First-half double keeps Portsmouth clear at top

Portsmouth maintained their threepoint lead in League One as the top three teams all won.

The leaders defeated AFC Wimbledon 2-1, taking a two-goal first-half lead through Tom Naylor and Gareth Evans and then holding on after James Hanson pulled one back in the 63rd minute. Portsmouth lead Peterborough, who won 2-0 against Scunthorpe thanks to a second-half brace from Matt Godden against his former club. Mamadou Thiam’s spectacular goal was the pick as Barnsley defeated Luton 3-2 to stay third.

Doncaster took advantage of Sunderland’s inaction during the international break by beating Rochdale 3-2 at Spotland to climb into fourth place, Ali Crawford, Andy Butler and Jermaine Anderson with the goals.

Accrington Stanley continued their fine start to life in League One and moved into the play-off places after beating Bradford 3-1 while, in the game between the bottom two, Oxford overtook Plymouth thanks to a 2-0 victory at the Kassam Stadium.

In-form Simon Cox made it five goals in five games with a brace in Southend’s 2-0 victory over Gillingham, while late goals secured three points for Burton and Coventry. Pressure paid off for Coventry against Wycombe as Conor Chaplin clinched a 1-0 win in the 82nd minute, while Burton had to wait until stoppage time for Ben Fox to strike as they beat Bristol Rovers by the same score. Fleetwood were the day’s other winners, Paddy Madden and Wes Burns securing a 2-1 victory over Shrewsbury.

League Two leaders Lincoln scored six goals away from home in the Football League for the first time in 86 years to retain a four-point advantage. Harry Anderson – a late inclusion after Jason Shackell was injured in the warm-up – scored his second goal in four days to put the Imps on their way to a 6-2 victory over Port Vale in only the third minute.

Three goals in 10 minutes either side of the break put Vale out of the game as Shay McCartan doubled the lead just before the break and, deep into stoppage time, Leon Legge’s own goal made it 3-0. Three minutes after the restart, Michael Bostwick added a fourth to end any hopes of a Vale comeback as Tom Conlon’s free-kick and Ben Whitfield’s late penalty were just consolations as goals for Scott Wharton and James Wilson confirmed a 10th league win of the season.

Jonathan Forte’s sixth goal in 10 appearances put second-placed Exeter on the way to a 2-0 win at home to Swindon, which kept them in touch with Lincoln. Newport kept pace with the top two after securing a very late 2-1 win over Stevenage, with substitute Antoine Semenyo scoring in the eighth minute of added time. MK Dons were 1-0 winners at Cambridge, who have not won in seven matches, thanks to Chuks Aneke’s 29th-minute strike.

Northampton hauled themselves out of the bottom three, beating Forest Green Rovers 2-1.