Darren Ferguson pulled no punches in voicing his disappointment with his forwards despite his Peterborough side beating Leyton Orient 2-1.

Former Orient man Hector Kyprianou and leading scorer Ephron Mason-Clark gave Posh a comfortable lead at half-time before the hosts reduced the deficit through Ethan Galbraith.

However, the visitors squandered a number of chances, keeping the home side interested before emerging with a valuable three points.

“The result was pleasing enough but the performance at the top end of the pitch was nowhere near good enough,” Ferguson said.

“I keep saying  that it is very frustrating and we need far better quality in that area of the pitch.

“How we were are left hanging on in a game like this is incredible. We are though and we know the reasons why.

“The game should have been done and dusted comfortably and we should be relaxing come the end of the game instead of hanging on.

“Missed chances, missed passes, final decision not good enough.

“Once we got control of the game, we looked good and when we were two-up, it became a bit more of a counter-attacking game even before half-time and I’m thinking ‘Just go and get the third goal and the game is over’.”

“But we just went on and made the wrong decisions. There is so much more to come but when are we going to get it?

“We had opportunities to kill the game off even when they got a goal back.

“We have to finish teams off far better than we are doing.”

Orient manager Richie Wellens lamented the nature of the goals his side conceded.

“They were really poor goals conceded by us today,” he said.

“We played against a decent outfit today but if you’re going to lose then you’d rather it was moments of quality or magic than the way we conceded which was really poor.

“We’ve squeezed every single ounce out of these players and I’m tired. I’ve done a good job but you can only squeeze so much and the injuries we’ve had is frightening.

“I’m frustrated because I thought we had a chance of a top six finish as I don’t think the league is great this year and I’m absolutely gutted we’ve fallen short.

“We don’t have a centre forward and need a man in the box which is the biggest deficiency in our team.

“We’ve got close to the play-offs and I knew today was coming but we’ve only scored two goals in five games and that’s why we’ve fallen short.

“It frustrates the life out of me.”

Port Vale boss Darren Moore rued his side’s wasteful finishing after they were beaten 2-0 by Northampton.

The Valiants had their chances in an even contest at Sixfields but were plunged deeper into relegation trouble by Mitch Pinnock’s sweet first-half strike and a stoppage-time second from Shaun McWilliams.

Vale remain in the relegation zone in League One, a point from safety, with six games to play.

“It’s bitterly disappointing,” said Moore. “We had as much of the play as they did but the game was decided on chances – they converted theirs, we didn’t convert ours.

“I thought we looked a bit on the back foot. I’m not sure if the game on Friday took it out of us so I’ll look into that, but the chances were there for us.

“We weren’t at our sharpest and we couldn’t capitalise in those key moments. I spoke to the boys at half-time about showing that ruthless mentality when you get chances.

“If you put those chances away it’s a different game and they were gilt-edged chances as well, but there was no real conviction when we did get in there and that’s really disappointing.

“The fact that their goalkeeper got man of the match tells you how the game went, but we have to move on quickly.

“Other results have gone our way but that’s only a very small consolation because we want to do it our way and not rely on other teams.”

The win took Northampton up to 56 points – the club’s highest tally in League One for 16 years – as they all-but secured safety.

“I’m pleased with the result and it took a lot of hard work from the boys against a team who are fighting for their lives and have won their last two,” said manager Jon Brady.

“To score two goals against them was really pleasing and now we’ve hit the target that we set for ourselves at the start of the season, which is really pleasing.

“The target was 54 points and there were various reasons behind that, so to eclipse that with four games to spare is a fantastic effort and it’s testament to the staff and the players.

“We’ve worked so hard all season and I was delighted with how the boys performed today. We changed shape to 3-4-3 to match their physicality and I thought the way we sat in our shape was really strong.

“We landed on second balls and broke on them well and that was really important, so overall I thought it worked and we deserved to win the game.”

Gary Caldwell praised Exeter’s resilience after his team came from behind to win 2-1 at relegation-threatened Cheltenham in Sky Bet League One.

The home side opened the scoring through Ben Williams early in the second half, but Luke Harris levelled five minutes later and Reece Cole won it from the penalty spot in the final minute.

“The players were outstanding after going a goal down and then coming back to win,” Caldwell said.

“The players worked it out in the end and scored a fantastic first goal.

