Charlie McNeill marked his debut for Boro with the opening goal after 21 minutes, Dan Sweeney doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time before Nick Freeman wrapped things up with 12 minutes to go.
However, it should have been Orient who drew first blood when Ruel Sotiriou fired against the crossbar with only the keeper to beat after six minutes.
Instead it was teenager McNeil, signed on loan from Manchester United 24 hours earlier, who opened the scoring when he met a free-kick from Dan Butler to steer the ball past Sol Brynn.
The visitors extended their advantage from their fifth corner of the game when Butler’s cross was headed home Sweeney and from there on, Boro bossed the game.
Stevenage keeper Taye Ashby-Hammond had few concerns, although he was at full stretch to deny a Theo Archibald effort.
Boro then ensured the points would be heading home with them when they notched a superb third goal, Freeman volleying the ball into the roof of the net from 25 yards.
The Boro’s first win in five games moved them within one point of sixth-placed Oxford with two games in hand, with the result helped along by a red card for Chairboys goalkeeper Max Stryjek early in the second half.
Richard Kone had a great chance to give Wycombe the lead after 10 minutes when he miscued his attempt off Matt Butcher’s chipped ball in against the top of the crossbar.
Stevenage then went ahead from their first big chance in the 23rd minute when Dan Sweeney laid the ball off for fellow centre-back Piergianni to steer into the bottom corner.
Jake Forster-Caskey almost doubled the home side’s lead five minutes before half-time when his strike was excellently saved by Stryjek.
Stryjek was then sent off three minutes into the second half after bringing down Jordan Roberts just outside his area.
His replacement Franco Ravizzoli fumbled Piergianni’s header against the post as one goal proved enough for the hosts.
Reid opened the scoring after only two minutes, before Jordan Roberts doubled the lead late in the first half and Elliott List added the gloss to a strong performance after the break.
The Hertfordshire side were dominant throughout the first period and took their early lead when List pounced on a poor Northampton clearance to slide Reid in and he slotted home.
Stevenage managed to get a second three minutes before the break when Roberts’ cross caught out goalkeeper Max Thompson.
Northampton failed to muster a shot on target throughout the game, and List added a third in the 67th minute by racing on to Finley Burns pass and tucking his shot into the far corner.
List had an opportunity to add another after Thompson managed to stop Reid and on the rebound List beat Northampton’s goalkeeper but could not find a way past the recovering defender.
Josh Magennis and Thelo Aasgaard struck for the hosts but those goals were cancelled out by Jamie Reid and Carl Piergianni before Stevenage substitute Louis Thompson netted an 81st-minute winner.
Wigan were ahead inside five minutes, when a cross from Sean Clare landed on the arm of a defender in the penalty area, and Magennis sent Craig MacGillivray the wrong way from 12 yards.
Stevenage equalised 10 minutes later after a long ball was flicked on into the path of Reid, who volleyed home from close range.
But Wigan regained the lead seven minutes before the interval after Jordan Jones’ free-kick found Aasgaard, who nipped in to flick the ball over the last defender before steering it beyond the goalkeeper.
The home side thought they had a third goal in first-half stoppage time when Jonny Smith’s corner was headed home by Charlie Hughes, only for the official to blow for a foul.
Stevenage almost levelled moments after the restart when, after another long ball was flicked on, Reid this time headed wide from in front of goal.
But the equaliser did arrive in the 66th minute, when a cross from the right was headed back across goal and into the top corner of the net by skipper Piergianni.
And Stevenage went ahead for the first time nine minutes from time when Thompson drilled home from 20 yards, for what proved to be the winning goal.
Some fans were already in the Lamex Stadium when the lights went out prior to the 7.45pm kick off, with Cambridge’s social media accounts reporting more were stranded outside due to the power outage affecting the turnstiles.
At 8.19pm Stevenage announced the match had been “cancelled” on X, formerly known as Twitter, later confirming the cause was a power cut via a statement from UK Power Networks.
A club statement read: “Tonight’s fixture vs Cambridge United at the Lamex Stadium has been cancelled due to a local area power cut.
“Tickets purchased for this evening’s fixture will remain valid for the rearranged fixture. Refunds will also be made possible with details announced in due course.”
Here, the PA news agency looks at what is required in each division.
Championship
Southampton secured a play-off place as Flynn Downes’ stoppage-time goal gave them a 3-2 victory over Watford – and they could still figure in the automatic promotion battle with games in hand as Leicester, Leeds and Ipswich all failed to win.
