THIRD DIVISION REVIEW
Oxford fans will be worried despite their team climbing two points clear at the top of the Third Division. They comprehensively beat Southend 2-0, but manager Ian Atkins has been linked with a possible move to Reading in some Sunday papers if their boss, Alan Pardew, takes up the West Ham post.
U's fans will be hoping it is just the rumour mill working overtime as their team remained unbeaten, courtesy of strikes from Steve Basham and Paul Wanless. Star of the show was loan signing Jon Ashton from Leicester and Atkins is looking to strike a permanent deal.
He said: "We have got him on loan but after the way he played I wouldn't be doing my job properly if I didn't push to sign him permanently. He could end up a little gem and fully deserved the ovation he got from the crowd when he came off just before the end. We weren't as effective football wise today as in our previous games - but we are top on merit."
Swansea dropped to second after suffering a 2-0 defeat at the hands of new boys Yeovil. It was a very special day for Adam Stansfield who made his first start for a year after breaking his leg and opened the scoring for the Glovers. Kirk Jackson sealed the points with a second ten minutes after the break.
York are third, but suffered their second consecutive defeat after going down 2-1 at home to Rochdale. Kevin Townson and Leo Bertos put the visitors in charge but the sending off of Dale's Paul Connor and York's Stuart Wise seemed to galvanize the hosts and Aaron Wilford pulled a goal back, which left Dale hanging on for the last 15 minutes.
Bristol Rovers won their first game of the campaign at the Memorial Ground but it was a real battle. Seventy minutes had passed against Kidderminster Harriers with both attacks looking punch-less until substitute Lee Hodges curled home a superb 20-yard effort into the top corner.
Mansfield won a five-goal thriller against Macclesfield thanks to a 69th minute penalty from Liam Lawrence. Earlier David Artell had given them the lead but Matthew Tipton and John miles had put the Silkmen ahead. Junior Mendes leveled before Lawrence's winner.
It left Stags boss Keith Curle very relieved. "We thought it was going to be a showpiece with us scoring early," he said. "I was relieved to get the players off at half time and remind them they have to earn everything they get. I needed to give them their belief back and get them to focus again. Sometimes you have to grind out results and we did just that."
Cheltenham have pushed themselves into eighth position after yet another goal feast. The Robins' six games have now produced a staggering 30 goals and they lived dangerously on Friday night before overcoming Northampton. Lawrie Dudfield gave the Cobblers a two-goal lead at half time before Bob Taylor pulled one back after the break.
A Martin Smith penalty restored Northampton's two-goal advantage but a Richard Forsyth penalty reduced the deficit again. However, the drama unfolded in injury time when two Town goals gave them all three points. Martin Devaney leveled the scores and a second Forsyth penalty won the game.
Torquay beat Leyton Orient 2-1 as the pressure increased on Paul Brush with the O's entrenched in one of the relegation positions. Dvid Graham bagged a brace for the Gulls with Tom Newey replying for Orient. However, Orient won the sending off count 2-1 with Gary Alexander and Matt Lockwood seeing red for the visitors and Craig Taylor doing likewise for the hosts.
Darlington won a crucial basement battle against Carlisle thanks to a brace of Barry Conlon goals.
Lincoln eked out another point but are still struggling to score goals after a 0-0 draw at the Abbey Stadium against Cambridge whilst oston remain safe after a 1-1 draw in a pulsating Lincolnshire derby against Scunthorpe. Lee Beevers put the Pilgrims ahead but Steve McLean fired a deserved equalisr just before half time.
Huddersfield are still struggling to get started after a 2-1 defeat at Gigg Lane. Matt Swailes put Bury in front before Paul Scott restored parity, but Lee Connell hit the winner with just seven minutes remaining.
Tonight's live TV game sees Doncaster and Hull lock horns for what should be an absolute cracker in front of a sell-out crowd.
