league 2 news

Lincoln chairman to leave post

Lincoln City chairman Rob Bradley has announced that he is standing down from his position at the end of the season after more than four years in charge.
He says he has made the decision because it has become increasingly difficult to fulfil a number of different roles. Bradley is club chairman and Supporters Trust representative as well as running his own business. There is not yet any indication as to who will take over as Imps chairman.


tonights fixtures

Cheltenham v Shrewsbury, 19:45

tommorows fixtures

Bristol Rovers v Rushden & D'monds, 15:00
Cambridge Utd v Darlington, 15:00
Chester v Boston Utd, 15:00
Grimsby v Wycombe, 15:00
Kidderminster v Bury, 15:00
Lincoln City v Swansea, 15:00
Northampton v Scunthorpe, 15:00
Oxford Utd v Notts County, 15:00
Rochdale v Leyton Orient, 15:00
Yeovil v Mansfield, 15:00

9th of April results

Bristol Rovers 3 - 0
(1 - 0) Rushden & D'monds
R Walker 22
C Disley 59
S Shearer o.g. 83




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Cambridge Utd 3 - 1
(1 - 1) Darlington
I Roberts 24
A Duncan 48
J Turner 83
C Wijnhard 9




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Chester 2 - 1
(1 - 1) Boston Utd
R Booth 45
R Lowe 77
D Noble 9

Bookings:
B Davies 26
S Hessey 28
P Carden 40
Bookings:
P Ellender 31
S Rusk 38
A White 45
C Pitt 76
J Lee 86




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Grimsby 0 - 0
(0 - 0) Wycombe
Bookings:
J Crowe 24
Bookings:
N Tyson 17
M Williamson 45




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Kidderminster 2 - 2
(1 - 1) Bury
B Sturrock 12
D Keates 81
C Porter 9
R Shakes 90

Bookings:
C Kazim-Richards 45




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Lincoln City 1 - 0
(0 - 0) Swansea
G Monk o.g. 90

Bookings:
S Yeo 23
P Morgan 44
Bookings:
A Forbes 73
M Bean 90




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Northampton 1 - 2
(1 - 2) Scunthorpe
A Kirk 4
P Hayes 14
R Kell 21

Bookings:
F Murray 73
Bookings:
S Torpey 29
R Kell 56




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Oxford Utd 2 - 1
(0 - 1) Notts County
T Mooney (pen) 75
T Mooney (pen) 82
J Baudet 28

Bookings:
ER Diaz 45
MAS Corbo 60
L Cominelli 65
Bookings:
M Stallard 64
J Baudet 81




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Rochdale 2 - 0
(0 - 0) Leyton Orient
M Richards 47
M Richards 59

Bookings:
M Simpson 76
S Wallis 88




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Yeovil 5 - 2
(1 - 1) Mansfield
A Davies 5
D Way 53
M Rose 71
P Jevons 72
D Way 81
A Rundle 32
R Day (pen) 51

Bookings:
L Johnson 60
Bookings:
F McLachlan 9

league

P PL GD PTS
1 Yeovil 42 21 75
2 Southend 41 21 74
3 Scunthorpe 42 19 72
4 Swansea 42 18 71
5 Macclesfield 41 14 69
6 Lincoln City 42 19 68
7 Darlington 42 4 64
8 Northampton 42 6 63
9 Wycombe 42 7 61
10 Rochdale 42 2 60
11 Mansfield 42 2 56
12 Oxford Utd 42 -8 56
13 Boston Utd 42 4 54
14 Cheltenham 42 -3 54
15 Leyton Orient 42 -5 54
16 Bristol Rovers 42 4 53
17 Grimsby 42 -4 52
18 Bury 42 -3 49
19 Notts County 42 -15 49
20 Chester 42 -23 48
21 Shrewsbury 42 -4 46
22 Rushden & D'monds 42 -19 41
23 Kidderminster 42 -37 37
24 Cambridge Utd 42 -20 35

imps criticise refere

Lincoln City manager Keith Alexander has hit out at the standard of refereeing in League Two.
His comments come in the wake of Saturday's 1-0 win against Swansea when Alexander described referee Richard Beeby's performance as "diabolical".

Aleaxander told BBC Radio Lincolnshire: "We go away from home every other week and it seems to me that we come up against some home referees.

