League Two Review: Boxing Day & 28 December

With games coming thick and fast over the festive period in League Two, The Sports Lowdown brings you a round-up of all the action from Boxing Day and Monday. Here is your League Two Review:

 

Boxing Day 

Plymouth Argyle 1-0 Yeovil Town 

Plymouth remained top in League Two after a narrow win over strugglers Yeovil at Home Park. The Glovers came close in the first half as Matt Dolan saw his 25 yard effort hit the bar, but after Yeovil keeper Chris Weale could only parry Craig Tanner’s shot, Ryan Brunt was there to tap home what proved to be the winner.

 

Oxford United 3-0 Exeter City 

Just under 10,000 fans flocked to the Kassam Stadium to witness Oxford score three stunning second half goals. After a goalless first half in which the Grecians matched the hosts, the U’s took an early second half lead when midfielder John Lundstram curled home from 25 yards, before full back George Baldock added a second with a low drive. Former Grecians midfielder Liam Sercombe, who is having a prolific season in front of goal for the U’s, added a third late on, clipping the ball over keeper Bobby Olejnik.

 

York City vs Northampton Town (Postponed due to waterlogged pitch) 

Leyton Orient 3-2 Portsmouth 

A five goal thriller with two red cards at Brisbane Road as Leyton Orient beat Portsmouth. But it was the visitors that took an early lead after Gareth Evans fired home from close range, but after Adam Webster was dismissed for a foul on Jobi McAnuff, Jay Simpson leveled the game from the spot. The O’s then took the lead in first half stoppage time when Ollie Palmer’s header sailed in, but early in the second half, the hosts were reduced to ten men when Mathieu Baudry lashed out at Pompey winger Kyle Bennett. Despite a level playing field, Palmer added a third, before Evans reduced the deficit, but the O’s held on to record the win.

 

Accrington Stanley vs Carlisle United (postponed due to waterlogged pitch) 

AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Bristol Rovers 

Bristol Rovers remain in the playoffs after picking up a point in a goalless draw at Wimbledon. But the Dons, who are now unbeaten in five, played the majority of the game with ten men after skipper Paul Robinson was dismissed for bringing down forward Ellis Harrison. Despite the man advantage, the Gas were unable to find a way past the Dons defence.

 

Luton Town 0-2 Wycombe Wanderers 

Manager-less Luton suffered a home defeat as Wycombe made it just one defeat in ten with victory at Kenilworth Road. After a goalless first half, Garry Thompson rounded Hatters keeper Mark Tyler to open the scoring, before a Paul Hayes header sealed all three points for Gareth Ainsworth’s side.

 

Morecambe vs Mansfield Town (postponed due to waterlogged pitch) 

Crawley Town 2-1 Stevenage 

Crawley made it six wins from seven at Broadfield Stadium with victory over Stevenage. Gwion Edwards gave the Red Devils the lead with his sixth league goal of the season, but after Josh Yorweth fouled Charlie Lee in the box, Michael Tonge leveled from the spot. But at the death, Roarie Deacon tapped home what proved to be the winner.

 

Dagenham and Redbridge 0-3 Cambridge United 

Bottom club Dagenham suffered another defeat on Boxing Day, losing at home against Cambridge. And in a week where Daggers boss Wayne Burnett was relieved of his position, the hosts headed into half time level, but U’s substitute Robbie Simpson opened the scoring with his first touch, before adding a second from a free kick. He then assisted Barry Corr to seal the win late on.

 

Barnet 2-0 Newport County

A John Akinde brace saw Barnet record back to back wins after victory over Newport. After Medy Elitto fouled Aaron McLean in the box, Akinde slotted home the resulting penalty, before adding a second late on following some poor Exiles defending.

