LEAguE 2 RouNd-up

NEWPORT jumped to second place as Frank Nouble marked his first home appearance with a hat-trick in a 4-1 win over Chesterfield.

Chris O’Grady had slammed the Spireites ahead after good work from Scott Wiseman after 37 minutes, but Nouble equalised 10 minutes into the second half with a superb strike into the top corner.

He scored his second with a looping header and completed a treble with another header, with debutant Padraig Amond capping a fine home display with a well-taken volley in the 82nd minute.

Exeter are the new League leaders after they edged a seven-goal thriller at 10-man Cheltenham.

The Robins had been leading 2-0 through Kevin Dawson’s brace but all of the midfielder’s hard work was undone before the break as Exeter drew level.

Jordan Moore-Taylor pulled one back in the 39th minute with a fierce drive into the top corner, and Reuben Reid equalised with a close-range finish seconds before the break.

Jamie Grimes was sent off for bringing down Jake Taylor in the box, with Reid scoring from the spot, and Taylor then added a fourth on the break before Dan Holman made it 4-3 at the death.

Stevenage are up to third after they held on for a 1-0 win at Barnet, despite playing 55 minutes with 10 men. Tom Pett scored the only goal in the 27th minute.

Adebayo Akinfenwa scored twice to earn Wycombe a 3-2 win at 10-man Grimsby, while Olufela Olomola continued his fine form with Yeovil’s second goal in a 2-0 win against Coventry.

High-flying Swindon were stunned 3-0 at home by Crawley, with Jimmy Smith wrapping up the win with a late third, while Morecambe drew 0-0 at Cambridge.