Wycombe Wanderers 0 Stevenage Borough 1
Wycombe’s attempt to secure automatic promotion was damaged by a former player, John Mousinho, who scored the only goal after turning down a new contract at Adams Park last summer. Graham Westley, the Stevenage manager, said: “Wycombe were a League One side last season, so it shows how far we have come.” Scott Laird, of Stevenage, was sent off.
Attendance: 4,453
Cheltenham Town 1 Aldershot Town 2
Cheltenham’s players will discover the hard edge of Mark Yates after their slide down the table. “Perhaps we have been too soft with them,” the manager said. “We want them to enjoy their football but perhaps they need to see a different side to me for a few weeks.” Aldershot dominated through goals from Anthony Charles and Peter Vincenti before a late reply from Michael Pook.
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Attendance: 2,697
Crewe Alexandra 2 Chesterfield 0
Goals from Clayton Donaldson and Danny Shelley condemned Chesterfield to only their second defeat in 19 games and revived hopes that Crewe can figure in the play-offs. Adam Dugdale, the Crewe defender, said: “We’ve shown we are a good side. We’re still in the chase and I’ve got confidence in the lads that we can get that seventh spot.”
Attendance: 4,503
Gillingham 3 Accrington Stanley 1
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Gillingham responded to half-time criticism to extend their unbeaten run to 11 games. Andy Hessenthaler, the manager, said: “There were a few home truths told at half-time. Sometimes it’s good to have a bit of a tear-up.” Andy Barcham scored two first-half goals and Cody McDonald added their third. Sean McConville scored for Accrington, who missed a penalty.
Attendance: 5,299
Hereford United 1 Barnet 2
Izale McLeod scored twice, after Richard Rose’s goal for Hereford, to support Barnet’s belief that they can stay up. Paul Fairclough, their manager, said: “We are optimists and believe we can avoid relegation. I believe that this is now a good team. If we started the season again with this side, we would comfortably finish mid-table.”
Attendance: 2,517
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Lincoln City 2 Southend United 1
Ashley Grimes was on target again to guarantee a satisfying afternoon for Steve Tilson, the Lincoln manager, who was dismissed by Southend last year and still lives in Essex. “I was desperate not to lose this game,” Tilson said. Grimes scored twice, taking his haul to 16 goals in 19 games while on loan from Millwall. Blair Sturrock scored for Southend.
Attendance: 3,560
Morecambe 0 Bradford City 1
Bradford are 12 points adrift of the top seven but James Hanson, the scorer of the game’s only goal, insists they can feature in the play-offs after the arrival of Peter Jackson as caretaker-manager. “We have two home games in a row now and if we can get six points, there is no reason why we can’t push for a play-off place,” he said. “Peter Jackson has helped create a settled side.”
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Attendance: 3,521
Northampton Town 0 Macclesfield Town 1
Colin Daniel’s goal moved Macclesfield seven points clear of the relegation zone, but Gary Simpson, the manager, said: “We are not safe. I set a target of 50 points and that has not changed.” Gary Johnson, the Northampton manager, said: “We were up against a team who bash the ball forward and we weren’t good enough to open them up.”
Attendance: 4,707
Port Vale 1 Oxford United 2
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Harry Worley claimed the winning goal that enabled Oxford to edge closer to Vale, who are in the final play-off spot. Worley believes that Chris Wilder’s team can finish in the top seven. “The manager told us before the game that people have been writing us off and we’ve proved them wrong,” he said. Vale took the lead through Marc Richards before Jack Midson equalised.
Attendance: 5,661
Stockport County 0 Burton Albion 0
Adam Legzdins, the Burton goalkeeper, made several important saves as they emerged with a point that could be crucial to their survival prospects. Burton maintained a four-point gap over Stockport, the bottom club, who have played six more games than Paul Peschisolido’s side. Legzdins said: “The lads forced the strikers wide, making it easier for me.
Attendance: 4,278
Torquay United 5 Shrewsbury Town 0
Shrewsbury paid a high price for allowing Jake Robinson, one of their players, to play against them. Robinson, who is on loan at Torquay, scored twice and said: “I don’t know why I was allowed to play, but I’m glad I was. I felt for the Shrewsbury boys — a very bad day at the office.” Gavin Tomlin and Chris Zebroski also scored before an own goal from Ian Sharps.
Attendance: 2,861