Dons lose second place as ducks win out at Cobblers

Oldham Athletic 1 Leeds United 1 (played on Monday March 2 2009)

Veteran striker Lee Hughes looked lively early on for Oldham, and he looked to have broken through on ten minutes only for Rui Marques to deny him with an excellent last-ditch block.

Jermaine Beckford, back from suspension, had a good chance to get Leeds in front on 27 minutes as he rose to head towards goal from Neil Kilkenny's cross, but he failed to hit the target.

The game became increasingly bad-tempered as both Bradley Johnson and Robert Snodgrass failed to take advantage of chances for Leeds late in the half, and the sides went in goalless at the break.

However, only six minutes into the second half, Hughes got on the end of a looping ball from Deane Smalley to nutmeg Leeds keeper Casper Ankergren from a seemingly impossible angle.

The lead barely lasted a minute, though. Lucciano Becchio forced Greg Fleming to tip the ball over as Leeds raced down the other end from the kick-off and, from the resulting corner, he made no mistake.

From only four yards out, the former Boca Juniors forward was left under little pressure to head the ball firmly into the back of the net.

Both sides had chances in the aftermath, and Beckford came very close to breaking through in the area with five minutes to play, but he was unable to get a clean shot away and Neal Eardley was able to clear.

Leicester City 1 Stockport County 1

Former Leicester striker Chris O'Grady returned to haunt his former employers as The Foxes slipped to back-to-back draws against Stockport.

Leicester seem hell-bent on securing automatic promotion back to the Championship and got off to the perfect start when Kerrea Gilbert's cross-come shot sailed past Hatters keeper Owain fon Williams in the first minute.

However The Foxes' lead was short-lived and striker O'Grady - on loan from Oldham - gave his old club reason to worry lashing home moments later.

Leicester boss Nigel Pearson rung the changes after half-time with Manchester United loanee Tom Cleverley and former Millwall striker Barry Hayles coming on but both failed to make an impact.

Leyton Orient 2 Peterborough United 3

First-half strikes from Chris Whelpdale, Sergio Torres and Russell Martin helped Peterborough survive a late scare against Leyton Orient and move into second in League One.

Peterborough thought they had all three points wrapped up as early as the 12th minute thanks to Whelpdale's low strike and Sergio Torres' first goal in Posh colours.

However Wycombe loanee Scott McGleish led the Orient fight-back in the 41st minute from the spot following Charlie Lee's handball only for defender Russell Martin to head them 3-1 up with the last play of the half.

Striker McGleish again hit back with a well-taken solo effort in the 56th minute but it wasn't to be as Posh hung on for all three points.

Southend United 0 Millwall 1

Millwall striker Gary Alexander netted the only goal of the game as The Lions executed the perfect smash and grab raid against Steve Tilson's Southend.

Inconsistent Millwall went in at half time the happier of the two sides after Alexander smashed home Reading loanee Jame Henry's low cross against the run of play in the 39th minute.

Tilson threw men forward after the restart with Tottenham loanee Dorian Dervite and midfielder Kevin Betsy both going close only for The Lions to hold on for three vital points.

For a full report with player markings go here: www.thelittlegazette.com/news/loadrprt.asp?cid=MTCH&id=435696

Scunthorpe United 1 Walsall 1

Walsall striker Troy Deeney's last-gasp strike ensured The Saddlers stole a share of the spoils and extended Scunthorpe's baron league run to five games without a win.

The Iron looked set to win their first game since January 31 when on-loan Barnsley striker Kayode Odejayi netted from close range in the 79th minute.

However former Halesowen front-man Deeney had other ideas and grabbed a dramatic point for the visitors minutes later after latching onto former Derby defender Paul Boertien's deep cross.

Hartlepool United 2 Tranmere Rovers 1

Hartlepool midfielder Ben Clark's late penalty ensured The Pools made it two wins from three against Tranmere.

After a goalless first half proceedings at Victoria Park sparked into life when centre-back Michael Nelson combined with Ritchie Jones and fired home in the 69th minute.

The lead lasted less than a minute and Rovers pulled level when midfielder Charlie Barnett's pin-point cross found Ben Chorley - who headed home with ease.

Tranmere looked content with a point but had to settle for nothing when Clark lashed home his second penalty in three games in the 83rd minute when Antony Kay brought down Doncaster loanee Lewis Guy.

Huddersfield Town 2 Colchester United 2

Colchester midfielder Dean Hammond's last minute effort saw The U's grab a draw from the clutches of defeat against Huddersfield at The Galpharm Stadium.

The Terriers' march towards the play-off places looked to have taken a blow when Hammond fired Colchester in front after hosts' defender Jim Goodwin handled in the area.

But it was all change after the break and when The U's failed to clear their lines in the 51st minute midfielder Pilkington pounced to spark a Terriers revival.

Roberts fired Huddersfield in front for the first time 15 minutes later after U's keeper Mark Cousins parried Ian Craney's low shot but it wasn't to be with Hammond stealing a point for Colchester.

Crewe Alexandra 1 Carlisle United 2

Carlisle winger Joe Anyinsah's second half strike saw The Cumbrians end resurgent Crewe's four-game unbeaten run and ease their own relegation fears.

Crewe welcomed Carlisle with renewed confidence after four straight wins but could do little to stop Doncaster loanee Gareth Taylor lashing home namesake Cleveland Taylor's through-ball to give The Cumbrians the lead in the 17th minute.

But Carlisle struggled to contain an imminent Alex onslaught and former Hibernian striker Clayton Donaldson pulled them level in the 34th minute after latching onto Billy Jones' corner.

However it was the visitors who had the last laugh and, after former Cardiff midfielder Graham Kavangh tested Crewe keeper John Ruddy in 70th minute, Anyinsah popped up to gift Carlisle the win minutes later.

Swindon Town 2 Cheltenham Town 2

Swindon defender Kevin Amankwaah ensured Cheltenham's miserable week continued as The Robins came from behind to salvage a point at The County Ground.

The visitors put their whole squad up for sale prior to kick-off and it showed when Hal Robson-Kanu pounced to net his fourth of the season in the 32nd minute.

However The Robins refused to lie down and hit back within seconds when former Fulham striker Elvis Hammond combined with Joshua Low and slotted home in the 33rd minute.

Hammond was back at it nine minutes after the break tapping in from close range but Ghanaian defender Amankwaah's 66th minute header from a Robson-Kanu corner summed up Cheltenham's fortunes.

Northampton v MK Dons (match abandoned due to waterlogged pitch)

MK Dons boss Roberto Di Matteo could only watch as Peterborough leapfrogged them into second after their clash against Northampton was abandoned at half-time due to heavy rain.

Dons defneder Jude Stirling tested Cobblers keeper Chris Dunn as early as the fourth minute before full-back Jason Crowe returned the favour on visiting keeper Willy Gueret.

Northampton midfielder Ryan Gilligan nearly put the home side in front before the break but could only fire wide before referee Keith Stroud decided conditions were unable after blowing for half time.

Coca-Cola Football League One