It was all change at the top of League Two this weekend,
while there were shocks at the wrong end of the table with struggling teams
desperate for points to pull away from the drop zone.
In Friday night’s only game, Exeter beat Accrington to
move up to third – subsequently slipping down to fifth after the rest of the
weekend’s action. Stanley, on the other hand, haven’t won since New Year’s Day,
with their run of poor results extending to six games. After a goalless first
half, two efforts from substitute Jimmy Keohane won it for the Grecians. The
home side’s opener arrived on 79 minutes through an edge of the area strike
before Exeter – and Keohane’s – second, three minutes later; Jamie Cureton
teeing him up with the assist.
Gillingham and Port Vale swapped places yet again at the
weekend – Gillingham’s win saw them regain top spot, with Vale losing to
Morecambe. Leon Legge opened his Gills account scoring for the hosts before the
half-hour mark. The Daggers responded early in the second period when Femi
Ilesanmi capitalised on a poor clearance but Deon Burton found the winner for
Martin Allen’s men 16 minutes later, converting a penalty which was awarded for
a foul on Anton Robinson. Meanwhile, a solitary goal for Morecambe meant that
Vale had to settle for second place. The deadlock at Vale Park was broken after
an hour when Lewis Alessandra bundled home to hand the visitors a surprise
lead. The Shrimps had to play the remaining 18 minutes with 10 men after Andrew
Wright was dismissed for a second bookable offence, but they held on – moving
up to 10th.
Burton’s demolition of recent high-flyers Fleetwood moved
them into the final automatic promotion place. They were handed an advantage
when the Cod Army’s keeper Scott Davies was sent off in the 50th
minute. Jacques Maghoma, the man felled, netted the resulting penalty and from
that point a Brewers’ defeat never looked likely. Billy Kee doubled their lead
with his neat finish before two late goals completed the rout. Maghoma added to
his tally three minutes from time before he turned provider for Calvin Zola to
finish the scoring in stoppage time.
AFC Wimbledon remained bottom of the Football League;
however, their surprise win dented the hopes of League Cup finalists Bradford,
who face Swansea on Sunday. It was the Bantams that went ahead just short of
the hour when Kyel Reid’s through-ball set up Garry Thompson. Two late goals
for the Dons turned the tide of the game and gave them much-needed maximum
points. First came the equaliser through Jack Midson’s header, before an injury
time corner met the head of Garry Alexander. A single point separates the Dons
from Plymouth in 21st.
Barnet went behind but fought back against York, securing
three points to aid their survival fight. The Minstermen scored as early as the
seventh minute when John McGrath’s free kick met Michael Rankine to put the
hosts in front. Andy Yiadom levelled on 25 minutes when he managed to poke the
ball home in a scramble and substitute Jake Hyde bagged his ninth goal of the
season with a low drive late in the second half.
Staying with the teams battling for survival, Bristol
Rovers continued their recent run of good results – making it a sixth win in
eight matches. They faced a Wycombe side who have also managed to pull away
from the drop zone. Ryan Brunt scored the game’s only goal – a volley, 10
minutes before the interval. The Gas have now secured 20 points out of a
possible 27 under John Ward. Wanderers also remain safe, 11 points separating
them and relegation.
Elsewhere, a single goal also separated Plymouth and
Oxford. James Constable helped United to their first win in six, while defeat
for Argyle saw their five-game unbeaten run ended. Constable’s 16th
minute strike was his 11th of the campaign.
There were also narrow victories for Rochdale against
Torquay, who are still without manager Martin Ling, and Rotherham who beat
Chesterfield to remain in the play-offs. Maximum points for Dale were their
first since Keith Hill returned to the helm. An early goal for right-back Ryan
Bennett turned out to be the eventual winner – after his initial shot was
blocked by Michael Poke in the Gulls’ goal, Bennett was quick to pounce on the
rebound. Rotherham sit a point off the automatic promotion places after their
home win against Chesterfield. After a dominant opening period by the Millers,
a header from skipper Johnny Mullins handed the hosts the lead after the break
and it remained 1-0.
Also in League Two, Northampton’s one man advantage
helped them beat a Southend side currently vying for the playoffs. Roy
O’Donovan opened the scoring for the Cobblers early on, before Bilel Mohsni –
in first game for Southend in nine months – saw red halfway through the opening
forty-five. It was the Frenchman’s fifth dismissal for the Shrimpers. Despite
being a man light, Matty Lund levelled the scores but captain Kelvin Langmead’s
header in stoppage time gave all three points to Aidy Boothroyd’s side.
Cheltenham and Aldershot played out the weekend’s only
draw in the basement divison. A point saw the Rubies drop out of the top three.
A goal in each half meant that both teams would finish the game on level terms.
A first half strike handed the Shots the lead, Danny Rose with the finish after
20 minutes, before Paul Benson netted a worthy equaliser. The drama didn’t end
there and with 17 minutes remaining, Aldershot were forced to see the game out
with 10 men – Anthony Tonkin receiving a second yellow card.
Tuesday
night’s results:
AFC Wimbledon 1-1 Northampton
Aldershot 1-0 Torquay
Bristol Rovers 1-2 Rotherham
Looking ahead to Saturday’s games, fourth meets seventh
as Burton take on Exeter. Gillingham can extend their lead at the top with a
win away from home; they play Chesterfield. Port Vale will look to regain top
spot when they travel to Torquay but Rotherham will have to wait ‘til Tuesday
to put pressure on the teams vying for third – they don’t play this weekend.
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