Strugglers strike back

There was little change at the top, but there was much movement at the foot of League Two this weekend where no less than three struggling sides grabbed vital wins including Wycombe, who ended their eight-game winless run with a 2-1 victory at home to Torquay.

The Chairboys were bigger than 2/1 for their first three points since the opening day of the season and it ensures they climb out of the relegation zone at the expense of Aldershot, albeit on goal difference only.

Caretaker player-manager Gareth Ainsworth increased his chances of getting the top job on a permanent basis, and he set up the 63rd minute opener for Gary Doherty to head home.

Rene Howe equalised for the Gulls with his eighth of the season shortly before half-time, but Josh Scowen’s header just after the hour mark sealed victory for Wycombe, whose odds for relegation have drifted slightly from 5/1 to 11/2.

Aldershot, on the other hand, have seen their odds shorten dramatically after a 1-0 home defeat to Chesterfield. William Hill now go 9/2 from 8/1 that the Shots end their five-year stay in the Football League.

Wimbledon are now two points clear of the bottom two after their second win in as many games, a 2-1 victory away at Plymouth.

The Dons were 10/3 to triumph against a side previously unbeaten in their last four, but the result moves them only a point behind Argyle in 21st as caretaker manager Simon Bassey made it six points from his four games in charge.

Rashid Yussuff netted the decisive goal in injury time after Plymouth’s Rhys Griffiths had fired home the rebound from his saved penalty just a minute earlier.

Wimbledon, too, have seen their relegation odds begin to drift on the back of their revival with Bet365 now offering 5/2 from 2/1 on Saturday morning.

Barnet remain rooted to the foot of the table, but are now five points from safety after having to settle for a draw and their third point of the season in the 16/5 stalemate away at out-of-form Southend.

The Bees had led 2-0 courtesy of Ricky Holmes and Jake Hyde with just 23 minutes to play, but the Shrimpers hit back through Freddy Eastwood and Kevan Hurst to secure a point.

Dagenham, meanwhile, continue their resurgence with a second win in three games as they beat Bradford 4-3 at home. The astonishing scoreline – priced at 175/1 – moved the Daggers up to 17th and they are now 7/1 with Coral for the drop.

At the other end of the table, leaders Gillingham were held 0-0 at Oxford following an outstanding display by Ryan Clarke in the home goal. The U’s keeper made a string of fine saves to reward those who backed odds of 3/1 for under 1.5 goals at Ladbrokes prior to the game.

Second-placed Port Vale are now only three points behind the Gills after winning 2-0 at Exeter. The division’s top marksman Tom Pope, an 8/5 anytime scorer with Bet635, headed both goals to take his tally to 11, and he is now no bigger than 6/1 to end the season with the Golden Boot.

Results: Accrington 2-3 Rochdale, Aldershot 0-1 Chesterfield, Bristol Rovers 3-1 Northampton, Cheltenham 2-2 Fleetwood, Dagenham 4-3 Bradford, Exeter 0-2 Port Vale, Morecambe 0-0 Burton, Oxford 0-0 Gillingham, Plymouth 1-2 Wimbledon, Southend 2-2 Barnet, Wycombe 2-1 Torquay, York 0-0 Rotherham

Tom Pope to be League Two top goalscorer at 6/1