MK Dons weren’t in Sky Bet League Two action on Saturday due to a waterlogged pitch at Newport County’s Rodney Parade - here is how the rest of the division fared this weekend…
Lincoln City moved above the Dons in the table courtesy of a 3-1 victory at home to Morecambe. The Imps are now one point above Paul Tisdale’s men, with both teams now having played the same amount of games, while Morecambe fall one place in the table to 20th.
Danny Cowley’s Lincoln were the only top seven side to pick up maximum points at the weekend.
Third-placed Colchester United were beaten 4-0 by Carlisle United at Brunton Park, which saw the gap between the U’s and Tisdale’s Dons remain at five heading into their meeting at Stadium MK this coming Saturday. Carlisle climbed to 12th and are now four points adrift of the play-offs.
Colchester remain third in the table due to Bury’s loss in their Greater Manchester derby with Oldham Athletic. The Shakers’ 4-2 reverse keeps them fourth, two points adrift of the automatic promotion places and seven points behind the Dons. Oldham, meanwhile, move into the top 10.
Tranmere Rovers, who went into the weekend occupying that final play-off spot, were edged out by Notts County in a five-goal thriller at Meadow Lane - a 3-2 win which saw the Magpies move to within one point of safety.
That result left the door open for Forest Green Rovers, however their clash with Mansfield Town was abandoned at half-time due to a waterlogged pitch.
Instead, it was Exeter City who took full advantage. The Grecians beat Crewe Alexandra 1-0 at St James Park to secure their first league win since mid-October and climb into seventh in the table on goal difference.
In a meeting between two play-off chasing sides, Northampton Town and Stevenage shared the spoils courtesy of a 1-1 draw - former MK Dons striker Dean Bowditch was on target for the Cobblers, finishing from Dons Academy graduate Daniel Powell’s cross. Boro are now two points behind the play-offs in 11th while Northampton sit 14th and have seven points to make up.
Swindon Town pulled themselves into the play-off mix courtesy of three straight victories but that run came to an end on Saturday as they were beaten 2-1 by Grimsby Town at Blundell Park. They are fourth points adrift of seventh in 13th. The Mariners’ win saw them maintain their six-point gap above the bottom two.
Down at the foot of the table, Sol Campbell picked up his first win as Macclesfield Town boss, leading the Silkmen to a 2-0 home victory over Crawley Town. They are now four points from safety while Crawley remain seven points clear of danger.
The team Macclesfield are chasing are Cambridge United, who played out a goalless draw with Yeovil Town. The U’s stay one point above the red line in 22nd. Yeovil climbed above Morecambe in 19th.
Also sharing the points on Saturday were Cheltenham Town and Port Vale, courtesy of a stoppage-time equaliser from the Valiants. The 2-2 draw sees Cheltenham stay 21st and Vale keep their spot in 15th.
League Two results in full:
Cambridge United 0-0 Yeovil Town
Carlisle United 4-0 Colchester United
Exeter City 1-0 Crewe Alexandra
Forest Green Rovers A-A Mansfield - waterlogged pitch
Grimsby Town 2-1 Swindon Town
Lincoln City 3-1 Morecambe
Macclesfield Town 2-0 Crawley Town
Newport County P-P MK Dons - waterlogged pitch
Northampton Town 1-1 Stevenage
Notts County 3-2 Tranmere Rovers
Oldham Athletic 4-2 Bury
Port Vale 2-2 Cheltenham Town
