League Two Review: 29 August

As the opening month comes to a close, The Sports Lowdown brings you a full review of the fifth set of fixtures in League Two. There are a few sides still unbeaten, whilst others are still in search for their first win of the season. Here is your League Two Review:

 

 

Leyton Orient 2-0 Bristol Rovers 

Leyton Orient are the only side in the Football League that have a 100% record after beating Bristol Rovers at Brisbane Road. The O’s took the lead midway through the first half as Lloyd James successfully converted his penalty, before former Arsenal youngster Jay Simpson added a second in first half stoppage time. Five successive wins for Ian Hendon’s side, whilst Rovers suffer their first defeat after three successive league wins.

 

Plymouth Argyle 1-0 Newport County 

Plymouth moved up to second in League Two after a win against Terry Butcher’s Newport. The games only goal came minutes before the break as Graham Carey lashed home to give the Pilgrims the lead. Butcher’s side couldn’t find a way back into the game despite Zak Ansah hitting the bar late on, but the Exiles now sit bottom of League Two.

 

Crawley Town 0-0 Wycombe Wanderers 

Wycombe have now kept four clean sheets from their opening five games after a goalless draw at the Broadfield Stadium. Both side’s were thankful for their goalkeeper in this game, with Crawley number one Freddie Woodman making a number of saves, before Matt Ingram denied Roarie Deacon late on. The Chairboys remain unbeaten, whilst the Red Devil’s pick up another point after last weekend’s win.

 

Luton Town 1-2 Portsmouth 

Luton conceded a late goal for the third home game running as they lost at Kenilworth Road against high flying Portsmouth. The visitors took an early lead when Luke Wilkinson failed to clear and the ball fell kindly to Gareth Evans, who tucked home, but Hatters striker Craig Mackail-Smith converted a penalty moments later to restore the tie. But deep into stoppage time, a root one ball from the Pompey goalkeeper fell to Alex Kenyon, and despite his strike being saved, Matt Tubbs popped up to slot home the winner. Another impressive performance from Paul Cook’s side, whilst Luton are still in search of their first win of the season.

 

Oxford United 2-0 Yeovil Town 

Oxford make up the sides in League Two that remain unbeaten after a comfortable win at the Kassam Stadium against Yeovil Town. The U’s took the lead after fifteen minutes when Danny Hylton headed the hosts into the lead, and last season’s top scorer assisted Callum O’Dowda with fifteen minutes remaining to confirm the win. Yeovil have lost four of their opening five games in League Two, form that Paul Sturrock won’t be happy with, but the U’s sit 5th after another impressive performance.

 

Hartlepool United 2-3 Carlisle United 

Hartlepool suffered an early season setback as Carlisle won their first game of the season in a five goal thriller at Victoria Park. The Pools took the lead within five minutes when Scott Harrison struck home, before Rakish Bingham missed the opportunity to double the lead as his strike hit the woodwork. But the Cumbrians had to wait until the second half for an equaliser as Jabo Ibehre headed in, but Billy Paynter netted a penalty against his former club to regain the hosts lead. Five minutes later, Tom Miller equalised for the second time in the game, before Ibehre latched on to a cross-cum-shot with six minutes left, his seventh league goal of the season, to give the visitors their first win.

 

York City 1-2 Mansfield Town

Mansfield recorded an away day win thanks to two goals from returning striker Matt Green. But it was the Minstermen that took the lead as Rhys Thompson guided in a Luke Summerfield free kick after six minutes, but Green’s first goal in over two years levelled the contest seven minutes later. He then added the winner later in the first half with a tidy finish to give the Stags all three points, moving them up to 8th.

 

Barnet 0-0 Cambridge United 

Barnet and Cambridge played out a goalless draw at The Hive as both sides avoided successive defeats. Jordan Slew was denied early on for the visitors, before Curtis Weston and Bira Dembele both hit the bar. The Bees have only won once in their opening five games, whilst the U’s haven’t won since winning at Wimbledon two weeks ago.

 

Morecambe 4-1 Notts County 

Morecambe recorded an impressive win at the Globe Arena, adding more pressure on an underachieving Notts County side. The Shrimps took the lead after twenty minutes as Alan Goodall’s low strike found its was past Roy Carroll, but the visitors were level before the break as Genaro Snijders terrific volley sailed in. Another wonder strike, this time from Paul Mullin, restored the hosts lead, before late goals from Alex Kenyon and Jamie Devitt completed the win in impressive circumstances. The Magpies haven’t won since the opening week, whilst Morecambe have scored seven goals from their last two games.

 

Accrington Stanley 1-1 Northampton Town 

Accrington and Northampton shared the spoils as the sides met at the Crown Ground. Marc Richards, who scored twice when Northampton won 5-1 in this fixture last year, opened the scoring for the Cobblers five minutes before half time with a clever dink over the goalkeeper, but Josh Windass struck home a penalty ten minutes into the second half to level for Stanley.

 

AFC Wimbledon 2-1 Exeter City 

Wimbledon won their first game at Kingsmeadow of the season as they overcame Exeter City. The Dons took the lead midway through the first half as George Francombe headed home, but some clever footwork led to Ryan Harley finding an equaliser for the Grecians five minutes later. But with tome running out, Adebayo Azeez headed home Lyle Taylor’s cross to give Neal Ardley’s side all three points.

 

Dagenham and Redbridge 1-1 Stevenage 

Dagenham are still in search of their first win of the season after drawing at home with Stevenage. The Daggers took the lead midway through the first half as Ashley Hemmings’ 20 yard strike found the top corner, before talisman striker Jamie Cureton, who celebrated his 40th birthday on Friday, saw a couple of opportunities fail to find the net. But with fifteen minutes remaining, substitute Tom Hitchcock popped up with the equaliser for Teddy Sheringham’s side.