All the goals from around the Grecians' division
Exeter City fans could be excused from paying too much attention to the rest of the action from Sky Bet League 2 this weekend, after the Grecians’ memorable derby-day win over Plymouth Argyle.
After the Under-21s’ win over Torquay United on Monday (and the under-18s’ victory against the Gulls earlier in the day), Saturday’s 3-1 victory rounded off a fantastic week for Paul Tisdale’s men. As if you need reminding, it was two goals in the last ten minutes from Alan Gow and Scot Bennett that secured the bragging rights for the Grecians, with their two goals coming after Arron Davies’s opener was cancelled out by Luke Young’s free-kick.
For many, a performance like that might have been enough to send them home happy, but results elsewhere mean the Grecians got the added bonus of returning to the third and final automatic promotion place, once again with a points ratio of two per game, now having amassed 20 from their first ten fixtures.
Padraig Amond celebrates scoring Morecambe's fourth to complete a turnaround
Padraig Amond celebrates scoring Morecambe's fourth to complete a turnaround
The league leaders found themselves on the wrong end of a seven-goal thriller at the Globe Arena as Morecambe produced an unbelievable comeback to take three points with a 4-3 win against Chesterfield. After going without defeat in the first eight games of the season, the Spireites have now lost their last two, which has allowed the chasing pack to close the gap. Paul Cook’s side were 3-0 up after just 20 minutes, as Eoin Doyle scored twice either side of a Gary McSheffrey strike. But the second half was a completely different story, as the home side somehow managed to win it. Kevin Ellison got the ball rolling before Mark Hughes and Jack Sampson tied things up, and then Padraig Amond’s fourth goal of the season secured the points for the Shrimps.
Former Gull Ryan Jarvis compounded his old side's misery for York
There were a couple of big away wins as YorkCity and Hartlepool United were successful at Torquay United and Mansfield Town respectively. All of the Minstermen’s goals came in the second period, as Wes Fletcher struck before a Josh Carson free-kick, and a third in the 3-0 was added by Ryan Jarvis against his former club to condemn the Gulls to a fourth defeat in their last five League 2 games. Pools pulled themselves away from the drop zone with a thumping 4-1 win at Field Mill. Sam Clucas got his fifth goal of the season from the penalty spot, but that was the only high point for the home side as a spectacular Andy Monkhouse strike, a brace from Jack Compton and another from James Poole secured Colin Cooper’s side their ninth points of the season.
Oxford United were leapfrogged by Exeter after falling to a 2-0 home defeat to Southend United. Conor Clifford and Luke Prosser were the scorers in this one, as the game was won in the first half for the Shrimpers. A Billy Kee double, with one from the penalty spot, was enough for Burton Albion to leave Wycombe Wanderers with three points. Matt McClure scored in injury time to put the result into a degree of doubt, but Gary Rowett’s side held on for 2-1. Scunthorpe United’s recent unbeaten run this weekend saw them claim a play-off place as they beat Cheltenham Town, who are now just one place above the relegation zone, at Glanford Park. Etienne Esajas got the Iron in front after just six minutes, and Sam Winnall elevated Brian Laws’ side to seventh late on by rounding off the 2-0 win.
Jamille Matt was at the double for Fleetwood against Bristol Rovers
The side between Chesterfield and Exeter in second is Fleetwood Town, who also got a good away win at Bristol Rovers. John-Joe O’Toole quickly erased Jamille Matt’s opener, but the former Kidderminster man got another late on before big Jon Parkin made sure of a win 3-1 in stoppage time. Lee Collins and debutant Stuart Dallas were on target as Northampton Town finally got back to winning ways with a 2-0 at AFC Wimbledon. The Cobblers hadn’t been victorious since the 3-1 win against Newport County AFC on the second matchday of this League 2 season, so the three points here were invaluable for Aidy Boothroyd’s side.
Friday night saw Dagenham & Redbridge win at bottom club Accrington Stanley. Zavon Hines and Rhys Murphy stuck the knife into winless Stanley, who had James Gray to credit with their consolation in the 2-1 defeat. The Daggers are now just outside the top seven. It was a one-sided Saturday afternoon at Fratton Park as Portsmouth ended Rochdale’s five-match unbeaten run with a 3-0 victory. Jed Wallace got the first for Guy Whittingham’s side before defender Bondz N’Gala headed the second. Pompey’s third was a carbon-copy of their second: N’Gala again heading in, the 24-year-old scoring 40 per cent of his total career goals in this one. Finally, there was a point apiece as Bury and Newport County AFC contested a drab 0-0 draw at Gigg Lane.