Newz Forum: SOCCER: Coca-Cola League One results 20/11/04

Steve Howard grabbed a hat-trick as League One leaders Luton maintained their five-point cushion at the top with a 4-1 win at Milton Keynes Dons.

Rowan Vine had opened the scoring for the visitors in the eighth minute and Howard scored his first on the stroke of half-time only for Wade Small to pull one back almost immediately. Howard stepped up the pace after the interval with two goals in the 66th and 83rd minutes.


The Hatters' nearest rivals are now Tranmere after they overtook Hull, defeated 4-2 at Swindon, thanks to Ian Goodison's solitary 38th-minute goal at Blackpool. Hull were on level terms for 38 minutes after Jonathan Walters equalised Sam Parkin's 22nd-minute opener but in the closing stages Sean O'Hanlon (74), Parkin (87) and Christian Roberts (90) all scored for the hosts with Stuart Elliott's late strike a consolation for the Tigers.


Bradford also moved above Hull into third after a fiery 2-1 win at Brentford. Zema Abbey scored for the Bantams in the second minute but was then dismissed - along with Deon Burton - after becoming involved in an altercation. Substitute Danny Forrest made the match safe 12 minutes from time, although Alex Rhodes netted a late goal for the Bees.


Bournemouth's 0-0 draw at Chesterfield cost them the fourth place they held before today's matches, with Bristol City moving above them after a 3-1 win at crisis club Wrexham, who packed 7,833 fans in at the Racecourse Ground. Mickey Bell's penalty (36), Scott Murray (44) and Stephen Brooker (52) put the visitors into a comfortable lead before Chris Armstrong (77) pulled one back for the Welshmen.


Oldham lifted themselves out of the lower reaches of the table with a last-gasp 3-2 comeback at home to Barnsley. The Yorkshiremen's Michael Boulding and Christopher Killen traded early goals before Michael Chopra's 55th-minute strike looked to have win it for the Oakwell side. However, Scott Vernon and Killen both scored in the last minute to turn the result on its head.


Barnsley's Yorkshire neighbours Sheffield Wednesday fared better at home to Hartlepool, Steven MacLean and Matthew Hamshaw scoring the goals in a 2-0 victory.


Stockport failed to improve their lot at the bottom after a 3-1 defeat at Doncaster, for whom Gregg Blundell (nine & 67) and Tim Ryan (65), Warren Feeney having equalised for the visitors in the 50th minute.


Torquay's 2-1 victory at Port Vale - with goals from Kevin Hill (42) and Leon Constantine (65) either side of Michael Cummins' equaliser - lifted them a place to fourth bottom.


Beleaguered Walsall boss Paul Merson was boosted as his side's 2-1 win at home to Peterborough gave him some breathing space. The hosts had fallen behind to Wayne Purser's 11th-minute goal but Darren Wrack (62) and Gary Birch (68) turned things around.


Mid-tabled Colchester and Huddersfield drew 0-0.


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