Northampton Town were League Two's big winners this evening, thrashing Hartlepool United 5-1 at Sixfields to keep pace with the playoff pack. There were doubles for both Marc Richards and Kaid Mohamed, with Lawson D'Ath also netting for the home side in a convincing win.
Division leaders Burton Albion were beaten away at AFC Wimbledon by three goals to nil, though second-placed Morecambe were unable to capitalise as they went down to a late Alex Fisher goal at Mansfield Town.
Portsmouth also managed an injury-time goal at Fratton Park, though they were already two goals to the good by the time Andy Barcham made sure of the points against Dagenham & Redbridge.
Bury were able to edge past Stevenage to jump into second place, and a win for Wycombe Wanderers away to Plymouth Argyle means that Morcambe drop out of the automatic promotion spots.
Elsewhere, Carlisle United stay bottom after Shrewsbury Town's Jermaine Grandison netted the only goal of their game at Grennhous Meadow, and Exeter City still partner them in the two relegation spots despite an encouraging away win at Cambridge United.
Results in Full: AFC Wimbledon 3-0 Burton Albion, Bury 2-1 Stevenage, Cambridge United 1-2 Exeter City, Cheltenham Town 0-1 Southend United, Mansfield Town 1-0 Morecambe, Northampton Town 5-1 Hartlepool United, Oxford United 3-1 Accrington Stanley, Plymouth Argyle 0-1 Wycombe Wanderers, Portsmouth 3-0 Dagenham & Redbridge, Shrewsbury Town 1-0 Carlisle United, Tranmere Rovers 0-0 Newport County, York City 0-0 Luton Town
Phil Archbold
