Hooper prepares for Roots Hall return with a double at the Den

Last updated : 01 February 2009 By Shrimpers24

Northampton Town 1 Leicester City 2

Leicester came from behind too see off Northampton and maintain their ten-point lead at the top of the table.

Northampton started brightly and took the lead in the 16th minute as Leon Constantine fired home at the third attempt after David Martin had twice saved efforts following a Danny Jackman corner.

But the lead was short lived as five minutes later Steve Howard bagged his eighth of the season from the penalty spot after Mark Hughes had been penalised for a foul on Matty Fryatt.

And the leaders completed the comeback 20 minutes in to the second half as captain Matt Oakley released Tom Cleverly and his precise cross found Lloyd Dyer unmarked in the box and he coolly fired home.

Cheltenham Town 3 MK Dons 5

Jemal Johnson's wondergoal and Aaron Wilbraham's hat-trick handed MK Dons all three points and gave them a first win in five games at Cheltenham.

The former Wolves striker lashed home from distance and home keeper Scott Brown had no chance as the ball found the top corner.

And Roberto di Matteo's men secured the points before half time as Wilbraham struck a quickfire double with two goals in three minutes before completing his hat trick on the hour mark.

Damien Spencer grabbed two for the hosts, Johnson netted his second to make it five before Spencer completed his hat trick and promptly got sent off for a foul on Dean Lewington.

Millwall 1 Scunthorpe United 2

A second-half double from the prolific ex-Blue Gary Hooper gave Scunthorpe all three points as fourth travelled to fifth in League One.

The promotion chasing duo couldn't be separated in the first half with Millwall's Gary Alexander coming closest to scoring only to be foiled by a good save from Joe Murphy in the 16th minute.

Millwall broke the deadlock in the 64th minute as Adam Bolder found Alexander on the edge of the area and the striker found the bottom corner with a precise strike for his first goal in eight games.

But Scunthorpe weren't behind for long as with 71 minutes on the clock Grant McCann's corner was only half cleared and Hooper was on hand to poke home his 19th goal of the season from close range.

And Hooper then stole all three points for Scunthorpe in the 88th minute with a powerfully struck effort from the edge of the box that gave Millwall keeper David Forde no chance.

Huddersfield Town 1 Peterborough United 0

Michael Collins netted the only goal of the game for Huddersfield as they put a dent in Peterborough's promotion charge.

Dean Keates tested home keeper Alex Smithies early on as Darren Ferguson's men burst out of the blocks.

But Collins silenced the visiting Posh fans when he fired home from close range in the 34th minute.

Ferguson's men threw everything at The Terriers after the break but Aaron McLean was twice guilty of missing superb chances to level for Posh.

Oldham Athletic 0 Swindon Town 0

Oldham failed to strengthen their play-off credentials after a resilient Swindon side left with a share of the spoils.

The hosts dominated the first half without forcing visiting keeper Peter Brezovan in to action too often, although veteran striker Dean Windass did force the former Slovak under-21 stopper to tip over in the 27th minute.

Swindon rarely threatened but the home side couldn't find a breakthrough with Windass, substitute Lewis Alessandra and Lee Hughes all wasting good opportunities in the second half.

Walsall 1 Leeds United 0

Chris Hutchings enjoyed his first win as Walsall manager as Leeds' promotion hopes took a dent.

Walsall made the dream start as in the seventh minute, with Leeds sleeping Troy Deeney popped up to head home a Sofiene Zaaboub cross.

Leeds bossed the game from then on but failed to find the equaliser with substitute Jonathan Howson heading a good opportunity wide and Lee Trundle seeing a goalbound effort blocked by Rhys Weston.

Leeds continued to press but despite seven minutes of injury time they were unable to break Walsall down with defender Andy Hughes blasting their best chance over the bar.

Stockport County 4 Hereford United 1

Stockport took less than 20 seconds to open the scoring as from the kick off the ball Dominic Blizzard found space in the area and fired low and accurate in to the bottom left-hand corner.

