League Two Review: 14 November

After a weekend of FA Cup action, League Two returned this weekend, and there were wins for the top two, whilst the bottom clubs continued in their early season struggles. Here is your League Two Review:

Saturday 14 November 

York City 1-2 Plymouth Argyle 

League leaders Plymouth continued their impressive run with victory at York in new manager Jackie McNamara’s first game in charge of the Minstermen. The Pilgrims, who dominated the first half, took the lead when Jake Jervis header in Graham Carey’s cross, before Carey himself doubled Derek Adams’s side’s advantage. Carey then hit the bar, before York found a consolation deep into stoppage time through Godfrey. Plymouth remain five points clear at the top of the table and have won three games in succession, whilst York haven’t won in eleven games, and will need to look for significant improvements under McNamara.

 

Oxford United 1-0 Cambridge United 

Oxford United kept the pressure on Plymouth with a win over Cambridge. Shaun Derry, who was taking charge of his first Cambridge game as new manager after the departure of Richard Money, saw his side fall behind midway through the first half as Ryan Taylor scored his fourth goal in three games after a fine Oxford move. Danny Hylton hit the bar in the second half for the hosts, before Cambridge striker Barry Corr saw two late efforts fail to find a way in. Oxford hold on to extend their unbeaten run, whilst Cambridge have suffered back to back league defeats.

 

Northampton Town 1-0 Mansfield Town 

An early goal at Sixfields was enough to give Northampton the win, lifting them to 3rd in the table. Marc Richards headed in Alfie Potter’s cross inside five minutes, before Stags striker Matt Green saw his second half effort hit the woodwork. The win extends the Cobblers unbeaten run to four games, whilst Mansfield lost their first game in five on the road.

 

Accrington Stanley 2-2 Newport County 

Accrington had to come from behind twice to earn a point at home against a resurgent Newport side. After a goalless first half, the Exiles took the lead through Yan Klukowski, but Billy Kee soon leveled for the hosts. John Sheridan’s side then regained the lead through Scott Bodin, but Matt Crooks leveled with just over ten minutes remaining. Stanley are unbeaten in three, whilst Newport have extended their unbeaten run to four.

Bristol Rovers 2-0 Carlisle United 

Bristol Rovers won just their second home game of the season against Keith Curle’s Carlisle. In-form forward Matty Taylor and Jermaine Easter both went close in the first half for the hosts, but a second half brace from Taylor, taking his tally to seven league goals for the season, was enough to give Darrell Clarke’s side the victory. As for the Cumbrians, this was their first league defeat in three.

 

Luton Town 2-0 Barnet 

Luton made it three successive wins in all competitions after victory over Barnet. Danny Green gave the Hatters a first half lead, before Barnet forward John Akinde missed the opportunity to level. And it proved costly as Cameron McGheehan doubled the hosts advantage midway through the second half to earn John Still’s side all three points. For the Bees it was their first defeat in five, but Martin Allen’s side have pushed clear of the bottom two.

 

 

Wycombe Wanderers vs Notts County (postponed due to international call-ups) 

Morecambe vs Dagenham and Redbridge (postponed due to international call-ups) 

 

Exeter City 2-2 Crawley Town 

Crawley came from behind twice to earn a point at Exeter. Alex Nicholls gave the Grecians an early lead, but Sonny Bradley leveled for the Red Devil’s midway through the first half. Tom Nichols then regained the hosts advantage on the stroke of half time, but an audacious effort from Luke Rooney in second half stoppage time earned a point for Mark Yates’s side. Despite dropping the points, the Grecians remain unbeaten in four at St James Park, whilst Crawley are unbeaten in three.

 

Yeovil Town 2-2 Stevenage 

Yeovil came within two minutes of recording their first win in nine but for a late Stevenage equaliser. After a goalless first half, Harry Cornick gave the hosts the lead after beating two defenders before slotting past Chris Day, but Wells leveled for the Boro three minutes later. Shaun Jeffers regained the hosts advantage shortly after, but a strike two minutes from time from Tom Pett denied the Glovers all three points. Yeovil haven’t won in nine now, and have failed to win in seven at Huish Park, whilst Stevenage are still in search for their first away win of the season.

 

Sunday 15 November 

Portsmouth 0-0 AFC Wimbledon 

Having dropped out of the automatic promotion places following Saturday’s action, Portsmouth missed the opportunity for an immediate return after another Fratton Park goalless draw. Both sides struggled to create any clear cut opportunities in an otherwise scrappy affair, leaving Pompey in the playoffs following a run of four games without a win, whilst the draw for Wimbledon extends their unbeaten run to four.

 

Hartlepool United 3-1 Leyton Orient 

Hartlepool recorded a much needed win with victory over Leyton Orient. But early O’s dominance paid off as Bradley Pritchard opened the scoring, but the Pools were level shortly after when Kudus Oyenuga converted from the spot following a handball from Alan Dunne. The hosts took the lead twenty minutes from time as Jake Gray saw his effort deflect in off Dunne, before Gray added a third late on. It was a first win in four for Hartlepool, whilst Leyton have won just once from their last six league games.