League Two Betting Review – 9 April 2006

Carlisle are overwhelming 1/7 favourites to win League Two outright after their 1-0 victory over second-placed Grimsby sent them six points clear. Former Leeds striker Michael Bridges struck the decisive goal for the even money Cumbrians four minutes after the break.

Northampton threw away a two-goal lead against Rochdale and missed the chance to go second. Josh Low after five minutes and Scott McGleish on 35 put the 8/15 Cobblers in control at the break. However, Rickie Lamberts pulled one back six minutes into the second half and levelled with a stoppage time penalty.

Leyton Orient are breathing down Northampton’s necks after a 2-0 victory over Boston United saw them level on points. An Adam Lockwood penalty on 51 and Paul Connor goal a minute before the end ensured victory for the 6/10 O’s who kept a sixth successive clean sheet.

Wycombe suffered their fourth consecutive defeat at the hands of Macclesfield. Paul Harsley netted a penalty six minutes before the break and Danny Whittaker struck on 53 for the 6/4 Silkmen. Substitute Russell Martin score a consolation four minutes from full time.

Play-off chasing Cheltenham were denied all three points by Stockport. Kayode Odejayi drew first blood for the Robins but County went ahead through a Mark Robinson penalty and Keith Briggs. Brian Wilson levelled for the hosts and a Grant McCann penalty two minutes from time looked set to secure a 7/10 home win. However, Liam Dickinson tied the game at 3-3 with an equaliser in injury time.

Peterborough sent Bury deeper into relegation trouble with an emphatic 3-1 win at Gigg Lane. Posh striker Danny Crow broke the deadlock on 45 and Adam Newton doubled the lead after 62 minutes. Tom Kennedy scored from the penalty spot four minutes later to give the Shakers hope but Crow struck again in stoppage time to seal a convincing 9/5 away win.

Darlington boosted their play-off hopes but left Torquay’s League status hanging by a thread with a 2-1 win at Plainmoor. The relegation-threatened Seagulls took the lead through Keith Hill on 37 but Akpo Sodge levelled for the Quakers on 66. Neil Wainwright netted a late winner for 9/5 Darlo a minute from time.

Rushden & Diamonds fightback continued with a 1-0 win at Bristol Rovers, levelling them on points with fellow strugglers Stockport. Drewe Broughton sealed another three points for the 4/1 outsiders with 11 minutes remaining.

Chester climbed away from the drop zone with their third successive win, this time at Oxford. Derek Asamoah netted his sixth goal in three games after 19 minutes to secure the 9/4 Blues victory.

League Two Betting Review – 8 May 2006

Leyton Orient secured automatic promotion in the last minute but relegated Oxford to the Conference in the process. Eric Sabin gave Oxford the lead after 14 minutes but Clint Easton equalised two minutes later. Gary Alexander edged the O’s in front on 64 but again the lead didn’t last as Chris Wilmott levelled within two minutes. With the match heading for a draw, Lee Steele struck in injury time for 6/5 Orient to win them automatic promotion for the first time in 36 years.

Grimsby’s hopes of automatic promotion were shattered in the third minute of injury time as they were held to a draw by already-promoted Northampton. The Mariners needed to win or better the result of Leyton Orient to snatch the third automatic promotion place and looked good to do so when Jean-Paul Kalala converted a penalty after 75 minutes. But, with 20 seconds to go, Ryan Gilligan equalised to set up a 5/2 draw and consigned Grimsby to the play-offs.

Carlisle were confirmed as League Two champions and Stockport avoided relegation as both sides drew 0-0 at Edgley Park. County’s Adam Griffin and Carlisle’s Glenn Murray both could have won it for either side but punter’s who foresaw a draw at 12/5 will have been smiling at full-time.

Torquay earned the point they needed to avoid the drop with a goalless draw against Boston. A game of few chances for either side ended as a 5/2 stalemate but preserved the Seagull’s league status.

Cheltenham prepared for their play-off clash with Wycombe by smashing five past Mansfield at Field Mill. Steve Gillespie opened the scoring after 34 minutes and Ashley Vincent struck a second on the stroke of half time. Grant McCann scored on 50, David Bird converted a penalty on 81 and Kayode Odejayi completed the rout four minutes later to make a mockery of the 9/5 odds on offer.

Inconsistent Wycombe ended Peterborough’s hopes of sneaking into the play-offs with a 2-0 win at London Road. Jermaine Easter broke the deadlock after 15 minutes and Mike Williamson made sure with five minutes left for the 3/1 Chairboys.

Lincoln clinched a play-off place for the fourth consecutive season after a 1-1 draw with Rochdale. Gareth McAuley gave the Imps the lead after 72 minutes but Rickie Lambert equalised two minute from time to set up a 14/5 draw.

Darlington missed out on the play-offs following their 1-1 draw with Wrexham. Danny Williams gave the Welshmen the lead after 31 minutes but Andy Cooke struck the 12/5 equaliser in stoppage time.

