Lower League Roundup: November 14th 2017

League One, November 11

The top team, Shrewsbury Town, wasn’t in action this weekend in League One, but those that stood to gain from the front runner’s lack of action did not take advantage. Bradford City fell to another disappointing home defeat - this time to bottom of the table Plymouth Argyle who had their goalkeeper (their fifth this season) to thank for the three points. He made one of the best penalty saves you will see and was generally excellent.

Brett Pitman showed his class at a Blackpool outfit that will have been relieved, or the fans will have at least, that the court case is now over and the outcome has forced the Oystons to sell the Lancashire club. They had no luck against Pompey, with Pitman grabbing a late winner in the 3-2 win.

Oxford were dire again as they lost to Northampton, and the Cobblers will be delighted with how they managed the game in the second half to make sure they grabbed a deserved win at the Kassam.

Fleetwood are still looking a bit lightweight so far this season and they continue to struggle on the road, this time losing 1-0 at MK Dons. The game was a poor affair but Aneke’s smart finish did at least supply some illumination in the darkening late autumn evening.

A transfer tip for Jaap Stam?

Rotherham had Kieffer Moore to thank for rescuing a point at Doncaster. The big striker scored deep into stoppage time to grab the equaliser and his 12th of the season. Ipswich will be taking him back to Portman Road in January and it remains to be seen how the Millers will replace the big striker.

If Reading are looking for a striker in January then they could do a lot worse than taking a risk on the in-form front man. Moore combines his excellent aerial ability with a surprisingly quick pair of feet that perhaps will remind some of a young Peter Crouch.

Scunthorpe are up to fifth after a late winner saw them see off Bristol Rovers at Glanford Park. Some Rovers fans were questioning the future of Darrell Clarke after the defeat which was angrily rebuffed by the manager that has got them promoted both out of the Conference and League Two.

Bury are now bottom and in desperate need of a manager to provide their talented squad with some direction after a 1-1 draw at Gillingham that didn’t really help either side.

League One results in full:

Doncaster 1-1 Rotherham, Bradford 0-1 Plymouth Argyle, Oxford 1-2 Northampton, MK Dons 1-0 Fleetwood, Gillingham 1-1 Bury, Blackpool 2-3 Portsmouth, Scunthorpe 1-0 Bristol Rovers, Wimbledon 2-2 Peterborough

League Two, November 11

Some managers are coming under increasing pressure in League Two after results went against both Barnet and Crewe again on Saturday. David Artell’s Railway Men played well in the first half only to collapse in the second to a 4-1 home defeat to Lincoln.

Barnet lost at home to Colchester United, a wonderful goal by local boy Sammy Szmodics was enough to get the Us the points at the Hive. The talented youngster is one to watch out for and may even have some suitors in January. Rossi Eames had failed to win in his last 11 games for the Bees, and was subsequently replaced by former Reading boss Mark McGhee.

At the other end of the table, Luton missed the chance to go top, much to the frustration of manager Nathan Jones. An unnecessary corner was conceded in the 97th minute of their game at Whaddon Road with the Hatters 2-1 up. Cheltenham keeper Scott Flinders came up and headed the ball down for Boyle to bundle home the equaliser.

Meanwhile, Coventry continued to lack a cutting edge up front as they lost 1-0 at home to Mansfield. Coventry have the best clean sheet record in League Two but also have a poor scoring record which is holding them back.

Swindon drew 2-2 at home to bottom club Chesterfield thanks to a last minute penalty but the feeling with the Robins is that they are good enough for an automatic promotion push but for their inconsistent home form.

Elsewhere, there was a shock win for Morecambe against free-scoring Wycombe at the Globe Arena. The Shrimps held out for the 2-1 win despite late pressure from the Chairboys and in particular top goal scorer Akinfenwa.

Finally, Carlisle beat Yeovil 4-0 at Brunton Park to end their home woes and lift the Cumbrians to within four points of the play-off places.

League Two results in full:

Barnet 0-1 Colchester, Crewe 1-4 Lincoln City, Coventry 0-1 Mansfield, Cambridge 0-0 Accrington, Carlisle 4-0 Yeovil, Cheltenham 2-2 Luton, Exeter 2-0 Grimsby, Newport 1-1 Port Vale, Crawley 1-1 Forest Green, Stevenage 1-1 Notts County, Swindon 2-2 Chesterfield, Morecambe 2-1 Wycombe

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