Walsall vs AFC Wimbledon. Sky Bet League Two.
Poundland Bescot StadiumAttendance5,318.
Saturday 23 September 2023 20:22, UK
Notts County were given a stern test in their quest to move top of League Two before eventually reaching the summit with a chaotic 4-3 win over Forest Green.
After Dan Crowley and Macauley Langstaff gave the hosts a comfortable half-time lead, a five-minute Troy Deeney double pulled the West Country side level. John Bostock and David McGoldrick restored the hosts' two-goal advantage before Deeney completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot late on.
County replaced Gillingham at the top of the table, after their shock 2-1 defeat at lowly Doncaster.
Conor Masterson looked to have earned the Gills a point after cancelling out Ben Close's early opener, only for the Doncaster man to pop up with a late winner three minutes from time.
Ollie Clarke's 72nd-minute goal was enough to earn Mansfield a 1-0 win over Barrow, who saw Junior Tiensia sent off late on for violent conduct.
The odd goal in five saw Crawley to three points with a 3-2 win at Grimsby.
Four of the five goals came in 11 maddening first-half minutes, with Gavan Holohan and Abo Eisa's quickfire double for the hosts cancelled out by Liam Kelly and Ronan Darcy, before Danilo Orsi sparked jubilation in the away end with a 96th-minute winner.
Swindon dropped down to fifth after Ethan Walker's late equaliser earned Morecambe a 2-2 draw at the Mazuma Stadium.
Daniel Kemp fired the Robins ahead before Jake Taylor levelled for the hosts. The game appeared to turn in Swindon's favour when Yannick Songo'o was sent off for a foul in the Morecambe box, and Charlie Austin restored the visitors' lead.
But Walker had the last laugh, levelling up with 10 minutes to go to earn the hosts a point.
Crewe had Chris Long's early double to thank for three points as they held on to beat Colchester 2-1 at the Mornflake Stadium.
Both of Long's goals came inside the first eight minutes and when the Railwaymen could not add to their lead, Colchester's Samson Tovide brought his side back in touching distance eight minutes after half-time.
Wrexham were humbled by last season's beaten play-off finalists Stockport, who hammered them 5-0 at Edgeley Park to move a point off the top seven.
Isaac Olaofe was the star of the show with a hat-trick, with Louie Barry and Paddy Madden also on target.
AFC Wimbledon remain above Stockport on goal difference in eighth spot thanks to a 3-1 win at 10-player Walsall.
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans fired the Dons ahead early on but even after Taylor Allen's first-half red card, the Saddlers levelled just before the hour through Freddie Draper.
That joy was short-lived as Jack Currie restored the visitors' advantage three minutes later, before Ali Al-Hamadi added a late third.
MK Dons missed the chance to leapfrog both Wimbledon and Wrexham as they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at Sutton.
It could have been worse after Omar Sowunmi's opener for the hosts, before Alex Gilbey earned the visitors a point at the VBS Community Stadium.
Bradford jumped above Newport with a stunning 4-1 win at Rodney Parade, with Andy Cook taking home the match ball.
Bradford were three ahead inside half an hour thanks to a Cook double, with Rayhaan Tulloch also on target. Omar Bogle pulled one back for the hosts, before Cook wrapped up his hat-trick in injury time.
Harrogate moved four points above the drop with a 3-2 win over Salford, who are now fourth bottom.
They raced into a two-goal lead through George Thomson and Sam Folarin, before Salford restored parity with goals either side of half-time through Curtis Tilt and Matt Smith.
But Harrogate regained a lead they would not surrender with 10 minutes left, with Abraham Odoe the match winner.
Tranmere moved off the bottom of the table with a much-needed 2-0 win over Accrington at Prenton Park. A goal in each half from Josh Hawkes earned them three points, with Jay Rich-Baghuelou sent off for the visitors.