League Two Review: 15 August

The second round of fixtures in League Two took place over the weekend, and there were some early season shocks, as well as lots of late drama, as we look to determine who will be at either side of the table come the end of the campaign. Here is your League Two Review:

 

Friday 14 August 

Notts County 0-2 Mansfield Town 

An early shock as one of the early season relegation favourites, Mansfield Town, took all three points against one of the promotion favourites, Notts County, at Meadow Lane in a Nottinghamshire Derby. The Stags took the lead with ten minutes remaining of the first half after Chris Clements slotted home following an assist from Matt Green, before defender Ryan Tafazolli headed past Roy Carroll to double the visitors lead ten minutes before the end. A big three points for Adam Murray’s Mansfield who extend their unbeaten run at Meadow Lane to 18 years, whilst Ricardo Moniz will need to boost his side for Tuesday night’s trip to Oxford.

 

Saturday 15 August 

Barnet 0-2 Wycombe Wanderers 

Wycombe are now the early League Two leaders after consecutive wins with successive clean sheets as the Chairboys won at Barnet. The Conference champions, who’ve lost their opening two games by the same scoreline, held out until half time, as they did last weekend against Leyton Orient, but the visitors took an early second half lead as Garry Thompson found the top corner with a 20 yard strike. Thompson, who arrived at Adams Park from Notts County in the summer, then added a second late on, converting a penalty after he was fouled by Bees defender Andy Yiadon.

 

Dagenham and Redbridge 1-3 Leyton Orient 

Leyton Orient took the spoils in the East London Derby, winning comfortably on the road at Dagenham. New signing Paul McCallum headed the O’s into the lead, before Clevid Dikamona’s handball in the box resulted in a penalty. Lloyd James successfully converted the spot kick, giving the visitors a comfortable half time advantage. Early in the second half, Dean Cox curled home a 25 yard free kick, before talisman striker Jamie Cureton scored a consolation for the Daggers at the death. Back to back wins for Leyton Orient, but successive defeats for Dagenham.

 

Plymouth Argyle 1-2 Portsmouth 

Portsmouth made it back to back victories, condemning new Plymouth manager Derek Adams to his first Pilgrims defeat in his first home game in charge. Last season’s League Two top scorer Matt Tubbs scored the games first goal on the stroke of half time, converting from the spot after Hiram Boateng fouled Enda Stevens in the box. With five minutes remaining, Gary Roberts was fouled in the box by Gary Sawyer, and Roberts stepped up, scoring to give the visitors breathing space. But it was a nervy end for Portsmouth after Gregg Wylde netted his second goal in as many games, but the Pilgrims couldn’t find a late equaliser.

 

Northampton Town 3-0 Exeter City 

Northampton made it back to back victories after a comfortable win at home against Exeter City. The Cobblers took the lead through Jason Taylor’s terrific 25 yard volley, and doubled their first half lead when Ryan Cresswell headed home five minutes before the break. Last season’s top scorer Marc Richards slotted home a third late on to give the Cobblers the win on a disappointing afternoon for the Grecians.

 

York City 1-2 Hartlepool United 

Hartlepool United make up the sides with a 100% record after coming from behind to take all three points at Bootham Crescent. Reece Thompson capitalised on some poor Pools defending to give the Minstermen a second half lead, but Billy Paynter netted a curling effort to bring the scores level. Then with under ten minutes remaining, Michael Woods saw his effort deflect off the unfortunate James Berrett and into the net, giving Hartlepool all three points.

 

Carlisle United 4-4 Cambridge United 

There was an eight goal thriller at Brunton Park where Carlisle and Cambridge played out an incredible 4-4 draw. Cambridge, who were top after last weekend’s win over Newport, found themselves two goals up after just 20 minutes, courtesy of a Barry Corr header and George Taft strike. But the Cumbrians leveled it within two first half minutes as Jabo Ibhere, who netted in last week’s draw at Mansfield, pulled one back, just minutes before he scored with a powerful header to bring the game level. As an incredible half drew to a close, Corr then ran through the Carlisle back line before slotting home for a third. Charlie Wyke equalised for the second time in the game for the Cumbrians after a clever turn and strike five minutes into the second half, but returning U’s midfielder Luke Berry gave the visitors the lead for the third time on the afternoon with half an hour still to play, but Ibhere completed his hattrick with fifteen minutes remaining to share the spoils in an enthralling game of football. Ibhere and Corr have now scored four goals a piece after just two games in League Two, leaving Cambridge on four points and Carlisle on two.

 

Yeovil Town 0-1 Bristol Rovers 

Yeovil haven’t enjoyed the best return to League Two, having suffered successive West Country Derby defeats. Last weekend, the Glovers lost to a late Will Hoskins strike at Exeter, and this time around they welcomed newly promoted Bristol Rovers to Huish Park. But the hosts were reduced to ten men with 25 minutes remaining after Matt Dolan received a second yellow card, and an Ellis Harrison powered strike two minutes from time gave the Gas their first win back in League Two.

 

Crawley Town 1-2 AFC Wimbledon 

AFC Wimbledon got their first win of the season, and their first away win since Boxing Day, but the wait goes in for Crawley after losing their opening game at Broadfield Stadium. Although, like they did last weekend against Oxford United, the Red Devil’s took the lead, as Gwion Edwards poked home Luke Rooney’s cross just before the break. But the Dons, who lost last weekend at home to Plymouth, responded five minutes into the second half when Adebayo Akinfenwa headed in Andy Barcham’s cross, then with fifteen minutes remaining, Barcham got himself on the scoresheet, heading past Crawley keeper Freddie Woodman to give Neal Ardley’s side all three points.

 

Morecambe 1-0 Accrington Stanley 

Morecambe put last week’s defeat at Hartlepool behind them with their first ever win over Lancashire rivals Accrington. The game was just thirteen minutes in when Aaron Wildig curled home for the Shrimps, before Stanley squandered late chances, most notably as Alan Goodall’s long range effort striking the bar. Stanley’s wait for a win continues after drawing last weekend, but Morecambe have got their first points of the season.

 

Luton Town 2-2 Oxford United 

Oxford United scored two late goals to earn a point at Kenilworth Road. The Hatters took the lead just before the break as Luke Wilkinson headed home from a corner, and were two goals up midway through the second half when midfielder Cameron McGheehan’s low drive beat Sam Slocombe in the Oxford goal. But the U’s, who hammered Brentford in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday, pulled one back in the last ten minutes when Kemar Roofe’s deflected effort went in, before substitute Patrick Hoban poked home the equaliser deep into stoppage time.

 

Newport County 2-2 Stevenage 

These two sides recorded their first point of the season, sharing the spoils at Rodney Parade. Dipo Akinyemi gave Teddy Sheringham’s Stevenage the lead five minutes before the break, but two second half goals from Aaron Collins and Scott Boden gave the Exiles the lead with ten minutes remaining. But deep into stoppage time, defender Mark Hughes headed home the equaliser to give Sheringham and Terry Butcher their first League Two point of the season.