Yet again a Saturday afternoon of EFL football did not disappoint. There were more stunning goals, upsets, turnarounds and comebacks across a dramatic day in Sky Bet League One and Sky Bet League Two...
Sunderland could only manage a draw as they failed to take the chance to go top of Sky Bet League One after failing to win for the first time in seven matches, drawing 1-1 against Wycombe Wanderers at the Stadium of Light.
The home side enjoyed large periods of possession but couldn’t take their chances and they had Josh Maja to thank for a share of the spoils - the striker scoring his 10th of the season late on to cancel out Fred Onyedinma’s opener.
Luton Town continued their unbeaten home record with a hugely convincing 5-1 win against Plymouth Argyle at Kenilworth Road, as James Collins scored a superb hat trick.
Luton struck four times in the first half with a Collins double coming either side of goals from Elliott Lee and James Justin in a crazy first half of action, before Collins completed his hat-trick in the second half to seal the win.
The three points mean that Luton are still unbeaten at home this season and their victory moved them up to 5th and sitting pretty in the play-off positions.
10-man Barnsley continued their own good form with an impressive 2-0 victory at Accrington Stanley. It moved the Tykes up to third place in the table and they sit just two points behind Sunderland, who occupy the second automatic promotion place.
Shrewsbury came from behind in a brilliant game against Rochdale at New Meadow. With less than half an hour to go, it was the visitors who had come from 1-0 down to take the lead. But Oli Norburn’s strike in the 72nd minute sealed all three points to secure back-to-back wins for the Shrews.
A goal four minutes from time from Tommy Rowe gave Doncaster Rovers their first win in four after three straight defeats. They had to come from behind to do it against AFC Wimbledon who remain in the bottom four.
Burton Albion manager Nigel Clough continued his own unbeaten run against Coventry City with a 1-0 victory at the Pirelli Stadium. The Brewers manager has never lost against the Sky Blues as a manager and his side completed a hard-fought win to condemn Coventry to their first defeat in six games.
Stuart McCall’s Scunthorpe United side put in an impressive performance at Bristol Rovers as they won away from home for only the second time this season as they scored 12 minutes from time to win 2-1 at the Memorial Stadium.
Elsewhere, Blackpool also won on the road with a 2-1 victory at Southend United thanks to an Armand Gnanduillet goal that came seven minutes from full time. The Seasiders now sit just a point outside the play offs after their victory at Roots Hall.
Peterborough United could only earn a point against struggling Bradford City at London Road in a 1-1 draw and Oxford United grabbed maximum points courtesy of a second half James Henry penalty as they beat Gillingham 1-0.
MK Dons are the new leaders at the top of Sky Bet League Two after a comfortable 2-0 win against Macclesfield Town at Stadium MK. Two second half strikes for the hosts mean they stretched their current unbeaten run to ten games.
Crewe Alexandra held on to earn a 3-2 win against Tranmere Rovers in an end-to-end game at Alexandra Stadium. A Callum Ainley double for the home side, with a goal in both halves, was added to by a 67th minute Charlie Kirk strike. Despite Tranmere scoring a second late on, it was enough to condemn Rovers to their first defeat in four games.
Bury blitzed ten-man Stevenage with four second half goals in just twenty minutes as they won 4-0 at Gigg Lane. Jay O’Shea’s brace and goals from Eoghan O'Connell and Danny Mayor were too much for Stevenage to handle and they move up to 8th place in Sky Bet League Two to sit just one point outside the play-offs.
Keith Curle’s resurgent Northampton Town side denied Exeter City their first win in five games as they scored in the last minute of normal time to steal a point at St James Park. The Cobblers late pressure paid off and the win means Curle’s men are now unbeaten in five league games.
Despite winning just one of their last nine Sky Bet League Two games, Oldham produced a brilliant second half display to come from behind and beat Cambridge United 3-1, courtesy of three goals in just 19 minutes to seal an impressive win.
It was a miserable start to life for Swindon Town manager Richie Wellens who saw his side soundly beaten at home 4-0 by Carlisle United. It was the first time in 20 attempts that the Blues had managed to win at the County Ground and the home side were never in the game after Regan Slater grabbed two second half goals.
Cheltenham Town won away from home for only the first time since September 8th, as they produced the perfect away display to beat Notts County 3-0 at Meadow Lane. Luke Varney scored twice for the visitors and their win lifts them out of the relegation zone.
Newport County won for the first time in five league games as they moved above their visitors Colchester United in to fourth place and recorded a 2-0 victory at the Newport Stadium. They got back on track in Sky Bet League Two after a miserable last few weeks.
County have now lost just one of the last twelve games at home and goals from Jamille Matt and Cameron Pring were enough to seal maximum points and keep their impressive home record going.
Elsewhere on Matchday 18, Mansfield Town kept their league form going and the Stags have now lost just once in 23 games. The three points came courtesy of a first half strike from Chris Hamilton to seal a 1-0 win at Field Mill.
There were dramatic late goals all around Sky Bet League Two. Ahkeem Rose scored four minutes from time for Grimsby Town against Crawley Town to give the Mariners all three points to seal a 1-0 win and Forest Green’s unbeaten home record came to an end at The New Lawn as they went down 1-0 to Morecambe.
