Month: April 2023

Sam Taylor scored his first professional goal to earn a point for Tranmere in a 1-1 draw with AFC Wimbledon at Plough Lane in League Two.

The 19-year-old equalised in the 79th minute after Ali Al-Hamadi had given the hosts the lead midway through the second half.

The Dons have dropped 40 points from winning positions this season and have won just twice since the turn of the year.

In a low-quality first half, it took until the 19th minute for either side to register a meaningful shot and it was Tranmere’s Harvey Saunders’ powerful header flashing narrowly wide.

The game stretched after the interval and Rovers’ Josh Hawkes soon forced Nathan Broome into a flying save with a sweet strike bound for the top corner.

The hosts persisted, and Al-Hamadi dinked home his 10th goal of the season after Ethan Chislett had slipped the 21-year-old clear.

But Tranmere were level 11 minutes later when Hawkes pulled the ball back for Taylor to sweep confidently into the far corner.

Hartlepool’s relegation to the National League was confirmed despite a 3-1 win over mid-table Barrow who ended the match with eight men at the Suit Direct Stadium.

Pools fought back from a goal down to claim three points after Ged Garner had put the visitors in front in the 21st minute.

Hartlepool forward Jack Hamilton struck the equaliser on the stroke of half-time before full-back Jamie Sterry’s goal with 22 minutes left was followed by Connor Jennings’ stoppage-time strike.

Barrow had Harrison Neal sent off for a second yellow card following a late tackle on David Ferguson with 12 minutes left.

And the Bluebirds then lost Josh Gordon when he hobbled off before defender Patrick Brough was shown two yellow cards following a late melee among the two teams.

Garner was on hand six yards out to finish Gordon’s ball in to put Barrow in front and he came close to scoring a second from Ben Whitfield’s cross.

But Hartlepool hit back after that and, when Matty Dolan’s turn and effort was blocked three minutes before the break, Hamilton was quick to pounce and fire high into Paul Farman’s net.

After half-time, Hartlepool goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk denied Gordon before Callum Cooke, who hit the bar late on as well, went close from distance for the hosts.

Then Pools were rewarded in the 68th minute with Sterry’s curling cross that missed the heads in the area and bounced straight in.

Barrow then lost Neal and Gordon before Hartlepool wrapped up victory during an eventful finish to the match.

Jennings controlled and rifled home a wonderful third for the hosts before Brough’s tackle on Cooke led to pushing and shoving between most of the players. Barrow assistant Adam Temple and Hartlepool first-team coach Antony Sweeney were also yellow carded during the incident too.

Aidan Keena’s brace and one from Alfie May earned Cheltenham a comfortable 3-0 win at Wycombe.

Keena converted from the penalty spot in the 37th minute after being tripped in the box by Dominic Gape.

His strike partner May added the second in the 68th minute, thumping a shot past debutant goalkeeper Harvey Cartwright, before Keena added a late third.

Both teams had only pride to play for in their penultimate game of the League One season and Wycombe forced two early chances when Gape’s shot was blocked by Caleb Taylor and Ryan Tafazolli headed wide from a good position.

But Cheltenham seized control and deserved their half-time advantage thanks to Keena’s fourth goal since his January arrival from Sligo Rovers.

Sam Vokes released Garath McCleary in the 51st minute but Lewis Freestone made an important block as the home side looked for a leveller.

Ryan Jackson soon set up May for his 19th league goal of the campaign and Keena capitalised on an error from Cartwright to make it 3-0 two minutes from the end.

Cambridge favourite Harrison Dunk was on target as they boosted their League One survival hopes with a narrow 2-1 win over Accrington, who can still mathematically avoid the drop.

Currently 22nd, United are now a point away from safety and play their game in hand over all the other teams around them on Wednesday.

Stanley’s five-year stay in League One is all but at an end as they dropped to 23rd place and are three points from safety with a poor goal difference.

Cambridge opened the scoring after 42 minutes when Jack Lankester’s corner was headed down by Michael Morrison and it fell to defender Dunk, who fired home his second goal of the campaign.

United looked more likely to add to the score with Doug Tharme clearing James Brophy’s header off the line and Lankester’s follow-up over the crossbar just after the restart.

Cambridge doubled their lead after 65 minutes when, on a counter-attack, Harvey Knibbs sent substitute George Thomas free and he raced into the area and slotted the ball into the far corner of the net.

Thomas was superbly denied a third for the hosts from point-blank range by goalkeeper Lukas Jensen soon after.

Stanley set up a grandstand finish when Morrison fouled Shaun Whalley in the area with Aaron Pressley scoring from the penalty spot via the post after 83 minutes.

However the Reds could not get another and look to be heading to League Two next season.

Bolton secured a Sky Bet League One play-off berth with a match to spare thanks to a 2-0 victory over 10-man Fleetwood at the University of Bolton Stadium.

