League Two Review: 5 September

Another weekend of action in League Two and there were once again some shock results, none more so than league leaders Leyton Orient losing on the road at Exeter, in addition to a number of comebacks. Here is your League Two Review:

 

Saturday 5 September 

Exeter City 4-0 Leyton Orient 

League leaders Leyton Orient remain top despite a heavy defeat at St James Park against Paul Tisdale’s Exeter. The Grecians found themselves a goal up inside five minutes as striker Tom Nichols was fouled by O’s goalkeeper Charlie Grainger inside the box, and Nichols stepped up to convert the penalty, before Alex Nicholls doubled the hosts lead shortly before the break, firing in from long. Nichols then converted his second penalty of the afternoon after David Wheeler was fouled by Alan Dunne, before Wheeler added a fourth late on to give Tisdale’s side an impressive three points, ending Leyton Orient’s 100% record.

 

Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 Hartlepool United 

Wycombe extend their unbeaten run after winning at home to Hartlepool, condemning the visitors to their third successive defeat. Michael Harriman gave the Chairboys the lead midway through the first half, firing in after latching on from a long ball, but right back Carl Magnay leveled before the break. Harriman restored the hosts lead with his second goal of the afternoon with a terrific curling shot early into the second half, before Magnay was dismissed late on after a tussle with a Wycombe player on the half way line. Wycombe, who have won four of their opening six games, remain unbeaten, and find themselves one point behind Leyton Orient.

 

Stevenage 2-1 Plymouth Argyle 

Stevenage made it three games unbeaten after winning at home against high flyers Plymouth. Spurs loanee Connor Ogilvie gave the hosts the lead after the left back fired in following a swift passing move just six minutes into the game, before Charlie Lee fired over shortly after, but then found the assist for Charlie Whelpdale to tap in before the break. Plymouth pulled one back early in the second half as Craig Tanner’s close range header found it’s way in, but the Pilgrims couldn’t find an equaliser as Derek Adams side suffered their second defeat of the season.

 

Portsmouth 0-0 Accrington Stanley 

Pompey extend their unbeaten start to the season despite being held at home by Accrington Stanley. Stanley had opportunities through Terry Gornell, who’s header was wide, and Josh Windass’s 20 yard effort, but neither found their way in. It was the same at the other end as Matt Tubbs’ overhead kick was well saved. Pompey stay in the playoffs, whilst Stanley have drawn four of their six games.

 

Yeovil Town 2-4 Morecambe 

Morecambe came from two goals down to complete an impressive comeback against Yeovil at Huish Park. The Glovers took the lead after two minutes as Harry Cornick tapped in, and despite the dismissal of Shaun Jeffers after a studded challenge, the hosts went two goals up when Omar Sowunmi headed home. But into the second half, the ten men looked fatigued and unstructured as first Aaron Wildig hooked in to reduce the deficit, before Andrew Fleming poked home shortly after to level the tie. After an incisive counter attack, Lee Molyneux fired home to put the Shrimps ahead, before Kevin Ellison headed home a fourth in stoppage time. Yeovil remain in the bottom two having lost five of their opening six games, as the Shrimps have scored 11 goals in three games, lifting them to 6th in the League Two table.

 

Mansfield Town 1-1 AFC Wimbledon 

Mansfield recorded their third successive 1-1 draw as the Stags shared the spoils with Wimbledon. Tom Elliott gave the Dons the lead after six minutes as the striker poked a low shot home, but Chris Clements’ 25 yard free kick leveled the game shortly after. Elliott missed the opportunity to regain the lead as his header was off target, whilst the Dons ended the game with ten men after Lyle Taylor’s elbow on Nicky Hunt resulted in a straight red card.

 

Carlisle United 3-2 Barnet 

Carlisle made it back to back wins after a five goal thriller at Brunton Park. The hosts took the lead after just two minutes as Tom Miller headed home before Derek Asamoah rounded the keeper to double the Cumbrians advantage. But the Bees buzzed back with two goals within two minutes; first Bira Dembele powerfully headed home from the corner before Michael Gash headed the equaliser. But the Bees, who’ve won just once this season, couldn’t hold on as Asamoah met Alex McQueen’s cross to regain the Cumbrians lead, despite Dembele hitting the bar late on.

 

Cambridge United 1-3 Luton Town 

Luton recorded their first win of the season after beating rivals Cambridge at the Abbey Stadium, ending three successive defeats. Former Cambridge player Luke Guttridge opened the scoring in spectacular fashion, lobbing the U’s goalkeeper Chris Dunn from 30 yards after a poor clearance, but defender Leon Legge powered a header in shortly after to level the game. Cambridge midfielder Harrison Dunk was booked for a heavy challenge in the first half, lucky to avoid a straight red, but the left sided midfielder was given his marching orders in controversial circumstances when he deemed to have handled the ball before receiving a second yellow. To add further insult to injury, Luton then scored from the resulting free kick as Luke Wilkinson headed home Danny Green’s delivery, before Green completed the scoring late on to give John Still’s Hatters their first win of the season.

 

Northampton Town 1-2 Dagenham and Redbridge 

Dagenham recorded their first win of the season after extending Northampton’s run of games without a win to four. Last season’s top scorer Marc Richards opened the scoring for the Cobblers, heading in Nicky Adams’ cross, but two goals from Matt McClure, who was making his return from suspension, ensured the Daggers first win of the season. His first was a tidy header from a left sided cross, before tapping home his second after a defensive mix up between goalkeeper Adam Smith and defender Rod McDonald.

 

Newport County 0-3 York City 

Newport remain bottom of League Two after a heavy defeat against York at Rodney Parade. The Minstermen took the lead shortly before the break when James Berrett capitalised on a poor Exiles pass before slotting home, before Reece Thompson’s glancing header added a second for the visitors early in the second half. Striker Vadaine Oliver added a third for a York side that had only scored three goals prior to the game shortly after to give Russ Wilcox’s side another vital three points, but times look bleak for Terry Butcher’s Exiles.

 

Sunday 6 September 

Bristol Rovers 0-1 Oxford United 

Oxford United extended their unbeaten run after a win at the Memorial Stadium. Gas player Ollie Clarke was given a straight red after just fifteen minutes when he deemed to have caught Danny Rose with an elbow, but the U’s were also reduced to ten men when Liam Sercombe was given his second yellow in the second half. The game needed a touch of class, and Oxford found it in the shape of the in-form Kemar Roofe, who latched on to Patrick Hoban’s knockdown before curling in off the bar from outside the box. The U’s remain unbeaten and find themselves in 4th, whilst back to back defeats leave Rovers in 10th.