Games slip away for Blues but table gets tighter at both ends

Last updated : 14 April 2009 By Shrimpers24

Leicester City 1 Leeds United 0

Leicester moved to within touching distance of securing promotion from League One after Steve Howard's last-gasp winner sunk Leeds.

The Foxes will confirm their return to the Championship on Saturday if they beat Southend while Leeds will have to make do with a place in the play-offs.

In a tight game, home keeper David Stockdale diverted Robert Snodgrass' corner onto his own bar while City striker Matty Fryatt struck the side netting.

Just when it would be a point apiece, than Howard brilliantly rose to thump Max Gradel's corner into the roof of the net.

Millwall 2 Peterborough United 0

Third-placed Millwall closed the gap on second-placed Peterborough to three points with a 2-0 win in Monday's late kick-off.

David Martin opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 25th minute after the striker had been fouled inside the box by Chris Whelpdale.

The Lions' win was confirmed in the 58th minute when Jason Price's shot beat Joe Lewis.

MK Dons 2 Bristol Rovers 1

The Franchise kept their faint automatic promotion hopes alive as Ali Gerba starred against Bristol Rovers in their third straight league win.

The home side when ahead on 28 minutes when Bryon Anthony was dispossessed by Gerba inside his own half and he powered into the box before rifling the ball home.

Gerba helped create the second when his flick put Luke Chadwick away and he made no mistake with a clinical finish on 51 minutes.

But the home fans were given a nervy finish when Steve Elliott headed in Stuart Campbell's corner with six minutes to go but they held on.

Tranmere Rovers 2 Hereford United 1

Hereford are on the brink of relegation to League Two as striker Bas Savage made one and scored one in ten-man Tranmere's victory.

Ian Moore created the first on eight minutes with a clever ball that Savage coolly finished off for his ninth goal of the season.

And Savage was at the heart of the second when Charlie Barnett exchanged passes with the front man before firing home on 25 minutes.

But they were reduced to ten men late in the second half when Ian Goodison was shown a straight red card for a two-footed challenge before Steve Guinan converted an injury-time penalty for the visitors.

Hartlepool United 2 Scunthorpe United 3

Paul Hayes grabbed two goals to boost Scunthorpe's play-off bid in their thrilling win over Hartlepool.

The Iron took the lead just eight minutes through Grant McCann's deflected freekick only for Hartlepool to equalise as Michael Nelson ghosted into the area to nod in Andy Monkhouse's freekick.

After the break Scunthorpe restored their advantage when Gary Hooper's deep cross was finished off by Hayes at the far post but again Hartlepool came back as Daniel Nardellio finished off from six yards.

But yet again The Iron's red-hot strike force engineered the winner as Hooper's shot across the face of goal was prodded in by Hayes for his 17th goal of the season.

Northampton Town 2 Southend United 3

Two goals in the space of five minutes for Southend put a hammer blow into Northampton's survival hopes.

They trailed after Jean Francois Christophe nodded in Franck Moussa's corner just before the break.

The Cobblers got back on level terms shortly after halftime when Danny Jackman sent in a wicked cross and Adebayo Akinfenwa finished from close range for his 14th of the season

But parity did not last long before Theo Robinson's clinical finish put Southend back in front and moments later Lee Barnard sealed the win although Aleksandar Prijovic pulled one back late on.

For a full report and player markings go here: www.thelittlegazette.com/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=442958

Huddersfield Town 1 Carlisle United 0

Substitute Andy Booth came off the bench to grab the winner against relegation-threatened Carlisle with a trademark header.

Huddersfield started brightly and Gary Roberts saw his effort cleared off the line by a Carlisle defender.

They came even closer in the second half when Nathan Clarke's close-range effort crashed off the bar.

And they did make the breakthrough with 12 minutes remaining as Booth expertly headed home Michael Flynn's cross.

Oldham Athletic 1 Crewe Alexandra 1

Bryon Moore struck late on for Crewe to deny Joe Royle his first win as Oldham boss.