The shell-shocked visitors recovered well and were level in the 26th minute as Jennison Myrie-Williams sent in a dangerous cross that was turned home by midfielder Sam Hewson.

But the hosts were back in front five minutes later as Matty McNeil headed home Robbie Threlfall's corner.

And they doubled their lead in the 52nd minute as Hereford again failed to mark at a corner and Matty Mainwaring headed home before Leon McSweeney completed the scoring from the edge of the area in the 76th minute.

Crewe Alexandra 2 Tranmere Rovers 1

Promotion-chasing Tranmere slipped further away from the playoffs as they slipped to defeat against rock-bottom Crewe.

Antony Kay smashed the ball home from outside the box in the 26th minute to leave debutant keeper John Ruddy helpless.

But Gudjon Thordarson's side were handed a lifeline when Mark Carrington lashed home an equaliser in the 83rd minute.

And just when it looked like The Railwaymen had settled for a point, Joel Grant pounced in the 87th minute to steal all three points.

Carlisle United 0 Colchester United 2

Carlisle's woes increased as they slipped to defeat against Colchester at Brunton Park.

Danny Livesey gave the visitors the lead when he hacked at Lewis Gobern's cross and the ball flew past his own keeper Ben Williams.

Carlisle could have grabbed one back on the hour mark but Graham Kavanagh's effort flew well wide.

And David Perkins made them pay with just eight minutes remaining when he slotted home from close range after Williams had spilled Scott Vernon's shot.

Southend United 1 Bristol Rovers 0

A classic Dougie Freedman goal gave Southend all three points in a tight encounter with Bristol Rovers.

Read the full report with player markings here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=430289

Brighton & Hove Albion 2 Hartlepool United 1

Brighton fought back from a goal down to net all three points against Hartlepool at The Withdean Stadium.

Michael Nelson had nodded the hosts ahead in the 20th minute when he superbly met Joel Porter's cross and diverted the ball past John Sullivan.

But Brighton hit back and prolific striker Nicky Forster tapped home from close range to level.

And Calvin Andrew proved to be the hero for The Seagulls when he headed home Kevin McLeod's cross with the last touch of the game.

Leyton Orient 0 Yeovil Town 1

Leyton Orient dropped in to the relegation zone after an injury time goal from Gavin Tomlin gave Yeovil all three points.

Leyton Orient dominated possession in the first half but it was Yeovil who created the better openings with Danny Schofield testing home stopper Jamie Jones with a shot from distance late on.

The home side continued to find life difficult after the break with the industrious Ryan Jarvis firing wide of the target on the hour in one of few chances for Orient.

The winner came in the fifth minute of stoppage time as Andrew Welsh swung in a corner and Tomlin headed home to break Orient hearts.

Coca-Cola Football League One

PosTeamPWDLFAGDPts

1No ChangeLeicester City28197254223264
2No ChangeMilton Keynes Dons 28173857322554
3up 1
Scunthorpe United
28165752361653
4down 1Peterborough United28148651361550
5No ChangeMillwall2615563728950
6No ChangeOldham Athletic291310647361149
7No ChangeLeeds United281431146351145
8up 1Stockport County28128844321244
9down 1Tranmere Rovers27134104034643
10No ChangeHuddersfield Town29127103942-343
11No ChangeColchester United28126104339442
12up 3Walsal27105123739-235
13up 4Southend United2897123244-1234
14down 2Bristol Rovers2789104542333
15down 2Northampton Town2889113938133
16down 2Hartlepool United2796124044-433
17up 1Yeovil Town2889112637-1133
18down 2Carlisle United2895143746-932
19No ChangeSwindon Town27610113947-828
20up 1Brighton and Hove Albion27610113139-828
21down 1Leyton Orien2968152339-1626
22up 2Crewe Alexandra2764173459-2522
23down 1Hereford United2756162443-1921
24down 1Cheltenham Town2756163462-2821