The International break gave the lower leagues the chance to take center-stage this week amid wet and windy conditions that proved unkind for Jemal Johnson and Jon-Paul Pittman.
Charlton Athletic 5-1 Milton Keynes Dons
Jemal Johnson entered the game in the 69th minute after recovering from injury and illness, but it was not to be a winning start against one of their promotion rivals. The score did not reflect the closeness of a contest that was decided in the last thirty minutes.
The Dons started well, and took the lead in the ninth minute with a stunning twenty-five yard shot from Aaron Wilbraham after a Lewis Gobern cross from the right. The ball was scuffed, fell to Wilbraham slightly left of the goal, and the forward hit a great shot into the top center of the net.
Just two minutes later, the visitors were denied a penalty when defender Kelly Youga appeared to clear a Wilbraham shot with his hand. Had the decision been given, the result may have been very different as the defender may also have been red-carded.
The lead did not last long as the Addicks scored in the 13th minute as David Mooney scored following a scramble in front of the net. A high free-kick from Nicky Bailey caused chaos in the area before Mooney hammered the ball under goalie Willy Gueret from six yards.
The hosts took the lead in the 21st minute when Bailey went from provider to scorer, heading the ball in from two yards. Frazer Richardson saw winger Lloyd Sam in space down the visitors right, the winger took the ball to the dead-ball line before crossing, and the ball was flicked on by Deon Burton before being headed home.
The Dons pushed forward looking for an equalizer, but were dealt a severe blow in the 65th minute after a third goal, against the run of play, scored by Sam.
Burton controlled a long ball, before passing to the winger, who beat his marker, and scored into the bottom-left of the goal from just inside the area.
The game was over in the 73rd minute after a goal from Sam Sodje. Athletic had a right wing corner, which was swung into the penalty area, and the defender powered a header past Gueret.
The fifth goal came in the 76th minute, and was was the seventh of the season for top scorer Burton. A long cross was nodded down by Sam, and the striker reacted first, scoring with a lob, despite a great effort from keeper Gueret.
Milton Keynes are 4th in the rankings, and next will play Friday evening at 13th ranked Southend United. Charlton remain 2nd, and will travel to 12th ranked Yeovil Town on Saturday.
Huddersfield Town 6-0 Wycombe Wanderers
Jon-Paul Pittman came on as a 38th minute substitute after an injury to on-loan John Akinde, and was part of a Wanderers side that was totally demolished. They faced a team that had scored fourteen goals in their previous three home games, and the defense just capitulated.
The Terriers opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a controversial goal from captain Peter Clarke from a re-taken free-kick. Gary Roberts' cross from the right was headed into the roof of net from six yards.
The second goal came in the 28th minute, and it was the result of a wonderful move that ended with a Gary Roberts tap-in. Goalie Alex Smithies threw the ball to Michael Collins, who moved forward before passing to Lee Novak, and his square pass from the right found the midfielder for an easy score.
Anthony Pilkington scored the home team's third goal in the 49th minute from fifteen yards. Jordan Rhodes strolled through the Chairboys defense, and laid a pass into the area, which the unmarked Pilkington curled into the top-right corner of the net.
Clarke was the scorer of the fourth goal from a right wing corner taken by Roberts in the 62nd minute. He met the corner with a firm header which was well saved by goalie Jamie Young, but it bounced straight back to Clarke who slid the ball in from six yards.
The fifth goal came in the 83nd minute as a result of an own goal from the Chairboys' Michael Duberry. Pilkington received the ball on the wide right, and crossed low into the penalty area where the defender slid the ball in to the right corner of the goal from seven yards while trying to put he ball wide of the post.
In the 83rd minute, Wycombe conceded a penalty that was dubious in the least. Clarke was running in front of Duberry, and appeared to trip over his own feet just outside of the penalty area, but the spot-kick was given, and scored into the middle of the goal by Theo Robinson.
Wycombe stay 24th ranked, and will next have FA Cup replay action at Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday before a tough League One visit to seventh ranked Millwall on Saturday. Huddersfield are ranked sixth, and will host ninth ranked Hartlepool United.
Notes:
Ian Joyce did not make the bench as ten-man Southend lost 1-1 at Yeovil Town.
Zak Whitbread missed the game due to injury as Millwall earned a late 2-2 draw at Brentford.
Seb Harris did not make the bench as Northampton Town were held 0-0 at home to Grimsby Town.
Eric Lichaj was unavailable due to suspension as nine man Lincoln City drew 1-1 with ten man visitors Cheltenham Town. |
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