Wanderers completed their league double over Scott Brown’s visitors courtesy of a Promise Omochere own goal and sixth of the season from midfielder Kyle Dempsey.

Victory for Ian Evatt’s side, coupled with Peterborough’s failure to beat Bristol Rovers, cemented the Trotters’ top-six position.

Wanderers, nervy from the previous home defeat by Accrington, relaxed when Omochere was adjudged to have put through his own net after 18 minutes.

Elias Kachunga claimed what would have been his first league goal of the campaign but the Town striker was credited with the opener.

Bolton’s prospects further increased when Jayden Stockley was sent-off after 58 minutes for violent conduct as Fleetwood defended a home corner.

Top scorer Dion Charles had a goal disallowed after Kachunga’s cross was ruled to have gone out of play.

But with 12 minutes left, Dempsey struck from six yards, returning Brendan Wiredu’s clearance with interest.

Omar Bogle’s 15th league goal of the season earned Newport a deserved 2-1 victory at Gillingham.

Bogle struck a 78th-minute winner for the Exiles after Tom Nichols’ 17th-minute penalty had cancelled out Cameron Norman’s opener for the visitors.

County took just nine minutes to open the scoring as Norman met James Waite’s corner at the back post to head past Gills goalkeeper Glenn Morris.

Only a wayward shot from Bogle prevented Newport from doubling their advantage soon after but Gillingham then levelled when Nichols fired home from the spot after he had drawn a foul in the box from County striker Charlie McNeil.

Nick Townsend smartly saved Nichols’ poked effort on the turn approaching the half-hour mark, before midfielder Timothee Dieng also tested the Newport goalkeeper as Gillingham looked to take the lead.

County had a chance to go back in front on the hour but Bogle unselfishly tried to set up team-mate McNeil instead of shooting when through, which allowed Gills defender Conor Masterson to make a crucial interception.

However, the County striker scored a late winner for Graham Coughlan’s side with an emphatic finish from six yards, keeping the Welsh side 14th in League Two, four points and four places above Gillingham.

Stockport claimed an impressive 3-0 win at League Two champions Leyton Orient to keep alive their hopes of snatching an automatic promotion spot and joining the O’s in League One next season.

Goals from Akil Wright, Callum Camps and Connor Evans secured the win for County, who moved to within two points of third-placed Northampton following their last-gasp home defeat to Bradford.

County are at home to relegated Hartlepool on the final day of the season while Northampton go to Tranmere.

Chris Hussey collected the ball following a corner that was only half-cleared and curled a cross into the box for the unmarked Wright to head home from close range.

Five minutes later, County doubled their advantage when Camps seized on a cross from the left by Isaac Olaofe and sent a shot from 20 yards out wide of keeper Lawrence Vigouroux and into the net.

Orient’s only shot in the first half, in which they were totally outmanoeuvred, came in added time when Tom James drilled a free-kick into hands of Ben Hinchcliffe.

The hosts showed more spirit and energy after the break and George Moncur and James tested Hinchcliffe.

However, County put the issue to bed in the 81st minute when Hussey curled in a free-kick othat substitute Evans headed home.

Mark Bonner admitted it was a “massive result” as his Cambridge side boosted their hopes of staying in League One with a 2-1 win over relegation rivals Accrington, who are all but down.

United – who moved up a spot to 22nd after the win – are now a point away from safety and play their game in hand over all the other teams around them on Wednesday.

Stanley’s five-year stay in League One is all but at an end as they dropped to 23rd place and are three points from safety with a poor goal difference.

Bonner said: “It was a massive result for us.

“We were so in control of the game and we had enough chances to make it three but then we lost control in the end and it put the result in the lap of the gods.

“We were excellent in temperament and discipline until the frantic finish.”

Cambridge opened the scoring three minutes before the break with defender Harrison Dunk firing home.

They doubled their lead after 65 minutes when substitute George Thomas raced into the area and slotted the ball into the far corner of the net.

Stanley set up a grandstand finish when Michael Morrison fouled Shaun Whalley in the area with Aaron Pressley scoring from the penalty spot via the post with seven minutes remaining.

Bonner added: “When we have needed to, in the big games over the last few months, we have showed up and delivered and now we have to do it two more times.

“We have now got ourselves in a good position with two games to go and it’s a massive three points to keep our hopes alive but we have to go again on Wednesday.

“The supporters were amazing and we need everyone who can to come to Burton as we will need them.”

John Coleman accepted that – unless there were a set of freak results – it would be League Two football for his Accrington side next season.

He said: “Cambridge played well. We knew neither team felt like a draw would be enough and the first goal was always going to be crucial and they got it.

“We never thought we would go down this season but there is no point bleating or moaning about it.

“We weren’t good enough over the season, not just today. We gave ourselves a chance with a win on Tuesday but the brutal truth is, we haven’t been good enough over the season and that’s why we are in the position we are.

“Now we have to try and emulate the likes of Bristol Rovers and bounce back up.

