SHREWS BACK TO THEIR BEST
Top spot regained – in style
SHREWSBURY Town boss Paul Hurst wanted a reaction from his players after they lost top spot last weekend – and he couldn’t have had a more emphatic one.
The Shrews walloped Bristol Rovers 4-0, with all the goals coming in an irresistible first half display. Alex Rodman, Carlton Morris, Jon Nolan and Junior Brown all struck as Shrewsbury swept back to the top of the table in style.
“There was some outstanding attacking,” beamed a delighted Hurst.
The Shropshire side moved two points clear of Wigan, who had led them on goal difference, after the Latics had to settle for a point at lowly Gillingham.
It could have been worse as the Gills led through a Tom Eaves header, but Egypt international Sam Morsy salvaged a point with a superb strike eight minutes from time.
It was a night when 1-1 proved a popular scoreline in the third tier. Aside from the Gills vs Latics clash, six other games also finished locked at a goal apiece.
In his last match as caretaker-boss before being appointed permanent Oldham manager, Richie Wellens saw his fourmatch winning streak come to an end, but his side still picked up a creditable point from their draw at high-flying Bradford.
Courtesy
In front of a crowd of almost 20,000, Paul Taylor gave the Bantams the lead with a magnificent 25-yarder on three minutes, but Wellens’ boys were level when Eoin Doyle struck 20 minutes later.
The in-form Tariqe Fosu was on the mark again for Charlton at Oxford United, but the hosts preserved a point courtesy of Christian Ribeiro.
Peterborough ended a run of three straight defeats at
Southend. Veteran MarcAntoine Fortune put Southend ahead early on, but Jack Marriott ensured it was honours even when he netted for Posh ten minutes into the second half.
Scunthorpe looked to be on course for maximum points at home against Fleetwood, thanks to Lee Novak’s first half goal, but the Cod Army reeled in a point with Jordy Hiwula’s 85thminute leveller.
Plymouth remained bottom but will have been boosted by a draw at Blackburn. Graham Carey scored one of his specials to put Argyle ahead at Ewood Park, but Rovers drew level through Bradley Dack in the dying embers of the first half.
Chuks Aneke gave MK Dons the lead against Walsall but it wasn’t enough for victory. Tyler Roberts levelled for the Saddlers from the penalty spot.
There was one more draw, with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s
Northampton strugglers coming back from 2-0 down to share the spoils at Rochdale.
Ian Henderson struck twice to put Dale in control, but the Cobblers dug in and managed to draw level through Ash Taylor and David Buchanan. They could even have left with all three points, but John-Joe O’Toole saw his 86th-minute penalty saved by Josh Lillis.
AFC Wimbledon made it back-to-back wins with a superb 3-1 home victory against Rotherham. Lyle Taylor proved the hero with a hat-trick, while sub Joe Newell netted for the Millers.
Blackpool got the better of their Lancashire neighbours
Bury, running out 2-1 victors. Kelvin Mellor and Curtis Tilt were on the mark for the Seasiders, Jermaine Beckford replying for the Shakers.
Dismissal
Darren Ferguson’s Doncaster blasted into a two-goal lead against Portsmouth in the opening five minutes. Liam Mandeville bagged the opener before a Christian Burgess owngoal doubled the advantage.
Pompey pulled one back through a Mathieu Baudry owngoal early in the second half, though their cause wasn’t helped by the 71st-minute dismissal of left-back Dion Donohue after clashing with Rovers’ Niall Mason.