League Two Round-up: Plymouth and Oxford held as Portsmouth thrash York

Plymouth Argyle continue to top the table, however the chasing pack were given hope as neither them, or second-placed Oxford United could manage a victory.

The Pilgrims kept themselves at the summit when Curtis Nelson equalised late on to rescue a 1-1 draw against Leyton Orient at Home Park. Jay Simpson had earlier netted his 14th goal this season with the point moving the O’s up to sixth.

Second-placed Oxford United could also only manage a draw at home, 1-1 against Newport. Up against a rejuvenated County side, the U’s had to rely on a Pat Hoban strike to bring them level after Lenell John-Lewis had put the visitors ahead. John Sheridan’s Welsh outfit are now six games undefeated in the league.

Hoban rescued a point for Oxford.

Northampton remain third, but only behind Oxford on goal difference, after a 2-1 win away at Crawley. The in-form Cobblers took an early two-goal lead and managed to hold on for victory despite Brendan Moloney’s 59th-minute red card and Simon Walton’s subsequent penalty.

Portsmouth ended their five-match winless run in emphatic style with a 6-0 destruction of ten-man York City. Marc McNulty’s second half hat-trick, after Jonathan Greening’s first half red card, helped Pompey convincingly hand the Minstermen their fifth successive league defeat.

That result drops Jackie McNamara’s side into the relegation zone after Dagenham and Redbridge moved off the bottom, and out of the drop zone, with their first win in 11 league games away at Wimbledon.

Jamie Cureton was the Daggers’ match winner on 80 minutes when Dons goalkeeper Ben Wilson fumbled his shot over the line.

Carlisle occupy the final play-off spot after coming out on top in a seven-goal thriller at Luton. The Hatters were 3-1 up after an hour, but the Cumbrians pulled off a stunning comeback with Derek Asamoah’s 80th-minute winner earning Keith Curle’s side an amazing 4-3 victory.

Exeter travelled to Mansfield and came out 2-0 winners courtesy of goals from Joel Grant and Lee Holmes. Both sides are now level on 29 points, just one point outside the top-seven.

Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth.

Wycombe Wanderers join them in the group on 29 points after a 1-0 victory over Yeovil. Luke O’Nien scored the game’s only goal as the struggling Glovers slip back to the foot of the table.

Stevenage gave themselves some breathing space at the bottom, coming out 2-1 winners away at Bristol Rovers. Chris Whelpdale’s goal after an hour was enough to pick up all three points and move Teddy Sheringham’s side seven points clear of the bottom-two.

It was a goals galore in the following two fixtures with both games producing 4-2 scorelines.

Two Mike Edwards goals helped Notts County come out on top against Barnet, while Shaun Derry picked up his first win in charge of Cambridge United away at Morecambe.

Accrington, who started the night in fourth, drop down a place after their match against Hartlepool was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

Player of the Night: Marc McNulty (Portsmouth)
Team of the Night: Dagenham & Redbridge
Goal of the Night: Lenell John-Lewis (Oxford vs NEWPORT)