Newport County secured their first away point of the League Two season with a 0-0 draw at Accrington Stanley. Newport manager Hayden Mullins highlighted the importance of avoiding defeat and keeping a clean sheet on the road. Stanley’s John Doolan also expressed satisfaction with the defensive solidity, noting the clean sheet as a positive takeaway despite the lack of goals.
Chesterfield claimed a 2-0 victory over York City thanks to second-half goals from Lee Bonis and Dilan Markanday. Assistant manager Danny Webb credited the squad's "grit and determination," including contributions from substitutes, for maintaining their lead. York manager Scott Lindsey conceded that the result did not reflect his team’s usual standards.
In League Two, Barnet climbed to the top of the table following a 3-1 win against Hartlepool United. Kabongo Tshimanga, Charlie Lakin, and Idris Kanu scored for the visitors, who played the final minutes with 10 men after Nnamdi Ofoborh received a red card. Hartlepool’s Will Davies netted a consolation goal. Barnet manager Dean Brennan described his team’s performance as “outstanding” and noted their growing confidence after a recent Carabao Cup victory.
Colchester United were held to a 1-1 draw by Cheltenham Town. Moses Sesay put Colchester ahead before Andreas Weimann equalised from the penalty spot. Jaden Williams of Cheltenham was sent off late in the match, a decision that drew criticism from Colchester manager Danny Cowley, who questioned the referee’s judgment.
Grimsby Town edged out a 2-0 win over Crawley Town after Charles Vernam missed an early penalty. Iwan Morgan converted a penalty for Grimsby, with Kieran Green adding a second. Manager David Artell expressed frustration that the team had not secured a more comfortable margin.
Exeter City and Tranmere Rovers played out a goalless draw, continuing Exeter’s ongoing struggle to find the net this season. Exeter manager Matt Taylor acknowledged the team’s difficulty in creating chances, while Tranmere’s Darrell Clarke remained unsatisfied with the single point.
Salford City earned a narrow 1-0 victory over Swindon Town, with a late goal from Joe Powell proving decisive. Manager Peter Cklamovski praised his team’s performance and felt the win was well deserved.
In League One action, Northampton Town edged out Rotherham United 1-0 thanks to a Paul Mullin penalty in the 73rd minute. Cobblers manager Chris Hogg criticized the decision to award the penalty, claiming it was taken from outside the box. Rotherham’s Alex Bruce said the clean sheet was the only positive from the match.
Port Vale endured another defeat as Walsall secured a 2-0 win with goals from James Connolly and Andrew Dallas. Vale manager Jon Brady, who faced boos from supporters, acknowledged the pressure to improve. Walsall boss Lee Grant highlighted his team’s strong performance.
Shrewsbury Town were unable to convert dominant possession into victory in a 1-1 draw against Crewe Alexandra. Jordan Gibson opened the scoring for Crewe before George Lloyd equalised. Shrewsbury manager Gavin Cowan lamented the missed opportunities, noting the team's 21 shots during the game.
Gillingham secured a 3-1 win over MK Dons with goals from James Brophy and Sheldon Kendall, who scored twice. Manager Steve Evans dismissed speculation linking him to a managerial vacancy at Hibernian, emphasizing his commitment to the current project. MK Dons boss Gareth Ainsworth acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating their intent to make home matches a stronghold.
These results reflect a mix of optimism and frustration across League One and League Two clubs as teams continue to seek early momentum in the season.