LEAGUE TWO

FOREST GREEN 2 BRISTOL R 0

FOREST GREEN gained the west country derby day bragging rights over Bristol Rovers after a Jamille Matt brace extended their lead at the top of the table to six points. Rob Edwards’ hosts finished the game with 10 men following an Udoka Godwin Malife red card. The boss said: ‘The fans were brilliant, and I was bouncing off them.’

ROCHDALE 1 EXETER 1

ROCHDALE boss Robbie Stockdale felt his side were the better team in their draw against Exeter. ‘The conditions were really tough but I thought we were excellent,’ he said. George Ray’s opener for Exeter was cancelled out by Max Taylor. Jake Beesley missed a penalty for Rochdale.

SWINDON 1 HARROGATE 1

JACK PAYNE’S 83rd-minute penalty saved Swindon from defeat after Jack Diamond looked to be giving Harrogate the three points. The hosts’ boss Ben Garner said more cash should be invested in refereeing. ‘More money needs to be put into the game for the officials,’ he said. ‘They need to be more full-time.’

NORTHAMPTON 1 LEYTON 0

SAM HOSKINS’ scruffy goal late in the first half was enough to secure a fifth successive home win for Northampton. Manager Jon Brady said: ‘They had a right go but we had a go as well and we stood up strong to them.’

PORT VALE 2 HARTLEPOOL 0

BEN GARRITY and Tom Pett scored Vale’s goals as they beat Hartlepool. Winning assistant manager Andy Crosby said: ‘The clean sheet for us is massive. It’s what we spoke about pre-game.’ Hartlepool’s interim manager, Tony Sweeney added:

‘It wasn’t a particularly good game.’

SCUNTHORPE 1 BRADFORD 1

KEITH HILL could take plenty of heart from his Scunthorpe side’s draw with Bradford. Aaron Jarvis’s opener for the hosts was cancelled out by Yann Songo’o. Hill said: ‘I’m smiling inside.’

TRANMERE P STEVENAGE P

Tranmere’s promotion push was stalled as Storm Arwen blew the roof off Prenton Park. Rovers postponed their game at 11am citing safety concerns. ‘A small section of the main stand roof was blown off,’ said a club statement.

SUTTON 1 BARROW 0

SUTTON boss Matt Gray was pleased that their matchwinner David Ajiboye has listened to his advice. ‘We have emphasised to him this season about coming in on his left foot,’ he said.

SALFORD 2 OLDHAM 0

SALFORD beat Oldham in the visitors’ first game after parting ways with boss Keith Curle. Interim head coach Selim Benachour said about the fans: ‘It’s difficult for them.’ Matthew Lund and Brandon ThomasAsante scored the goals.

CRAWLEY 1 MANSFIELD 2

MANSFIELD boss Nigel Clough said: ‘to get a sixth win in seven games is just what we wanted’. A late goal from Rhys Oates won it after James Tilley had cancelled out Ollie Hawkins’ opener.

CARLISLE 1 WALSALL 0

CARLISLE ended a 12-match winless run thanks to a last-gasp Tristan Abrahams winner. The victory was Keith Millen’s first as Carlisle boss, and he said: ‘We all knew the pressure. It wasn’t a great spectacle from a football point of view.’