“At half-time I thought that if it was a boxing match it would’ve been stopped.

“It’s three big points away from home. We now have five huge games and we’ll need everyone.

“The fans never stopped singing. It was great to hear them singing songs for different players and they got their reward.”

Exeter were the better side by some distance during a first half played in heavy rain.

Mo Eisa was close to scoring against his old club in the fourth minute, racing through on goal and slotting past Luke Southwood, only for his shot to trickle just wide, before Ryan Woods forced Southwood into a good save in the 22nd minute.

Cheltenham made a double substitution at half-time and also adapted their formation and it quickly paid off.

Will Ferry found Sean Long and his cross was nodded in by Williams six minutes after he joined the action.

Harris levelled for Exeter five minutes later, receiving Tom Carroll’s pass and applying an expert finish in front of the 1,522 travelling fans.

The hosts nearly regained their lead in the 73rd minute when Joe Nuttall’s header from Liam Sercombe’s cross was parried but Ferry could not force the ball over the line from close range.

And Exeter won it at the end when Lewis Freestone handled Ryan Woods’ shot in the box and Cole made no mistake from the spot.

Caldwell explained: “Reece had a back problem and didn’t train yesterday. He took a lot of pain killers and still barely made the bench.

“I’m not someone who designates a penalty taker. I believe if someone feels confident enough, they should take it.

“You wouldn’t want anyone else other than Reece to score an unstoppable penalty in the bottom corner.”

Cheltenham boss Darrell Clarke was not happy about some of the decisions that went against his team.

“I am not going to say a lot about the officials, but I’ve let my feelings be known on his performance,” Clarke said.

“What can the lad do if the ball is blasted against him from three yards away? It’s a ridiculous decision and I don’t get it.

“It’s just not acceptable to put in a performance like that and I am very, very disappointed for my boys.

“It was a good response in the second half after we changed things tactically and we looked a much better team in the second half so we are disappointed to come away with nothing.”

Oxford boss Des Buckingham felt his team’s showing was as good as he has seen since taking charge last November as they flailed Fleetwood 4-0 at the Kassam Stadium for their biggest win of the season.

The U’s had the match in the bag by half-time as Cameron Brannagan, Mark Harris and Owen Dale put them three up by the break, with Harris adding his second seven minutes from time.

Buckingham said: “That probably was the best 90 minutes we’ve had, with everything, since I’ve been here.

“Actually, we have played as well as that the last couple of games, just not scored the goals.

“It was very good, to play like that, score four goals and keep a clean sheet was just about perfect.

“But the main thing was to get the win to make sure we’re on track to be where we want to be.

“We showed the type of football we want to play and getting that vital second goal was so important for us today.

“We can’t get carried away with it – we now need to take this on to Burton in the next match, but certainly the clean sheet is very pleasing, especially for Jamie Cumming and the back four.

“The two goals for Mark Harris is massive – it takes him into double figures. And though I don’t know what target he had set himself for the season, he must be getting close to it.

“It was important he played 90 minutes for us with Will Goodwin not ready for today, and I’m delighted he’s got two goals.

“It’s really good too to see Josh Murphy seemingly enjoying his football, and showing consistently what a good player he is.

“Wingers’ end products sometimes lets them down, but Josh has really worked on that, and is reaping the rewards.

“I am delighted for our fans here that we have put on that showing at home. We’ve played very well away but it’s nice to do it at home in front of over 8,000 supporters.”

Fleetwood Town manager Charlie Adam was furious with his team’s showing, which leaves them six points off safety with just five games to go..

He said: “I’m embarrassed. That’s as bad as it’s been.

“There’s no hiding away from it – that was an embarrassment.

“This club has been in this division for a long, long time.

“People need to run hard, fight for the jersey, fight for the town and fight for these supporters.

“That was not there today in my team and I’m not going to accept it.

“I’ve told the lads in the dressing room that it’s unacceptable.

“Our supporters travelled a long, long way and paid a lot of money to come here, and we produced that sort of performance.

“It won’t happen from now until the end of the season.

“We didn’t run hard enough today and we didn’t get close enough to people.

“We allowed Oxford to dominate the game.

“Putting in the hard work and the hard yards, really wanting to fight – I didn’t see that today and it’s hugely disappointing.”

Barnsley boss Neill Collins hailed the impact of his half-time substitutes after seeing his side come from behind to win 3-1 at Burton.