Royle seemed on course to break his duck after taking over from John Sheridan when Reuben Hazell headed in Deane Smalley's cross.

Crewe had already come close to an equaliser when John Brayford fired a shot inches past the post.

And they did get back on level terms with just a minute remaining Moore was left all alone to head home his fourth goal for Crewe and what could be a precious point.

Stockport County 1 Walsall 2

Walsall were gifted three points after Stockport keeper Conrad Logan's late own goal.

The home side fell behind after just 11 minutes when Logan punched a corner straight into the path of defender Anthony Gerrard who made no mistake from close range.

Stockport dominated after that and deservedly drew level through Greg Tansey's superb freekick 12 minutes from time.

But they were denied a share of the spoils when Logan punched into his own net after running into his own defender Tommy Rowe.

Colchester United 0 Brighton & Hove Albion 1

Lloyd Owusu grabbed a vital goal for Brighton as Colchester's miserable home record continued at The Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Mark Yeates drew a fine save from visiting keeper Michel Kuipers while the forward's cross just failed to connect with the onrushing Anthony Wordsworth.

Brighton came out firing after the break and Gary Borrowdale's freekick was powered in by Lloyd Owusu.

Sub Craig Davies should have doubled their advantage with five minutes to go but Dean Gerken pulled off a fine save.

Swindon Town 0 Leyton Orient 1

Leyton Orient made it four wins from their last five games as Jason Demetriou's early strike proved to be the winner.

The visitors took the lead with just three minutes on the clock when wing Demetriou was given too much space to cut in and place his shot past Phil Smith.

Swindon came roaring back and had a host of chances to equalise - their best effort saw Owain Tudor Jones' freekick superbly kept out by Jamie Jones.

Town failed to find much rhythm after the break and apart from Tudor Jones seeing his effort cleared off the line they never looked like making the breakthrough.

Cheltenham Town 1 Yeovil Town 0

Cheltenham live to fight another day as Frankie Artus' second-half effort against Yeovil means they avoided relegation.

In a drab first half, The Robins had the best chances but Bristol City loannee Artus failed to hit the target with his header while David Hutton's effort forced a fantastic save out of Chris Weale.

Their pressure eventually paid off when Hutton's shot hit the post and Artus buried the rebound through a mass of bodies.

The Glovers were reduced to ten men when Gary Roberts picked up a second yellow card for a horrendous challenge on Andy Gallinagh.

Coca-Cola Football League One

Latest match Monday,
13th April 2009
PldHomeAwayOverallPtsEP
WDLFAWDLFAWDLFA
1Leicester City 43138139141263382325144773789+40
2Peterborough United 43135338201156363224109745282+22
3Millwall 43124628201236312624712594679+13
4Milton Keynes Dons 42124642241154382223910804678+34
5Leeds United 43152443198410272923614704875+22
6Tranmere Rovers 43154340196510192521913594472+15
7Scunthorpe United 4112444022939333421713735670+17
8Southend United 4312272718859284020716555867-3
9Huddersfield Town 4397630268582634171214566063-4
10Oldham Athletic 4398534236872837151612626061+2
11Walsall 43103831316792630161017576158-4
12Bristol Rovers 4294735246883430151215695457+15
13Stockport County 4387730257592527151216555257+3
14Colchester United 4374112123957333416918545757-3
15Leyton Orient 43651022299582022151018425155-9
16Yeovil Town 42695222264121436121317365849-22
17Swindon Town 4377835334892834111517636748-4
18Hartlepool United 43877453944131733121120627247-10
19Crewe Alexandra 43849293346122640121021557346-18
20Carlisle United 43768333146121936111220526745-15
21Northampton Town 41776332435132032101219535642-3
22Brighton & Hove Albion 42461128396691927101220476642-19
23Cheltenham Town 42751029371613194781123488435-36
24Hereford United 4264112325321616479627397233-33