"But we never seem to get home referees when we're playing at home."

Alexander added: "Everything went against us on Saturday.

"I told the referee at half-time that there were two teams playing and we're in red and white."

Sputhend lose

Juan Ugarte and Darren Ferguson scored extra-time goals to win the LDV Vans final for Wrexham.
Ugarte deftly guided the ball past Darryl Flahavan after Dennis Lawrence had headed goalwards, while Ferguson slotted home a rebound late-on.

Both teams had wasted earlier chances, with Freddy Eastwood clipping the post for Southend and Mark Bentley twice denied by Wrexham keeper Ben Foster.

Bentley then headed the ball on to his own crossbar and Ugarte hit the post.


Southend tasted final defeat for the second year in succession after losing out to Blackpool last season.

Steve Tilson's side had gone into the contest as the form team, unbeaten in 19 games and pushing for promotion from League One.

But with Wrexham battling against relegation and in the midst of a financial crisis, the victory is welcome relief for the Welsh club's beleaguered fans towards the end of a troubled season.

Matchwinner Ugarte was heavily involved in the opening half and should have laid the ball off to a completely unmarked Chris Llewellyn but chose to shoot himself.

Former Real Sociedad star Ugarte almost ended a rapid Wrexham break with a goal but could not keep his shot on target, while Mark Jones went close from long range.

Prior twice threatened the Dragons' goal, forcing a save from Ben Foster with a header and narrowly missing with a well-struck shot.


Ugarte (left) celebrates scoring for Wrexham

Eastwood brushed the post from 20 yards, while Bentley smashed a free-kick that Foster palmed away.

Bentley threatened again for the Shrimpers after the break, but again Foster was equal to the task.

Wrexham came the nearest to scoring in normal time, hitting the woodwork twice in a matter of seconds after 71 minutes.

Bentley tried to head clear a long ball but only succeeded in looping the ball over his keeper and on to the crossbar.

The ball bounced back into play and Bentley challenged Ugarte for the rebound, with the Wrexham player winning only to see his header hit the post and eventually fall into Flahavan's arms.

Eastwood continued to threaten in extra-time, forcing Foster into another save, but it was Wrexham's Ugarte who broke the deadlock.

Lawrence headed a corner goalwards and Ugarte was on hand close to the goal-line to divert the ball past Flahavan.

Adam Barrett had a great chance to equalise, but headed straight at Foster when completely unmarked eights yards out.

And the decisive second goal came with a minute left, Ferguson pouncing on some hesitant defending after Flahavan could only parry a strike.

Swasnea morales drop

Swansea's players admitted it would be hard to lift themselves after the last-minute loss at Lincoln.
"It's hard to pick yourself up after a loss like that," said striker Lee Thorpe. "But we have to do that and go again, there are good players here."

Ex-Lincoln man Kevin Austin added: "We've had defeats along the way, now we just have to work hard in training.

"We'll look forward to Friday, Oxford is a game we can win but they're all hard fixtures to the end of the year."

Watkiss hints add new Mullins deal

Kidderminster boss Stuart Watkiss has hinted they could try to keep Johnny Mullins beyond this season.
The 19-year-old defender has been a huge success since joining the League Two strugglers on loan from Reading.

"We'll have to see whether we can keep him, but I think there are two massive ifs," Watkiss told the club's website.

"Firstly, a lot will depend on whether we stay in the league, and secondly it will come down to what Reading and Steve think is best for the player."

Watkiss added: "We've been very impressed with commitment and performance and we owe Steve Coppell and Reading for letting us take him on loan."

16 April 2005
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Cheltenham 1 - 0
(1 - 0) Northampton
D Spencer 22

Bookings:
J Finnigan 32
D Spencer 77
Bookings:
C Willmott 62




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Chester 2 - 2
(0 - 2) Bristol Rovers
S Drummond 60
S Drummond 72
R Williams 23
J Agogo 30

Bookings:
S Hessey 13
P Bolland 64
Bookings:
R Ryan 45
D Savage 58
R Walker 63




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Kidderminster 1 - 1
(0 - 0) Yeovil
M Rawle 83
A Davies 61

