Date: 20th April 2016 at 10:32am
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It was party time for champions Northampton Town as they beat Crawley 2-1, but behind them the battle for automatic promotion is getting tighter.

Victory for the Cobblers, thanks to goals from Ricky Holmes and John-Joe O’Toole, takes their unbeaten run to 21 games. Mark Yates’ Reds stay in 18th.

A mere two points separate the next four clubs, each hopeful of a top-three finish.

Accrington jumped up to second with a 2-1 win over Hartlepool. Seamus Conneely and Tariqe Fosu were on target for Stanley as the moved a point clear of third-placed Oxford United. Rakish Bingham netted for Pool.

Oxford fell down a place after they were held 1-1 by Newport in south Wales. Jordan Bowery put the U’s ahead, before Medy Elito levelled for County. A draw leaves the Welsh side needing just one more point to avoid relegation.

Plymouth Argyle moved up into fourth with a 3-1 win away at Leyton Orient. A Peter Hartley strike and two from Jake Jervis sent the Pilgrims home with all three points. Lloyd James’ penalty briefly brought the O’s back into the game, but defeat has almost certainly ended their play-off hopes.

Bristol Rovers drop down to fifth after a 0-0 draw at lowly Stevenage. The point leaves the Pirates only a point behind the automatic promotion places and guarantees the hosts survival.

Saturday 30th January FA Cup 4th Round - Portsmouth vs AFC Bournemouth Kyle Bennett takes on Eunan O'KanePhoto: Kieran Clarke

Portsmouth were beaten by second-from-bottom York City on Tuesday night. Photo: Kieran Clarke/Offside

Portsmouth’s hopes of a top-three finish were all but ended after they were were beaten 3-1 by relegation-threatened York City. Pompey stay sixth and will be confident of securing a play-off place, but goals from Bradley Fewster, Lewis Alessandra and Luke Summerfield gave the Minstermen a surprise victory, and with just three games left they remain nine points from safety and relegation looks a certainty.

AFC Wimbledon occupy the final play-off spot and strengthened their position with a 2-0 win away at already-relegated Dagenham and Redbridge. Lyle Taylor netted both goals for the Dons as they opened up a four-point gap on their nearest rival.

Wycombe sit in eighth but lost ground after a goalless draw with Yeovil. With just three games left, Wanderers hopes of catching the teams above them look slim. For the Glovers it’s been a good 2016 so far and, after avoiding the drop, they will be hopeful of a more successful campaign next season.

Cambridge United put in the performance of the night as they crushed Morecambe 7-0. Two goals each for Luke Berry and Harrison Dunk, along with strikes from Ben Williamson, Mark Roberts and Zeli Ismail completed the rout, and moves the U’s up to ninth. The Shrimps drop a place to 20th.

Exeter’s play-off hopes were hit by a 3-2 defeat at home to Mansfield. Ryan Tafozolli and Malvind Benning put the visitors two up, only for Ollie Watkins and Christian Ribeiro to bring the hosts level. Tafozolli’s second of the night gave the Stags victory and moves them up to 12th, just six points off the top seven and, mathematically, still in the play-off hunt. The Grecians drop to 10th.

The remaining games featured teams in and around the middle of the table, as Luton Town were victorious over Carlisle. Joe Pigott and Josh McQuoid scored in a 2-1 victory that sees the Hatters move ahead of the Cumbrians.

Finally, Barnet were 3-1 winners over Notts County. A John Stead penalty had given the Magpies the lead, before second half strikes from John Akinde, Mark Randall and Andy Yiadom gave the Bees all three points.

League Two Player of the Night: Harrison Dunk (Cambridge United)
League Two Team of the Night: Cambridge United
League Two Goal of the Night: Mal Benning (Exeter vs MANSFIELD)

 
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