League Two Betting Review – 23 April 2006

Carlisle became the first team in League Two to secure promotion following their 1-1 draw at Mansfield. The Stags looked to have delayed the promotion party when top goal scorer Ritchie Barker netted after 63 minutes but the Cumbrians levelled in the 92nd minute through their leading marksman Karl Hawley. The draw, available at 12/5 before kick-off, secured Paul Simpson’s side their second successive promotion.

Two goals in three second-half minutes kept Northampton in second place after a 3-1 win at Oxford. Chris Doig opened the scoring for the 13/10 Cobblers after 17 minutes while Martin Smith on 69 and Josh Low on 71 sealed a sixth win in seven matches. Defender Chris Willmott scored a consolation for United four minutes later.

Grimsby kept their hopes of automatic promotion alive with a 1-0 win over play-off chasers Cheltenham. Gary Jones scored the decisive goal for the 5/6 Mariners after 69 minutes.

Leyton Orient remained on the fringes of automatic promotion after being held 1-1 by fellow play-off hopefuls Lincoln. John Mackie gave Orient a dream start after two minutes but Jamie Forrester levelled on 36 for the match to end all square at 9/4.

Wycombe ended a run of six straight defeats with an emphatic 3-1 win at Rushden & Diamonds, putting Barry Hunter’s side on the brink of relegation. Marcus Kelly gave Diamonds the lead after 24 minutes but two goals in three minutes for Tommy Mooney on 62 and Roger Johnson 65 and a Mooney penalty two minutes from time saw a much-needed 2/1 for the Chairboys.

Torquay remain in the bottom two but have given themselves a fighting chance of survival after a 1-0 defeat of Wrexham. Martin Phillips netted the winner for the 7/5 Seagulls after nine minutes.

Stockport edged closer to safety by beating Shrewsbury 3-1 at Edgley Park. Jamie Ward broke the deadlock for the 13/10 Hatters nine minutes before the break and Kevin O’Connor double the advantage on 54. Glynn Hurst pulled one back for the Shrews 10 minutes later but a Mark Robinson penalty six minutes from the end ensured a precious home win.

Caretaker coach Steve Bleasdale quit his post at Peterborough just an hour before Posh ran out 3-2 winners against Macclesfield. John Miles gave the Silkmen the lead after 62 minutes, but Posh, under Barry Fry and Andy Legg, equalised through Danny Crow on 71 and took the lead through David Farrell on 83. Miles netted his second a minute from time to draw Brian Horton’s side level but Crow struck a last gasp 8/11 winner.

League Two Betting Review – 1 May 2006

Northampton followed Carlisle into League One after beating Chester 1-0. Scott McGleish scored the winning goal for the 6/10 Cobblers after 26 minutes, his 24th goal of the campaign. The win saw Northampton five points clear of fourth-placed Grimsby Town with one match left to play.

Leyton Orient played for 70 minutes with 10 men, but saw off Peterborough to keep their hopes of automatic promotion alive. Matt Lockwood gave the 4/5 O’s the lead from the penalty spot after 15 minutes before Paul Connor saw red on 21. Orient went further ahead after 70 minutes through Wayne Corden before Lloyd Opara pulled one back for Posh five minutes before the end.

Grimsby’s hopes of automatic promotion were dented as they could only manage a 12/5 draw at Macclesfield. Gary Jones gave the Mariners the lead after 40 minutes but Marcus Richardson equalised three minutes later for the Silkmen.

Rushden & Diamonds became the first team in League Two to have their relegation confirmed as they lost 2-0 at Boston. Lawrie Dudfield broke the deadlock with a minute to go and Danny Thomas secured victory for the 6/5 Pilgrims a minute later.

Torquay boosted their chances of escaping the drop with an unlikely victory at Carlisle, denying the Cumbrians the chance to clinch the League Two title. Kevin Hill gave Ian Atkins’ side an eighth minute lead and Jo Kuffour doubled the 5/1 Seagulls’ lead on 41. Zigor Aranalde pulled one back for Carlisle three minutes after the break but Torquay held out to win.

Oxford slipped into the bottom two following a draw at Wrexham. Matt Crowell gave the Dragons the lead after 28 minutes but Tcham N’Toya equalised from the penalty spot on 64 to set up a 5/2 draw.

Cheltenham guaranteed themselves a place in the play-offs following a 2-0 victory over Notts County. Steve Guinan gave the 8/15 Robins the lead after three minutes and Ashley Vincent rounded off the win with a second on 82.

Lincoln edged closer to a fourth successive play-off spot with 1-0 victory at Shrewsbury. Defender Gareth McAuley scored the decisive goal for the 9/5 Imps after 62 minutes.

Darlington kept their outside chance of a play-off spot alive by beating faltering Wycombe. David Duke got the winner for the 23/10 Quakers five minutes into the second half.

Rochdale preserved their League Two status and ended Bristol Rovers’ hopes for a play-off berth in the process. Rickie Lambert scored from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time and Ernie Cooksey sealed a 7/4 home win in stoppage time.

Bury’s third goalless draw in four matches edged them ever closer to survival with opponents Mansfield doing well to earn a point. Draw hunters will have picked up on the 11/5 available on the match ending all square.

A goalless draw at Underhill keeps both Barnet and Stockport in danger of relegation with 23/10 available before kick-off.

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