Bookings:
J McGrath 5
T Bennett 51
B Cozic 72
Bookings:
E Sodje 43
D Way 55




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Lincoln City 2 - 0
(1 - 0) Macclesfield
R Butcher 33
F Green 68

Bookings:
P Morgan 54
Bookings:
D Swailes 36
M Tipton 48




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Mansfield 1 - 1
(0 - 0) Darlington
R Day 90
C Wijnhard 66

Bookings:
J Buxton 84
Bookings:
N Wainwright 35
S Thomas 51




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Notts County 2 - 2
(0 - 1) Grimsby
S Oakes 76
S Oakes 88
A Parkinson 27
J Crowe 50




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Rochdale 1 - 1
(1 - 1) Shrewsbury
R Lambert 40
M Sheron (pen) 6

Bookings:
E Cooksey 30
M Richards 86
Bookings:
J Tolley 31




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Rushden & D'monds 4 - 2
(1 - 2) Boston Utd
D Broughton 27
B Sharp 54
B Sharp 65
B Sharp 84
D Clare (pen) 13
B Maylett 34

Bookings:
M Williams 71
R Gier 13
Bookings:
C Holland 21
B Maylett 29
A White 57
J Lee 64

Sent off:
R Gier 80




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Scunthorpe 4 - 0
(1 - 0) Cambridge Utd
R Kell 34
A Crosby 63
C Taylor 81
C Taylor 83

Bookings:
T Bramble 57




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Wycombe 1 - 2
(1 - 1) Bury
R Johnson 10
S Whaley 34
D Flitcroft 81

Bookings:
R Lee 72
D Senda 83
Bookings:
D Boshell 26
C Kazim-Richards 85
S Whaley 90




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15 April 2005
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Southend 0 - 1
(0 - 1) Leyton Orient
J Mackie 22

Bookings:
K Maher 45
M Bentley 58
A McCormack 88
S Prior 90
Bookings:
M Simpson 42
A Palmer 78

League

1 Yeovil 43 21 76
2 Scunthorpe 43 23 75
3 Southend 42 20 74
4 Swansea 43 19 74
5 Lincoln City 43 21 71
6 Macclesfield 42 12 69
7 Darlington 43 4 65
8 Northampton 43 5 63
9 Wycombe 43 6 61
10 Rochdale 43 2 61
11 Mansfield 43 2 57
12 Cheltenham 43 -2 57
13 Leyton Orient 43 -4 57
14 Oxford Utd 43 -9 56
15 Bristol Rovers 43 4 54
16 Boston Utd 43 2 54
17 Grimsby 43 -4 53
18 Bury 43 -2 52
19 Notts County 43 -15 50
20 Chester 43 -23 49
21 Shrewsbury 43 -4 47
22 Rushden & D'monds 43 -17 44
23 Kidderminster 43 -37 38
24 Cambridge Utd 43 -24 35

23 April 2005
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Blackpool 1 - 0
(1 - 0) Chesterfield
S Grayson 18

Bookings:
K Southern 35
Bookings:
D Niven 33
M Allott 71
M Fulop 90
I Evatt 90




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Bournemouth 0 - 1
(0 - 1) Peterborough
C Willock 17

Bookings:
A Fry 72




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Brentford 0 - 1
(0 - 1) Huddersfield
P Abbott 26

Bookings:
S Sodje 34
S Talbot 55
I Rankin 89
Bookings:
A Booth 76
D Adams 86
L Fowler 87




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Colchester 0 - 0
(0 - 0) Bradford
Bookings:
L Chilvers 52
Bookings:
M Bridge-Wilkinson 50




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Doncaster 2 - 0
(0 - 0) Hartlepool
R Ravenhill 59
L Fortune-West 90

Bookings:
C Westwood 30




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Milton Keynes Dons 1 - 2
(1 - 1) Bristol City
I McLeod 8
L Lita 45
L Lita 70

Bookings:
T McClenahan 23
Bookings:
C Fortune 6
S Murray 36




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Oldham 1 - 2
(1 - 1) Torquay
D Eyres 25
M Hockley 41
A Akinfenwa 49

Bookings:
G Owen 51
C Killen 70
Bookings:
K Hill 76




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Port Vale 5 - 0
(2 - 0) Barnsley
C Birchall 16
B Paynter 41
B Paynter 50
T Dinning 57
T Dinning 70

