League Two round-up

By Tom Adams  

League Two round-up

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Teams

  • Barnet FC
  • Bristol Rovers

Players

  • Matty Appleby
  • Martin Smith

Carlisle maintained their formidable advantage whilst a victory for Torquay means that just six points now separates the bottom six in League Two.

Paul Simpson's side required a late strike to record a 2-1 win at home to Notts County and The Cumbrians still have a game in hand over Northampton - although Leyton Orient dropped off the pace.

County had taken the lead through Steve Scoffham on 25 minutes, but a Michael Bridges strike (47) ensured Carlisle set up a grandstand finish.

With a minute left Bridges again showed his quality with the winner to maintain his side's five-point advantage at the top of the table.

Northampton remain in contention as they beat relegation candidates Stockport 2-0 at Sixfields Stadium.

The visitors desperately needed a result to escape the relegation mire but goals from Scott McGleish (54) and Martin Smith (73) left County two points clear of the bottom two.

Leyon Orient were unable to match Northampton, but a 0-0 draw with Grismby kept them one point clear of Russell Slade's side in the last automatic promotion slot.

At the other end of the table Torquay kept their diminishing survival hopes alive with a 2-0 win at Macclesfield - with both goals coming from Jo-Osei Kuffour (55, 90).

The Gulls began the day six points shy of safety, but only cut the deficit by one as Barnet beat Mansfield 1-0 at Underhill.

Liam Hatch was the hero for the London side as his 11th minute strike moved them three points clear of second-bottom Rushden & Diamonds, and Mansfield did little to help their own cause as both Giles Coke and Danny Reet were dismissed in the second half.

Jim Smith's Oxford revival suffered a blow as a 1-0 defeat to Boston United left them three points clear of safety.

Alan White (6) ensured the home side are still in contention for a play-off spot as they cut the gap on the top seven to four points.

Bury joined Oxford and Barnet on 48 points after a 0-0 home draw with Chester at Gigg Lane.

Fifth placed Cheltenham blocked Darlington's entry to the top seven with a 1-1 draw at Whaddon Road.

The visitors had taken the lead through Neil Wainwright (50), but a Grant McCann penalty nine minutes later restored parity.

Both teams were reduced to ten men when Michael Townsend and Matthew Appleby were dismissed on 69 minutes for violent conduct.

Lincoln, however, moved into the top seven as a 3-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers saw them leapfrog Peterborough.

Jamie Forrester (61, 81) and Francis Green (73) did the damage for the visitors as Wycombe failed to secure their place in the play-offs.

Peterborough slipped up in a 1-0 defeat to Rochdale that lifted Steve Parkin's men five points clear of the drop zone.

Iyseden Christie gave the home side a boost in their bid to retain league football when he scored on 72 minutes.

Both Wrexham and Bristol Rovers are now four points shy of the play-off places after the Welsh side secured a 1-0 victory courtesy of a Matt Derbyshire strike after just five minutes.

Click below for match summaries:
Barnet 1-0 Mansfield Town
Boston United 1-0 Oxford United
Bury 0-0 Chester City
Carlisle United 2-1 Notts County
Cheltenham Town 1-1 Darlington
Leyton Orient 0-0 Grimsby Town
Macclesfield 0-2 Torquay United
Northampton Town 2-0 Stockport County
Rochdale 1-0 Peterborough United
Wrexham 1-0 Bristol Rovers
Wycombe Wanderers 0-3 Lincoln City