League Two Round-Up: Plymouth secure Xmas number 1 spot

Plymouth scored in stoppage-time to ensure they went top of League Two at Christmas with a 2-1 win at Hartlepool.

Carl McHugh put the Pilgrims ahead in the 76th minute with a great strike from 15 yards, before Kelvin Mellor gave away a penalty, which Scott Fenwick converted to make it 1-1 with just six minutes left.

But Mellor turned from villain to hero when he drove an effort under Trevor Carson to make it 2-1 to Derek Adams’ visitors.

Portsmouth came from behind to narrowly beat fellow promotion chasers Northampton 2-1, knocking the Cobblers off the top of the table.

Ryan Cresswell had put Chris Wilder’s side in the lead inside 20 minutes, but Gareth Evans equalised for Pompey before the break and substitute Conor Chaplin secured the three points with five minutes left on the clock.

Gareth Evans struck Portsmouth’s equaliser at Northampton

York defeated Morecambe 2-1 as they ended their nine-match losing streak and climbed out of the relegation zone.

Dave Winfield put the home in front with when he latched onto a loose ball before half-time, before James Berrett’s low driven shot from the edge of the area extended their advantage.

Jamie Devitt pulled one back, but it was not enough for the Shrimps who slip to 17th after a fifth defeat in seven matches.

Barnet held on to beat Crawley 4-2 in a thrilling match in North London.

Bira Dembele scored a brace to put the home side 2-0 up, before the visitors struck twice in the final 15 minutes to make it 2-2 through Mitch Hancox and Jimmy Smith.

But John Akinde tucked away a penalty against his old club and Simon Walton put the ball past his own goalkeeper to secure Martin Allen’s men a first win in six games.

Just over 3,000 Carlisle fans travelled 85 miles to Preston to watch their team win 3-0 against Notts County, after heavy floods caused them to play at Deepdale.

But the Cumbrians relished playing at Deepdale as Danny Grainger penalty and a brace from Jabo Ibehre sealed the win which sees them sit fifth, just four points off the top-three.

Managerless Luton won 3-2 at Exeter City in controversial fashion.

Having gone 2-0 up through Cameron McGeehan and Danny Green, the visitors saw their lead collapse when Tom Nichols and Alex Nicholls struck back for the home side.

But Paul Benson’s strike in the 10th minute of added time, in which he seemingly kicked the ball out of goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik’s hands, snatched all three points for the Hatters.

Wycombe beat high-flying Oxford 2-1, ending the away side’s six-match unbeaten run.

Garry Thompson made it 1-0 with a fine header, before the U’s equalised through Liam Sercombe’s

Gareth Ainsworth’s Wycombe are now just two points off the play-off after their impressive win over Oxford

But Jason McCarthy’s winning goal moves the hosts to within two points of the play-offs and sees United two points behind Plymouth and Northampton at the top.

Bristol Rovers moved into the top-seven and sent Dagenham to the bottom of League Two with a 3-0 away win in London.

Lee Brown opened the scoring just after half-an-hour, before late strikes from Rory Gaffney and Billy Bodin completed the score.

Accrington dropped to sixth after rescuing a 1-1 draw at Stevenage when Billy Kee scored an 85th minute penalty.

Armand Gnanduillet had put Teddy Sheringham’s men into the lead, before Kee secured a point for Stanley.

Play-off hopefuls Cambridge and Mansfield also played out the same 1-1 result.

Adam Chapman’s free-kick caught out goalkeeper Sam Beasant to put the Stags ahead, but Ryan Donaldson was on hand to level the score.

Wimbledon came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Newport County.

Alex Roman and an own goal from Paul Robinson put County into the lead, but a second-half double from Lyle Taylor meant it was a point apiece at Rodney Parade.

Yeovil, moved off thew bottom, thought had won their first league match since September at Leyton Orient, before they were denied by a stunning late Jobi McAnuff equaliser.

Francois Zoko had given the Glovers the lead, but an outstanding 30-yard strike from the O’s winger sealed a 1-1 draw to leave the Glovers two points from safety.

Player of the Week: Jabo Ibhere (Carlisle)
Team of the Week: Wycombe
Goal of the Week: Jobi McAnuff (LEYTON ORIENT vs Yeovil)