League Two Review: 3 October

Another enthralling weekend of football in League Two has concluded, and Plymouth have moved to the top of the table after a home win over Crawley, whilst there were two seven goal thriller with the away sides coming away with all three points in both. Here is your League Two Review:

 

Plymouth Argyle 2-1 Crawley Town 

A late strike from Hiram Boateng sent Plymouth to the top of League Two after victory at home against Crawley. Reuben Reid opened the scoring for the Pilgrims, latching on to Graham Carey’s through ball before slotting home, but with just five minutes remaining, Roarie Deacon leveled for the Red Devil’s after an initial effort was only parried. But as full time approached, Boateng struck home to extend the Pilgrims unbeaten run to five, whilst Crawley’s run of just one win in seven leaves them precariously close to the bottom two.

 

Wycombe Wanderers 2-3 Northampton Town 

Northampton left Adams Park with all three points after a five goal thriller against Wycombe. 20 year old Luke O’Nien gave the Chairboys an early lead, looping a header over the Cobblers keeper following a lofted ball forward, but Marc Richards leveled before the break with a sweetly struck free kick. Lawson D’Ath gave the visitors the lead early in the second half, heading in from a cross, before Chris Wilder’s side extended their lead when Shaun Brisley headed in from a free kick. With time running out, Danny Rowe reduced the deficit, capitalising on some poor Northampton defending, but it wasn’t enough for Wycombe who lose top spot, whilst the Cobblers run of five games unbeaten lifts them to 9th.

 

Leyton Orient 3-1 Notts County 

Leyton Orient have moved up to 3rd after recording their first win in six at home against Notts County. Sammy Moore netted his first O’s goal early in the first half, stabbing the ball past keeper Scott Loach, but Jon Stead leveled shortly after the restart for Ricardo Moniz’s side. With ten minutes remaining, Jay Simpson netted his seventh goal of the season after capitalising on poor defending, before Moore scored a thirty yard screamer to secure the points for Ian Hendon’s side.

 

Portsmouth 0-0 Yeovil Town 

Portsmouth and Yeovil played out the days only goalless draw in an uninspiring display from both sides at Fratton Park. Yeovil, who are now without a win in three, came close in the first half but Ryan Bird saw his header saved, before Pompey’s Michael Doyle saw his long range effort saved by Glovers keeper Artur Krysiak. Portsmouth haven’t won in two and have dropped to 4th as a result, whilst Yeovil remain just one place above the drop.

 

Accrington Stanley 1-3 Oxford United 

Oxford United ended Accrington’s eight game unbeaten run after a 3-1 win at the Crown Ground. The U’s took the lead midway through the first half when Callum O’Dowda netted after clever play down the left from Kemar Roofe, but Stanley were level with twenty minutes remaining against the run of play when Matt Crooks long range effort lobbed U’s keeper Sam Slocombe. Billy Kee then hit the bar for Stanley, but midfielder Liam Sercombe regained the visitors lead, before adding a third from the penalty spot after Roofe was fouled in the box. Oxford are now unbeaten in four and have moved up to 5th, whilst Stanley’s eight game unbeaten run comes to an abrupt end.

 

Dagenham and Redbridge 3-4 Mansfield Town 

Mansfield left Victoria Road with all three points after a dramatic comeback against strugglers Dagenham. The Stags took an early lead when Malvind Benning’s terrific long range volley gave Adam Murray’s side the advantage, but the Daggers leveled soon after when Matt McClure’s beautiful placed shot found its way in. Wayne Burnett’s side, who haven’t won at home this season, scored twice through Ashley Chambers, before Matt Green reduced the before the break when he netted his fourth goal of the season from the spot. Daggers had relinquished their two goal advantage with ten minutes remaining when defender Krystian Pearce headed in the equaliser, before Adi Yussuff won the game with five minutes left to extend the Stags unbeaten run to five, whilst Dagenham haven’t won in five and remain in the bottom two.

 

Stevenage 0-1 Carlisle United 

Carlisle left the Lamex Stadium with all three points thanks to a late strike from Tom Miller. Stevenage, who have now suffered four straight defeats, could have took the lead after Brett Williams was fouled by Miller, but Mark Gillespie saved Williams’ effort, and with eight minutes remaining, keeper Jesse Joronen fumbled Danny Grainger’s cross, and Miller was on hand to extend the Cumbrians run of four away games without defeat.

 

Hartlepool United 1-4 Luton Town 

Luton continued their recent impressive run with an emphatic win at Hartlepool. The Hatters took the lead in the first half through Jonathan Smith, who netted after Luke Guttridge’s initial effort was saved, but the Pools were level on the stroke of half time when Billy Paynter headed home. But two goals within four second half minutes from Jack Marriott restored John Still’s side’s advantage, before Ollie Lee’s fierce twenty yard strike in the latter stages secured a fourth successive win for Luton, condemning Hartlepool to back to back defeats, and are also without a win at Victoria Park in four.

 

Newport County 1-1 Exeter City 

John Sheridan took charge of bottom club Newport on Friday, and his side earned themselves a point at home to Exeter. Joel Grant gave the Grecians a second half lead after cutting inside before striking low, but Lenell John-Lewis leveled for the Exiles with fifteen minutes remaining after Alex Rodman’s initial effort was blocked. Newport, who are yet to win at home, remain bottom, whilst Exeter have picked up four points from their last two away games.

 

Morecambe 3-4 Bristol Rovers 

Another seven goal thriller took place at the Globe Arena where Bristol Rovers ran out winners against an out of form Morecambe side. The Gas took the lead midway through the first half when Lee Mansell latched on to Jake Gosling’s cross, but the Shrimps were level before the break as Shaun Miller cleverly lobbed the out rushing Rovers keeper. Early in the second half, goals from Billy Bodin and Matty Taylor gave Darrell Clarke’s side a two goal advantage, but Shrimps midfielder Tom Barkhuizen reduced the deficit. But with ten minutes remaining, Ellis Harrison restored the visitors two goal advantage from the spot, before Paul Mullin made it a nervy final five minutes when he successfully converted his penalty for the hosts. But the Gas held on to record back to back wins, whilst Morecambe have failed to win in four, losing their last three games at the Globe Arena.

 

AFC Wimbledon 2-0 Barnet 

AFC Wimbledon continued their impressive home form with a fourth game without defeat at Kingsmeadow against Barnet. The Dons took an early lead when Lyle Taylor met George Francombe’s pass, and the hosts could have gone two goals up but Francombe’s penalty was saved by on loan Oxford keeper Max Crocombe. The Dons killed the game off deep in stoppage time when a counter attack from a Bees corner, in which Crocombe had come up for, allowed Sean Rigg to slot into an empty net. Barnet, who have now lost all six away games this season, drop to 19th as a result of this defeat.

 

York City 2-2 Cambridge United 

York blew a two goal lead to draw at Bootham Crescent with Cambridge. The Minstermen took the lead early in the second half when Michael Coulson saw his low drive find the back of the net, before John McCombe doubled the hosts lead with another tidy finish. Mark Roberts reduced the deficit for the U’s from close range, before Barry Corr, who had returned from an ankle injury, netted his sixth goal in five games after a scramble in the York box. The Minstermen are now without a win in five, whilst Cambridge have failed to win on the road in four.