Football League Division Two Archive - Dec 2005 Go here for our latest on Football League Division Two Wednesday, December 7 A Game Of Two Halves, Twice There was a remarkable symmetry about the games between Wrexham and Mansfield and Grimsby and Rochdale last night. In both games the away side was leading 1-0 at half time only to eventually lose by the convincing margin of 4-1. Games of two halves if ever there was one, well, two actually. Even resident tipster, Minty, would have been hard pressed to predict those two. These two results leave both Wrexham and Grimsby handily placed whilst denting Rochdale's ambitions. In truth Rochdale have been riding for something of a fall recently, regularly coming from behind to claim points. Last night they chose to go in front themselves, perhaps they'll need to discuss the merits of this tactic for future games. Wycombe continue to lead the way and remain unbeaten although another draw leaves them open to challenge. They were indebted to Matt Bloomfield's 70th minute equaliser for a share of the spoils at home to Boston United, who had led at the interval but also had a man sent off. Chester won the other big game of the night at Leyton Orient thanks to a Stuart Drummond header. Orient had dominated most of the first period but went in behind after missing their chances and seldom looked like getting back on terms in the second half. Recent results give the London club some cause for concern as they strive to stay among the promotion hopefuls. Carlisle United had the best result of the night, returning home from Rushden with a 4-0 win. Karl Hawley notched his 15th goal of an excellent season, so far, and Michael Bridges, on loan from Bristol City, marked his first start for the club with a goal. Bridges has slipped a long way down the ladder in the last few years after his terrible injury problems. It would be nice to think this former England hopeful can set his career back on a upward curve while with the Cumbrians. Another player enjoying a fruitful campaign is Bristol Rovers' Richard Walker who bagged his 11th of the season in a 1-0 win at Stockport. After a fitfull start to the season, both on and off the field, Rovers now look to be finding their feet a little. A couple more wins would make the prospect of relegation pleasantly remote and perhaps set the team up for a push at the play offs. Watch this space. Tuesday, December 13 Devonians, Get Down To Plainmoor Torquay United are in grave danger of relegation out of the league, currently lying bottom of League Division Two, and therefore could do with all the support they can get. And although the clubs' fans are watching a desperate struggle they cannot complain about a lack of excitement or entertainment. Saturday's 3-3 draw with Oxford United meant there have now been 19 goals in the last three games at Plainmoor. Surely this is the time for a few more Devonians to get themselves down to the ground and try and help the cause of Leroy Rosenior's boys. At the top Wycombe remain unbeaten and put a little daylight between themselves and the pack with their 3-0 win over Rochdale. 'Dale are one of a number of clubs wobbling seriously at present. As a consequence the promotion and play off positions are becoming increasingly congested. Grimsby Town and Leyton Orient both lost at home and Chester City suffered a chastening experience at Lincoln City. Chester were a goal up when the Imps had Dean Keates sent off. Rather than kill Lincoln's hopes, however, the ten men rallied to secure an eventual 3-1 win. I wonder what Keates made of that. It would seem he is one player the Championship Manager people seriously overrated. Tuesday, December 20 Wycombe Surrender Record at Gigg Lane The countries last remaining unbeaten record fell in dramatic circumstances as Wycombe finally slipped to defeat at Bury. Another routine win seemed in prospect for The Chairboys after Kevin Betsy's first half opener and Wycombe still held that advantage with only three minutes left to play. Goals from Paul Scott and Simon Whaley in a frantic, and totally unforeseen, finale saw the leaders troop off defeated for the first time in League Two. Grimsby were denied the chance to take advantage by a frozen pitch at Darlingtonbut Carlisle, Leyton Orient and Northampton Town all won to close in on the top two. Carlisle had to come from behind to beat Wrexham at Brunton Park while Orient were always in command at Rochdale despite having Shane Tudor sent off on the stroke of half time with the visitors 2-1 in front. Gary Alexander's second goal of the afternoon shortly after the restart meant the O's were able to negotiate the second half with some comfort, eventually running out 4-2 winners. Chester City's challenge is in danger of fading after their 2-1 home defeat at the hands of struggling Rushden. There was a change at the bottom after Moriko Sako's late goal gave Torquay United an excellent win at Bristol Rovers. Rovers had been eyeing the play offs after a good recent run of form but were stopped in their tracks by a stunning long range strike by Torquay's 6 foot 7 inch substitute. Torquay now move above Stockport County at the bottom. Stockport look a team in serious trouble after their latest setback, a spineless 2-0 defeat at Notts County who now find themselves on the fringes of the play off places in a division still largely wide open. Thursday, December 29 A Bit Of Snow Doesn't Stop Grimsby There are some teams you would imagine are better suited to playing in snow and stuff than others, Grimsby Town are probably one of them. Not only was their game with Lincoln City one of the few to go ahead yesterday in League Two, The Mariners took the opportunity to go top of the table with a 3-0 win, all the goals coming in a sizzling first half display. Ciaran Toner scored the opener against his former club with a sweet side footed finish after Michael Reddy had made inroads deep into the Imps defence. Then Reddy scored himself after another forceful run at the heart of the defence. The game was then effectively clinched a minute from the interval by an absolute scorcher of a drive by Andy Parkinson. Following on from their Boxing Day win at Bury this success made it a very merry Christmas for everyone at Blundell Park. Elsewhere most of the action was confined to Boxing Day. Wycombe had to come from two down to salvage a point at struggling Torquay and are making slightly unsteady progress even though they have been defeated only once in the league all season. Wrexham moved ahead of Rochdale after beating them 2-1 at the Racecourse Ground, Darren Ferguson scoring the winner with a perfectly struck half volley from 25 yards. His Dad might be looking for a midfielder in the transfer window as well. The more notable scorelines affected clubs near the bottom of the table. Rushden, who would also lose at home to Cheltenham two days later, crashed to a 5-1 defeat at Orient and lost John Dempster to one of the seasons' more obvious red cards. Dempster's assault on the Orient keeper was one which might even have had Nat Lofthouse choking on his turkey. Worse still was Stockport's 6-0 thrashing at Macclesfield which left The Hatters bottom of the table, suffering acute local embarrassment and managerless after Chris Turner's decision to jump the sinking ship. It was hard not to sympathise with the estimated 2,000 County fans who made the short journey across Cheshire for the fixture. Already 2-0 down and a player short after Tesfaye Bramble's sending off the only thing they had to celebrate was James Spencer's penalty save from Paul Harsley. In the scheme of things not the best highlight of a Christmas. Taking temporary charge at Edgeley Park is former player Jim Gannon. Football England wish Gannon all the best in a job that will be as tough as any ever taken on in football. Without knowing intimately where the problems have arisen at Stockport, the clubs' decline has been shockingly rapid in the last few seasons and I doubt very much whether the name Carlton Palmer is very popular in the town.