Rotherham are already relegated but the survival battle will go down to the wire with a tight battle at the bottom.
League One
Portsmouth still need a point to clinch promotion to the Championship after drawing 1-1 at Bolton, while Derby ran out comfortable winners against Leyton Orient.
At the bottom, Carlisle are already relegated and the other three places will remain in contest at least until midweek.
League Two
Stockport confirmed promotion to League One with a 2-0 victory over Morecambe, while Wrexham‘s 6-0 thrashing of Forest Green secured back-to-back promotions for the Welsh side.
Mansfield came from behind to win 4-1 at MK Dons and they can claim the third automatic promotion spot if they beat Accrington on Tuesday. The Dons confirmed their place in the play-offs despite the heavy defeat.
Relegation issues have not yet been decided but if Colchester beat Grimsby on Tuesday they will send Forest Green down. A point for the Mariners will secure their safety.
Makama had been on the pitch for just a handful of minutes when he earned the Imps maximum points as they stretched their unbeaten run to 14 matches and dealt a major blow to Orient’s own play-off hopes.
Orient had the game’s first chance after six minutes, with Imps goalkeeper Lukas Jensen alert to tip Darren Pratley’s snapshot over the bar.
The game turned niggly, with little goalmouth action at either end, before Jordan Brown fired narrowly wide for the visitors after 29 minutes and then Ruel Sotiriou and Shaq Forde both fired straight at Jensen.
City finally managed their first shot of the match five minutes before the break when Joe Taylor ran on to Danny Mandroiu’s quick free-kick but blazed wildly wide.
It took 21 minutes of the the second half for either side to have an effort on goal, with Taylor stabbing an effort into the ground and wide.
Ollie O’Neill headed Rob Hunt’s inch-perfect cross narrowly over at the other end before Imps sub Freddie Draper finally had the hosts’ first shot on target after 76 minutes, his effort easily gobbled up by Sol Brynn.
Orient sub Ethan Galbraith nearly won it late on, his low drive bringing out an excellent diving save from Jensen.
But City did produce a winner when Makama did brilliantly to first block an attempted clearance and then collect the ball and curl a low shot into the bottom corner.
Time-wasting tactics from Max Stryjek proved costly as he allowed Tykes’ substitute Cosgrove to gain possession and net his first goal for Barnsley.
The hosts enjoyed their first opportunity eight minutes in when Nicky Cadden skipped his way into the box from the left, but fired wide of the near post.
Reds’ skipper Jordan Williams should have scored after 70 minutes when John McAtee found him at the far post, but Stryjek turned the ball behind.
Matt Bloomfield’s side had the chance to break the deadlock 11 minutes from time when Kieran Sadlier passed to Lyle Taylor inside the box, but the latter saw his effort blocked.
Barnsley finally scored in the first minute of stoppage time in a bizarre turn of events.
After the referee awarded Stryjek possession through a drop ball, the Wycombe goalkeeper went down easily under Cosgrove’s challenge and spilled the ball for the Barnsley man to tap home.
In the aftermath of the goal, protests from Wycombe led to Harry Boyes being sent off after receiving a second yellow card for dissent.
The visitors took the lead after 25 minutes through Jordan Rhodes, who was left unmarked to head home Karamoko Demeble’s free-kick.
Cambridge hit back seven minutes later when a fine James Brophy delivery found Gassan Ahadme. He was denied by Dan Grimshaw, but Elias Kachunga scrambled the ball home.
Jack Stevens was called on to keep Blackpool at bay, denying Dembele twice and then making an excellent save to push Sonny Carey’s shot from distance wide.
Instead it was the U’s who went ahead, Ahadme scoring from the penalty spot in the 44th minute after he had been brought down rounding goalkeeper Grimshaw.
Ahadme should have made it 3-1 but was denied by Grimshaw before Rhodes missed a huge chance to equalise after 61 minutes by firing wide from close range.
Home substitute George Thomas hit a post before the game twisted again 11 minutes from the end when Paul Digby was dismissed for Cambridge following a second yellow card.
The Robins lifted themselves within five points from safety in League One after a first win on their travels since December, after losing by a single goal at Northampton, Bolton and Derby.
Taylor has scored in each of his two appearances since signing from Forest Green in the January transfer window.
“Who do you want on the end of it but him?” Baraclough said afterwards, speaking to the media in place of Cheltenham boss Darrell Clarke.
“It’s the only place he can put it, in that corner, and he’s found it. That’s why we wanted to bring him in and that’s why he’s in the building.
