League Two never seizes to amaze, and Tuesday night was no exception. Two of the sides in the playoffs suffered a disappointing defeat, whilst sides struggling at the wrong end picked up vital points as the relegation battle thickens. Here is your League Two Review March 17 and 18
Tuesday 17th March
Wycombe Wanderers 2-2 Accrington Stanley
Wycombe missed the opportunity to move into top spot in League Two as they were held at home to Accrington Stanley. Sam Wood gave the Chairboys the lead on the 30 minute mark, leaving him with two goals in two games, before Terry Gornell leveled on the brink of half time. Piero Mingoia then gave Stanley the lead 15 minutes into the second half, before Alfie Mawson equalized to earn the Chairboys a point. Wycombe slip to 3rd and found themselves two points behind league leaders Burton, until they played on Wednesday, whilst Stanley slip to 17th.
Morecambe 1-4 Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury hope to turn their recent dip in form around and took full advantage of Morcambe’s poor run at home. Jack Redshaw gave the Shrimps the lead, but Connor Goldson and James Collins netted to give the Shrews a half time lead. Jermain Grandison gave the visitors a two goal advantage, before Tyrone Barnett scored in the final minute to give Shrewsbury a comfortable victory. The Shrews move up to 2nd, level on points with Wycombe, whilst Morecambe remain in 14th, but have suffered four straight defeats at the Globe Arena.
York City 0-1 Bury
With Southend not playing until Wednesday, Bury moved above them in the playoffs following a slim victory on the road at York. Tom Soares got the games only goal after just nine minutes to move the Shakers into 4th, whilst York suffered their first home defeat in four and slip one place to 21st, level on points with 22nd and 23rd place respectively.
Newport County 1-0 Luton Town
Newport recorded their first win at Rodney Parade in six attempts to move them level on points with the playoffs, but sit just outside on goal difference. An Aaron O’Connor strike after 21 minutes was enough, which condemned Luton Town to their fifth consecutive defeat on the road, and their fourth defeat in succession. The drop in form leaves the Hatters in 6th, but are now 10 points off the automatic promotion places as a result.
Exeter City 0-0 Stevenage
Stevenage move into the playoffs following a goalless draw on the road at Exeter. The result extends the Boro’s unbeaten run to eight games, and sees them move into the playoffs for the first time since late January. As for the Grecians, they extend their unbeaten run to four, but find themselves six points off the playoffs.
Dagenham and Redbridge 2-0 Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth were the playoffs big movers as they suffered a significant setback on the road to Dagenham. Left back Ago Ogogo opened the scoring for the Daggers, before Jamie Cureton doubled their lead near the end to move Dagenham up to 15th. Plymouth drop to 9th, one point outside the playoffs as they prepare to host play-off rivals Newport on Saturday.
Northampton Town 0-2 Carlisle United
Northampton too suffered a devastating setback in their play-off ambitions as they lost at home to relegation threatened Carlisle. Before the game, Cobblers had won their previous six at Sixfields, but two second half goals within two minutes from Jason Kennedy and Kyle Dempsey gave the Cumbrians their first win in four and moves them three points from safety. Northampton stay in 10th, four points off the playoffs.
Portsmouth 2-2 Cheltenham Town
Another side at the wrong end of the table in Cheltenham picked up a valuable point on the road to Portsmouth. Matt Tubbs opened the scoring for Pompey, before Eliot Richards leveled immediately. Will Packwood then gave the Robins the lead, before Ryan Taylor equalized on the brink of half time. The point sees Cheltenham slip back into the drop zone, but level on points with the two sides above them. As for Pompey, they now are unbeaten in six games at home and sit comfortably in 12th.
Mansfield Town 2-1 A.F.C Wimbledon
Mansfield picked up a vital three points as they look to avoid the drop thanks to a late winner from Rakish Bingham. Lee Beevers gave the Stags an early second half lead, before George Francomb equalized from the spot. Bingham then popped up in the 87th minute to give Mansfield their win, leaving them eight points clear of the drop in 16th. As for Wimbledon, they’ve failed to win in eight games on the road, but sit 13th in the League Two table.
Cambridge United 1-2 Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere put five successive defeats behind them and recorded a vital win to move them out of the drop zone. Max Power gave the Rovers the lead on the stroke of half time, before Sullay Kaikai leveled in the second half. Dan Gardner found the winner with 22 minutes remaining to give Tranmere a credible win, but are level on points with two other sides now. As for the U’s, they have failed to win at home in seven attempts, and find themselves just six points from safety.
Oxford United 0-2 Hartlepool United
Hartlepool recorded their second away win in succession as they look to avoid the drop. Goals from Ryan Bird and Neil Austin gave the Pools another vital three points, and leaves them just four points behind the sides above them. As for Oxford, this was their first defeat in five, and find themselves just six points from safety in 19th as a result.
Wednesday 18th March
Burton Albion 2-1 Southend United
Burton Albion extend their lead at the top of League Two with a 2-1 victory at home to play-off hopefuls Southend. Barry Corr gave the Shrimpers the lead just before the break with his seventh goal in as many games, before Matt Palmer equalized ten minutes after the restart. Substitute Abdenasser El Khayati then netted his second Brewers goal with just one minute remaining to give the Brewers a five point lead at the top of the table. Southend slip to 5th following Bury’s victory, and suffer their first defeat in five games.
