Five games left to play, and Saturdays action didn’t disappoint. The top three sides all recorded vital wins, whilst a few moves in the playoffs once again took place. The bottom two clubs both lost, and with games running out, sides from both ends of the table need points. Here is your League Two Review.
League Two Review April 11
Luton Town 0-1 Burton Albion
Burton Albion remain top following their second successive 1-0 win, and extend their unbeaten run to eight games. Palmer netted the winner with just ten minutes remaining to keep the Brewers top. The Hatters have now lost eight of their last ten games, and find themselves three points off the playoffs. As for Burton, they have an eleven point lead ahead of the sides in the playoffs, and look likely to achieve promotion this season.
Shrewsbury Town 4-0 Exeter City
Shrewsbury were the days big winners, scoring four goals against play-off hopefuls Exeter. Two goals from midfielder Akpa-Akpro either side of a James Collins strike gave the Shrews a comfortable lead. Tyrone Barnett then struck late on to make it six consecutive wins, keeping them one point behind Burton. This was the Grecians first defeat in nine, but remain just three points off the playoffs.
Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 Cheltenham Town
Bottom club Cheltenham gave Wycombe a tough test at Adams Park, but ended up losing thanks to Alfie Mawson’s winner. Defender Aaron Pierre gave the Chairboys the lead on the brink of half time, but Cheltenham leveled through Durrell Berry, before Mawson’s immediate response from a Sam Saunders corner. Wycombe are four points ahead of Bury, whilst the Robins run of five straight defeats and winless in nine games keeps them bottom, three points from safety.
Newport County 0-2 Bury
Newport County suffered a setback in their play-off ambitions as they suffered their first home defeat in four, this time against 4th placed Bury. Ryan Lowe gave the visitors a first half lead, before Daniel Nardiello doubled the Shakers advantage near the end. The win for Bury, their ninth in eleven games, keeps them within touching distance of Wycombe, but face Shrewsbury on Tuesday night. Newport drop back out of the playoffs, but are just two points off with four games remaining.
Southend United 1-0 Tranmere Rovers
Southend continue their good form and remain in the playoffs, but heap more misery on Tranmere, who’ve failed to win in five. Barry Corr got the games only goal for the Shrimpers in the first half with his ninth goal in eleven games, extending Southend’s unbeaten run to five. As for Tranmere, they’ve failed to win in five, having won just once in their last ten games, but are just one point from safety in 23rd.
Stevenage 2-1 Northampton Town
Stevenage remain in the playoffs following a win over play-off hopefuls Northampton. Defender Zander Diamond gave the Cobblers a first half lead, but second half goals from a Chris Whelpdale header and Simon Walton gave the Boro the win, extending their unbeaten run to four games as they look to stay in the playoffs. As for Northampton, four defeats in six has seen them slip to seven points off a play-off place in 11th.
Plymouth Argyle 2-1 Mansfield Town
Plymouth moved back into the playoffs following a win over strugglers Mansfield. A looping Anthony O’Connor header gave the hosts an early lead before defender Carl McHugh netted his second goal in as many home games to double the Pilgrims lead. Vadaine Oliver pulled one back but it wasn’t enough. The Stags have suffered five successive defeats, and find themselves six points off the drop in 21st, whilst Plymouth moved back into the playoffs in 7th.
Morcambe 3-1 Portsmouth
Morcambe won their first game at the Globe Arena in six attempts with a win against Portsmouth. Two goals from Alex Kenyon gave the Shrimps a two goal advantage, before 18 year old Connor Chaplin netted his first senior goal for Pompey with under ten minutes remaining. Padraig Amond then scored late on to give the Shrimps their first home win in nearly two months, keeping them 12th, whilst Pompey’s winless run on the road extends to five games, but remain in 14th.
A.F.C Wimbledon 0-0 Oxford United
The days only goalless draw came at Kingsmeadow where Wimbledon hosted Oxford. The Dons are now without a win in four games, but are unbeaten in eight games at home. They remain in 13th, whilst the U’s remain 16th following a four game unbeaten run.
Carlisle United 1-0 Dagenham and Redbridge
Carlisle recorded a vital win, their first in five, as they look to avoid the drop. Jason Kennedy scored early in the second half to give the Cumbrians a vital three points, moving them to six points clear of the relegation zone. The result for Daggers will be a disappointment, especially following their 4-0 win last time out, but remain in 15th.
Cambridge United 2-2 Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley have now scored five goals in their last two games, but could only record a draw at the Abbey Stadium against Cambridge. Tom Elliott gave the U’s an early lead, before Piero Mingoia then netted his second goal in as many games to level for Stanley. Ryan Bird then thought he had won the game when his seventh goal of the season came with just ten minutes remaining, but a last minute goal from Seamus Conneely earned Stanley a point. The U’s have failed to win at home in nine attempts, but remain 18th, nine points clear of the drop. As for Stanley, they are 17th, and should be safe.
York City 1-0 Hartlepool United
Hartlepool have now suffered back to back defeats, but are still in the safety postion following a defeat on the road at York. York had to play the second half with ten men, as Dave Winfield was sent off at the end of the first half. But the man deficit didn’t hinder the Minstermen, as Luke Summerfield’s deflected shot gave them another victory, extending their unbeaten run to five games, and six points clear of relegation in 19th. Seven times this season, York have had a player dismissed, but they’ve now gone on to win three of those games. As for the Pools, back to back defeats has put their feet back firmly on the ground, as they sit just one point clear of the drop in 22nd.
Yeovil Town have officially been relegated from League One.
