LEADING THE WAY

Charlton Athletic extended their advantage at the top of the npower League 1 table to seven points with a 1-0 win over second-placed Sheffield United at The Valley.

Johnnie Jackson's 25-yard strike, his ninth league goal of the season, earned the Addicks their third straight league victory.

THE CHASING PACK

Fourth-placed Sheffield Wednesday were held 2-2 by Hartlepool United at Hillsborough. Peter Hartley put Pools ahead (47) but second-half strikes from Jermaine Johnson (58) and Gary Madine (75) looked set to win it for the hosts before Antony Sweeney's 87th minute volley.

Milton Keynes Dons remain three points behind Wednesday in fifth after a 1-1 draw at Notts County. The visitors led through Tom Flanagan's acrobatic effort (26) but the Magpies levelled with nine minutes left with a Lee Hughes penalty, his ninth league goal of the season. Martin Allen's team have now gone seven games without a league win.

Stevenage and Carlisle United remain locked together either side of the Play-Off places after 1-1 draws at Scunthorpe and at home to Walsall respectively. Darius Charles' 84th minute effort rescued a point for Stevenage at Glanford Park, where Scunthorpe United had led through Garry Thompson's 47th minute volley.

Carlisle led through Lee Miller's seventh-minute effort but Alex Nicholls scored from the spot for the Saddlers eight minutes from the end. Graham Westley's reign as Preston North End boss began with a 2-0 home defeat to Leyton Orient, who won thanks to goals from Marc Laird (66) and Jimmy Smith (80).

ELSEWHERE IN THE DIVISION

Bury moved above North End with a 3-2 home win over Yeovil. Ryan Dickson (10) cancelled out Steven Schumacher's opener for the Shakers two minutes earlier before the hosts pulled clear with goals from Joe Skarz (21) and a Schumacher penalty (35). Yeovil Town substitute Steven MacLean set up a nervy finish with an 87th minute goal.

Chesterfield remain bottom despite winning 2-1 at Colchester United, having not won in 17 previous league matches. Jack Lester (six) and Josh Thompson (44) scored for the Spireites either side of a Steven Gillespie goal in the 32nd minute for the hosts.

Wycombe Wanderers climbed above Rochdale into 22nd place after beating them 3-0 at Adams Park, Stuart Beavon's brace (32 and 73) capped off by a further goal from Dave Winfield (75).

Bournemouth moved up to eighth with a 2-1 home win over Tranmere Rovers, recovering from Martin Devaney's fourth-minute goal for the visitors to triumph thanks to strikes from Wesley Thomas (18) and Marc Pugh (30), the latter a long-range stunner. Oldham Athletic edged above Tranmere with a point in a goalless draw at home to Exeter.

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