Football League roundup: Peterborough close on playoffs with win over Derby
Peterborough claimed a crucial victory in the race for the League One playoffs by beating fellow promotion hopefuls Derby 2-0. Second-half goals from Ephron Mason-Clark and Nathanael Ogbeta settled the contest and moved Darren Ferguson’s men to within a point of the top six.
Derby, who kicked off four points clear of their hosts, had the only attempt on target of the first half when Conor Hourihane was denied by the boot of keeper Will Norris. It was a different story after the break, though, as Mason-Clark rifled a 52nd-minute opener past Joe Wildsmith, and Ogbeta made sure of the points in the 82nd.
Colby Bishop missed one penalty and scored another as Portsmouth fought back from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Port Vale. Vale were gifted the lead with only eight minutes played as Pompey defender Connor Ogilvie made a mess of clearing Mal Benning’s low cross, allowing Matty Taylor to fire home from close range.
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Matt Macey was at fault as Funso Ojo doubled the visitors’ advantage from 20 yards out seven minutes before half-time after Taylor had charged down the goalkeeper’s miscued clearance.
Pompey wasted the chance to halve the deficit in the 44th minute as top scorer Bishop saw his tame penalty saved by Aidan Stone, but he made amends midway through the second half by converting from the spot after Ellis Harrison had clumsily brought down Ogilvie. Pompey then drew level just three minutes later when substitute Michael Jacobs found the bottom corner from 12 yards.
A late Chris Forino header earned playoff-chasing Wycombe a 1-1 draw at in-form Charlton. Miles Leaburn’s first-half goal had put Dean Holden’s side on course for their first win at the Valley since mid-January, but Forino levelled nine minutes from time to salvage a share of the spoils.
MK Dons eased themselves four points clear of the relegation zone thanks to a crucial 1-0 win against fellow strugglers Morecambe. A smart second-half finish from Jonathan Leko proved the difference as the Dons notched a third straight victory.
Exeter turned on the style as they thrashed Accrington 5-0 at St James Park to heap more misery on their relegation-threatened visitors. The deadlock was broken in fine fashion after 36 minutes when Demetri Mitchell cut in from the left and curled a wonderful shot beyond Lukas Jensen from 20 yards.
It took Exeter four minutes after the restart to double their lead as Josh Key superbly took down Will Aimson’s long pass, beat his man and smashed his shot past Jensen. Two quickly became three as Alex Hartridge’s effort was tipped on to the bar by Jensen, but Sam Nombe was on hand to tap in on the line. Substitute James Scott made it 4-0 after 76 minutes with his first goal for the club, and Jay Stansfield hit the fifth goal in the 82nd minute.
Jayden Stockley’s powerful header earned Fleetwood a 2-1 win at home to Lincoln. Fleetwood took the lead when Imps defender Adam Jackson sliced Carlos Mendes Gomes’ corner into his own net. Lincoln’s Regan Poole equalised seconds before the half-time whistle, but Stockley headed in with 17 minutes remaining to give Fleetwood the win.
Paul Smyth celebrates scoring for Leyton Orient against Hartlepool. Photograph: Nigel French/PA
Leyton Orient moved five points clear at the top of League Two with a 1-1 draw at Hartlepool, whose relegation fears increased despite the well-earned point. Orient took the lead early in the second half when Paul Smyth fired home from the edge of the area. John Askey’s side responded and, after Hartlepool’s Josh Umerah fired narrowly wide, Connor Jennings equalised in the 81st minute with a low finish from an Umerah cutback.
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Crawley’s 2-0 win against Rochdale left the bottom side four points adrift of safety, while Northampton moved up to second with a 2-0 win at Doncaster.
Stevenage were beaten 3-1 at home by fellow promotion hopefuls Salford, with Stevie Mallan, Callum Hendry and Matt Smith on target, while Carlisle dropped to fourth after Shaun Williams’ stoppage-time strike snatched Gillingham a 1-0 win.
Stockport made hard work of their game at Swindon, having played against 10 men for 89 minutes following Jacob Wakeling’s first-minute dismissal. Paddy Madden missed from the penalty spot but Ryan Croasdale converted Ryan Rydel’s pass with 10 minutes left to earn the Hatters a 1-0 win.
Barrow came from a goal down to beat AFC Wimbledon 2-1 and Ian Dawes took a point in the first game of his latest spell as Tranmere’s caretaker manager as they drew 1-1 at Colchester. Grimsby and Walsall played out a 1-1 draw and Mansfield’s clash with Sutton ended goalless.
This article was amended on 26 March 2023 to correct that John Askey is the manager of Hartlepool United, not Rochdale as an earlier version said.