League Two Review: 12 September

Another weekend of League Two action and Leyton Orient remain top after earning a point at Cambridge, whilst Plymouth and Portsmouth are now the only sides that remain unbeaten. At the other end, Newport County are still in search for their first win, whilst Luton conceded another late goal as they left Notts County without a point. Here is your League Two Review:

 

Cambridge United 1-1 Leyton Orient 

Leyton Orient remain top of League Two despite being held to a draw at Cambridge. But it was the league leaders that began the brighter, with Jay Simpson hitting the post after rounding the U’s keeper Chris Dunn, but half time substitute Jacob Blyth rounded off a good move from Liam Hughes to give the hosts the lead early in the second half. But with just over fifteen minutes remaining, Simpson struck his fifth goal of the season after firing in Mathieu Baudry’s lofted pass to earn the O’s a point.

 

Wycombe Wanderers 1-2 Plymouth Argyle 

In a repeat of last season’s play-off semi-final, it was Plymouth that came out on top as the sides met at Adams Park. Reuben Reid tapped in just four minutes into the game to give the visitors the lead, but former Pilgrim Jason Banton blasted home after Aaron Pierre’s knock-back just eight minutes later. Midway through the first half, Jake Jervis’s fourth goal of the season proved to be the decider, but the ball ricocheted off him and into the net, earning Plymouth all three points and ending the Chairboys unbeaten start to the season.

 

Portsmouth 3-1 Barnet 

Like Plymouth, Portsmouth are the only other unbeaten side in League Two after picking up all three points against Barnet. But it was the Conference champions that took a first half lead as Andy Yiadon opened the scoring, but Conor Chaplin soon leveled for the south coast club. Former Burton Albion striker Adam McGurk netted his second Pompey goal early in the second half after racing onto a long before striking home, before goalkeeper Jamie Stephens was dismissed for the visitors for a second bookable offence with 25 minutes still remaining. The Bees were unable to get themselves back into the game, and Chaplin added a third late on to give Pompey all three points.

 

Newport County 1-2 Morecambe 

Newport remain bottom and winless in League Two after yet another defeat, this time at the hands of Morecambe. Alan Goodall gave the Shrimps the lead ten minutes before half time as he headed home from a corner, but the Exiles leveled midway through the second half as Scott Barrow struck in the bottom corner from 25 yards. But when Terry Butcher’s side believed they could share the spoils, or even take all three points, Morecambe striker Kevin Ellison was tripped in the box four minutes into stoppage time, and Paul Mullin stepped up to send the travelling fans home happy.

 

Exeter City 1-0 Hartlepool United 

Hartlepool suffered their fourth successive defeat after late drama at St James Park. The Grecians took the lead through David Wheeler only for it to be ruled out for offside, before Rakish Bingham saw his Pools penalty saved by the home keeper Bobby Olejnik. But two minutes into stoppage time, Christian Ribiero’s shot from a tight angle found its way in, giving Exeter all three points.

 

Mansfield Town 4-0 Crawley Town 

Mansfield won their first home game of the season after thrashing Crawley Town in the two sides first ever Football League meeting. Just before the break, Nathan Thomas burst into the Red Devil’s box before beating keeper Freddie Woodman to give the Stags a half time lead, before Mitchell Rose drilled a 20 yard effort in just two minutes into the second half. It got worse for the visitors as Gwion Edwards was dismissed for a reckless challenge on Nicky Hunt, before Matt Green and Craig Westcarr scored and assisted each other within two second half minutes to round off an impressive afternoon for the Stags.

 

Northampton Town 1-0 Oxford United 

Ten men Northampton recorded a vital win, ending Oxford United’s unbeaten run in the process. Nicky Adams’ pinpoint cross found Sam Hoskins, who’s bullet header found it’s was past Sam Slocombe, but the Cobblers were reduced to ten men on the stroke of half time as Jason Taylor appeared to foul Callum O’Dowda inside the box off the ball, but the U’s top scorer from last season Danny Hylton saw his penalty saved but Adam Smith. The U’s couldn’t find a way past the ten men, and they traveled home with their unbeaten record ended.

 

Carlisle United 2-1 Dagenham and Redbridge 

Carlisle made it three successive wins after coming from behind to win at home to Dagenham. Christian Doidge headed the Daggers into the lead inside ten minutes, but Angelo Balanta fired the Cumbrians level before the break. Early in the second half, Jabo Ibehre netted his eighth league goal of the season after he headed in Alex McQueen’s cross to give Keith Curle’s side all three points.

 

Yeovil Town 1-1 AFC Wimbledon 

Yeovil remain one place above the drop after being held at home by Wimbledon. Ryan Bird gave the hosts the lead midway through the first half, before Jake Reeves and Paul Robinson both struck the woodwork for the Dons. But the visitors were level with ten minutes remaining as Adebayo Akinfenwa headed in George Francombe’s corner to share the spoils.

 

Bristol Rovers 0-1 Accrington Stanley 

Accrington are unbeaten in five games after picking up all three points at the Memorial Stadium. Substitute Billy Kee scored an impressive overhead kick just moments after coming on which proved enough in an otherwise poor game. The Gas, who have dropped to 15th, have now suffered three successive defeats, whilst Stanley move up to 10th.

 

Stevenage 2-2 York City 

Stevenage and York shared the spoils in a decent affair at the Lamex Stadium. Eddie Nolan gave the visitors the lead just before the break with a right footed shot from the edge of the box, before a Chris Whelpdale header and Charlie Lee curler put the Boro in front. Luke Summerfield leveled for the Minstermen with fifteen minutes remaining with a decent curling effort, before Scott Flinders saved Boro striker Brett Williams’s penalty late on.

 

Notts County 3-2 Luton Town 

Notts County got their first win since the opening day after Luton conceded yet another last minute goal. Summer signing Izale McLeod netted twice either side of half time, his first a header from Graham Burke’s cross before a tidy finish over the keeper, to give the Magpies a two goal advantage, but the Hatters pulled level through Cameron McGheehan and Jonathan Smith’s 20 yard effort. But Scott Cuthbert was dismissed deep into stoppage time for a foul on McLeod as the forward the the last man, and Liam Noble swept home the resulting free kick to add insult to injury for Luton.