Collins brought on striker John McAtee and midfielder Adam Phillips, who were both ill in the build-up to the game, and McAtee responded with a quick-fire brace, his ninth and 10 League One goals of the season, before Luca Connell sealed victory with a third for the Tykes.

“There was no question that we needed more urgency in our play, we needed a bit more quality and that was the message at half-time,” Collins said after his side trailed to Joe Powell’s goal at the break.

“We felt that we had to make changes and we know that with Macca (McAtee) he brings that intensity which is what we love.

“Him and Adam Phillips both reported unwell yesterday and were unable to train, but it was great that they made themselves available.

“We know that a lot of the time it is about what you can do late on in games and to have them and to be able to bring on that sort of quality helped.”

Victory extended Barnsley’s unbeaten away record to 11 games, a club record.

Collins added: “Ultimately are we frustrated in the last couple of weeks that we have let the chances of automatic promotion go?

“Definitely, but I just said to the players that there have lots of fantastic Barnsley teams in my lifetime and today we have broken the away record.”

Burton boss Martin Paterson cut a frustrated figure as he tried to analyse his side’s second-half “capitulation” that saw them slump to a sixth straight home defeat.

“First half was really good.” Paterson said. “Should have been two or three to the good.

“We missed opportunities but finally got that goal that we have been working for and we go in at half-time 1-0 up against an excellent Barnsley side at this level. Then you saw what happened, it was a capitulation.”

Paterson was Collins’ assistant earlier in his career and knew exactly what to expect in the second half.

“Last thing I said to the players at half-time was that there was a storm coming, because I know Neill. He is going to be aggressive and put his subs on early that are quality at this level and that showed in the period of time that they scored three goals.”

With five games to go Albion are looking over their shoulders at the bottom four and Paterson knows he needs more from his side in the remaining games.

“The performance levels are there in moments, but we can’t seem to get a complete performance,” he said.

“I am trying to be really creative with some things, but the truth is that we don’t score in moments when we have teams under pressure and that is hurting us.”

Garry Monk was delighted Cambridge showed their true ability over the Easter weekend.

The U’s had only previously won successive league games once all season but made it a six-point haul after seeing off Wigan 3-1.

Gassan Ahadme marked his first start since December with a brace to add to his goal at Barnsley on Good Friday, before Danny Andrew sealed the points with a brilliant late free-kick.

Wigan had made eight changes following their draw with Burton and were unable to force an equaliser after Martial Godo had pulled it back to 2-1.

“We all knew that’s within them,” said Monk. “We dipped below that in the two games before. But I think what we’ve seen in these two games is proof of what we kind of knew; what was under the bonnet.

“It was a different type of performance today. It was a little bit scrappy at times, but I think overall the level of commitment to these two games has been huge and they’ve got the deserved results.

“It’s given us a great boost but we’ve got to be mindful there’s still more work to do. We’re not going to rest on our laurels because we’ve had six points and a couple of good performances. We need more. That’s what we’re going to push for.”

On forward Ahadme, Monk added: “He came on against Barnsley and was a machine.

“It’s exactly what we need. He sets the tone at the front in these last two games. I’m always looking from a centre-back point of view, thinking ‘would I like to play against that?’ He’s deceptively strong, he’s willing, he’s game and he’s got quality.”

Shaun Maloney was not too downbeat about Wigan’s performance but rued the key moments in which Cambridge scored their goals.

“In the really key moments they were better than us,” Maloney said. “They had two one-v-ones in our box, they get the first contact and score.

“In terms of general performance I can’t ask too much more.

“We dominated the game for large parts with the ball, we created chances, but in the really key moments we couldn’t take ours. Whenever they had a cross or a set play they took their chance.

“I need to see the same sort of intensity and desire that we had against Blackpool, because we still needed points to get safe. I need to emphasise to the players we need more points. Not just players, me and the staff, everyone together.

“Ninety per cent of the performance I can’t criticise the players. It’s the really key ones where we have to defend the box or defend a second phase, that’s where the game was won and lost today.”

Half-time substitute John McAtee scored twice as Barnsley produced a second-half comeback to win 3-1 at struggling Burton.

The on-loan Luton striker produced two unerring finishes to inspire the Tykes after an uninspiring first-half showing from Neill Collins’ promotion chasers.

