League One Review: 3 September

Another busy weekend of football in League One, but don’t worry, The Sports Lowdown has you covered. Here is your League One Review:

 

Saturday 3 September

Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Southend United

Bolton remain top of League One after they were held at home by Southend United.

Harry Kyprianou’s third minute strike gave the Shrimpers an early lead, but then faced the remaining first half with a Wanderers onslaught.

Gary Madine, debutant Keshi Anderson, Jay Spearing and Liam Trotter all created chances for the hosts, but were unable to find the equaliser.

Wanderers had three efforts cleared off the line by Southend in the first half as they tried to respond to the visitors’ opening goal.

But after the break, the pressure paid off when Anderson bundled home the equaliser three minutes into the second half.

From there, Phil Parkinson’s side continued to dominate. Southend keeper Ted Smith denied Jamie Proctor and saved from a Spearing free kick.

Despite the dominance, Bolton were unable to find a winner, and Southend leave the Macron with a decent point.

 

Millwall 1-1 Bradford City

Bradford remain second after they drew at the New Den against Millwall.

The Lions, who beat Bradford in last seasons play-off semi final, began stronger, and Nicky Law’s header was saver by Jordan Archer.

But the Bantams went ahead shortly before the break; Mark Marshall’s cross-shot was turned away by Archer before hitting Byron Webster’s shin and bouncing into the net for an unfortunate own goal.

But the visitors were level just after the restart. Joe Martin’s fired effort from the edge of the box was the equaliser, before Law was again denied by Archer in injury time with his effort turned on to the post.

 

Fleetwood Town 2-0 Coventry City

Coventry remain in search for their first league win of the season as they lost at Fleetwood, who move up to 3rd as a result.

Despite their poor start to the season, the Sky Blues dominated in the early exchanges, but failed to turn their possession into goalscoring opportunities.

The Cod Army also had first half chances; Devante Cole fired straight the goalkeeper, before David Ball saw his lob cleared off the line.

Huddersfield loanee Kyle Dempsey picked out Chris Long with a peach of a pass, before he slotted home the hosts opener midway through the second half.

Uwe Rosler’s side doubled their lead ten minutes later when Ball released Martyn Woolford who blasted home a second.

Marcus Tudgay came closest for Coventry late on, but he was unable to turn home at the back post.

 

Peterborough United 2-2 Swindon Town

Swindon twice came from behind as they drew at Peterborough.

Gwion Edwards continued his strong start to the season by heading home his fourth goal of the campaign ten minutes before the break to give the Posh the lead.

But the Robins were level shortly after the restart when Michael Doughty scored from the spot after his shot was adjudged to be handled by defender Michael Bostwick. 

The Posh regained their lead after 63 minutes when Sean Murray fouled Chris Forrester in the box. Marcus Maddison stepped up and converted from the spot.

Swindon came back again however, and Doughty saw his cross turned into his own net by defender Jack Baldwin with fourteen minutes remaining.

 

Bury 4-1 Port Vale

James Vaughan scored twice on his Gigg Lane debut as Bury eased to a comfortable victory over Port Vale.

His first came after five minutes, when the experienced forward capitalised on a mistake from Ben Purkiss to stroke the ball home.

Jacob Mellis, who hadn’t scored in 33 months, doubled the Shakers advantage after 22 minutes with a terrific strike from the edge of the box, before Vaughan added his second and Bury’s third after half an hour.

Vale, who sit 7th in the table, reduced the deficit through Nathan Smith in the second half, but Shakers sub Hallam Hope ended hopes of a Valiants comeback with a deflected strike fifteen minutes from time.

There could have been a fifth for the hosts, but Tom Walker was twice denied late on.

 

AFC Wimbledon 2-1 Chesterfield

AFC Wimbledon recorded their first ever win in the third tier of English football as they came from behind to beat Chesterfield.

Despite a goalless, and less than entertaining, opening half an hour, it was the Spireites that took a fortuitous lead when Sam Hird’s header deflected in off Darius Charles for an own goal.

But after the restart, Neal Ardley’s side regrouped and levelled the game when defender Paul Robinson latched onto a George Francombe corner.

With the game looking likely to end in a stalemate, substitute Dom Poleon neatly swivelled before firing home the winner in stoppage time.

 

Oxford United 1-0 Rochdale

Oxford found a late winner as they edged past Rochdale in their League One encounter at the Kassam Stadium.

In a relatively even game, Dale came close inside ten minutes, but Andy Cannon fired over from just six yards.

U’s forwards Kane Hemmings and Wes Thomas were both denied by Dale keeper Conrad Logan, before substitute and deadline day signing, Marvin Johnson, came close with a back header.

It was a frustrating afternoon for winless Rochdale, firstly Simon Eastwood denied Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s long range effort, before Niall Canavan hit the bar.

And it got worse when with two minutes remaining, midfielder Liam Sercombe, who netted 17 goals in League Two last season, popped home to tap home the winner from close range following a Johnson cross.

 

Oldham Athletic 2-3 Shrewsbury Town

A five goal thriller at Boundary Park but it was the visitors that left with all three points.

But it was Oldham that took the lead midway through the first half when Josh Law curled home a free kick from the edge of the box.

The Latics were denied a penalty shout after Peter Clarke was hauled down, and the Shrews went on to equalise through Junior Brown’s header just before the break.

In the second half, it was the visitors that were awarded a penalty after Charles Dunn was adjudged to have fouled Ivan Toney, and the Newcastle loanee stopped up to covert from twelve yards.

Micky Mellon’s side then made it three when Joe Riley drilled home.

The hosts were then reduced to ten men after Ousame Fane was given a second yellow, but the Latics reduced the deficit through Lee Erwin with eight minutes remaining.

And Oldham could have levelled at the death nut Freddie Ladapo saw his effort strike the bar.

 

 

Sunday 4 September

Northampton Town 3-2 Milton Keynes Dons

Unbeaten Northampton secured their first League One win of the season as they won at home against MK Dons in a five goal thriller.

The Cobblers were three goals up after just thirty minutes; first, Harry Beautyman opened the scoring after just eight minutes, before Alex Revell’s header against his former club doubled Rob Page’s sides advantage. Matt Taylor added a third with a trademark freekick as the Dons crumbled.

Dean Bowditch pulled one back before the break, before David Martin saved a Matt Taylor penalty to keep the score at 3-1.

Samir Carruthers made it 3-2 in stoppage time, but there wasn’t enough time to complete the comeback.

 

Gillingham 1-2 Sheffield United

Sheffield United recorded their second win of the season as Chris Wilder’s side came from behind to beat Gillingham.

But the Blades fell behind ten minutes before the break when Gills midfielder Bradley Dack opened the scoring with a free kick.

Billy Sharp came close to an equaliser after the restart, but he did turn provider in the 65th minute when his cross was turned in by Kieron Freeman.

And with a draw looking likely, Josh Pask handled the ball in the box, and Sharp converted from the spot in stoppage time to give the Blades their first away win of the season.