League Two Review: 29 September

Football is a funny old game, none more so than in League Two it seems after an eventful Tuesday night. New league leaders Portsmouth and early season pacesetters Leyton Orient suffered home defeats against Exeter and Carlisle respectively, and there was a one sided affair at Newport as the two bottom clubs met. Here is your League Two Review:

 

 

Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 Cambridge United 

Gareth Ainsworth’s Wycombe side have taken the top spot in League Two after a home win over Cambridge. After a tight first half, U’s goalkeeper Chris Dunn was given a straight red card early in the second half after he fouled Gozie Ugwu in the box, but Garry Thompson saw his penalty saved by substitute keeper Sam Beasant. Marcus Bean then hit the woodwork twice within a minute as the Chairboys looked for an opener, but Michael Harriman found the back of the net in superb fashion with twenty minutes remaining, striking into the top corner from 25 yards. Wycombe move top of League Two, whilst Cambridge,who suffered their first defeat on the road in five, drop to 15th.

 

Plymouth 2-1 Barnet 

Plymouth have moved up to 2nd after a win at Home Park against Barnet. The Bees, who had won their last two games in the league, took the lead into half time when striker Aaron McLean latched on to an assist from Curtis Weston. But early in the second half, Graham Carey netted his fifth goal of the season with a strike from the edge of the box, just seven minutes before Jake Jervis gave the Pilgrims the lead with his seventh goal of an impressive campaign. The hosts held on, extending their unbeaten run to four, whilst Barnet, who remain 18th, have now suffered five straight defeats on the road.

 

Portsmouth 1-2 Exeter City 

Exeter claimed a historic win on Tuesday, their first win at Fratton Park in 92 years, ending Pompey’s unbeaten start to the season. Exeter took the lead after twenty minutes, despite Gareth Evans being denied twice in the early stages for the hosts, when David Wheeler’s angled drive found the back of the net, before Aaron Davies doubled the Grecians lead with a header early in the second half. Pompey pushed to reduce the deficit, but it wasn’t until Gary Roberts deflected strike three minutes into stoppage that they found the net, leaving them not enough time to grab an equaliser. Pompey’s first defeat of the season see’s Paul Cook’s side drop to 3rd, whilst Exeter move up to 9th.

 

Accrington Stanley 2-1 Yeovil Town 

Accrington extended their unbeaten run to eight games after recording their fourth successive victory at home to strugglers Yeovil. Josh Windass netted his sixth goal of the season inside ten minutes after latching on to Billy Kee’s through ball, but the Glovers were level ten minutes before the break when Josh Sheehan’s 20 yard strike found the back of the Stanley net. Ryan Bird, who equalised last weekend for the Glovers, came close to giving the visitors the lead, but Matt Crooks regained Stanley’s lead early in the second half following another Kee assist. Stanley are the league’s in-form side, and have moved up to 4th, whilst Yeovil drop to 22nd.

 

Leyton Orient 1-2 Carlisle United 

Leyton Orient suffered their second defeat of the season and extended their winless run to five games as the O’s lost at home to Carlisle. After a lively first half, Cumbrians manager Keith Curle and O’s assistant Andy Hessenthaler were sent to the stands after a touchline altercation following a goal from each side from Derek Asamoah and Mathieu Baudry. As the game continued in a lively affair, the visitors regained the lead when Anthony Sweeney slotted in at the second attempt to give the Cumbrians the in after last weekend’s defeat.

 

York City 1-2 Oxford United 

Oxford got back to winning ways thanks to a late goal from Kemar Roofe at Bootham Crescent. The U’s, who hadn’t won in three, took the lead after ten minutes as striker Danny Hylton took the ball round keeper Scott Flinders before slotting home, but the hosts were level just before the break as a defensive mix-up between Johnny Mullins and goalkeeper Sam Slocombe allowed Rhys Turner to pass the ball into the empty net. But with under twenty minutes remaining, Roofe, who missed a penalty in last weekend’s draw with Morecambe, pounced on the rebound after Mullins effort to give the U’s all three points, condemning the Minstermen to their fourth game without a win.

 

Stevenage 0-2 Mansfield Town 

Mansfield recorded their third away win of the season after a comfortable win at the Lamex Stadium. The Boro, who had the better of the first half, were undone shortly into the second when defender Ryan Tafazolli headed in Adam Chapman’s corner just minutes before Jack Thomas slid in Craig Westcarr’s centre. The defeat was the Boro’s third in succession, but they stay 20th, whilst the Stags move up to 7th.

 

AFC Wimbledon 1-1 Northampton Town 

AFC Wimbledon and Northampton shared the spoils at Kingsmeadow. The Dons were ahead midway through the first half when a Zander Diamond mistake allowed Adebayo Azeez to score, but the Cobblers were level before the break when John-Joe O’Toole headed in David Buchanan’s cross. Azeez had the chance to win it late on for the hosts, but his volley was off target.

 

Morecambe 1-3 Luton Town 

What a difference a couple of weeks makes. Luton had won once from their opening seven games whilst Morecambe four game unbeaten run, including thirteen goals in that time, lifted the Shrimps to 5th, but two home defeats have seen Morecambe drop whilst two successive wins have restored confidence to the Hatters. But Luton made it three wins on the bounce at the Globe Arena, and took the lead inside fifteen minutes when Luke Wilkinson nodded in from a corner. Tom Barkhuizen leveled for the Shrimps shortly after, but Cameron McGheehan restored the Hatters lead soon after. Kevin Ellison saw his volleyed goal ruled out for offside as the hosts looked for a leveller, but Luton confirmed their fourth win in five when Jonathan Smith poked home a third late on. Luton move up to 11th, whilst Morecambe drop to 12th.

 

Dagenham and Redbridge 1-1 Notts County 

Dagenham and Redbridge denied visitors Notts County their third successive victory but find themselves four games without a win after their draw. Adam Campbell beat two Daggers defenders before giving the Magpies the lead, but Jodi Jones equalised with a peach from 30 yards. County had the opportunity to win the game late on, but Izale McLeod saw his penalty saved by keeper Liam O’Brien, who had an excellent game for the Daggers. Despite the point, Wayne Burnett’s side drop to 23rd, while Notts sit 13th.

 

Hartlepool 0-3 Bristol Rovers 

Hartlepool ended a seven game winless run at the weekend but were smashed by a Bristol Rovers side that recorded their first win in six. Matt Taylor gave the Gas a first half lead, heading in on the third attempt after both he and Jermaine Easter saw efforts saved, before Scott Fenwick saw a header go wide for the hosts. A second from Billy Bodin and third from Easter, seizing on a defensive error, gave Darrell Clarke’s side a vital win, dropping the Pools to 17th.

 

Newport County 0-3 Crawley Town 

The two bottom clubs met at Rodney Parade and it was a successful return to South Wales for former Swansea player Gwion Edwards, who scored twice and assisted the other as Crawley dominated. Two stunning long range efforts from Edwards as half time approached gave the Red Devil’s control, before his assist to Matt Harrold killed off the contest, giving Crawley their first win in six and lifting Mark Yates’s side out of the bottom two. Newport meanwhile remain bottom of League Two.