League Two Round-Up: Plymouth establish five-point gap, Portsmouth drop out of top three

Plymouth Argyle extended their lead at the top of the League Two table to five points after they won 2-0 away at Leyton Orient on Tuesday night.

The high-flying Pilgrims were given an unexpected early helping hand when the O’s midfielder Robbie Weir was sent off in the first minute of the game. They were made to pay when Jimmy Spencer scored after just 11 minutes, but the Londoner’s gifts weren’t finished yet.

Just three minutes later, Jens Janse received his marching orders and Orient were down to nine-men with less than 15 minutes played. The hosts held on until late in the second-half when Ryan Donaldson finally broke their resistance with the Devonshire boys’ second strike.

Hatters boss Nathan Jones – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Luton Town moved up to second, but lost ground on the leaders after a 1-1 with Hartlepool United. Nathan Thomas had given Pool the lead, but after captain Nicky Featherstone’s dismissal, they were unable to hold on and Alan Sheehan netted the Hatters’ equaliser.

Doncaster Rovers moved into the automatic promotion places, despite dropping points, as they were held 2-2 at home by Carlisle United. Tommy Rowe and John Marquis put Rovers 2-1 ahead at half-time, ahead Shaun Miller’s 15th minute opener for the visitors, but after Rowe missed from the penalty spot, Jabo Ibehre came off the bench to pull the Cumbrians level. A point drops Keith Curle’s side down a place to seventh.

Portsmouth dropped out of the top three after a 3-1 defeat away at Blackpool. Kelvin Mellor, Brad Potts and Kyle Vassell were on target for the Tangerines as they move up 13th spot. Teenage striker Conor Chaplin netted the consolation for Pompey.

Notts County jumped up into fifth place with a 2-0 away win at Exeter City. A brace from Jonathan Stead, his eighth and ninth league goals of the season, was enough to pick up all three points for the Magpies. The Grecians drop to 22nd, just one place and one point above the relegation zone.

Grimsby Town leapt up to sixth spot with a 1-0 win over Newport County. Omar Bogle, the league’s joint top scorer, scored the game’s only goal from the spot to secure a second successive 1-0 victory for the Mariners. Defeat for the Welsh side drops them to the bottom of the standings.

Crewe Alexandra dropped out of the play-off places after they were comprehensively beaten 5-1 away at Wycombe Wanderers. Two goals from Scott Kashket and one apiece from Sam Wood, Paris Cowan-Hall and Dominic Gape gave the Chairboys an easy victory, which lifted them up to 19th. George Cooper netted Crewe’s consolation.

Morecambe dropped out of the top seven after they were held 2-2 by Barnet. Goals from Tom Barkhuizen and Cole Stockton cancelled out John Akinde’s brace for the Bees. The Shrimps fall to ninth, but only goal difference keeps them out of the play-off spots.

Stead has now netted nine goals in his last nine league outings for Notts County – Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

At the other end of the table, Cambridge United moved off the bottom with a 1-0 win over Yeovil Town. Mark Roberts netted the game’s only goal for the U’s as they climb to 21st. The Glovers drop to 20th.

Cheltenham Town drop into the relegation zone after their goalless draw with Stevenage on Tuesday night. The Robins, without a league win in their last five games, slip to 23rd. The away side stay 18th.

Accrington Stanley and Mansfield Town stay within touching distance of the play-offs, despite being held to a 1-1 draw. Chris Clements put the Stags ahead, before Terry Gornell levelled for Stanley.

And finally, Crawley Town hosted Colchester United in the evening’s other fixture, with this fixture also finishing 1-1. Adi Yussuf put the home side ahead, before Chris Porter levelled late on for the U’s.

Team of Midweek: Wycombe
Player of Midweek: Jonathan Stead (Notts County)