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Millwall were able to take over at the top because of Friday night’s big promotion tussle between Wigan and Walsall. Wigan looked to be on the way to all three points after Lee Ashcroft fired them into a 35th minute lead. The Saddlers hit back however to snatch a last gasp equaliser when leading scorer Jorge Leitao rose to meet the ball in a crowd of players and powered the ball home to earn his side a point.
Rotherham’s match as Luton was postponed but Stoke failed to overtake them after being held to a disappointing 1-1 draw by Northampton. Andy Cooke put Stoke ahead with an agile scissors kick in the 59th minute only for big, bustling Steve Howard to notch a Cobblers leveller fifteen minutes later. Reading kept their grip on the final play-off place after disposing of Port Vale’s challenge courtesy of another Martin Butler effort.
Hot on thier heels are Bristol City who fought back after falling behind early doors to Swansea to equalise through Mickey Bell and then hit two goals in the final two minutes through Peter Beadle and Tony Thorpe as they ran out 3-1 winners. Notts County’s surge up the table continued on Saturday when they overcame in form Oldham by the only goal of the game netted by Danny Allsopp a minute before the break.
A major surprise from Bournemouth’s game against Colchester was the fact that Jermain Defoe failed to score for the second consecutive game. Scott McGleish broke the deadlock when he put the visitors ahead at Dean Court. Micky Stockwell then doubled the “U”s lead before the half time whistle. A second half fight back by the Cherries saw Richard Hughes convert a 62nd minute penalty. They then put the Colchester defence under intense pressure in their search for an equaliser. The “U”s defence finally cracked in the 85th minute when Carl Fletcher hammered a fierce left foot drive past keeper Andy Woodman, to earn the Cherries a point.
Mid-table sides Brentford and Wycombe met at Adams Park but couldn’t produce a goal between them. Bury took the field against Peterborough with new on loan signing from Liverpool Jon Newbury in their line-up. He proceeded to light up first half proceedings going close to scoring on at least three occasions. He finally got the goal he deserved in the 55th minute when he opened the scoring for the Shakers. Sam Collins doubled Bury’s lead fifteen minutes later with his second career goal. Peterborough reduced the arrears with a Howard Forinton strike but Bury hung on to secure a vital three points.
