Football League: Birmingham extend lead at top as Wrexham left chasing

The Guardian

01-04-2025

Jay Stansfield's late penalty was the difference as Birmingham extended their lead at the top of League One to 11 points with a 2-1 win against Bristol Rovers.
Keshi Anderson gave Blues the lead after only three minutes and, although Gatlin O'Donkor equalised, Stansfield's spot-kick made it back-to-back league wins.
The second-placed Wrexham were held to a 2-2 by struggling Cambridge. Liam Bennett cancelled out George Dobson's opener and Josh Stokes gave United the lead from the penalty spot before Sam Smith snatched a point for Wrexham.
Wycombe in third were also left frustrated following a goalless draw with bottom side Shrewsbury, meaning they sit only three points above Charlton after Tyreece Campbell scored the winner for the Addicks to beat Mansfield 2-1.
Stockport are a point further back in fifth after beating Stevenage 3-0 with efforts from Jayden Fevrier and Jack Diamond and a Luther James-Wildin own goal.
Leyton Orient were dealt a 2-1 defeat by struggling Burton as Rumarn Burrell scored the winner.
Chris Forino's stoppage-time effort snatched a 1-0 for Bolton against Wigan, while Abraham Odoh scored a hat-trick as Peterborough secured a last-gasp 4-3 win against Crawley.
The relegation-threatened Crawley went ahead through Junior Quitirna before Odoh struck twice in seven minutes to give Posh the lead. The winger scored his third after Jeremy Kelly struck for Crawley and, although Rushian Hepburn-Murphy equalised to make it 3-3, a stoppage-time penalty from Ricky-Jade Jones snatched three points for Peterborough.
Sonny Carey's brace helped maintain Blackpool's playoff push with a 3-0 win against rivals Reading, while Reeco Hackett's goal was the difference for Lincoln to beat Huddersfield 1-0.
Rotherham had a good start after Steve Evans's sacking with a 2-0 victory against Northampton and a late Josh Magennis strike earned Exeter a 2-1 win against Barnsley.
In League Two the leaders, Walsall, picked up their fourth successive draw after salvaging a point at Doncaster. Taylor Allen cancelled out Luke Molyneux's opener, but in a late drama Billy Sharp put Rovers ahead before a Danny Johnson header snatched a 2-2 draw.
Bradford, in second, missed the chance to go top as they fell to a 2-0 defeat against their promotion rivals Port Vale, with Lorent Tolaj and Mitchell Clark on target. The win moved Vale level on points with their opponents.
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A late brace of penalties from Kabongo Tshimanga secured a 2-1 win for Swindon against the playoff contenders AFC Wimbledon, who finished the game with 10 men after John-Joe O'Toole was dismissed in stoppage time.
Ben Fox scored the winner for Harrogate as they edged out Tranmere 3-2. Ellis Taylor and Tom Cursons put the Sulphurites ahead before Regan Hendry pulled one back, but Fox then struck and Harrogate held off a potential comeback after Omari Patrick pulled one back.
Crewe moved closer to the playoff places with a 2-0 win against Grimsby, and Gillingham drew 1-1 with Colchester after Max Clark's penalty cancelled out Jack Payne's opener.
Morecambe beat Cheltenham 2-0, while Fleetwood earned back-to-back wins after goals from Mark Helm, Phoenix Patterson, Mackenzie Hunt and a Conor Grant own goal gave them a 4-1 win against Accrington.
Wyll Stanway's own goal cancelled out Tyler Smith's opener as Barrow drew 1-1 with Salford, while top scorer Michael Cheek rescued a point for Bromley with a 1-1 draw against Newport.