“The Derby game and the Bolton game I thought we were excellent and should have come away with something. We were a little bit off it last week (losing 3-1 at home to Wycombe), so a perfect response to what could have been a tricky situation and a tricky game, because Cambridge have been quite decent at home.
“The middle of the park we tightened up, we won most of the second balls, we tried to play a little bit more when we got the ball and that’s where the goal from Taylor comes in.”
Baraclough also praised goalkeeper Luke Southwood following several vital stops before half-time.
“It’s when you want your keeper to stand up and make big saves,” he said. “He’s done that and I’ve just said to him it’s as much him scoring the winner as Tayls has because there are three big moments in the first half.”
Neil Harris felt his Cambridge side had plenty of chances to secure a result but bemoaned their failure to take them.
“It was a poor performance that culminates in a really poor result,” said Harris. “It’s my biggest disappointment since I’ve been at the club.
“Today the first goal was going to be key against Cheltenham. We’ve missed four one-on-ones and two absolute sitters in the six-yard box, had a stonewall penalty turned down and they’ve scored from their only shot on target.
“My glass is definitely half-empty. I can accept a poor performance if you get a clean sheet or a result out of it.
“I could only see Cheltenham scoring one of two ways. One was smashing it in the box and picking up a second ball, which they’re very, very good at, or us shooting ourselves in the foot by giving the ball away, which we did leading to the goal.
“It was a really composed finished by an accomplished striker but we didn’t help ourselves with it. We gave a poor goal away and we weren’t good enough to score. It’s not a good combination in football.”
The visitors were indebted to several Marko Marosi saves for picking up a point from the Sky Bet League One contest at the Memorial Stadium, while Aiden O’Brien crashed a volley against the Rovers crossbar from 20 yards out.
Hurst says his side must play better if they are to get anything from their next fixture, at leaders Portsmouth.
“I wasn’t satisfied with the performance at all,” he said. “In the end neither team deserved to win. I thought it was two teams who could have done more for their club’s supporters.
“If I speak to Matt [Rovers boss, Taylor] I think we’ll both have a similar view: that the game was there to be won. But we didn’t do enough to grab that opportunity.
“That lack of quality today was quite frightening in all honesty. That’s a League One fixture but across most of the players, not all, that wasn’t League One, only by title, certainly not by quality.
“I don’t know if it’s a mindset or a mentality. It looks like we played yesterday, not Friday.
“We’ve looked after the players in terms of preparation but they’re either nowhere near fit enough or we go back to the mental side of the game. Digging deep and pushing yourself and getting through. I just want more from the group.”
In contrast, Taylor was happier with his side’s performance, with the Gas carving out several good opportunities to score, with the usually reliable Chris Martin suffering an off day.
Martin was unable to net when presented with two good opportunities in the first half, with just Marosi to beat, while substitute Jevani Brown hit the post in the final minutes of the match when he found time and space in the penalty area.
Taylor said: “We just lacked a goal. With some of the chances we created, we know we weren’t at our fluent best.
“I was pleased with the intent, obviously we wanted more in terms of executing certain moments in the game.
“It was a step in the right direction. There are so many things we can do a lot better but in terms of what we created and how we limited the opposition team to just one shot on goal of any note…I was so much more pleased than I have been previously.
“They’ve always got a threat about them but we just needed to make more of our attacking opportunities.
“Chrissy [Martin] won’t be anxious about scoring because he’s scored so many goals and he’s not one to be affected,” he added.
Gregory lost his protective mask during the Owls’ celebrations after their stunning fightback against Peterborough at Hillsborough in Thursday’s semi-final.
Darren Moore’s side overcame a 4-0 first-leg deficit to win 5-1 on the night and 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out, sparking wild scenes of joy among players and fans, who invaded the pitch.
The Owls said on Twitter: “Can you help!? In the aftermath of our stunning comeback win on Thursday, Lee Gregory’s mask is missing!
“The custom-built protective cover was near the dugout. Due to a short turnaround, we cannot replace in time for next week. Any ideas where it might be!?”
Gregory had the mask fitted after sustaining a facial injury in training, which forced him to miss Wednesday’s 1-0 home win against Derby in their final game of the regular season.
He returned to action as a substitute in the semi-final first leg at Peterborough and was back in the starting line-up for the return, putting the Owls 2-0 up on the night and also scoring an own goal in extra-time.
The Latics arrived at London Road as the only team to beat Posh in their last 22 League One matches – and they did it again thanks to the Norwegian’s scoring exploits before surviving an almighty late scare.
