A cracking easter weekend of football began on Friday, with league leaders Burton claiming a point on the road, and 3rd placed Wycombe losing ground with a home defeat. Bottom club Cheltenham suffered another defeat, with sides above them picking up vital points. Then on Monday, another full set of fixtures took place, with Burton victorious over Wycombe, a few moves amongst sides in the playoffs, and defeat for the leagues bottom two clubs. Here is your League Two Review Bank Holiday Weekend edition.
Friday 3rd April
Plymouth Argyle 1-1 Burton Albion
League leaders Burton Albion conceded a last minute goal against play-off hopefuls Plymouth. Kevin Stewart gave the Brewers the lead in the first half, but an 86th minute goal from defender Carl McHugh earned a point for the Pilgrims. Burton remain top of League Two, one point ahead of Shrewsbury following a run of six games without defeat, whilst Plymouth remain in 7th following this point.
Shrewsbury Town 2-0 Dagenham and Redbridge
Shrewsbury Town keep the pressure on Burton Albion following a convincing win at New Meadow against Dagenham and Redbridge. Two goals within five first half minutes from Connor Goldson was enough to extend the Shrews run of four successive victories, and sit one point behind Burton. As for the Daggers, this was their second straight defeat, and slip to 16th.
Wycombe Wanderers 2-3 Oxford United
Wycombe lost ground on the front two following a home defeat against local rivals Oxford. West Brom loanee Kemar Roofe netted his first U’s goal after ten minutes, before Danny Rose doubled the visitors lead. Paul Hayes pulled one back early in the second half with his 10th goal of the season, before Roofe netted his second goal with half an hour remaining. The Chairboys put pressure on Oxford late on, and reduced the deficit following a late Aaron Holloway strike, but it wasn’t enough, as Wycombe suffered their first home defeat in four, and find themselves four points off Burton. As for Oxford, this was their second straight victory, a result that lifts them up to 15th.
Cambridge United 0-2 Bury
Bury remain leaders in the playoffs following a comfortable win at the Abbey Stadium against struggling Cambridge. Nathan Cameron gave the Shakers a first half lead, before Tom Soares doubled the advantage early in the second half. The win was the Shakers fourth in succession, whilst Cambridge have failed to win in seven games.
Southend United 2-0 Mansfield Town
Southend stay hot on Bury’s heals as they won by the same scoreline against Mansfield. First half goals from Barry Corr and Will Atkinson gave the Shrimpers the win to keep them in 5th. Mansfield, who have now suffered three straight defeats, stay 18th.
Newport County 2-2 Hartlepool United
Newport had to come from two goals down to earn a point at home to a resurging Hartlepool side. A Lee Minshull own goal and a strike from Juelan Hugill have the Pools a decent lead, but Darren Jones reduced the deficit just before half time. Aaron O’Connor then popped up three minutes into the second half to complete the comeback and earn a point. County stay 6th, whilst Hartlepool stay 22nd, but unbeaten in five.
Stevenage 2-2 Tranmere Rovers
Play-off chasers Stevenage and relegation threatened Tranmere each earned a point in a four goal thriller at the Lamex Stadium. Defender Bira Dembele gave the Boro an early lead, before goals from Jennison Myrie Williams and Kayode Odejayi gave the Rovers a half time lead. Charlie Lee then netted his ninth of the season to level the game. Stevenage stay 8th, two points off the playoffs, whilst Tranmere remain in 23rd, one point behind Hartlepool.
Luton Town 2-3 Exeter City
Luton continue their dreadful form with another defeat, their seventh in succession, after throwing away a two goal advantage to lose the game. Luke Guttridge and Mark Cullen gave the Hatters a two goal lead at the break, but Paul Tisdales men came back in the second half fully determined. Ryan Harley pulled one back, before defender Jordan Moore-Taylor equalised for the Grecians. David Wheeler then popped up in the final minute to turn the game on its head. More misery for Luton, who are now two points off the playoffs, whilst Exeter extend their unbeaten run to seven and sit just behind Luton.
A.F.C Wimbledon 2-2 Northampton Town
Northampton came from two goals down to earn a point against Wimbledon. All four goals came within eleven second half minutes, with Sean Rigg and Jake Reeves giving the Dons a two goal advantage. But the Cobblers responded with a James Gray double, his second and third in two games. Northampton slip to 11th, with Wimbledon staying in 12th.
Morcambe 1-1 Accrington Stanley
A north west derby took place at the Globe Arena where a feisty game ended level. Kevin Ellison gave the hosts a first half lead, but Lloyd Jones leveled within minutes. The game turned nasty, with Terry Gornell being dismissed just before the break for Stanley for violent conduct, with manager John Coleman also being sent to the stands after a touchline altercation.
Carlisle United 2-2 Portsmouth
The fourth 2-2 draw of the day came at Brunton Park where relegation threatened Carlisle held Portsmouth. Kyle Dempsey gave the Cumbrians a second minute lead, before goals from Jed Wallace and Matt Tubbs gave Pompey a half time lead. But Charlie Wyke then popped up five minutes into stoppage time to earn Carlisle a valuable point, but are only two points from safety, whilst Portsmouth move up one place to 13th.
