LOOKING UP

Plymouth Argyle gave their supporters a rare afternoon of cheer with a 4-1 npower League 2 victory over Northampton Town.

Bottom of The League, and having only exited administration at the start of this month after years beset by financial problems, Argyle recorded a first win in eight games in all competitions after a stunning early goal spree.

Simon Walton's eighth minute penalty was followed a minute later by Nick Chadwick's strike and on-loan Hull City winger Will Atkinson made it 3-0 inside 17 minutes. Ashley Hemmings struck a minute before half-time and Adebayo Akinfenwa's injury-time header was Northampton's only consolation.

The win moved Plymouth within a point of nearest rivals Dagenham & Redbridge, who were hammered 3-0 at Accrington Stanley. Craig Lindfield gave Stanley the lead before Padraig Amond's rapid-fire double killed the game off late on.

DRAWING LEVEL

Crawley  Town moved level with League 2 leaders Southend United after the latter were held 1-1 by Bristol Rovers, for whom substitute Matt Harrold cancelled out Neil Harris' opener.

Crawley won 2-1 at Rotherham United, Tyrone Barnett and Josh Simpson with the goals after Brett Williams had put the Millers ahead.

Cheltenham Town occupy third place after beating 10-man Oxford United 3-1. Sido Jombati opened the scoring and James Spencer gave the Robins a 2-0 lead almost immediately after Liam Davis was dismissed. Peter Leven pulled one back in the 82nd minute but Kaid Mohamed's free-kick restored the cushion.

ELSEWHERE IN THE DIVISION

There were also wins for fourth placed Shrewsbury Town and fifth placed Burton Albion, the latter prevailing 3-2 against AFC Wimbledon. Billy Kee scored twice before the Dons' Luke Moore halved the deficit, and Adam Bolder's goal proved crucial as Burton survived despite Aaron Webster's own goal in the closing stages.

Nicky Wroe's penalty and a late Mark Wright strike earned the Shrews a 2-0 win over Morecambe, who slip below Swindon Town and Gillingham and out of the Play-Off places.

Swindon beat Aldershot Town 2-0 through Jake Jervis and a Darren Jones own goal, while the Gills were held to a goalless draw at home to Bradford City and Nick Powell's goal earned Crewe Alexandra a 1-0 win over Hereford United in the day's other game.

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