League Two Round-up 11

Last updated : 10 August 2009 By Jacob Daniel
It was an exciting first day of the season in League Two as teams got their campaigns underway for the new season. The biggest story of the day was of course our own crushing vistory but there were some other interesting results and cracking goals on the day and NCM takes you through all the action from the first day of the season.

Aldershot Town got their season underway with a home win and the fastest goal of the day in a 3-1 win over Darlington. Marvin Morgan broke the offside trip and calmly slotted the ball into the far corner. The second came thanks to an error from debutant 'keeper David Knight, who spilled a cross straight at the feet of Andy Sandell who slotted the ball home. Louie Soares completed the victory with a neat finish from a Sandell cross, but only after Jeff Smith had a goal disallowed for the Quakers. David Dowson did grab a consolation goal with a neat turn and finish late on.

Bury may be one of the title favourites, but they were given an opening day thrasing by Bournemouth at Gigg Lane. Striker Brett Pitman opened the scoring with a curling effort from the edge of the box before veteran striker Steve Fletcher rose highest to head home a deep cross late in the first half. The rout was completed when Mark Molesley rivalled Pitman for the best goal of the day, neatly beating his man before crashing the ball home from 20 yards.

Cheltenham Town needed to come from behind to get their first season back in League Two underway against Grimsby Town at Whaddon Road. A sublime passing move for the Mariners gave them the lead as Adam Proudlock latched on to a through ball and squared the ball for Barry Conlon to tap home. Full back Lee Ridley levelled for the Robins with a cracking strike just after the break, cutting inside onto his weaker right foot and unleashing an unstoppable shot into the top corner, before Barry Hayles sealed the win by bundling the ball home from close range.

Crewe Alexandra got their first fourth tier season in fifteen years off to a poor start as they were beaten 2-1 by Dagenham & Redbridge. Jon Nurse scored the best League Two goal of the day to give the Daggers a lead, crashing home a dipping volley from 25 yards. Byron Moore levelled with another excellent strike, cutting inside and hitting a shot into the top corner to give the Railwaymen hope of a point. Lethal finisher Paul Benson sealed the win for the Daggers however, beautifully controlling a crossfield ball and evading two challenges before sidestepping the 'keeper and tapping home.

Lincoln City got themselves an opening day win against Barnet at Sincil Bank. The visitors had the better of the early exchanges and Rob Burch had to be alert to deny both Albert Adomah and Yannick Bolasie from opening the scoring for the Bees. Janos Kovacs sealed the win for Lincoln however after firstly heading a long free kick from Stefan Oakes onto the post before pouncing on the rebound and scrambling it home.

Morecambe had to be content with a draw on the opening day at Christie Park after they were held by Hereford United. Marc Pugh gave the Bulls the lead just before the break, picking up the ball in midfield and skipping away from a challenge before firing a low shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards. Craig Stanley levelled the game up soon after however against his former club, firing a shot into the top corner from the edge of the box. Stewart Drummond gave the Shrimps the lead as he arrived unmarked in the box to head home a deep cross from Mark Duffy. Pugh had the last laugh however as, in injury time, Pugh reacted first to a low cross by bundling it over the line to snatch a point.

The only 0-0 draw of the opening day came at Sixfields in a stalemate between Northampton Town and Macclesfield Town. Dean Beckwith came close to scoring early on for the hosts when his flicked header from a free-kick was hacked off the line at the far post. Shaun Brisley then had a good chance for the Silkmen as he headed a corner against the bar when completely unmarked. Ex-Eastwood Town man Colin Daniel also hit the bar when played clean through for Macclesfield, who had to thank Jonny Brain for a fine save to deny Adebayo Akinfenwa. John Rooney also came close with an audacious effort from the half-way line which nearly caught out the Cobblers 'keeper as did Izak Reid as he clipped the post. Steve Guinan had the final effort, smashing a low shot wide of the far post.

Notts County got the Sven era off to a flying start as they demolished Bradford City at Meadow Lane. Joe Colbeck tested Russell Hoult early on but after that it was one way traffic, with Ben Davies arriving late in the box to head the Magpies infront. Lee Hughes sprung the offside trap and rounded Simon Eastwood to double the advantage before Hughes got the third, bundling home a Craig Westcarr cross. He completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Luke Rodgers was fouled before Brendan Moloney completed the rout with a fine run and finish.

Port Vale had to make do with a 1-1 draw in their first match under Micky Adams against Rochdale. Joe Thompson headed the visitors infront when he wasn't picked up at the far post, allowing him to head the ball into the bottom corner. John McCombe had the ball in the net for the Valiants after a goalmouth scramble, but it was disallowed for a foul in the chaos. Vale were able to snatch a draw however, Nathan Stanton handling a James Lawrie cross giving them a penalty. Captain Marc Richards made no mistake from the spot, sending Kenny Arthur the wrong way.

Rotherham United were seconds away from being held to a shock draw by Accrington Stanley at the Don Valley Stadium. Tom Pope came close early on for the Millers, heading wide from a Nicky Law set piece. Andy Warrington had to be alert to save from Jimmy Ryan, before Nick Fenton also came close for the Millers. The hosts did get their victory in stoppage time however, after Ian Sharps' volley hit the bar Stanley failed to clear and veteran Paul Warne remained cool to slot the winning goal home.

Shrewsbury Town ensured it was a losing start in the Football League for Burton Albion with a 3-1 victory at the New Meadow. Jake Robinson opened the scoring as his low shot squirmed through Nottingham Forest loanee 'keeper Shane Redmond and the Shrews continued to dominate. Dave Hibbert doubled the lead shortly after half-time as he arrived in the box to power a header past Redmond. The Brewers did have something to cheer as Greg Pearson fired a shot into the roof of the net and they thought they had levelled it when Richard Walker slotted home, but the goal was harshly disallowed for a foul. Joss Lobadie sealed the win for the Shrews as his tame free-kick squeezed past Redmond.

Torquay United did have a happy return to the league however, beating Chesterfield 2-0 at Plainmoor. Derek Niven came close early on for the visitors, but loanee striker Scott Rendell gave the Gulls the lead soon after. A great passing move involving Danny Stevens and Nicky Wroe saw the ball square to Rendell who slotted home from close range. Niven came close against with Scott Bevan being required to repel a long range effort, whilst after the break Drew Talbot nearly scored with a mishit cross. The hosts sealed the win however as Lee Mansell arrived at the far post to head past Mark Crossley.