York City 1-0 Cheltenham Town
Bottom club Cheltenham suffered another defeat, this time at the hands of fellow strugglers York. Defender Dave Winfield gave the Minstermen a vital three points with his second half strike to make it back to back wins, whilst the Robins now find themselves three points from safety following a run of seven games without victory.
Monday 6th April
Burton Albion 1-0 Wycombe Wanderers
Burton extend their lead at the top of League Two following a win over 3rd placed Wycombe. Adam McGurk got the games only goal, and it was enough for the Brewers who are now eleven points ahead of the play-off chasers. Wycombe suffered their second successive defeat, and are just four points clear of the play-off places in 3rd.
Mansfield Town 0-1 Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury remain just one point behind the Brewers, but pull away from Wycombe as they won on the road at Mansfield. Tyrone Barnett netted five minutes into the second half to extend the Shrews winning run to five games as they look to achieve automatic promotion, and are now ten points clear of the play-off positions. Mansfield slip to 20th, six points from safety, and are without a win in eight games.
Bury 1-2 Morcambe
Bury couldn’t capitalise on Wycombe’s defeat as they suffered their first defeat in nine at home against a Morecambe side who have faired better on the road this season. Tom Eaves gave the Shakers a first half lead, but late goals from Padraig Amond and Jamie Devett gave the Shrimps a decent three points, moving them up to 12th. Bury stay 4th, but remain four points behind Wycombe.
Hartlepool United 0-1 Southend United
Hartlepool United’s five game unbeaten run came to an end as they lost to play-off hopefuls Southend. Will Atkinson’s second goal in as many games early in the second half was enough to give the Shrimpers a vital three points, and moves them to within a point of Bury. Hartlepool will be disappointed by the result, but their recent run has shown signs of a significant improvement.
Cheltenham Town 0-1 Stevenage
Cheltenham remain bottom following another defeat, Gary Johnson’s third in succession since taking over. Worse still, the Robins have failed to score in those three games, and are three points from safety following a late Ben Kennedy penalty for Stevenage. The result moves Boro back into the playoffs, and are unbeaten in six on the road.
Exeter City 2-0 Newport County
Exeter continue their play-off push with another win, this time against Newport, who occupy a play-off place despite the defeat. David Wheeler netted his second goal in successive games to give the Grecians the lead, before Ryan Harley converted a late penalty to confirm the win. Exeter are unbeaten in eight as a result, and find themselves just one point off a play-off place. As for the Exiles, they drop to 7th following their first defeat in six.
Portsmouth 2-1 Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth slide out of the playoffs following defeat at Fratton Park. Jed Wallace gave Pompey an early second half lead before Ryan Taylor doubled the lead for the hosts. Olly Lee pulled one back with just over ten minutes to go, but it wasn’t enough for the Pilgrims who drop out of the playoffs. Pompey drop to 14th despite the win.
Tranmere Rovers 0-1 Luton Town
Luton Town recorded their first victory in eight as they look to push their promotion bid back on track. Cameron McGeehan gave the Hatters a late lead, before Mark Cullen then missed a penalty. Luton held on to claim a vital win, now just one point off a play-off place. As for Tranmere, they’ve failed to win in four and occupy the final relegation spot.
Northampton Town 0-1 Cambridge United
Northampton hit a play-off setback as they lost at home to Cambridge, with the U’s winning their first game in eight. A Harrison Dunk goal within the opening minute was enough to give the U’s the win, whilst the Cobblers stay 11th, but are now five points off a play-off place. Cambridge move up to 18th, eight points clear of danger.
Dagenham and Redbridge 4-0 A.F.C Wimbledon
A Jamie Cureton hattrick gave Dagenham and Redbridge a resounding victory over mid-table opponents in Wimbledon. His first came after just two minutes, before defender Scott Doe doubled the Daggers lead in the second half. Cureton then scored twice within three minutes to complete a comfortable victory, taking his tally to 17 for the season. The result puts back to back defeats behind them, and move to 15th, whilst Wimbledon, who haven’t won in ten games on the road, drop to 13th.
Oxford United 0-0 York City
Oxford United and York City played out a goalless draw at the Kassam Stadium. It was the leagues first goalless draw since late March, but a point was a good one for both sides. Oxford drop to 16th, with the Minstermen moving up to 19th, six points clear of the drop, with both sides unbeaten in three.
Accrington Stanley 3-1 Carlisle United
The final game of the bank holiday weekend came at the Crown Ground where Accrington recorded their first win in nine against strugglers Carlisle. Piero Mingoia gave the hosts a first half lead, before Josh Windass doubled Stanley’s lead in the second half. Defender Seamus Conneely made it three three minutes after Windass, before Kyle Dempsey scored a last minute consolation. Accrington stay 17th, whilst Carlisle, without a win in four, are three points from safety in 21st.