Aasgaard opened his account after 20 minutes with a first-time finish after early substitute Jordan Jones cut the ball back from the left.
And Aasgaard was again left in too much space in the 52nd minute to hit a shot which appeared to flick off captain Josh Magennis on it’s way into the back of the net.
That effort put Shaun Maloney’s men firmly in the driving seat before midfielder Matt Smith saw red in the 76th minute for picking up a second caution.
But the Latics made light of the numerical disadvantage to strike again as Aasgaard tapped in from point-blank range after terrific work from substitute Stephen Humphrys in the 85th minute.
However, this contest was far from over as Posh mounted a late charge with two stoppage-time goals.
Josh Knight bundled in from close range and Ricky Jade-Jones rifled in a Harrison Burrows pass during a frantic finale, but Darren Ferguson’s men left it too late to avoid a second home League One defeat.
Ferguson saw his side level late on and then take all three points with a stoppage-time winner from Ricky-Jade Jones.
Derby had made a sensational start to 2024 with Tom Barkhuizen crossing for James Collins to head in after only 22 seconds, but Peterborough hit back in the ninth minute when Harrison Burrows found the bottom left corner from 15 yards.
The speed and accuracy of Peterborough’s passing was a threat but they wasted chances with Joel Randall squandering the best of them when he fired over in the 50th minute.
That looked to be a pivotal moment when Derby regained the lead on the hour after Hector Kyprianou handled a free-kick and although Collins’ penalty was saved, he headed in the rebound.
But Posh managed to turn the game around with Kwame Poku heading in a Burrows cross in the 84th minute before Jones prodded the ball past Joe Wildsmith in the third minute of added time.
Ferguson said: “The character the boys have shown, it’s the key ingredient to being successful. If you haven’t got that you’ve got no chance and these lads have got it in abundance at the moment.
“You don’t expect to go 1-0 down after 20 seconds, that was such a bad start, but the calmness of the players was bang on, they stuck to the game plan.
“I thought we reacted and responded to going behind very very well, and toward the 50-minute mark I thought we should have been 2-1 or 3-1 up
“We played quick, we played small passes and made them run as much as possible and I thought we thoroughly deserved the win
“I’m so proud, so proud of the youngest team in the league and I think the youngest team throughout all the leagues squad-wise. You saw what they are about today, they are so together and don’t know when they’re beaten.”
Derby had won eight of their previous nine league games but head coach Paul Warne said: “I was pretty proud of the lads really, they gave everything they could physically.
“Peterborough’s front line was an absolute menace, I knew they’d be excellent and I know we took an early lead but then we didn’t touch it for about 10 minutes.
“It was end to end, a bit of a basketball match at times in the second half, we might have scored on the counter a couple of times and then to throw away a point that late on is obviously difficult to take.”
Here, the PA news agency looks at the issues that could be decided in the bottom two tiers.
League One
Portsmouth need only a point to rubber-stamp their promotion and can also clinch the title by beating Barnsley.
Should the Tykes win, they would be secure in the play-offs – as would Peterborough with at least a point.
Posh play Fleetwood, who will be relegated if they fail to match Burton’s result. The Brewers take on fellow strugglers Cheltenham, whose game in hand will extend their fight until at least Saturday regardless of Tuesday’s outcome.
League Two
Stockport sealed promotion on Saturday and will be crowned champions if they win on Tuesday at Notts County.
Mansfield will clinch the remaining automatic promotion place if they beat Accrington. A draw would leave them six points clear of MK Dons with only six to play for and a goal difference superior by 28.
Victory for Colchester, one place above the drop zone, over Grimsby would see Forest Green relegated from the EFL without playing. Any other result would seal Grimsby’s survival and leave the bottom three – completed by Sutton – fighting to avoid the two relegation places.
Barry Cotter and John McAtee both scored in the second-half to cancel out Danny Mandroiu’s penalty early on, but Eyoma’s leveller in the 88th minute ensured the spoils were shared.
Lincoln took the lead in the fifth minute when Mandroiu sent Ben Killip the wrong way from the penalty spot after captain Jordan Williams’ clumsy challenge brought down Jack Burroughs in the area.
The hosts came close to doubling their lead in the 18th minute as Jovon Makama capitalised on Mael de Gevigney’s mistimed clearance, but Killip saved well with his feet when one on one.
Barnsley really started to grow into the game thereafter and, although they failed to find a goal in the first-half, they struck twice in the second.
