League Two round-up: Carlisle finally beaten
Saturday 12 November 2016 18:43, UK
Second-placed Carlisle suffered a shock first defeat of the Sky Bet League Two season as they were beaten 2-0 at bottom club Newport.
Goals either side of half-time from on-loan pair Josh Sheehan and Rhys Healey secured a second successive victory for Graham Westley's Exiles and ended the Cumbrians' 16-game unbeaten league run dating back to last season.
Midfielder Sheehan, borrowed from Swansea, opened the scoring inside two minutes at Rodney Parade before Cardiff loanee Healey finished a counter-attack 18 minutes from time to wrap up the points.
Defeat for Carlisle allowed leaders Plymouth to stretch their advantage to seven points as they came from behind to win 2-1 at Crewe. Alex Kiwomya put the hosts ahead early on but Alex midfielder George Cooper squandered the opportunity to double the advantage when his penalty was saved by Pilgrims goalkeeper Luke McCormick.
Strikes from Craig Tanner and Graham Carey then turned the game in the visitors' favour to stretch their unbeaten league record to 13 games.
John Marquis scored twice for Doncaster as they recovered from going behind to beat Exeter 3-1 and hang on to third spot. Rovers substitute Liam Mandeville cancelled out Reuben Reid's penalty before Marquis struck twice in the final 15 minutes to send the Grecians into the relegation zone.
Portsmouth climbed to fourth after thrashing nine-man Mansfield 4-0 at Fratton Park. Gary Roberts edged Pompey ahead from the penalty spot before Stags defenders Kyle Howkins and Alex Iacovitti were dismissed in the second half.
Striker Noel Hunt secured victory for the hosts with six minutes left before Carl Baker added a late brace.
Omar Bogle missed a last-minute penalty as Marcus Bignot was denied victory in his first game in charge of Grimsby as Barnet came from two goals down to draw 2-2. Bogle put his side in control with two first-half strikes but the league's top-scorer John Akinde levelled with two penalties. Bogle then fired over from the spot at the death following the dismissal of Bees defender Alie Sesay.
Greg Taylor scored for the first time in two and a half years to help Cambridge to a 3-1 win at Crawley. Defender Taylor, who last found the net in March 2014, cancelled out James Collins' opener before Uche Ikpeazu and Luke Berry sealed victory to move Shaun Derry's men away from the bottom two.
Kyle Vassell bagged a brace for Blackpool as they climbed to ninth with a 4-0 thrashing of Notts County. Fellow forwards Colin Daniel and Jamille Matt scored in between Vassell's strikes, while County substitute Vadaine Oliver was sent off 11 minutes from time.
Jay Simpson's brace and a goal from defender Nicky Hunt earned Leyton Orient a 3-0 win at Colchester, while Luton hung on for a 1-0 victory over Accrington after Jordan Cook was sent off with seven minutes remaining following Cameron McGeehan's ninth goal of the campaign.
Substitute Ben Whitfield rescued a point for Yeovil with a stoppage-time equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Stevenage after Ben Kennedy's double put the hosts on course for victory following Ryan Hedges' opener.
Elsewhere, goals from Lewis Alessandra and Matthew Bates gave Hartlepool a 2-0 success over Cheltenham, while Wycombe beat Morecambe by the same scoreline thanks to Aaron Pierrer and Luke O'Nien.
