Shrewsbury 1-2 Plymouth

Another away win for Plymouth sees the Pilgrims stay one point clear at the top of League One ahead of Ipswich Town. The green army faced Mid table Shrewsbury Town, who had not one in five before the meeting on Tuesday night. However, Shrewsbury did open the scoring in the match when Luke Leahy played in Crystal Palace loanee Killian Phillips. Bearing down on goal the Irishmen from just inside the right corner of the box hit a right-footed shot past Argyle goalkeeper Callum Burton into the top left corner. In the 68th minute the visitors equalized through club captain Joe Edwards. Great play from forward Niall Ennis, saw the former Burton player win the ball from the Shrewsbury defence and keep it in, near the left corner flag, before swinging in a curling cross. The cross reached Edwards at the back post who headed the ball into the net. In the 6th minute of added time Plymouth took the lead. Following a set piece, the ball found its way to Jay Matete who laid the ball to Macauley Gillesphey. The defence set in a curling cross from the right which went all the way to the back post. Lurking at the back post was midfielder Callum Wright who headed the ball into the bottom left corner from close range. It was the former Cheltenham Town and Blackpool midfielder’s third of the season and his most important. The goal saw Plymouth move from third to the top of the table and with four games left the green army only need eight points to seal promotion to the second tier since the 2001-02 season. 

Ipswich 2-1 Port Vale 

Ipswich came from behind to beat managerless Port Vale at home in front of a crowd of 27,696 at Portman Road. Port Vale who parted companies with Darrell Clarke on Monday took the lead in the encounter deep into first half added time. In the third minute of added time, a cross from David Worral was cleared by the Ipswich defence it fell to Mal Benning who took one touch before hitting a sweet left-footed volley into the bottom right corner from just outside the box. Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton was left with no chance and the visitors were ahead at the break. In the 53rd minute the home side equalised a cross from the right by Wes Burns was hit on the run by fellow Welshman Nathan Broadhead in the box. The 25-year-old finish went into the bottom left corner past Vale goalkeeper Aidan Stone. In 84th minute the Tractor Boys were awarded a penalty a cross from right-back Harry Clarke struck the hand of Vale goal scorer Benning and referee Rob Lewis pointed to the spot. Broadhead step up and put his penalty in the bottom left corning sending Stone the wrong way. The comeback was complete and Kieran McKenna’s side are now unbeaten in 14 league and have one five of their last six. The Tractor Boys have a huge game away to Peterborough on Saturday where they can’t afford to drop points with Sheffield Wednesday one point behind them in third. Port Vale sit in 18th just six points outside the relegation zone with relegation rivals Oxford and Cambridge having a game in hand on the Valiants.   

Bristol Rovers 1-2 Sheffield Wednesday

Sheffield Wednesday return to winning ways with a win at mid table Bristol Rovers. In the 26th minute the visitors took the lead a poor pass from Bristol Rovers’ centre-back Jarell Quansah was intercepted by Wednesday striker Michael Smith who found his striker partner Lee Gregory. The striker slipped in Barry Bannan, who from the left of the box took one touch before hitting a left footed shot into the bottom right corner. It was the Scotsman seventh of the season and showed again how the 33-year-old is too good for this division. In the 41st minute it was 0-2 to the visitors a corner from the right by Bannan caused problems and with Bristol Rovers failing to clear the ball eventually fell to Wednesday defender Akin Famewo who hit the ball into the roof of the net sending the 1,259 away Wednesday fans crazy. Straight into the second half the home side pulled one back. Rovers’ goalkeeper James Belshaw sent the ball forward and his ball went all the way to Aaron Collins who shrugged of Sheffield Wednesday central defender Dominic Ioafa before rolling the ball into the bottom corner of the net past Wednesday goalkeeper Cameron Dawson. It was the Welshman’s 16th of the season which equalled his tally for the last season in League Two. Despite constant pressure from the gas which included a John Marquis offside goal Sheffield Wednesday held on for an important win which keeps them third but only one point of Ipswich and two of Plymouth at the top of the table. The Owls are at home to Exeter next Saturday and three points is a must for Darren Moore’s side.   

