LEAGUE TWO

SWINDON 3 PORT VALE 0

AN own goal from Leon Legge (right) followed by a debut strike by Hallam Hope and Michael Doughty’s free-kick kept Swindon top.

Manager Richie Wellens felt his leaders could have won more emphatically.

‘Every time we got the ball in the final third we made chances and probably could’ve scored a few more,’ he said.

John Askey admitted his Port Vale side were second best. He said: ‘We deserved to lose — I’ve not said that many times.’

EXETER 0 COLCHESTER 0

MATT TAYLOR was content with a point as his side were held to a draw at home to promotion rivals Colchester. ‘It was like two heavyweight boxers slugging it out and no one taking a backward step,’ the manager said.

STEVENAGE 1 PLYMOUTH 2

RYAN LOWE said his Plymouth side ‘weathered a storm’ after Byron Moore and Ryan Hardie fired them into the automatic promotion spots. Charlie Carter pulled one back for Stevenage.

CARLISLE 2 WALSALL 1

A NICK ANDERTON strike and an own goal by Walsall’s keeper Liam Roberts gave Carlisle the points. Their head coach Chris Beech said: ‘The lads dug in deep and worked hard for each other.’ Mat Sadler replied for the visitors.

SCUNTHORPE 2 CREWE 2

PAUL HURST was ‘frustrated’ as his Scunthorpe side were held. Jacob Bedeau and Kevin van Veen scored for the hosts, either side of Daniel Powell and Chuma Anene’s goals.

CRAWLEY 3 GRIMSBY 2

TWO goals from Ollie Palmer and another by Ashley Nadesan gave Crawley a battling home win. Elliott Whitehouse and James Hanson scored for the visitors, whose boss Ian Holloway said: ‘I don’t want to see a sad face.’

SALFORD 1 OLDHAM 1

DANNY ROWE’S first goal for Oldham earned his side a draw. Salford’s Brandon ThomasAsante had earlier bundled home after Zeus de la Paz saved Adam Rooney’s spot kick.

L ORIENT 2 NEWPORT 1

LEYTON ORIENT marked the unveiling of the Justin Edinburgh Stand with a much-needed win over Newport. Ryan Haynes’ own goal and a Ruel Sotiriou strike won it for Ross Embleton’s side, with Jamille Matt replying.

MORECAMBE 1 CAMBRIDGE 1

COLIN CALDERWOOD called his Cambridge side’s spirit ‘terrific’. Morecambe took the lead in the through Adam Phillips. But that was cancelled out by Harvey Knibbs.

MACCLESFIELD 2 F GREEN 1

A STUNNING goal from Arthur Gnahoua gave Mark Kennedy his first win as Macclesfield head coach. Joe Ironside had earlier cancelled out Carl Winchester’s opener for Forest Green. Corey O’Keeffe was sent off for the hosts.

MANSFIELD 3 BRADFORD 0

GRAHAM COUGHLAN said he was ‘looking for consistency’ from his Mansfield side. Headers from Danny Rose and Nicky Maynard, plus an Andy Cook strike sealed the points.