LEAGUE TWO
BARROW 1 Kay 45 NORTHAMPTON 3 Hoskins 5, 22, Horsfall 14
NORTHAMPTON boss Jon Brady said his side will bounce back in the play-offs after the failure to secure automatic promotion.
Dejected Cobblers (right) missed out on goals scored and Brady said: “What is done is done, we have to get ready for Mansfield.
“I’m up for it, the group will pick themselves up and we will be ready.”
EXETER CITY 0 PORT VALE 1 Wilson 36
ANDY CROSBY says the return of boss Darrell Clarke has given Port Vale a major boost ahead of the play-offs.
Clarke returned to the dug-out after compassionate leave and assistant boss Crosby said: “He is experienced, he has been in this situation before and you can see what he brings to the group. He has been great in the last few days.”
LEYTON ORIENT 0 TRANMERE 1 Hemmings 37
TOM DAVIES says Tranmere must solve their away-day problems.
The midfielder said: “The season doesn’t just boil down to one game, there are 23 games away from home and on the road we have not been good enough.
“I know the quality in that dressing room so it’s frustrating but it’s something to build on for next season.”
OLDHAM 3 Stobbs 26, Keillor-Dunn 28, Clarke 60 CRAWLEY 3
Francomb 39, Tilley 44, Oteh 69
JOHN SHERIDAN will begin the job of preparing Oldham’s bid to bounce back from the National League today.
The Latics boss said: “I’ll have the players in on Monday and I’ll be telling them if they can stay or look for football elsewhere.
“We need players who are going to make life very difficult and teams won’t want to come and play at Oldham.”
BRADFORD CITY 2 Angol 13, Walker 69 CARLISLE 0
MARK HUGHES is targeting players who can handle the pressure of playing at Valley Parade after turning Bradford’s home hoodoo around.
The Bantams sealed back-to-back home wins after a nine-game winless streak and Hughes said: “We want guys that will embrace the expectation and be able to thrive in the environment we create.”
0 SUTTON UTD 2 Eastmond 8, Olaofe 78
SKIPPER Craig Eastmond says the disappointment of missing out on the playoffs by a point will fuel Sutton’s promotion push next season.
The midfielder said: “It’s disappointing. We thought we’d done it but it wasn’t meant to be.
“We know what we have to do when we come back next season. We’ll have a break and go again.”
MANSFIELD 2 M Longstaff 17, Bowery 78 FOREST GREEN 2
Adams 64, March 80
FOREST GREEN boss Rob Edwards says his side deserved to be crowned champions.
He said: “We deserve this. We’re a really humble group, and massive credit to Exeter who pushed us all the way.
“They’ve had an amazing second half of the season. But we’ve done it. We’ve got over the line, and that feels great.”
STEVENAGE 4 Vassell 23 og, Reid 45, Bostwick 49, List 80 SALFORD CITY 2 Shephard 14, Ndaba 67
GARY BOWYER says Salford have the basis of a promotion-winning squad for next season.
The Ammies managers said: “We are disappointed not to have got out of the league, but we have to come back in the summer and work harder.
“We’ve got a good core of players at the group who we want to keep.”
HARTLEPOOL COLCHESTER 2 Akinde 9, Cooper 53
COLCHESTER interim boss Wayne Brown says striker John Akinde deserved to sign off the season with a goal.
Brown said: “I’m chuffed to bits for him, because his attitude has been spot on.
“I’m all about people earning the right and people getting the opportunity. Since John has been in the environment, he’s been first class.”
NEWPORT 0 ROCHDALE 2 Done 16, Odoh 90+2
ROBBIE STOCKDALE believes Ethan Brierley can play a major role for Rochdale next season.
Dale boss Stockdale said: “I said we had a development plan with Ethan and I felt that it was right to put him in too soon – we were in a difficult moment.
“He has shown that he can play at this level so the challenge is to have a starting position next season.”
WALSALL 0 SWINDON 3
McKirdy 3, Payne 25, 45 pen
JACK PAYNE insists Swindon will head into their play-off showdown with Port Vale on a high.
The midfielder said: “It is what we play football for, this is what it is all about and we can’t wait.
“The atmosphere is going to be a joke without a question over two legs and it is up to us to perform. I’m excited for both games and I can’t wait to get that going.”