Accrington 1-2 Peterborough

Peterborough moved into 5th position with a win a relegation threatened Accrington Stanley. Accrington Stanley sit in 23rd and miss the chance to move level on points with Oxford with a win, who currently occupy the last position above the dotted line. Posh took the lead in the 23rd minute a through ball by Jack Taylor found Jonson Clarke-Harris, the 28-year-old ran past Accrington defender Michael Nottingham before hitting a shot low into the near post. It was the league top scorers’ 25th of the season. In the 43rd minute it was 0-2 to the away side a great run from winger Kwame Poku saw the 21-year-old Ghanaian come inside before just outside the box slipping in Ephron Mason-Clarke who flicked the ball into the bottom left corner past Accrington goalkeeper Lukas Jensen. The Accrington players thought that Mason-Clarke was offside when he received the ball and surrounded the referee. The goal stood and it was a ninth for Mason-Clarke in an impressive season. Accrington did pull one back in the 87th minute when a low cross by Rosaire Longelo was flicked in by Sean McConville for his fifth of the season. But this was not enough, and the defeat was Accrington’s third in four. Stanley head to Portsmouth next Saturday whilst Peterborough are at home to Ipswich Town in a massive match.  

Burton 1-1 Bolton 

Bolton drop to sixth as the Whites can only manage a point away at the Pirelli Stadium against Burton Albion. The Wanderers took the lead in the 5th minute when a backheel from Conor Bradley found its way to Aaron Morley the midfielder body fainted Burton midfielder Mark Helm before letting fly from distance. His shot deflected of Bolton striker Victor Adeboyejo and into the back of the net. The 25-year-old spent the first half of this season at Burton where he signed in the summer from Barnsley. The Nigerian scored 13 in 34 for Burton before his January move to Bolton. The deflected strike was Adeboyejo’s third in twelve appearances in a Bolton shirt. In the 51st minute a massive chance for Burton saw Morley play a lose pass and play in Charlie Kirk for Burton. One on one against Bolton goalkeeper James Trafford the former Crewe and Blackpool winger didn’t look confident, and his shot was saved by Trafford. In the 59th minute the Brewers equalised a flick on by Dale Taylor found substitute, who just came on, Josh Walker the midfielder laid the ball to Helm who let fly just outside the box to the right. His low shot was saved exceptionally by Trafford, but it fell to Walker who had two bites of the cherry before rolling the ball into the net from close range. The match finished 1-1 a disappointing result for Bolton but one which Burton deserved a point out of. This Saturday Bolton are at home to Shrewsbury and will need to get three points if they want to stay in a playoff position.  

Oxford 1-1 Portsmouth 

Oxford are now winless in sixteen after a draw with Portsmouth. The yellows sit one point and one position above the relegation zone. Whereas for Portsmouth four draws in the last four against week opposition seems to be the end to their playoffs hopes. Pompey took the lead in the 26th minute through a wonderful freekick from Marlon Pack. The former Bristol City and Cardiff man hit a curling free kick from the left into the top left corner. Oxford goalkeeper Simon Eastwood was left with no chance. It was Pack’s fourth of the season and second in two games. In the 37th minute the home side equalised a corner from Cameron Brannagan was headed into the top right corner from the centre of the box by Sam Long. It was a great header, and it was the right backs third of the season. In the second half Long nearly scored in his own net. A corner for Portsmouth was headed by Long it hit Eastwood and then Elliott Moore, but it was cleared of the line. A great chance for Oxford to win it in saw a Sam Long cross reach Gatlin O’Donkor in the middle. From five yards out the 18-year-olds header went past the left post it was a massive chance for Oxford to win the game. Oxford are away to Barnsley on Saturday but still have to play Accrington and Forest Green this season the two bottom sides. Liam Manning will hope his side can win those six pointers and have enough to stay up.