“I have been at the club 20 years and we have never taken a step backwards and so of course, it’s going to hurt but we have got to prepare for next season.

“We have got to be ruthless and get the right players in.”

MK Dons manager Mark Jackson was at a loss to explain how his relegation-threatened side “chucked away” a three-goal lead to draw 4-4 with Barnsley.

Mo Eisa’s brace and goals from Jonathan Leko and Warren O’Hara inside 20 second-half minutes looked set to bolster Don’s League One safety ambitions.

But Jackson’s side disintegrated, shipping three goals in the final 17 minutes to sink back into peril with a game to play.

“Up until the point of their second goal I think the players executed what we wanted them to do superbly,” said Jackson.

“As soon as that second goal went in for Barnsley, we have to deal better with those moments.

“We have to stay strong, we have to stay disciplined in what we’re going to do, so it’s really disappointing. It’s hard to process.

“In that spell where they scored the second goal and then the next two, we showed a vulnerability that we’ve had on occasion this year.

“But up until the point of their second goal, the lads were fantastic, the work rate, the togetherness and the desire to execute was superb, we’ve just got undone in a 15-minute period.

“Before the game we’d have said a point would have been a good point, but I can’t say that in this moment because we’ve chucked two points away.”

MK Dons have chosen the worst possible time for a poor run of form, now winless in seven games that have featured five draws.

They are above the drop zone only on goal difference, level on points with Morecambe who occupy the fourth relegation place, with Burton to come on the final day of the season.

Barnsley are upwardly mobile at the other end of the table with a play-off place in the bag.

They took a first-half lead through Herbie Kane and mounted a rousing comeback through James Norwood’s strike and a late Max Watters brace, but manager Michael Duff was far from happy with what he saw in Buckinghamshire.

“The last 20 minutes, we went back to everything we normally do, scored three goals and probably could have gone on to win it,” he said.

“It’s not even about the result really, the result is irrelevant. It’s more certain things that I didn’t like, some of their players running past ours, conceding from set plays, all the things we pride ourselves on. Today was nowhere near the level we need to be at.

“We just didn’t show up in the second half because we thought it was going to be easy. They’ve come at us with everything, they’re fighting for their lives and ultimately it’s a warning that there is no God-given right to beat anybody in football.

“We didn’t down tools, we just switched off. Sometimes you need a kick to react and in the last 20 minutes of the second half we did everything that we should have done in the first place.”

Andy Crosby has warned Port Vale’s players that they are facing heading out the exit door this summer if they cannot cut out defensive mistakes.

Vale lost 3-2 at Charlton but other results ensured that they retained their League One status.

But Crosby, in interim charge since Darrell Clarke was sacked on April 17, could not help but be critical of the ease in which their opponents beat keeper Aidan Stone.

Tyreece Campbell and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi put Charlton 2-0 ahead and, although James Plant pulled a goal back, Miles Leaburn added a third to make Matty Taylor’s late penalty nothing more than a consolation.

“That was the remit, taking over before the Ipswich game, making sure we secured League One football,” said Crosby.

“Credit to everyone concerned that we’ve done that. It was our primary goal at the start of the season. We have done that.

“But I’m really disappointed with the first half in a number of ways. I changed things at half-time and second half we were the better team.

“I’ve just said in there (the dressing room) for us to develop as a football club you can’t continue to concede a goal-and-a-half a game – you’re going to end up in real trouble doing that.

“Individuals have to learn very quickly that won’t be acceptable going forward. If they are not capable of doing that they won’t be at the football club for very long.

“The way we handled the ball in the first half wasn’t good enough, which created too much space when they got the ball back. Our pressing shape didn’t work – we weren’t connected as a team or compact. There was too much space for them to play through us.

“The goals we concede are handed to Charlton. You can’t move forward and win games on a consistent basis if you are going to concede goals like that.”

Charlton’s vibrant young front three of Campbell, Rak-Sakyi and Leaburn all got on the scoresheet.

Crystal Palace loanee Rak-Sakyi, 20, has been too hot to handle for League One defences and took his goal tally to 15 for the campaign.

He also produced his 10th assist, teeing up frontman Leaburn, 19, for his 12th league goal.

Campbell, also 19, put Charlton ahead with a low strike in the 14th minute.

Addicks manager Dean Holden said: “It was really important that we got a win, to give the supporters something to cheer about. We’ve gone through a lot of pain this season, but we’ve had some good times as well.

“Tyreece and Jes have really helped each other. They have become really close off the pitch.

“Every time we speak to an opposition manager after the game they talk about our front three whether that was Corey (Blackett-Taylor), earlier in the season, Miles and Jes. Now TC has been added to that conversation – I just loving watching him play. He is gaining more and more confidence.

“The potential of Tyreece and Miles is huge.

“Fair play to Jes for coming out and playing men’s football. I said to him after the game that I’ve been so lucky I got to work with him for four months. He is one hell of a player.”