Tuesday and Wednesday night was full of entertainment in League Two, and included a few surprising results too. All four sides in the playoffs picked up vital points, whilst a couple of the sides at the bottom found wins as they look to avoid the drop. Here is your League Two Review:
Tuesday 14th April
Bury 1-0 Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury missed the opportunity to move above Burton Albion into top spot in League Two as they lost on the road to current play-off leaders Bury. Right back Joe Riley got the Shakers winning goal in the second half to keep Bury top in the playoffs, four points behind Wycombe. As for the Shrews, this was their first defeat following six successive victories, but remain 2nd, seven points ahead of Bury.
Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 Exeter City
Wycombe needed a late penalty to give them all three points at Adams Park. Sam Saunders gave the Chairboys an early lead, but Liam Sercombe leveled with just fifteen minutes remaining. Wycombe were then awarded a penalty eleven minutes into stoppage time, and Paul Hayes stepped up to convert. Wycombe remain in third, four points ahead of Bury, and just three behind Shrewsbury as a result, whilst the Grecians play-off hopes have taken a set back following back to back defeats, but stay 10th, four points behind rivals Plymouth.
Southend United 2-0 Newport County
Southend United keep the pressure on Bury, whilst looking to consolidate a play-off finish, by beating fellow play-off hopefuls Newport County. Defender Cian Bolger gave the Shrimpers a first half lead, before Stephen McLaughlin doubled the hosts advantage early into the second half. Southend keeper Daniel Bentley has now beaten a Shrimpers record, by keeping eleven consecutive clean sheets at Roots Hall. Southend stay 5th, five points behind Wycombe, whilst the Exiles run of four games without a win leaves them three points outside the playoffs in 9th.
Stevenage 1-0 Portsmouth
Stevenage maintain their play-off push with a home win against Portsmouth. Tom Pett gave the hosts an early lead which the Boro held on to, extending their unbeaten run to five games. Meanwhile for Pompey, caretaker boss Gary Waddock couldn’t stop the south coast club from avoiding their sixth away game without a win, but they remain in 14th, with Stevenage 6th, six points ahead of 8th place.
Plymouth Argyle 1-1 A.F.C Wimbledon
Plymouth remain in the playoffs despite a home draw against Wimbledon. Anthony O’Connor gave the Pilgrims a second half lead, but Adebayo Azeez leveled shortly after for the visitors. Plymouth stay 7th, three points clear of the chasing pack, whilst Wimbledon stay 13th, having not won on the road in eleven attempts.
Dagenham and Redbridge 0-0 Luton Town
Luton find themselves just three points off the playoffs as they held Dagenham to a goalless draw. Hatters boss John Still came up against his former employers, with the result leaving Luton in 8th. The Daggers stay 15th following the result.
Oxford United 1-1 Northampton Town
Another manager up against a former employer took place at the Kassam Stadium where Chris Wilder’s Northampton side visited Oxford United. It was the Cobblers that took the lead through an Ivan Toney freekick just before the break, but Alex MacDonald levels for the U’s deep into stoppage time to earn a point. Both sides stay where they were, with Oxford in 16th, and Northampton 11th, seven points off the playoffs.
York City 2-1 Morcambe
Morcambe suffered their first away defeat in seven as they lost to a resurgent York side. Paul Mullin gave the visitors an early lead, before defender Stephane Zubar leveled for the Minstermen. Midfielder Russell Penn then scored early in the second half to lift York to safety following a six game unbeaten run. This was the Shrimps first defeat in six, but they stay in 12th.
Hartlepool United 1-1 Accrington Stanley
Accrington are safe following an away draw with strugglers Hartlepool. Josh Windass gave Stanley a first half lead, but experienced striker Marlon Harewood equalised for the hosts with ten minutes remaining. The result keeps the Pools safe by one point, but have failed to win in three games.
Cheltenham Town 3-1 Cambridge United
Cheltenham recorded a vital win as they look to avoid the drop, adding more pressure on their opponents Cambridge. Shaun Harrad gave the Robins a second minute lead, but Ryan Bird had the U’s level by the break with his second goal in as many games. But second half goals from Danny Haynes and Matthew Sparrow gave Cheltenham their first win in ten games. Despite the win, the Robins remain in the drop zone, but are now just one point from safety. As for Cambridge, they’ve had just two wins from ten games but find themselves eight points ahead of the relegation pack I’m 19th.
Mansfield Town 1-0 Tranmere Rovers
The final game on Tuesday night was a huge relegation six pointer as Mansfield hosted Tranmere. Reggie Lamb’s strike just before the break was enough to give the Stags their first win in six games following five successive defeats, but are eight points clear of the drop. The defeat for Tranmere, their fourth in six games, leaves them bottom of the football league, two points from safety.
Wednesday 15th April
Burton Albion 1-1 Carlisle United
Carlisle came close to taking all three points against league leaders Burton, but a late equaliser earned the Brewers a point. Defender Danny Grainger gave Carlisle an early lead, but Denny Johnstone’s late strike leveled it at the death. Burton remain top, two points above Shrewsbury, and nine points clear of Bury, whilst the point leaves the Cumbrians in 21st, but are now six points clear of the drop.
