Saturday saw the final day of the League Two season, with the final automatic promotion place still up for grabs. Nine months and 46 games later after the season began, we know that Burton Albion, Shrewsbury Town and Bury have been promoted to League One, with Wycombe Wanderers, Southend United, Stevenage and Plymouth Argyle finishing in the playoffs. We already knew that Cheltenham Town and Tranmere Rovers had been relegated, and will play in the Conference next season. Here is your League Two Review:
19/Cambridge United 2-3 Burton Albion/1
BURTON WIN LEAGUE TWO
Burton Albion have won the league as they won at the Abbey Stadium against Cambridge United. Stuart Beavon gave the Brewers an early lead with his sixth goal of the season, but Tom Elliott leveled for the U’s after 30 minutes with his eighth league goal of 2014/15. The Brewers’ title challenge looked lost when with just twenty minutes remaining, Cambridge were awarded a penalty. U’s ‘keeper Jon McLaughlin was sent off as a result, and Robbie Simpson stepped up and scored his eighth of the campaign. But, with just over ten minutes remaining, the Brewers had a resurgent push, with Phil Edwards bringing the game level again with his sixth league goal, before substitute Kevin Stewart scored with just three minutes remaining. Burton have are League Two champions as a result, and end the season on a twelve game unbeaten run. As for Cambridge, the U’s have had a relatively successful return to the football league, finishing ten points clear of the bottom two in 19th.
2/Shrewsbury Town 0-2 Plymouth Argyle/7
PLYMOUTH FINISH IN THE PLAY-OFFS
Plymouth confirmed their play-off position with a win away against second-placed Shrewsbury. Bobby Reid gave the Pilgrims an early lead, before Kevin Mellor doubled the visitors lead on the brink of half time. As for Shrewsbury, they finish the season in 2nd, but will be disappointed at losing just their second game at home all season. Despite that, the Shrews make an immediate return to League One, with the leagues strongest defence. James Collins netted 15 goals for the Shrews this season, with Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro adding a further nine. As for Plymouth, they prepare for their fixtures in the play-offs as they finished 7th, three points clear of Luton. Their squad boasts eighteen-goal striker Reuben Reid, with Lewis Alessandra adding a further eleven.
24/Tranmere Rovers 0-1 Bury/3
BURY ARE PROMOTED
Already-relegated Tranmere gave automatic promotion hopefuls Bury a hard-fought game at Prenton Park, but the Shakers left with all three points. Tom Soares’ second-half strike was enough to give Bury the victory, lifting them into 3rd due to other results, and returning to League One after two seasons in League Two. The win was the Shakers’ eighth successive victory on the road, and they have achieved promotion with the help of Danny Rose, Daniel Nardiello, Ryan Lowe and Danny Mayor, who have all scored over eight league goals each. Tranmere remain bottom following a six-game losing run, and end their 94-year stay in the Football League manager-less and in a state of complete disarray.
12/Northampton Town 2-3 Wycombe Wanderers/4
WYCOMBE FINISH IN THE PLAY-OFFS
Wycombe have to settle for a play-off finish despite a late winner at Sixfields. Aaron Holloway and Nico Yennaris gave the Chairboys a half-time lead, but a Sam Wood own goal with twenty minutes left reduced the deficit. Then, with just four minutes remaining, Aaron Cresswell completed the comeback for the Cobblers, but in stoppage time, Brentford loanee Alfie Mawson netted his sixth league goal of an impressive season to give the Chairboys the win. However, due to other results, Wycombe must now focus on their play-off encounter against Plymouth, whilst just two wins in ten for Northampton has seen them drop from play-off contenders to a 12th place finish, ten points behind Plymouth. The Cobblers have top scorer Marc Richards who has netted 17 goals this season, with Ivan Toney, James Gray and Lawson D’Ath adding a further 22 between them.
