The Third Place #12

Last updated : 12 October 2003 By Andy Beill
Boston United 1-1 Oxford United (attendance: 2,664)
Graeme Jones gave Boston a surprise lead in the 35th minute with a header, but Oxford eventually denied them the win when Jefferson Louis equalised in the 88th minute.

Cheltenham Town 3-1 Yeovil Town (attendance: 4,960)
Cheltenham were without a win in their last five, but got off to the start they needed with early goals from Martin Devaney (4) and Mark Yates (15). Kevin Gall pulled one back five minutes before half time, but Cheltenham weren't going to let this one get away, and Paul Brayson made it 3-1 just after the break.

Doncaster Rovers 5-1 Bristol Rovers (attendance: 5,439)
Francis Tierney (12) took a header well for the opener, and the visitors were down to ten men when Graham Hyde was sent off for a bad challenge in the 24th minute. Chris Brown (41) tapped in on his league debut after signing on loan from Sunderland, and they were gifted a third just before the interval when goalkeeper Kevin Miller's clearance hit Michael McIndoe and went in. McIndoe stylishly got the fourth, taking two touches before volleying home in the 57th minute. Substitute Lewis Haldene (61) scored a minute after coming on to pull one back for the Pirates, but McIndoe finished the job with an 82nd minute penalty.

Kidderminster Harriers 2-1 Carlisle United (attendance: 2,488)
This bottom of the table clash went Kidderminster's way, giving them their first win in ten. Andy Bishop headed them in front after 56 minutes, but Peter Murphy (63) soon levelled from long range. The winner came from a deflected Danny Williams free kick in the 83rd minute to move Kidderminster up two places, while Carlisle remain rooted to the bottom.

Leyton Orient 2-0 Macclesfield Town (attendance: 3,585)
Two first half goals were enough to leave Macclesfield still without a win on their travels. Dave McGhee (14) headed the first before Gary Alexander made it 2-0 after 25 minutes.

Mansfield Town 3-1 Darlington (attendance: 4,621)
Tony Vaughan beat Darlington keeper Michael Price to a crossed free kick to head Mansfield in front after 13 minutes, but they lost their lead in first half stoppage time. Ian Clark's penalty was blocked by Kevin Pilkington, but he headed in the rebound to level. Things went wrong for Darlington in the second half when David McGurk was sent off with just three minutes played, and Iyseden Christie (59) put Mansfield back in front with a header. The 3 points were secured with Wayne Corden's 65th minute free kick, and the Stags move up to 2nd on goal difference.

Northampton Town 1-5 Hull City (attendance: 6,011)
League leaders Hull City are flying at the moment and made it four successive wins after hammering Northampton at the Sixfields stadium. Stuart Elliott (20) and Danny Allsopp (42) gave them a first half lead, before Jason Price headed in midway through the second period. They suffered a minor blip when Cobblers keeper Lee Harper was sent off for bringing Allsopp down in the box. His replacement Glyn Thompson saved Ben Burgess' penalty, and then Paul Trollope (78) volleyed in to pull one back. But the Tigers were back on track when Burgess (82) made up for his penalty miss with a tap in, and Jamie Forrester came off the bench to score against his former side in stoppage time.

Rochdale 2-0 Scunthorpe United (attendance: 2,838)
Scunthorpe were down to ten men in the 38th minute when Richard Kell was dismissed, and held Rochdale until the 82nd when Leo Burtos drove home. The Iron were unlucky to go 2-0 down in the 89th minute after Cliff Byrne was ruled to have pulled at Antoine-Currier's shirt. Sam Russell saved Gerard Brannan's penalty, but the referee gave them a second chance after Russell was adjudged to have moved off his line. Brannan made no mistake with his next attempt.

Southend United 1-2 Huddersfield Town (attendance: 4,205)
Leke Odunsi's impressive half-volley gave Southend a 43rd minute lead, but Andy Booth equalised two minutes later with a header. The Terriers stole all three points in the 89th minute, with Danny Schofield's goal sending Southend into the bottom two.

Swansea City 2-2 Lincoln City (attendance: 7,914)
Awful defending allowed Richard Butcher to open for Lincoln in the 11th minute, and Paul Mayo scored a penalty four minutes later after a handball. A well worked Swansea move saw Andy Robinson pull a goal back two minutes later, and things went wrong for Lincoln in the second half. Paul Mayo was sent off in the 69th minute, and the ten men could only hold on for five minutes until Lee Trundle's shot hit Ben Futcher and went in. The point keeps Swansea in the top three, but they slip to four points behind leaders Hull City.

Torquay United 3-1 Bury (attendance: 2,732)
It was an unrewarding trip for Bury, who have only managed to pick up a total of three points on their travels this season. Chris Porter (38) ensured the Shakers went in at the break on level terms after David Graham had given Torquay a 26th minute lead. But Joe Kuffour scored with a minute of the second half gone, and with Bury reduced to ten men in the 75th minute for Lee Unsworth's foul, Alex Russell (85) made it 3-1.

York City 2-0 Cambridge United (attendance: 3,481)
After the Minstermen failed to score in their last two games, Lee Bullock got them off to the start they wanted from close range in the 5th minute. Substitute Steve Brackstone doubled the advantage a minute after coming on, looping a 64th minute shot over Shaun Marshall from the edge of the area, and 2-0 is how it stayed.

One game was played on Wednesday, here's what happened:

Oxford United 1-0 Torquay United (attendance: 5,479)
Torquay were left to rue first half misses, with Julian Alsop's 70th minute header the difference between these two promotion-chasing sides.

Current league table:


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