Bookings:
D Sonner 45
C James 64
G Pilkington 89
Bookings:
J Burns 69
N Austin 78




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Sheff Wed 0 - 0
(0 - 0) Stockport
Bookings:
A Le Fondre 18
D Allen 19
S Barlow 59
J Goodwin 90




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Swindon 2 - 1
(0 - 1) Tranmere
G Smith 57
G Smith 59
R Taylor 20

Bookings:
M Heywood 61
S Jenkins 70
Bookings:
J McAteer 90




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Walsall 3 - 0
(1 - 0) Hull
J Joachim 34
J Joachim 53
J Joachim 68

Bookings:
A Dawson 7




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Wrexham 1 - 2
(1 - 0) Luton
A Holt 31
C Davies 52
C Coyne 59

Bookings:
C Llewellyn 63
D Williams 75

table


P GD PTS
1 Luton 44 37 94
2 Hull 44 29 86
3 Tranmere 44 18 76
4 Hartlepool 44 12 70
5 Sheff Wed 44 18 69
6 Bournemouth 44 15 69
7 Brentford 43 -3 69
8 Bristol City 44 16 66
9 Doncaster 44 5 64
10 Huddersfield 44 4 64
11 Swindon 44 2 62
12 Bradford 44 1 62
13 Barnsley 44 3 57
14 Blackpool 44 -1 57
15 Colchester 44 9 55
16 Walsall 44 -9 54
17 Chesterfield 44 -8 53
18 Port Vale 43 -8 53
19 Oldham 44 -13 49
20 Torquay 44 -25 48
21 Milton Keynes Dons 44 -18 45
22 Peterborough 44 -20 39
23 Wrexham 42 -21 37
24 Stockport 44 -43 26

Cambridge no longer a league team

Cambridge lost their Football League status and dropped into the Conference after a goalless draw at Spotland.
They needed victory to maintain their 35-year league history but the result prompted a sit-down protest from fans.

Cambridge dominated the second half but there was only one real threat when Daniel Chillingworth broke through and forced a superb scrambling save.

The home side were denied a penalty appeal in the first half when Tesfaye Bramble crashed over in the box.

Cambridge, though, have not had a single penalty during the campaign and the referee said Gareth Griffiths' tackle was legitimate.

Rochdale's Ernie Cooksey also had a decent opportunity but he missed from close range

I hoep Cambridge can come straight back up, a great team and have made a lot of great talent Kitson of Reading is one of them. Good luck hopefully you will make a quick and sharp return to the football league pyramid. All the best for enxt season.

team award

PFA League Two team of season:
Chris Weale (Yeovil)
Sam Ricketts (Swansea)
Adam Barrett (Southend)
Andy Crosby (Scunthorpe)
Michael Rose (Yeovil)
Lee Johnson (Yeovil)
Darren Way (Yeovil)
Kevin Maher (Southend)
Peter Beagrie (Scunthorpe)
Phil Jevons (Yeovil)
Lee Trundle (Swansea)

Do it for Kell - Laws

Scunthorpe boss Brian Laws says his side are bent on winning promotion for Richard Kell, who broke his leg again in the 4-0 win over Bristol Rovers.

"It was a great win and I can't even enjoy it. We are devastated," he said.

"I am gutted. Richard's been excellent, inspirational, and has never missed training since his last leg break.

"There is a lot of belief in the dressing room and and even more determination because of Richard. I will make sure we do it for him."

No celebrating at Yeovil - just yet


Yeovil boss Gary Johnson is refusing to get carried away despite knowing his side need only a point on the final day against Lincoln to clinch promotion.

"Everyone defended magnificently and I have nothing but praise for the effort the lads put in," Johnson said after a 1-0 win over Southend at Roots Hall.

"This is a massive result for us but there is still work to do.

"I'm taking nothing for granted and not certainly not celebrating just yet. The champagne remains on ice," he added.

promotion

1. Yeovil
2.Scunthorpe
3. Swansea


Yeovil Town, Scunthorpe United and Swansea City have all been promtoed to league 1. Yeovil went up as league champions and then Scunthorpe and Swansea followed them.

Congratulations to all 3 clubs and good luck to Yeovil and Scunthorpe again next season.