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The teams’ exchanged goals in the early stages with Dunne opening the scoring for Colchester and Willis striking back almost immediately.
An own goal from Booty was followed by a further strike from the veteran Micky Stockwell to give United a two goal advantage at the turn round.
Beckett reduced the arrears almost immediately after the break. Colchester retaliated with a goal from Rapley before the Spireites hit back once more this time courtesy of Payne.
Chesterfield were then hit by a double blast from Scott McGleish as United cemented a remarkable victory.
The first hat-trick of the new season was netted by Tony Thorpe of Bristol City who needed less than thirty minutes to put Northampton to the sword at Sixfields.
Resurgent Cardiff celebrated their return to Division Two with a single goal victory over Wycombe thanks to Gabbidon’s 17th minute strike in front of over 17,000 spectators at Ninian Park.
Fellow promotion winners Blackpool did not enjoy such a productive start to the season as much fancied Reading quickly underlined their class with a comfortable 2-0 victory courtesy of goals from Parkinson and Forster.
Two matches turned into six goal thrillers. At Vale Park McPhee opened the scoring in the 21st minute when he fired Vale ahead. The lead was short lived with Cas netting an equalising goal just seven minutes later.
Vale retook the lead thanks to a goal from transfer listed O’Callaghan two minutes after the half-time break. County fought back to level the score for a second time when Allsop netted his first goal of the season in the 53rd minute.
Vale continued to push for a winner and they were rewarded on the hour when O’Callaghan scored his second of the game. The home side then wrapped up the points when Dodd struck their fourth goal with twenty minutes remaining.
Although a goal from Mark Allot in the 38th minute gave Oldham the half-time lead at the Racecourse Ground a three goal salvo in twelve second half minutes from Lawrence, Edwards and Faulconbridge appeared to have won the match for the so called Red Dragons.
Oldham though had other ideas after Eyres had reduced the deficit to a single goal with his 73rd minute strike they pushed forward in search of an equaliser. They were rewarded for their endeavour when Carlo Corazzin struck a last gasp leveller.
Elsewhere a competent performance by QPR against fancied Stoke was rewarded when Thomson netted the only goal of the game in the 23rd minute. Huddersfield were another side to edge to victory, Kenny Irons scoring the only goal of their fixture against Bournemouth.
Jon Newby’s goal for Bury was one of two netted by the Shakers at Tranmere. The other was scored by Reid. Tranmere were only able to muster a single goal from Parkinson in reply which meant that Bury left Prenton Park with all three points.
The match between Cambridge and Brighton ended goalless as did the one between Swindon and Peterborough.
The other drawn game saw Wigan and Brentford share two goals, with Ingimarsson opening the scoring for Brentford and McCulloch’s 66th minute strike earning Wigan a share of the spoils.
