Luton Town became the new leaders of League Two on Saturday as they continued their fine run of form with a seventh straight league win. It wasn’t until the 90th minute when Luke Guttridge slotted home Michael Harriman’s pass to give the Hatters a 1-0 win over Northampton Town. The 18th placed Cobblers have now lost their last four league games and are dropping rapidly after some early season promise. Shrewsbury Town were the other main victors at the top as they continued their unbeaten home form against Portsmouth. A Jed Wallace penalty put Pompey ahead early on but goals from James Wesolowski and Connor Goldson secured a 2-1 win for the Shrews, who have now won their last four league games and move up into fourth.
Burton Albion dropped to third in the table after a disappointing 1-0 away loss at Stevenage Borough. A late Ian Sharps own goal means Stevenage move up to 15th and consigned the Brewers to a fifth league loss in eight games, as Gary Rowett continues to fend off rumours of the vacant Birmingham City hotseat.
Additionally early pacesetters Wycombe Wanderers and Bury both slipped places at the top of League Two as they dropped points against Dagenham & Redbridge and Southend respectively. The Chairboys left it late with a Peter Murphy equaliser levelling matters for a 1-1 draw against the Daggers at Adams Park, seeing them drop to second. The Shakers also had to come from behind as substitute for the day Craig Jones came off the bench to cancel out Barry Corr’s opener at Roots Hall. Although the result sees David Flitcroft’s side drop to fifth, it at least stopped a run of three straight league away defeats.
Plymouth Argyle were non-movers within the top seven as they remain sixth after a 3-0 home win against Cheltenham Town. The league’s best defence kept a further clean sheet, whilst goals from Reuben Reid, Peter Hartley and Lewis Alessandra means the Robins slip to eleventh. Newport County kept themselves in the playoff picture despite a 1-1 draw at Rodney Parade against the league’s worst away defensive unit, Accrington Stanley. A stunning strike from on-loan Charlton striker Joe Pigott salvaged a point for the home side, which extends their unbeaten league run to four games.
At the opposite end of League Two Tranmere Rovers moved off the bottom but remain in the relegation zone after a 2-2 draw at AFC Wimbledon. Armand Gnanduillet levelled twice for Rovers who now have no wins in ten league games, whilst Neal Ardley’s Wimbledon remain in mid-table. This result consigned Hartlepool United to the root of the division after they went down 2-1 at the Abbey Stadium to the league’s top scorers Cambridge United. Ryan Donaldson and Harrison Dunk scored either side of a Marlon Harewood strike to see Cambridge climb from 15th to 12th in the table.
Oxford United’s Danny Hylton took some personal plaudits away from their encounter against Carlisle United, as he now leads the league for goals scored with 9 after his 45th minute strike at Brunton Park. Unfortunately for Oxford second half goals from Mark Beck and Derek Asamoah meant they travelled back down south with no points, as the Cumbrians move up one spot to 20th.
Elsewhere in League Two this weekend York City and Mansfield played out a 1-1 draw at Bootham Crescent. Daniel Carr levelled matters for the away side after Diego De Girolamo had put the Minstermen ahead in the first half. The result does nothing for the teams league positions and extends either clubs winless runs. The final fixture on Sunday saw Exeter City head north to take on playoff placed Morecambe at the Globe arena. An early own goal from Shaun Beeley and late strike from Tom Nichols sees the Grecians climb to tenth after a 2-0 win, whilst the Shrimps slip out of the playoff spots to eighth.