11/Morecambe 3-1 Southend United/5
SOUTHEND FINISH IN THE PLAY-OFFS
Southend began the day in the final automatic promotion place, but suffered their first defeat in nine games, dropping them to fifth. Jack Redshaw gave the hosts an early lead with his eleventh league goal, but Jack Payne soon leveled for the Shrimpers. But second half goals from Aaron Wildig and Jamie Devitt gave the hosts the win. Southend had previously gone eight games unbeaten, winning seven and keeping eight consecutive clean sheets, but must now prepare for their play-off campaign against Stevenage, with Barry Corr and Joe Pigott looking to add to their 23 league goals. Morecambe finish the season in 11th, with Kevin Ellison and Jack Redshaw netting 22 goals between them.
8/Luton Town 2-0 Stevenage/6
STEVENAGE FINISH IN THE PLAY-OFFS
Stevenage suffered their first defeat in eight games, but were already guaranteed a play-off finish. Top scorer Mark Cullen netted his 13th league goal after just five minutes, before right-back Michael Harriman doubled the Hatters lead on the brink of half-time. Luton will look back on this season with mixed views; having been in the top seven since October, finishing just three points outside a play-off place could be seen either as a disappointment, or a good return to league football. Stevenage prepare to face Southend in the play-offs, with the Boro having won their last three home games.
9/Newport County 0-1 Oxford United/13
Oxford United end the season on an eight game unbeaten run following a victory at Rodney Parade against Newport County. Jimmy Dack took charge of the Exiles for the final time, as former England captain Terry Butcher prepares to take over for next season. West Brom loanee Kemar Roofe netted his sixth goal in seven appearances for the U’s with a screamer after half an hour. The Exiles were reduced to ten men on the stroke of half-time, when Mike Flynn’s 100th Newport appearance was marred by his sending off for a collision with Oxford midfielder Michael Collins. That was how the game finished, with Newport finishing the season in 9th, helped by eleven goals from Aaron O’Connor, whilst Oxford finish 13th, assisted by 14-goal striker Danny Hylton.
10/Exeter City 2-1 Dagenham and Redbridge/14
Exeter end the season with a win having previously lost four successive games. Second half goals from Jimmy Keohane and Tom Nichols’ 14th of the season gave the Grecians the advantage, but talismanic striker Jamie Cureton scored late on for the Daggers with his 19th league goal. Exeter end the season in 10th, whilst Dagenham, who were in the bottom two in January, finish 14th.
15/A.F.C Wimbledon 1-1 Cheltenham Town/23
These two sides end the season on a poor run of form, with Cheltenham having been relegated last weekend. Durrell Berry gave the Robins the lead, before left back Jack Smith leveled for the Dons just before the break. Wimbledon end the season in 15th following a winless run of eight games, but have been helped this campaign by thirteen goals from Adebayo Akinfenwa. As for Cheltenham, they will play in the Conference next season, and finish this campaign with an eleven game winless run on the road.
16/Portsmouth 1-1 York City/18
Portsmouth and York City end their seasons with a draw at Fratton Park. Pompey and League Two top scorer Matt Tubbs scored his 21st of the season with just seven minutes remaining, but two minutes later Brad Halliday leveled for the Minstermen. Pompey end the season in 16th, helped by goals from Tubbs, and a further 23 between Jed Wallace and Ryan Taylor, whilst York finish their campaign in 18th.
17/Accrington Stanley 2-1 Mansfield Town/21
Accrington end the season with a win, condemning Mansfield to their fifth successive defeat on the road. Jamie McGuire gave the Stags a first half lead, but Seamus Conneely leveled just after the restart. Terry Gornell then scored his sixth goal of the season with twenty minutes remaining to give Stanley the win. Accrington finish the season in 17th, whilst Mansfield end their campaign in 21st, following just two wins in their last ten.
20/Carlisle United 3-3 Hartlepool United/22
Local rivals Carlisle and Hartlepool ended the season with a six game thriller at Brunton Park. Three goals in eight minutes, first, Kyle Dempsey’s tenth of the season, Steven Rigg and Jason Kennedy, gave Carlisle a comfortable half time lead, but Hartlepool came back in the second half. Jordan Hugill scored either side of Michael Duckworth, with his second coming just five minutes from time to complete the comeback. Both sides avoided relegation, with Carlisle in 20th and Hartlepool in 22nd.
