League Two round-up: Dagenham and Redbridge relegated, Northampton clinch title
Saturday 16 April 2016 20:36, UK
Dagenham and Redbridge's nine-year stay in the Football League has come to an end after their relegation was confirmed on Saturday.
The Daggers 3-2 defeat at east London rivals Leyton Orient coupled with Stevenage's 2-1 victory at home to Newport condemns John Still's side to life back in the National League next season.
Orient striker Jay Simpson scored a third-minute opener and followed that up with a second in first-half stoppage-time.
But Dagenham battled back after the restart, with two goals in as many minutes from veteran striker Jamie Cureton and French defender Clevid Dikamona making it 2-2 on the hour mark.
Parity lasted for just five minutes though, with Armand Gnanduillet edging Orient back into the lead to end the Daggers' slim survival hopes.
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York's 2-1 defeat at Hartlepool leaves them hanging onto their Football League status, with the Minstermen now 11 points adrift of safety with just four games to play.
At the other end of the table, Northampton secured the title despite being held to a goalless draw away to Exeter.
Chris Wilder's side sealed promotion last week and will top the table at the end of the campaign after Oxford lost 3-2 to Luton, while Accrington were held 2-2 at home by Morecambe.
Oxford began well at the Kassam Stadium, Danny Hylton giving them the lead after two minutes.
Luton scored twice in the closing stages of the opening period, though, to change the complexion of the game, with Joe Piggott equalising for the Hatters before Olly Lee added another.
The U's made it 2-2 early in the second half as Chey Dunkley headed home but on-loan Charlton striker Piggott netted his second of the game and what proved to be the winner.
At the Wham Stadium, Shaun Miller edged Morecambe ahead before a brace from Josh Windass - the second from the penalty spot after Windass himself had been fouled - looked set to leave Northampton waiting a little longer to claim the crown.
But Tom Barkhuizen drilled home an equaliser 11 minutes from time to confirm the Cobblers will be competing in Sky Bet League One next season.
Accrington also slipped out of the automatic promotion places after dropping two points, with Bristol Rovers leapfrogging them when goals from Ryan Gaffney and the prolific Matty Taylor helped them to a 2-1 home win over Yeovil.
Plymouth Argyle came from behind to defeat Portsmouth 2-1 in front of almost 18,500 fans at Fratton Park.
Pompey were going well when Michael Smith stooped to head home the opening goal in the first half but Argyle scored twice in the 86th minute as the home defence fell apart.
Jamille Matt headed home the equaliser from a corner before Gregg Wylde slotted home the winner.
AFC Wimbledon remain in the final play-off berth after Paul Robinson (83) gave them a 1-0 victory at home to Crawley, with Wycombe now two points behind the Dons after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Barnet.
Exeter and Orient are now level with the Chairboys on 63 points but Carlisle had an afternoon to forget at the Abbey Stadium, where they finished their 0-0 draw against Cambridge with nine men after Hallam Hope and Mark Ellis were both dismissed.
Meanwhile, in the division's 1pm kick-off, Mansfield thrashed Notts County 5-0 in the Nottinghamshire derby, with Matt Green twice on target for the Stags.