Burton, trying to distance themselves from the bottom four, grabbed the lead eight minutes before the break when Joe Powell drove home from the edge of the box.

But Barnsley made a double change at the start of the second half, with McAtee one of those introduced, and within nine minutes he had fired in the equaliser before finding the bottom corner from Sam Cosgrove’s flick to put the visitors ahead.

A third followed for Barnsley after 69 minutes when Luca Connell was able to advance into the box and drive a low shot across Max Crocombe and into the bottom corner.

Defeat left Albion just outside the bottom four after a sixth straight home defeat, while the Tykes remained on course for the play-offs after extending their unbeaten away run to 11 games.

Blackpool were held to a 0-0 draw by Wycombe as the Seasiders’ League One play-off hopes suffered a blow.

The hosts had several chances to win the game but were unable to convert any as the stalemate left them six points off the top six with five games to play.

CJ Hamilton found space down the left early on, but Shayne Lavery could not get on the end of his cross.

Matty Virtue and Sonny Carey both took aim but were denied by Wycombe goalkeeper Franco Ravizzoli
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It continued to be one way traffic until half-time, with Carey and Matthew Pennington firing just wide.

Wycombe improved at the start of the second half, prompting Pool boss Neil Critchley to make a triple substitution in the 63rd minute as Karamoko Dembele, Jake Beesley and George Byers entered the action.

The trio had little impact initially and the visitors should have taken the lead through their substitute Sam Vokes, who volleyed over from close range.

Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel and Beesley then forced good saves from Ravizzoli, and Kylian Kouassi headed just over as Blackpool searched desperately for a late winner which failed to arrive.

Stevenage saw their League One play-off hopes dented as a 0-0 draw at Charlton extended their winless run to seven matches.

Victories for Lincoln and Oxford, coupled with a second successive goalless draw for Steve Evans’ side, left Boro three points adrift of the final play-off place.

Charlton’s 17th draw of the campaign extended their unbeaten run to 10 league matches and left them eight points clear of the relegation zone.

A scrappy first half failed to produce a significant effort of note with visiting boss Evans making a triple change at the break to try and spark his side into action.

The first major opportunity fell to Stevenage’s top-scorer Jamie Reid in the 59th minute but the striker headed over the crossbar from close range after a deep cross by Luther James-Wildin was nodded into his path by Vadaine Oliver.

Nick Freeman also sliced across the face of goal for the away side after fellow substitute Oliver teed him up for a strike.

Charlton, with just one win at home since November 28, struggled to forge openings.

Substitute Tyreeq Bakinson flicked Thierry Small’s cross wide from 10 yards out in the 70th minute.

Addicks goalkeeper Harry Isted was called into action twice in the closing stages to keep out headers from Oliver.

Peterborough gave their Sky Bet League One promotion hopes a boost with a 2-1 win at Leyton Orient.

Hector Kyprianou and Ephron Mason-Clark gave Peterborough a two-goal half-time lead before Orient midfielder Ethan Galbraith reduced the deficit after the break.

It took Posh just eight minutes to go ahead but they owed their advantage to a howler from Sol Brynn.

The goalkeeper on loan from Middlesbrough allowed a cross from Harrison Burrows to go through his hands and former Orient player Kyprianou was presented with the simplest of chances to grab his eighth goal of the campaign.

Promotion chasers Posh doubled their lead after 25 minutes after Josh Knight nodded a cross from David Ajiboye across goal and leading scorer Mason-Clark bundled the ball into the net for his 19th goal of the season.

Comfortable in the first-half, the visitors struggled to dictate in the second period after Orient made three half-time substitutions and when Galbraith reduced the deficit in the 66th minute, Posh were made to work hard to protect their lead.

Keeper Jed Steer was forced into a finger-tip save to deny Galbraith a second but the resilient visitors ran out worthy winners to maintain their automatic promotion hopes.

Mitch Pinnock and Shaun McWilliams scored for Northampton as they beat struggling Port Vale 2-0 at Sixfields.

Pinnock’s sweet finish was the difference at half-time before McWilliams added the gloss in stoppage time as the mid-table Cobblers plunged Vale deeper into relegation trouble.

There were chances at both ends in the opening three minutes as Sam Hoskins volleyed over for Northampton before Vale’s Ethan Chislett forced goalkeeper Lee Burge into a sharp low save.