Exeter 1-2 Derby 

Derby are now just out of the playoffs on goal difference after a crucial win at midtable Exeter City. Derby took the lead in the match in the 52nd minute as Conor Hourihane laid the ball to David McGoldrick from a freekick situation. From the left outside of the box the Irish striker curled the ball into the right corner. A great goal from McGoldrick and one which left Exeter goalkeeper Jamal Blackman with no chance. In the 76th minute it was 0-2 to the Rams and it was that man McGoldrick again. McGoldrick found Derby winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in the right corner of the box. The former Cardiff man then played the ball back to McGoldrick who was in the box. The former Sheffield United striker took one touch to get pass Exeter midfielder Kgaogelo Chauke before leashing a powerful shot into the bottom left corner. It was the 35-year-olds 21st of the season and fifth in five games. Exeter did pull a goal back in the 78th minute when a cross from the right by Josh Key was dropped by Derby goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith and headed into an empty net by Jack Sparkes. However, Derby did hold on to take all three points. Derby entertain Burton on Saturday at Pride Park where three points is a must for the Rams if they want to end up in the playoffs at the end of the season.  

Cambridge 1-2 Wycombe 

Cambridge still sit in the bottom four after their four match unbeaten run comes to and end after a lost at home against Wycombe Wanderers. The away side took the lead in the 33rd minute after a Lewis Wing cross from a freekick from the right was poked in by centre-back Ryan Tafazolli. It was the former Hull and Peterborough defenders second of the season and first since the 1st of January. The Chairboy’s doubled their lead in the 44th minute through winger David Wheeler. The ball fell to Wycombe and former Wales striker Sam Vokes in the box who swivelled and got his shot away. The 33-year-olds shot hit the underside of the crossbar and stayed out but their was former Mk Dons winger Wheeler to head the ball home from one yard out. In the 62nd minute the home side pulled one back great strength from Jack Lankester saw the midfielder find Harvey Knibbs. The midfielder slipped in striker Sam Smith, who from inside the box rolled his shot into the bottom left corner with his left foot. It was the strikers 11th of the season but it wasn’t enough as Wycombe held on to keep their slip playoffs ambitions alive. Cambridge next game is away at top of the table Plymouth Argyle on Saturday which proves to be a massive game for both sides.  

MK Dons 0-1 Charlton

Mk Dons are still only three points from safety after a disappointing loss to 10th place Charlton at Stadium MK. Charlton broke the deadlock in the 61st minute after George Dobson played a ball through the lines to find Crystal Palace loanee Jesurun Rak-Sakyi. The winger found Jack Payne on the right of the box who took one touch before smashing the ball into the top left corner. It was the former Swindon Town man’s third of the season in the league and first since the beginning of October. The former Southend midfielders’ goal was the only goal of the game as Charlton held on for the victory. The match was a missed chance for Mk Dons to get a win and give themselves clear daylight over Oxford and Cambridge below them who are two and one point behind The Dons both with a game in hand. Mk Dons are away to midtable Fleetwood on Saturday who have nothing to play for whilst Charlton are at home to third from bottom Morecambe.  

Lincoln 0-0 Barnsley

Barnsley lose ground on the top three with a goalless draw at Lincoln. The best chance of the first half for Barnsley saw midfielder Herbie Kane hit a right-footed shot from the centre of the box over the bar in the 32nd minute. In the 44th minute the home side were inches away from taking the lead. A corner by Harry Boyes from the left was headed onto the bar by Paudie O’Connor. Barnsley goalkeeper Harry Isted was left with no chance. In a quiet second half the only big chance saw a goalmouth scramble be cleared by Lincoln after a freekick caused problems. The draw keeps Barnsley in 4th  five points behind Sheffield Wednesday in third with a game in hand. The Tykes welcome struggling Oxford United to Oakwell in a must win for both sides.  

Forest Green 0-0 Fleetwood 

Already relegated Forest Green Rovers draw at home to midtable Fleetwood in front of 1,716 fans at The Bolt New Lawn. The game had very little chances with both sides having to shoot from distance. A chance for the away side saw right-back Shaun Rooney take on a shot from just outside the box. His shot was saved down to his left by goalkeeper Ross Doohan.  A chance late on in the match for the home side saw Harvey Bunker take on a shot from distance which was tipped over by Fleetwood goalkeeper Jay Lynch. Forest Green are away this Saturday to Cheltenham in the Gloucestershire derby where the Rovers will look to the double over the Robins after beating them 1-0 at The Bolt New Lawn in December.  

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