Brighton extended their lead at the top of the table to six points after a comfortable 2-0 win at Yeovil. The in-form Kazenga LuaLua brilliantly picked out Glenn Murray who headed the Seagulls ahead at the break. Brighton’s second came after a quick thinking free-kick from Marcos Painter found Inigo Calderon on the edge of the area. The Spaniard adjusted himself before firing a low shot into the bottom left hand corner. This win means Brighton are now unbeaten in nine League games.
Peterborough lost ground on leaders Brighton as they gave away a one-goal lead, losing 2-1 to Brentford. Grant McCann thought he had spurned the perfect opportunity to put Peterborough in front when his first half penalty was saved, only for the referee to order a retake as two Brentford players had stepped into the penalty area. On his second attempt McCann coolly placed the penalty into the right hand corner. Brentford equalised through a cracking Craig Woodman free-kick, before Gary Alexander’s powerful header sealed the win.
The game of the day came at Brunton Park where Charlton edged out Carlisle in a seven-goal thriller. Charlton took a deserved 3-0 lead thanks to goals from Jonnie Jackson, Joe Anyinsah and Benson. Carlisle responded admiringly and fought back to 3-3, with Mike Grella, Craig Curran and Gary Madine providing the goals. Then in the dying minutes Carlisle’s hearts were ruptured when Benson athletically headed in from a corner for a last gasp win.
Bournemouth prevented Sheffield Wednesday from making it three wins on the trot, holding them to a 1-1 draw at Hillsborough. Neil Mellor scored for Wednesday in the 82nd minute to cancel out Ryan Garry’s earlier strike.
Two very similar goals from Bradley Wright-Phillips were enough for Plymouth to beat Huddersfield 2-1. The striker scored his first in the 16th minute when he latched on a huge punt up field from on-loan goalkeeper David Button. Huddersfield responded instantly when Anthony Pilkington found himself unmarked inside the penalty area. Wright-Phillips then scored a near on identical second goal to give his side a 2-1 win.
Saints won their third consecutive home game the hard way, coming back from a goal down to beat Paul Dickov’s Oldham 2-1. Dean Furman put the visitors ahead in the 22nd minute with a cool finish past Kelvin Davis. Jose Fonte equalised on the cusp of half-time, before substitute Alex Chamberlain showed good skill and pace to fire in the winner.
Bristol Rovers came back from the brink of defeat to claim a 2-2 draw with Hartlepool. Hartlepool thought they had secured the win after goals from Joe Gamble and Anthony Sweeney put them 2-0 up with ten minutes remaining. But it wasn’t to be as two late goals from Jo Kuffour and Bryan Anthony snatched an unlikely draw.
An Olukayode Odejayi double was just enough for Colchester to beat Notts County 2-1. County’s Craig Westcarr squeezed the ball under the keeper to give the away side the lead, but two late goals from Odejayi gave Colchester all three points, moving them up to 6th place. The result also turned out to be Craig Short's last in charge of Notts County, the owners rather harshly deciding that the club should be higher up the congested league table.
Tranmere thrashed Walsall 4-1 away to put their recent poor run behind them. Two goals from John Welsh and one apiece for Enoch Showunmi and Ian Thomas-Moore meant Tranmere moved above their opponents into 22nd.
Elsewhere two late goals from Damien Scannell and Mark Arber were not enough as Dagenham & Redbridge lost 3-2 to Rochdale, while 10-men Swindon drew 2-2 with Leyton Orient at the County Ground. In the game at stadium:mk an Aaron Wilbraham goal was just enough for MK Dons to see off Exeter City and keep them poised on the edge of the play-off places.