Burge denied the same player with another good stop later in the first half before Northampton went in front after 34 minutes when Pinnock finished crisply into the bottom corner after being sent through by Kieron Bowie.

Ben Garrity headed over and also scuffed wide at the start of the second half before Vale applied sustained pressure on the home goal without reward.

Uche Ikpeazu could not beat Burge when put through one-on-one and Vale’s defeat was confirmed at the death when McWilliams tapped in after good work by Tyreece Simpson.

Bristol Rovers and Shrewsbury drew 0-0 in a Sky Bet League One contest which saw both teams strike the woodwork at the Memorial Stadium.

Aiden O’Brien volleyed against the crossbar from just outside the area three minutes after half-time for Shrewsbury.

Jevani Brown hit the post in the 86th minute as the home side went close to finding a late winner, with a left foot shot from just inside the area after an Antony Evans pass.

Chris Martin could have broken the deadlock in the 12th minute after Brandon Aguilera won the ball high up the pitch and fed the striker but Martin’s clipped finish just missed the goal.

Tom Bayliss blazed over the bar in first half stoppage-time in the Shrews’ best opportunity to score in the first period.

Sam Finley’s volley at goal in the 33rd minute was straight at visiting goalkeeper Marko Marosi, who saved again two minutes later as Luca Hoole released Martin through but wide of goal.

Rovers substitute Grant Ward spurned a great chance to decide the contest in the 70th minute when he miskicked Luke Thomas’ cutback.

However, a game marked by several tetchy off-the-ball confrontations between players finished goalless.

Aaron Collins scored his first Bolton hat-trick as Wanderers beat Reading 5-2 to register a first League One win in three games and revive their automatic promotion hopes.

Collins netted a stunning 11th-minute opener and then converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time after Lewis Wing’s deflected long-range effort brought the Royals level.

He completed his first treble for more than two years after 77 minutes as Bolton closed to within three points of second-placed Derby, who travel to leaders Portsmouth on Tuesday night.

Wanderers had not beaten Reading on home turf since the sides met in the Premier League in 2007.

But they took an early lead as Collins found the top corner from 25 yards.

Wing responded five minutes before half-time but Collins restored the advantage ahead of the break, scoring from the spot after being fouled by Amadou Mbengue.

Collins then played a role in the build-up to Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s clever close-range finish in the 49th minute before completing his treble by lashing into the roof of the net.

Paul Mukairu grabbed a consolation in stoppage time for Reading, who are six points clear of the drop, but there was still time for Bodvarsson to score his second.

Gassan Ahadme scored twice as Cambridge made it back-to-back victories with a 3-1 win against Wigan.

The U’s went in front from their first attack in the 11th minute. James Brophy provided a perfect low delivery for the left and Ahadme marked his first start of 2024 with a sweeping finish into the far corner.

Wigan were given a huge chance to draw level 10 minutes before the break when Jordan Cousins pulled Josh Magennis down in the box, only for Magennis to see his penalty saved by Will Mannion diving to his right.

Instead it was Cambridge who scored next 12 minutes after half-time. Sullay Kaikai found space on the left and produced a fine delivery which was nodded home by Ahadme.

Wigan reduced the deficit after 65 minutes when Martial Godo ran clear following Scott Smith’s ball through the middle and fired beyond Mannion.

Any hopes of a Latics comeback were ended seven minutes from time when Danny Andrew sent a superb free-kick past Sam Tickle from 30 yards.

Lincoln continued their late play-off charge with a 3-1 victory over relegation-threatened Carlisle.

The impressive Imps secured a fifth successive win as they extended their unbeaten run to 15 games.

Michael Skubala’s side are ahead of seventh-placed Oxford on goal difference with five games to go.

Ben House opened the scoring in the 10th minute, slotting home after Joe Taylor flicked Lasse Sorensen’s deep cross into his path.

Jack Robinson blasted over the crossbar with Carlisle’s best chance before the break.

Jordan Wright produced a good save to tip a Jon Mellish header over at the start of the second half.

Luton loanee Taylor scored his 21st goal of the campaign as House turned provider for the striker to double his side’s advantage in the 56th minute.

Sam Lavelle pulled one back with 10 minutes to go as he poked home from Sean Maguire’s knock down.

Paudie O’Connor’s flick hit a post for the visitors before Teddy Bishop sealed the points with a stunning strike in the third minute of stoppage time.