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League Two round-up: Lincoln miss title chance

Written by on 21/04/2019

Lincoln missed the chance to be crowned Sky Bet League Two champions after their 19-game unbeaten run was halted by a 1-0 loss at play-off-chasing Carlisle.

The Imps secured promotion last weekend and would have guaranteed top spot with victory at Brunton Park.

But after having defender Jason Shackell sent off for two bookings with half an hour played, a goal from Mike Jones 14 minutes from time inflicted a first defeat since Boxing Day on Danny Cowley’s side and moved the hosts to within a point of the top seven.

Mansfield’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Morecambe saw them climb to second and retain an extremely slim chance of catching the leaders. Jacob Mellis put the Stags ahead at Field Mill with half an hour played, before defender Krystian Pearce added a second with 20 minutes to play.

CJ Hamilton and Malvind Benning sealed the success, leaving David Flitcroft’s team eight points behind Lincoln with three games to go.

Bury dropped out of the automatic promotion places following a costly 3-1 loss at play-off hopefuls Newport.

A double from defender Mickey Demetriou and a strike from Jamille Matt earned a surprise win for the Exiles, with Nicky Maynard briefly levelling for the Shakers early on.

MK Dons capitalised on that result to move above Bury and into third spot by increasing the relegation concerns of Notts County with a 2-1 success at Meadow Lane.

Second-half goals from David Wheeler and Chuks Aneke put Paul Tisdale’s side on course for victory, before Ben Barclay claimed a consolation deep into stoppage time.

Beleaguered County remain bottom of the table, although defeats for fellow strugglers Macclesfield and Yeovil leave Neal Ardley’s men within touching distance of safety going into the final three games.

Second-bottom Yeovil, who had Adel Gafaiti sent off, were beaten 2-0 at Crewe following goals either side of half-time from Charlie Kirk and Tom Lowery.

Sol Campbell’s Macclesfield stay two points ahead of their rivals following a 2-1 loss at Northampton. Harry Smith cancelled out Dean Bowditch’s opener to level for the Silkmen at Sixfields but goals from Daniel Powell and Junior Morias gave the Cobblers victory.

Sixth-placed Forest Green secured an impressive 1-0 win over play-off rivals Tranmere thanks to Junior Mondal’s 47th-minute winner.

Reece Grego-Cox scored twice as Crawley dented Exeter’s play-off hopes with a 3-1 win at St James Park. Filipe Morais put the visitors ahead, with Ryan Bowman on target for the seventh-placed hosts.

Like Newport, Colchester and Stevenage each took advantage of Exeter’s slip-up to move within two points of the top seven.

Frank Nouble’s first-half strike earned Colchester a 1-0 win over Grimsby, who had captain Danny Collins dismissed in stoppage time for a second booking.

A double from Emmanuel Sonupe and late goals from Ilias Chair and Kurtis Guthrie gave Stevenage a thumping 4-1 win at Port Vale, with Cristian Montano on target for the hosts.

Elsewhere, Cambridge’s home game with Swindon and Oldham’s trip to Cheltenham ended goalless.

(c) Sky News 2019: League Two round-up: Lincoln miss title chance