 

 

 

Monday 28 December 

Newport County 1-2 Plymouth Argyle 

Plymouth extended their lead at the top of League Two after victory over Newport. The Exiles, managed of course by former Pilgrims boss John Sheridan, took the lead through Scott Boden, but Jake Jervis leveled with a header early in the second half. Then Ryan Brunt netted his second winner in as many games with twenty minutes remaining to send Derek Adams’s side three points clear at the top.

 

Northampton Town 1-0 Accrington Stanley 

Northampton moved back to 2nd after a Marc Richards winner against Accrington. Sean McConville came close for Stanley after his effort hit the bar, before Richards saw his effort sail wide. But midway through the second half, Richard was able to find the back of the net, heading home a Ricky Holmes cross.

 

Yeovil Town 0-0 Oxford United 

Oxford left Huish Park frustrated as strugglers Yeovil held the U’s to a goalless draw. Josh Sheehan’s effort hit the bar as Yeovil looked for the opener, before Callum O’Dowda wasted two opportunities for the U’s before Kemar Roofe saw his late effort saved by Artur Krysiak in the Glovers goal.

 

Portsmouth 0-0 Luton Town 

Manager-less Luton left Fratton Park with a point after holding Portsmouth to their sixth home goalless draw. Portsmouth could have quite easily won the game if it hadn’t been for Hatters keeper Mark Tyler who made numerous saves from Gareth Evans, Mark McNulty and Kyle Bennett amongst others.

 

Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 Crawley Town 

Wycombe moved back into the playoffs with victory over Crawley. Max Kretzschmar gave the Chairboys the lead, slotting home from a one-on-one situation. Crawley defender Jon Ashton denied Sam Woods with a goal-line clearance, but Wycombe found a second late on when Garry Thompson’s cross found Woods.

 

Bristol Rovers 2-1 Leyton Orient 

Bristol Rovers took all three points after victory over Leyton Orient. Rory Gaffney’s opener gave the Gas the lead, but Jay Simpson leveled from Blair Turgott’s cross. But Gaffney completed his brace with a second half volley to give the Gas all three points.

 

Mansfield Town 1-1 York City 

Mansfield and York shared the spoils at Field Mill. David Winfield gave the Minstermen the lead, heading in from a Luke Summerfield free kick, but the Stags leveled when defender Krystian Pearce headed in from Adam Chapman’s corner.

 

Cambridge United 2-1 Barnet

Cambridge made it five wins from six as they beatbarnet at the Abbey Stadium. But it was the visitors that took the lead when John Akinde netted his third goal in two games, before he failed to double the Bees advantage shortly after. It proved costly as two second half goals, a Luke Berry header and Barry Corr strike, gave the U’s all three points.

  

Exeter City 0-2 AFC Wimbledon 

Exeter suffered a third consecutive defeat as they lost at home against Wimbledon. Tom Elliott headed in Barry Fuller’s cross, before Lyle Taylor lobbed keeper Bobby Olejnik to double the Dons lead. Grecians forward Tom Nichols saw his free kick saved before Clinton Morrison hot the post as the hosts pushed for a way back into the game.

 

Notts County 2-2 Morecambe 

Notts County came from two goals down to earn a point against Morecambe at Meadow Lane. Tom Miller gave the Shrimps the lead, before Thierry Audel fouled Miller in the box. Kevin Ellison saw his resulting penalty saved by Magpies keeper Roy Carroll, but the forward tapped in the rebound. Cue the comeback; first Izale McLeod reduced the deficit in first half stoppage time before the forward leveled up in the second half to earn Ricardo Moniz’s side a point. That said, it was later announced that this was Moniz’s final game in charge as he was later sacked following the Magpies poor run of form.

 

Stevenage 1-3 Dagenham and Redbridge

Manager-less Dagenham moved off the bottom of League Two with victory at Stevenage. Ashley Chambers headed the Daggers into the lead before Josh Labadie struck home a second. Fraser Franks reduced the deficit before Christian Doidge regained the Daggers two goal advantage, which proved to be enough to end a four game losing streak.