League Two Round-Up

By Tom Adams  

League Two Round-Up

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Teams

  • Accrington Stanley
  • Barnet FC

Players

  • David Rowson
  • Keith Andrews

Swindon Town were unable to join Hartlepool United and Walsall in winning promotion, whilst wins for Boston United and Wrexham saw the League Two relegation battle intensify.

Paul Sturrock's Robins begun the day knowing that the third automatic promotion place would be theirs if they could better MK Dons' result, and in the end both sides claimed victories to leave the gap standing at six points with two games to go.

Swindon upheld their end of the bargain with a 2-0 win over Mansfield Town thanks to a strike from Barry Corr (4) and an own goal from Jon-Olav Hjelde (38).

MK Dons triumphed 2-1 at Stockport, a result that leaves County with a four point lead to protect if they are to secure a play-off place in the next two games.

Dons took a two-goal lead through Clive Platt (24) and Keith Andrews (55), whilst Stockport set up a grandstand finish thanks to Anthony Pilkington (80).

The destination of the League Two title is still yet to be decided and Walsall missed the chance to draw level with Hartlepool United on 88 points as a Tom Youngs' goal after 42 minutes condemned them to a 1-0 defeat at home to Bury.

Lincoln were unable to confirm their place in the play-offs after a 0-0 draw with Bristol Rovers, but, barring a freak run of results, City will secure a spot whilst The Pirates are four points shy of the top seven with three games to play.

Peterborough are now level with Rovers on 63 points, albeit having played a game more, after hammering Hereford United 3-0 at home.

Craig Mackail-Smith (1), Alan White (13) and Gavin Strachan (50) scored the goals for Posh as they kept their promotion hopes alive.

Rochdale, Wycombe and Darlington remain just in touch and a further point behind.

The crucial result saw Wanderers defeated 3-2 away at Darlington, with goals from Matt Bloomfield (11) and Jermaine Easter (50) not enough in reply to a brace from Neil Wainwright (26, 47) and a third from David Rowson (70).

Rochdale's thumping 5-0 victory ensured Macclesfield remain firmly mired in the relegation battle, with Paul Ince's side now just two points clear of the drop zone.

The Silkmen could have secured their league status at the start of the day, but a hat-trick from Chris Dagnall (20, 41, 46) and a brace from Glenn Murray (47, 59) condemned them to a heavy defeat.

A somewhat surprising 1-0 win for Boston United at home to Chester City was terrible news for Macclesfield, particularly given Steve Evans could only name three substitutes due to a chronic shortage of players.

Boston's staff have not been paid for two months, but Jamie Stevens popped up with a priceless strike on 83 minutes to keep them afloat after Chester saw Kevin Sandwith dismissed on 17 minutes for handball.

Wrexham also matched Boston's victory to remain level with The Pilgrims on 45 points, just two behind Accrington and Macclesfield, thanks to a 1-0 win at home to bottom club Torquay.

Neil Roberts scored after 79 minutes to ensure a dramatic finish to the season with five points separating the teams in 18th to 23rd place.

Accrington remain firmly in trouble despite taking the lead through Paul Mullin (10), as goals from Neil Ashton (33) and Ben Davies (62) secured a 2-1 win for Shrewsbury Town.

In a largely meaningless fixture, Grimsby hammered Barnet 5-0 with goals coming from Gary Jones (26), Danny North (39, 72, 90 pen) and Nick Fenton (80).

Click below for individual match summaries:
Boston 1-0 Chester
Bristol Rovers 0-0 Lincoln
Darlington 3-2 Wycombe
Grimsby 5-0 Barnet
Peterborough 3-0 Hereford
Rochdale 5-0 Macclesfield
Shrewsbury 2-1 Accrington Stanley
Stockport 1-2 Milton Keynes Dons
Swindon 2-0 Mansfield
Walsall 0-1 Bury
Wrexham 1-0 Torquay