League 2 round-up: Northampton extend unbeaten run with draw away at Mansfield
Monday 28 March 2016 18:27, UK
Northampton Town maintained their 13-point lead at the top of Sky Bet League 2 with a hard-fought draw away at Mansfield.
The Cobblers, who are now unbeaten in their last 17 league games, came from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw at Field Mill.
Two early goals from Matt Green had put the home side comfortably in front before Jamie McGuire was sent off shortly before the half-time break for a second bookable offence.
Northampton capitalised on their man advantage and pulled a goal back from the penalty spot through Ricky Holmes before John Marquis stabbed home an equaliser from close range to rescue a point.
Second place Oxford United failed to take advantage of Northampton's slip-up after being held to a goalless draw away at Cambridge.
Both sides spurned a number of goal scoring opportunities in an entertaining encounter at the Abbey Stadium.
Meanwhile, third place Plymouth Argyle edged out York City in a five-goal thriller at Home Park.
Argyle raced into a three-goal lead thanks to first-half strikes from Jamille Matt, Reuben Reid and a William Boyle headed own goal.
Russell Penn then fired in from long range just after the break to restore the visitors' hopes before Luke Summerfield further reduced the deficit further with a penalty five minutes from time.
Plymouth held out to take the win and maintain their one-point advantage over fourth place Accrington.
Stanley continued their good run of form with a 2-0 win over Newport at Rodney Parade.
Two first-half goals in as many minutes from Billy Kee and Josh Windass proved to be the difference between the two sides.
Newport, who have now scored just once in their last four league matches, fall to 18th following the defeat.
Bristol Rovers lost ground in the promotion race after slipping to a 3-2 defeat away at Carlisle.
Goals from Rovers' Billy Bodin and Matty Taylor had cancelled out strikes from Jack Stacey and Charlie Wyke before Jason Kennedy sealed the points for the home side with a cute chipped finish from outside the area.
Elsewhere, Barnet needed an injury time penalty to beat Luton 2-1 at The Hive.
The home side took the lead through Luke Gambin, who cut in from the right to power a shot into the bottom left corner.
Cameron McGeehan looked to have secured a point for the visitors five minutes from time when he lashed home a rebound inside the box.
However, John Akinde stepped up to steal all three points for the hosts with a 96th-minute penalty, after Scott Cuthbert handled inside the area.
Wycombe remain in the play-off places despite being held to a goalless draw by Notts County.
The Magpies dominated much of the match and came closest to scoring through Hadyn Hollis, who saw a late header spectacularly saved by Ryan Allsop.
Exeter kept alive their slim hopes of a play-off spot with a 2-0 win away at mid-table Crawley.
Goals from Jake Taylor and Ollie Watkins were enough to secure a vital with for The Grecians, who are now five points behind seventh place Wycombe.
Hartlepool moved 14 points clear of the relegation places with an impressive 2-0 victory at Leyton Orient.
After having an earlier goal disallowed for offside, Billy Paynter put the visitors ahead from close range after some good work down the left from Jake Carroll.
Nathan Thomas then doubled his side's advantage midway through the second half to secure Hartlepool's second successive league win.
Orient, who have now lost their last two league games, remain just outside the play-off spots in eighth.
Meanwhile, the day's early kick-off between Wimbledon and Portsmouth was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Kingsmeadow.
