League Two Review: 19 September

Another cracking weekend of football in League Two included a couple of shock results, plenty of goals and a couple of dismissals. Leyton Orient remain top of the table, whilst winless Newport County are still in search after they only drew. Here is your League Two Review:

 

Leyton Orient 1-1 Wycombe Wanderers 

Leyton Orient remain top of League Two after recording their second successive 1-1 draw, this time against Wycombe. It was the visitors that took the lead as Matt Bloomfield’s close range finish found its way in five minutes before the break, before Jay Simpson’s sixth goal of the season leveled up in the second half. The O’s remain top despite failing to win in three games, whilst the Chairboys remain in 4th.

 

Oxford United 1-1 Portsmouth 

Oxford and Portsmouth shared the spoils after two great strikes and the Kassam Stadium. The U’s took the lead midway through the first half when midfielder Liam Sercombe struck home from the edge of the box, but Pompey forward Adam McGurk leveled midway through the second half with a sweet thirty yard strike. The visitors were reduced to ten men with ten minutes remaining as captain Michael Doyle was dismissed for a second bookable offence, but both sides shared the spoils, with Pompey moving up to 2nd and Oxford moving up to 5th.

 

Plymouth Argyle 1-1 Bristol Rovers 

Plymouth and Bristol Rovers shared the spoils in the West Country Derby after two late goals at Home Park. Graham Carey and Hiram Boateng went close in the first half for the Pilgrims, but Derek Adams’ side had to wait until the 85th minute before Jake Jervis slotted in Gregg Wylde’s cross. But then in stoppage time, Ellis Harrison was fouled by Plymouth keeper Luke McCormack, and Harrison stepped up to convert the resulting penalty to earn a point for the Gas.

 

Accrington Stanley 4-2 Exeter City 

Accrington move up to 6th after John Coleman’s side hammered Exeter at the Crown Ground. Two goals within two first half minutes from Josh Windass; first turning home Piero Mingoia’s cross before capitalising on a mistake from Grecians keeper Bobby Olejnik for his second, then Stanley were three goals up early in the second half when Mingoia drilled home before Billy Kee added a fourth two minutes later. Exeter managed two late goals through Tom Nichols and Joel Grant but it wasn’t enough as the Grecians suffered their first defeat after back to back wins.

 

Morecambe 2-4 Northampton Town 

There was another six goal thriller in the north-west, but unlike at Accrington it was the visitors in Northampton that left with all three points. The Cobblers were two goals up by half time as a Lawson D’Ath volley and Sam Hoskins strike gave the visitors the advantage, before Joel Byrom’s free kick early in the second half sailed straight through to give Cobblers further breathing space. Tom Barkhuizen pulled one back with a header, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin restored the visitors three goal advantage with a cheeky backheel. The Shrimps did find the net late on in the shape of an own goal, but it was a disappointing way to end their four game unbeaten run.

 

York City 2-2 Carlisle United 

Ten man York came from two goals down to earn a point against an in-form Carlisle side. The Cumbrians were two goals up by the break as Tom Miller and Troy Archibald-Henville scored for the visitors, before York striker Vadaine Oliver was dismissed early in the second half for an off the ball incident. But the Minstermen battled back, first through Luke Summerfield who successfully converted a penalty after he was fouled, before Josh Carson turned in Emile Sinclair’s cross to complete the comeback.

 

Luton Town 1-0 Mansfield Town 

Luton recorded their first home win of the season as they beat Mansfield at Kenilworth Road. Craig Mackail-Smith netted a beauty in the first half, but his overhead kick was ruled out for offside, but the forward won himself a penalty in the second half after he was fouled by Stags defender Ryan Tafazolli, and Mackail-Smith converted the spot kick to earn the Hatters all three points.

 

AFC Wimbledon 2-1 Notts County 

Two late goals from Wimbledon completed the turnaround as they beat Notts County at Kingsmeadow. The visitors took a first half lead as Haydn Hollis headed in Graham Burke’s free kick, but a Danny Bulman strike and Adebayo Akinfenwa header sealed the points for the Dons late on.

 

Hartlepool United 0-0 Cambridge United 

Hartlepool ended four successive defeats but failed to find a way past a determined Cambridge defence in a goalless draw at Victoria Park. Rakish Bingham and Scott Harrison had early chances for the Pools as the hosts dominated, but Ronnie Moore’s side had to settle for a point.

 

Barnet 3-2 Stevenage 

Barnet took the spoils in a five goal thriller against Stevenage at the Hive, ending a six game winless streak. Fraser Franks gave the Boro the lead after ten minutes, but Bondz N’Gala leveled early in the second half. Tom Hitchcock restored the visitors lead shortly after, before Aaron McLean equalised for the second time on the afternoon. Then, substitute Michael Gash latched on to a cross from Akinde to earn the Bees a vital win, ending Stevenage’s four game unbeaten run.

 

Crawley Town 0-1 Yeovil Town 

Yeovil recorded a vital win against fellow early season strugglers Crawley. The Glovers, who have ten players out injured, took the lead midway through the first half when Harry Cornick’s 25 yard curler sailed in, but the Red Devil’s failed to equalise despite Sonny Bradley hitting the bar late on.

 

Dagenham and Redbridge 0-0 Newport County 

The bottom two in League Two shared the spoils in a goalless draw at Victoria Road. The Exiles, who are sill in search of their first win of the season, went close through Lenell John-Lewis, before talisman striker Jamie Cureton forced a late save from the visiting keeper. Both sides have shown early signs of struggle as September draws to a close.