The penultimate weekend of the season comes to an end and Shrewsbury Town will join Burton Albion in League One next season. The final automatic promotion place is between three sides now, but the two sides outside the playoffs have a slim chance of moving into the top seven due to goal difference. One game left and we know who has been relegated; Hartlepool avoided the drop, sending Cheltenham and Tranmere down to the Conference. Here is your League Two Review:
League Two Review April 25th; Shrewsbury Town Promoted
Burton Albion 3-1 Northampton Town
Burton remain top of League Two following a convincing win at home to Northampton, extending their unbeaten run to eleven games. Two goals from midfielder Lucas Akins, either side of full back Phil Edwards gave the Brewers a comfortable 3-0 advantage by the break. Lawson D’Ath pulled one back for the Cobblers in the second half, but Chris Wilder’s side cannot reach the playoffs and are in 10th.
Cheltenham Town 0-1 Shrewsbury Town
CHELTENHAM ARE RELEGATED AND SHREWSBURY ARE PROMOTED
Whaddon Road experienced both sets of emotions as Shrewsbury won promotion, condemning Cheltenham Town to relegation. Midfielder Jean-Louis Akpa-akpro scored the Shrews only goal midway through the first half via a deflected effort, giving the Shrews an immediate return to League One. The Robins 16 year stay in the football league comes to an end, and will be playing in England’s fifth tier next season.
Wycombe Wanderers 0-1 Morecambe
Wycombe have dropped out of the automatic promotion places for the first time since September as they suffered a defeat at Adams Park. Substitute Paul Mullin scored with just four minutes remaining to give the Shrimps the win, their first in three games. The Chairboys find themselves three points behind Southend in 3rd with just one game left.
Southend United 1-0 Luton Town
Southend move into the automatic promotion places thanks to a late Michael Timlin strike. The hosts were a man down with 25 minutes remaining, as Ben Coker fouled Shaun Whalley but soon after, Timlin’s 25 yard effort was spilled into his own net by Hatters keeper Elliot Justham. Southend have now won seven in succession, keeping eight consecutive clean sheets, with keeper Daniel Bentley extending his record of clean sheets to 12 games at Roots Hall. Southend are two points clear of Bury, whilst Luton now find themselves three points behind Plymouth who occupy the final play-off place, but have an inferior goal difference to the Pilgrims.
Bury 2-0 A.F.C Wimbledon
Bury kept their chances of automatic promotion alive with a comfortable win at Gigg Lane. Tom Soares gave the Shakers a first half lead, heading in from a corner, before Ryan Lowe netted his ninth of the season thirteen minutes from time. Bury are two points behind Southend, who occupy the final automatic promotion place.
Stevenage 1-0 Carlisle United
Stevenage are guaranteed a play-off finish as they won at home against Carlisle. Dean Parrett scored the games only goal two minutes into the second half, leaving the Boro in 6th. Stevenage are unbeaten in seven games, great form when entering the playoffs.
Plymouth Argyle 3-2 Tranmere Rovers
TRANMERE ARE RELEGATED
Tranmere gave play-off contenders Plymouth a good effort at Home Park, but ended up losing the game, in doing so, ending their 94 year stay in the football league. Pilgrims were awarded a seventh minute penalty after Max Power fouled in the box, and top scorer Reuben Reid slotted it home, taking his tally to 18 for the season. Power then made amends as he equalised, but a screamer from full back Tarique Holmes-Dennis regained the hosts lead shortly after. Lewis Alessandra scored with under ten minutes remaining to give Plymouth some breathing space, before Kayode Odejayi pulled a late consolation. It wasn’t enough for Rovers, who were relegated for the second successive season due to other results. As for Plymouth, they should secure the final play-off spot, as they are three points above Luton and Newport, but with a far superior goal difference.
York City 0-2 Newport County
Newport kept alive their slim chance of reaching the playoffs as they beat York. David Tutonda scored his second goal in as many games early in the second half to give the Exiles the lead, before Minstermen man Jake Hyde saw his penalty saved, missing the opportunity to level. Lee Minshull headed home a Mark Byrne free kick with fifteen minutes remaining to give Newport the win. York stay 19th, whilst Newport need an 18 goal swing and results to go their way if they’re to finish in the top seven.
Hartlepool United 2-1 Exeter City
Exeter suffered their fourth consecutive defeat, in doing so keeping Hartlepool safe from relegation. The Pools, who were without a win in five, took the lead through striker Scott Fenwick, but Graham Cummings headed home Liam Sercombe’s corner to level immediately. Jordan Hugill then scored just before the break to regain the Pools lead, which they held on to. Exeter stay 11th, whilst Hartlepool, who were ten points from safety in January, had pulled off a great escape under former Tranmere boss Ronnie Moore.
Dagenham and Redbridge 4-0 Accrington Stanley
The Daggers young guns put on a great show as Wayne Burnett’s side ran out comfortable winners at Victoria Road. Full back Matt Partridge headed in his first senior goal after 20 minutes, before talisman striker Jamie Cureton doubled the Daggers lead early in the second half. Frankie Raymond, who set up the first two goals, then scored his first senior goal with a 20 yard free kick, before Jodi Jones scored late on, making it a hattrick of first senior goals. The Daggers, who were in the bottom two in January, are now 19 points above the relegated sides. As for Stanley, they’ve failed to win in six games, ending the season in poor form.
Oxford United 2-0 Cambridge United
Oxford are ending the season in great form, extending their unbeaten run to seven games with a win against Cambridge. West Brom loanee Kemar Roofe scored his fifth goal in six games to give Oxford the lead, before top scorer Danny Hylton doubled the lead just before the break with his 14th of the season, heading in Danny Rose’s cross.
Mansfield Town 1-2 Portsmouth
Manfield are ending the season in poor form after suffering their eighth defeat in ten games. They were reduced to ten men after just two minutes, when Richie Sutton was sent off after fouling Jed Wallace in the box. Matt Tubbs stepped up to convert the penalty, taking his tally to 20 goals for the season. Wallace then made it two in the second half, before Jack Thomas pulled one back for the Stags. For Pompey, it was their first win in four, and their first on the road in seven.