Cotter met McAtee’s cross at the back post in the 68th minute and slotted the ball home to make it two goals in as many games for him.
Confidence was now brimming through the Reds and they took the lead in the 72nd minute, with McAtee scoring from close range from Williams’ cross.
The visitors thought they had done enough to secure all three points, but Eyoma struck two minutes from time after Mandroiu’s corner caused mayhem in the Barnsley area.
Rovers goalkeeper Matt Cox saved defender Dan Happe’s header with seconds of the game remaining but Crama could only direct the ball inadvertently into his own net, securing Orient a fifth draw in seven League One outings.
Grant Ward had stabbed home in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time to give Rovers the lead in a game of few chances.
Antony Evans crossed a free-kick low into the box, with James Wilson involved as the ball found its way to Ward on the edge of the penalty area, with the 28-year-old defensive midfielder guiding into the corner of the net.
Substitute John Marquis failed to wrap the game up for Rovers after 80 minutes as he blazed a shot high over the bar, and in the final seconds when released one-on-one, with Sol Brynn saving.
Reading – who were deducted four points this season for various financial breaches – dominated for most of a scrappy contest as Burton were grateful to goalkeeper Max Crocombe for a series of fine saves.
For the second home game running, Reading fans staged a protest against controversial Chinese owner Dai Yongge by throwing tennis balls on to the pitch in the 16th minute.
After a 10-minute delay, during which the players returned to the dressing-rooms, referee Sam Purkiss restarted the game.
In a poor first period – before and after the enforced break – neither side were able to create any clear-cut openings.
Joe Powell blazed the ball well off target for Burton early on while, for the hosts, Charlie Savage curled a long-range effort narrowly over.
Femi Azeez went closer with a firmly-struck attempt in first-half stoppage time but the ball was smartly saved by Crocombe.
Reading were comfortably superior after the interval, with Crocombe forced into action to save a thunderous shot from Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan.
And as the hosts desperately sought a late winner, Crocombe made a superb double stop to first deny Ehibhatiomhan and then Azeez on the follow-up.
Oxford went ahead in the eighth minute when Edwards, on loan from Ipswich, delivered a measured cross from the left for Rodrigues to head in his first goal for the club from six yards.
The Grecians had chances to level, with Reece Cole twice having shots saved, before Cameron Brannagan sealed United’s victory with two late penalties.
Will Aimson tripped Rodrigues seven minutes from time and Brannagan hit his first penalty low into the bottom left corner.
Substitute Josh Murphy was then brought down by Will Aimson in stoppage time and Brannagan converted his second spot-kick in almost identical fashion.
Edwards proved a thorn in Exeter’s side throughout the first half and twice set up opportunities for Billy Bodin.
From the second of them goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo did well to turn Bodin’s powerful drive around a post.
The Grecians, who had been looking to make it three wins in a row away from home in League One, threatened with Tom Carroll heading Demetri Mitchell’s cross wide at the near post.
Harry Kite sliced a 20-yard effort wide and former Oxford forward Yanic Wildschut saw a fierce angled shot come back off a post.
Oxford left-back Ciaron Brown hammered a long range left-footed drive wide early in the second half and Brannagan went close with a shot that Sinisalo appeared to touch on to a post.
Cole saw his 25 yard free-kick beaten out by home keeper James Beadle, who saved again from Cole on his knees moments later, before Brannagan’s pair of penalties killed off Exeter.
The youngster, who only turned 20 this month, had also scored in the U’s last outing, a 3-1 triumph at Barnsley.
In the 10th minute he raced through the middle and hammered an unstoppable 20-yard drive past goalkeeper Harry Isted to fire the home side in front.
The Addicks rallied well, however, to boss large spells of the second half.
Alfie May equalised in the 63rd minute, lashing home his second goal of the season with a fierce low shot following good work from substitute Chem Campbell and hesitation in the home defence.
Substitute Stan Mills set up Oxford’s winner five minutes from time, squeezing Ruben Rodrigues’ right-wing cross through to Goodrham who knocked the ball past Isted with panache.
In a lively start to the game, Charlton went close through Nathan Asiimwe, who saw his powerful drive beaten out, and May, who forced goalkeeper James Beadle into a smothering save.
There was a threat every time Oxford went forward in the early stages, with Billy Bodin and Mark Harris firing over either side of Goodrham’s goal.
In a game riddled with free kicks, the Addicks had six players yellow-carded as well as a member of Dean Holden’s backroom staff.
