League Two Review: 27 February

A full set of fixtures took place over the weekend in League Two, and the top three kept their good form alive, whilst sides at the bottom continue to struggle. Here is your League Two Review:

 

Hartlepool United 0-0 Northampton Town 

Northampton Town remain top of League Two despite being held to a goalless draw at strugglers Hartlepool. The Pools created a few early opportunities, but neither Luke James or Billy Paynter could find a way past Adam Smith in the Cobblers goal. Northampton, who’s ten game winning streak comes to an end, rarely tested the home keeper, but Chris Wilder’s side remain on course to win promotion to League One this season.

 

Plymouth Argyle 1-0 Notts County 

Plymouth bounced back from last weekend’s draw at Crawley with a win over Notts County. Despite a goalless first half, Jon Stead saw his effort cleared off the line by Pilgrims defender Peter Hartley, before Luke McCormack saves from Elliott Hewitt’s free kick. And those missed chances proved costly as Graham Carey’s ninth goal of the season from a Gregg Wylde cross earned Derek Adams’s side all three points.

 

AFC Wimbledon 1-2 Oxford United 

Oxford came out from a tough affair at Wimbledon with all three points thanks to a peach from Jordan Bowery. And the U’s were ahead inside five minutes when former Dons striker Danny Hylton tapped in from close range, but after Benji Büchel could only parry Tom Elliott’s effort, Andy Barcham tapped home the equaliser. But after Bowery picked the ball up on the half way line, the forward ran through the Dons defence before firing into the bottom corner. The U’s have now won six away games in succession, whilst the Dons drop out of the playoffs following just their second defeat in seven.

Accrington Stanley 2-2 Barnet 

Barnet came from two goals down to earn a point at promotion chasing Accrington. Billy Kee put the hosts ahead in the second half, before Matt Crooks fired in from twelve yards to double Stanley’s advantage. But after Luke Gambin reduced the deficit, John Akinde headed Mark Randall’s late free kick to earn the Bees a point.

 

Portsmouth 2-1 Cambridge United 

Portsmouth kept their play-off ambitions alive with a win at home against Cambridge. Marc McNulty fired in from Michael Doyle’s free kick before the break, before Adam Webster tapped in after Kyle Bennett’s twenty yard effort struck the bar. Luke Berry found a late consolation but it wasn’t enough, dropping Cambridge to 12th.

 

Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 Bristol Rovers 

Wycombe remain in the playoffs following a narrow victory over fellow promotion chasers Bristol Rovers. Chairboys midfielder Joe Jacobson saw his free kick topped wide by Steve Mildenhall, before the hosts keeper Ryan Allsop stopped Lee Mansell and Ollie Clarke. But Mildenhall was helpless when Jacobson’s second half free kick was met by the head of midfielder Luke O’Nien, to give the Chairboys back to back home wins, whilst the Gas drop out of the playoffs.

 

Leyton Orient 2-0 Crawley Town 

Leyton Orient end the weekend back in the playoffs following a victory at home over Crawley. Armand Gnanduillet gave the O’s the lead before the break, chesting the ball down before volleying home, before he added a second in the second half after turning in Sean Clohessey’s cross. After successive home defeats, it was important for Kevin Nolan’s side to take all three points at Brisbane Road, whilst the Red Devils are without a win in three.

Newport County 1-0 Mansfield Town 

Newport made it back to back home wins for the first time in thirteen months as they beat promotion chasing Mansfield. But the Stags came closest to opening the scoring after Matt Green struck the post, before Ryan Tafazolli had a goal disallowed. They proved costly as Scott Boden struck his fifth goal in four games five minutes remaining to earn the Exiles a valuable three points, dropping the Stags out of the playoffs.

 

Morecambe 1-2 Carlisle United 

Morecambe saw their winless run continue as they lost at home to Carlisle. But true to form, the Shrimps took the lead through Kevin Ellison, and even hit the post twice through Ellison and Ryan Edwards. Again, it proved costly as Carlisle were awarded a penalty with seven minutes remaining after Aaron McGowan fouled Charlie Wyke, before Wyke converted from the spot, before Derek Asamoah gave the Cumbrians the lead less than a minute later.

 

York City 2-3 Luton Town 

York remain in the bottom two after a late defeat at home against Luton. Despite a goalless first half, Hatters midfielder Cameron McGheehan headed the visitors ahead, but Bradley Fewster rounded keeper Mark Tyler to level the scores. Jack Marriott restored the visitors lead with a clever backheel, before Fewster leveled again with eight minutes remaining. But Olly Lee’s 20 yard effort in stoppage time won the game for Luton to make it back to back wins, whilst York have now suffered three straight defeats.

Stevenage 0-2 Exeter City 

Exeter won their first game in five as they beat strugglers Stevenage at the Lamex Stadium. Ryan Hedges came close for the hosts but his effort was blocked by Christian Ribiero, before Grecians keeper Bobby Olejnik stopped Luke Williamson’s effort. But Jayden Stockley came up with two late goals; first heading in Lee Holmes’ cross before adding a second in stoppage time.

 

Dagenham and Redbridge 0-1 Yeovil Town

Dagenham remain bottom of League Two and winless at home all season as John Still’s side lost to fellow strugglers Yeovil. Brandon Goodfellow latched on to a long pass from Scott Laird to score the games only goal, before Laird saw an effort saved by Liam O’Brien. Daggers are now eight points from safety, whilst Yeovil, who have lost just four times out of seventeen games under Darran Way, move up to 21st.