Carlisle conquer Walsall to take command in League Two
A FROZEN pitch at Holker Street on Saturday meant that Exeter City’s first Football League trip to Barrow since 1972 will have to be given a new date, but there was still plenty of action in Sky Bet League Two,
Carlisle United moved to the top of the table with a 2-0 win at Walsall. Omari Patrick opened the scoring for the visitors in the 26th minute before Joshua Kayode put the game out of reach with 12 minutes remaining.
The win takes Chris Beech’s side above both Forest Green Rovers – whose home match against Oldham Athletic was abandoned during the second half following heavy fog – and previous leaders Newport County, after a frozen pitch saw their clash with Southend United postponed.
Nicky Cadden had put Forest Green ahead in the 20th minute, only for Zak Dearnley to level in firsthalf stoppage time, but the game was abandoned 13 minutes into the second half.
First-half strikes from Adam May and Paul Mullin were enough for Cambridge United to secure a 2-1 victory away at Grimsby Town.
May netted with just four minutes gone before Mullin doubled the visitors’ advantage later in the first half. Elliott Hewitt scored for the home side in the 72nd minute but United held firm, despite six minutes of injury time, to take all three points and climb up to fifth in the table.
Jordan Bowery hit a hat-trick as Mansfield Town ran out 4-0 winners against ten-man Port Vale.
Ollie Clarke scored the game’s opening goal inside a minute, with Bowery netting his first shortly after the half-hour mark.
Port Vale were already facing an uphill task when Leon Legge was sent off just two minutes after the interval. Bowery scored from the penalty spot in the 77th minute before completing his treble three minutes later to secure a muchneeded victory for the relegationthreatened side.
In-form Crawley Town maintained their promotion push with a 1-0 win at Bolton Wanderers.
George Francomb scored the only goal of the game on the hour mark before Reiss Greenidge was sent off for Bolton deep into stoppage time. Crawley, unbeaten in nine matches, are now sixth in the division, just five points behind leaders Carlisle.
At the other end of the table, Charlie Carter scored a first-half brace as Stevenage secured a 3-1 victory over relegation rivals Scunthorpe United.
Devarn Green opened the scoring for the visitors with just five minutes on the clock only for Carter to haul Stevenage level six minutes later and then add a second in the 22nd minute. Aramide Oteh bagged a third in stoppage time to complete the win for Stevenage, which takes them up to 22nd place and within three points of Scunthorpe in the table.
Danny Johnson struck in the 31st minute to fire Leyton Orient to a 1-0 win over Salford City.