LEAGUE TWO
FOREST GREEN 2 STEVENAGE 0
ROB EDWARDS toasted the new year with a routine win for Forest Green. Second-half strikes from Josh March and Jamille Matt did the damage and manager Edwards said: ‘In the second half we were more cohesive and deserved the win.’ Paul Tisdale, still looking for his first win as Stevenage boss, said: ‘I’ve seen improvement.’
SUTTON 2 EXETER 1
MATT GRAY hailed Rob Milsom for keeping his composure with a late penalty. Omar Bugiel got the opener, with Timothee Dieng hitting back immediately. Gray said: ‘It was a great penalty, wasn’t it? He was calm, he’s an experienced pro.’
BARROW 1 BRADFORD 2
IT WAS a new year but the same old story for Barrow assistant manager Richard Dryden, as his side started 2022 with a defeat. Bradford scored through Lee Angol and Andy Cook, with Josh Gordon pulling a goal back. Dryden said: ‘We need to be scoring some of these chances.’
SCUNTHORPE 0 CARLISLE 1
KEITH MILLEN hopes Carlisle’s victory can kick-start their survival bid. Rod McDonald headed the 40th-minute winner as the Cumbrians climbed out of the drop zone. Boss Millen said: ‘It showed we have the resilience we need.’
SWINDON 5 NORTHAMPTON 2
BEN GARNER was ecstatic after Swindon’s best performance of the season. Harry McKirdy scored four, with Tyreece Simpson also on target. Sam Hoskins and Jon Guthrie replied in vain and Garner said: ‘We were clinical, ruthless and that has given us the world of confidence. We could have scored eight or nine.’
WALSALL 3 NEWPORT 3
CONOR WILKINSON hit a late equaliser, after netting with his first touch and scoring an own-goal, as Walsall came from behind three times. His goals sandwiched Matt Dolan’s own goal for Newport, who scored twice through Dom Telford.
CRAWLEY 3 COLCHESTER 1
JOHN YEMS paid tribute to a ‘team performance’, as his Crawley brushed aside Colchester. Two headers from Ashley Nadesan and a close-range effort from Joel Lynch gave Crawley their best home league victory for more than a year. Colchester pulled a late goal back through Freddie Sears.
HARTLEPOOL 0 OLDHAM 0
SELIM BENACHOUR, interim boss of bottom-of-the-table Oldham, called on his players to stay positive after a second successive goalless draw. ‘We have taken two points in two away games against strong teams,’ he said.