Spireites on the brink!

League Two Round Up
15th-16th April 2011

Chesterfield were given a scare by Macclesfield but eventually edged to the brink of League One with a 2-1 win at the B2Net Stadium. Only a ridiculous swing of goal difference can stop the Spireites now and they could have wrapped up the title by the end of the Easter weekend. Lewis Chalmers gave Macc a surprise lead on the stroke of half time from the spot but Craig Davies netted one of the goals of the day to equalise before Danny Whittaker netted the all-important winner.

Bury saw off Barnet 2-0 at Gigg Lane and boosted their own promotion hopes as well as sending Barnet three points away from Burton at the bottom. Giiuliano Grazioli was in caretaker charge for the Bees but he couldn’t prevent Bury from securing a fourth straight win to keep them second.

Shrewsbury took advantage of Wycombe dropping points as they beat Stockport at the New Meadow. Tom Bradshaw and Nicky Wroe saw the Shrews to a comfortable victory but for Stockport it’s a result that all but seals relegation as they surely now can’t make up an eight point gap with four games left to play.

Meanwhile, Torquay will be happier with their goalless draw at home to Port Vale than their visitors following a tight contest at Plainmoor. United are now eight unbeaten and remain in fifth, almost winning the game when Chris Zebroski struck the post.
Stevenage were also held in their promotion bid with Aldershot who are now ten without defeat following an entertaining encounter. Alex Rodman turned the game around after Darius Charles had put Stevenage ahead but they would have to settle for a point when Luke Foster equalised with just under twenty minutes to go.

Gillingham clung on to their playoff place with a late goal providing them with a draw at home to Morecambe who looked to have won the game through a Phil Jevons penalty. But Cody McDonald was on target once more to keep his side in seventh place.
That’s because Accrington couldn’t find a way past Oxford at the Crown Ground in a goalless draw that keeps them outside the playoffs on goal difference. Stanley were looking for nine consecutive home wins but Oxford held out well in a good defensive showing.

Another 0-0 came at the Don Valley Stadium as Andy Scott’s first game in charge of the Millers didn’t end with the right result to send them back into playoff contention. With the teams above them drawing it could prove vital that they couldn’t get past Hereford who hit the post through Joe Colbeck.

Lincoln ended their losing run with a draw at Crewe. Paul Green gave them the lead but Crewe levelled things with a penalty from top scorer Clayton Donaldson late on. The Imps are now six points clear of the relegation zone and should be on their way to securing league status for another season.

On Friday night, Bradford were hammered 4-0 at Southend and now face a nervy Tuesday night meeting with Burton Albion as they try to shake off their worries. Albion will go above the Bantams on goal difference should they win at Valley Parade. Southend, on the other hand, made it seven games unbeaten at home with that convincing win.
Burton were winners today and set up that crunch game on Tuesday with a 2-0 win over ten man Cheltenham. Greg Pearson put them in front in odd fashion on the half hour mark. Pearson rode a challenge from Andy Gallinagh and scored but the referee brought the game back and sent off Gallinagh before Pearson score the penalty. The lead was doubled by Jacques Maghoma with a close range effort late on.

There will be no more games in hand following Tuesday’s game and it’ll be a straight four games to go for everyone as we come to a big close in yet another tight league. The Cobblers aren’t safe yet, but have today taken one small step for man.