Ryan Taylor doubled the lead midway through the second half to extend their unbeaten home record to five. The Hatters poor run has seen them slip to 6th, now seven points off the automatic promotion places and have lost four away games on the bounce. Pompey, who have lost one game in 10, move up one place to 13th.
Oxford United 0-0 Plymouth Argyle
Oxford extended their unbeaten run to five games in the league following a goalless draw at home to Plymouth. The Pilgrims remain in the playoffs with this point, but only on goal difference, while the U’s move up one place to 17th.
Cambridge United 1-1 Stevenage Borough
For the second week running, Cambridge found a late goal to earn them a point. Stevenage took the lead through centre back Dean Wells in the first half, before Robbie Simpson leveled in the 90th minute to earn the U’s a point. Cambridge move up one place to 16th, whilst the Boro remain just outside the playoffs on goal difference in 8th.
Northampton Town 1-0 Tranmere Rovers
Northampton made it six successive home wins courtesy of a Ryan Cresswell strike against strugglers Tranmere. The games only goal came in the second half to leave the Cobblers in 10th, three points off the playoffs. As for Rovers, they remain in the drop zone following their fifth successive defeat, and are two points from safety.
Exeter City 3-2 A.F.C Wimbledon
Exeter made it three games without defeat with a win at home to Wimbledon. Adebayo Akinfenwa gave the Dons an early lead, before two goals, one a penalty, from top scorer Tom Nichols turned the game around for the Grecians. David Wheeler gave Exeter a two goal advantage 20 minutes before time, before a James Hammon own goal made it a nervy final few minutes for the hosts. Exeter held on and move up to 11th, whilst Wimbledon recorded their 7th consecutive game on the road without a win and slip to 12th.
Morcambe 0-1 Hartlepool United
Hartlepool recored just their third away win of the season against a Morecambe side struggling at home. An Andy Parrish own goal in the first half proved costly, and condemned the Shrimps to their third successive defeat at the Globe Arena. As for Hartlepool, they remain bottom, six points from safety.
York City 0-0 Carlisle United
Two sides at the wrong end of the table played out a goalless draw as Carlisle held York at Bootham Crescent. York are unbeaten at home in three as result, with Carlisle without an away win in three. York stay 20th, as do Carlisle in 21st, both three points clear of the drop.
