Another enthralling Saturday of football comes to an end in League Two, and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s Burton Albion side have been promoted to the Sky Bet League One following a win away to Morcambe. Shrewsbury too look destined for promotion as they won at home, and the race for the playoffs heats up with some of Saturday results. The bottom three clubs all lost, leaving those sides in the relegation battle with just two games remaining. Here is your League Two Review.
Burton Albion Clinch Promotion
Morecambe 1-2 Burton Albion
Burton Albion have won promotion to League One, for the first time in their history, following an away win at Morcambe. Burton’s Damien McCrory saw his first half penalty saved, but Lukas Akins gave the Brewers a first half lead. Akins then converted a second half penalty to double the Brewers advantage. The Shrimps did pull a goal back through defender Mark Hughes, but it wasn’t enough, as Morcambe suffered their second successive defeat. The win for Burton extended their unbeaten run to ten games, and are guaranteed to finish in the top two.
Shrewsbury Town 1-0 York City
Shrewsbury too look set for promotion as they won at home to York. Defender Mark Ellis headed the Shrews an early lead, which proved to be enough. Shrewsbury have suffered just one defeat from eight games, and the club look certain for promotion with a seven point advantage over Bury, who still have to play three games. The defeat for York ends a run of six games without a loss, but the Minstermen are safe from relegation in 19th place.
A.F.C Wimbledon 0-0 Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe suffered a setback in their automatic promotion bid as they were held on the road to Wimbledon. This was the Dons third successive draw, with back to back goalless draws coming at Kingsmeadow, where they are now unbeaten in nine games. Wycombe are now just two points clear of Bury who have a game in hand on Tuesday night. Worse still for the Chairboys, they’ll be without the suspended Aaron Pierre following his late red card in this game. Wycombe remain 3rd, and the Dons remain 13th.
Portsmouth 0-1 Bury
Bury have moved to within two points of an automatic promotion place, and have a game in hand, following a win on the road against Portsmouth. Ryan Lowe netted on the stroke of half time, with his tenth goal of the season, which turned out to be enough to give the Shakers their eleventh win in thirteen games. As for Pompey, they’ve suffered three successive defeats, and slip to 16th.
Exeter City 0-1 Southend United
Southend keep the pressure on Bury as they recorded their fifth straight victory, and kept another clean sheet too. Midfielder Michael Timlin popped up in the final minute to give the Shrimpers another vital three points, moving them to within just three points off an automatic promotion place. As for Exeter, three successive defeats leaves them four points off the playoffs with just two games remaining.
Accrington Stanley 2-2 Stevenage
Stevenage remain in the playoffs as they came from behind twice against ten man Accrington Stanley. The game was just two minutes old when Stanley saw Nicky Hunt receive a straight red card, but the hosts took the lead soon after thanks to Sean Maguire. Simon Walton leveled four minutes later, converting the penalty after Lloyd Jones handled in the box, but Maguire doubled his tally just before the break to regain the hosts lead. But in added time, Chris Beardsley scored his fourth of the season to earn the Boro a point. Stevenage, unbeaten in six, stay 6th, whilst Stanley, unbeaten in five, stay 17th.
Carlisle United 2-0 Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth made the longest trip in the football league, but couldn’t avoid defeat at Carlisle. Gary Dicker opened the scoring with a 25 yard volley, before Billy Paynter doubled the Cumbrians lead early in the second half. Carlisle move up to 20th following a three game unbeaten run, and are safe from relegation, whilst Plymouth remain in the playoffs, but are only there on goal different now, with two games remaining.
Luton Town 3-0 Hartlepool United
Luton have kept their play-off hopes alive and put Hartlepool under more pressure following this 3-0 result at Kenilworth Road. The Hatters had the lead after just five minutes, when Cameron McGeehan headed home. It was two soon after, as Jake Howells slotted home the penalty, before Scott Griffiths made it three late on. Luton are level on points with Plymouth, but are outside the playoffs on goal difference, whilst Hartlepool remain 22nd, but are just one point clear of the drop following their third straight defeat.
Newport County 2-3 Dagenham and Redbridge
A five goal thriller took place at Rodney Parade, with all the goals coming in the final twelve minutes. Ashley Hemmings headed the Daggers in front, before Christian Doidge doubled the lead shortly after. Alex Jakubiak then made it three with just two minutes left, before David Tutonda and Aaron O’Connor scored late for the Exiles. Dagenham held on, condemning Newport to their third successive defeat, but remain 9th, three points outside the playoffs. Dagenham move up one place to 14th.
Northampton Town 2-0 Cheltenham Town
Gary Johnson couldn’t avoid defeat at his former club as Northampton ran out winners, putting more pressure on Cheltenham. Second half goals from Ivan Toney, his tenth of the season, and top scorer Marc Richards ended a run of four games without a win for the Cobblers, and are four points off a play-off place in 10th. As for the Robins, they remain 23rd, one point from safety with just two games remaining.
Tranmere Rovers 0-3 Oxford United
Tranmere remain bottom of League Two following a heavy defeat at the hands of Oxford United. West Brom loanee Kemar Roofe opened the U’s scoring five minutes into the second half with a header, before Danny Rose doubled the lead shortly after. Roofe then netted his second goal with twenty minutes left, to extend the U’s unbeaten run to six games. As for Tranmere, they are two points from safety, but have failed to score in four games, and have failed to win in seven.
Cambridge United 3-1 Mansfield Town
Cambridge and Mansfield are both safe from relegation this season, but it was a good days for the U’s as they recorded their first win at the Abbey Stadium in three months. Sullay Kaikai thumped home a 40 yard freekick after just three minutes, before slotting home his second just before the break. Rakish Bingham pulled one back for the Stags, but Tom Elliot scored late on to confirm the win. Cambridge sit in 18th, with Mansfield in 21st.
