CHARLTON FURTHER AHEAD

Charlton Athletic extended their lead at the top of the League 1 table to nine points with a 1-0 win over Exeter City that owed much to a nightmare moment for home keeper Artur Krysiak.

There did not appear much danger when Danny Green sent in a cross in the 55th minute but Krysiak made a complete mess of it and there was no way back for the Grecians.

Jordan Rhodes netted his 29th goal of the season for second-placed Huddersfield Town to give them a 49th minute lead at Tranmere Rovers but the hosts equalised two minutes later through Adam McGurk to claim a 1-1 draw.

HARTLEPOOL HIT FOUR

None of the teams in the Play-Off places were in action but Carlisle United failed to take advantage, slumping to a 4-0 defeat by Hartlepool United. Luke James and Antony Sweeney had already put the hosts two up before Lee Miller was sent off 27 minutes in for serious foul play, and second-half goals from James and Colin Nish wrapped up the points for Pools.

Brentford were also among the goals, Gary Alexander netting a hat-trick in a 5-2 win over Wycombe Wanderers to help the Bees climb to eighth place.

Two goals from Alexander and one from Sam Saunders put the hosts in control at the break and, although Dave Winfield and Ben Strevens scored for Wycombe in the second half, so did Toumani Diagouraga and Alexander, the striker completing his treble nine minutes from time.

That result saw Wycombe drop to the bottom of the table for the first time this season as Rochdale leapfrogged them with a 3-0 win over local rivals Bury. Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro opened the scoring in the 15th minute and Ashley Grimes added further strikes in the 41st and 55th minutes.

ELSEWHERE IN THE DIVISION

Graham Westley's search for a first win as Preston North End boss continued after they were beaten 2-1 at struggling Yeovil Town.

The visitors were up against it from the third minute when Craig Morgan was sent off and Andy Williams netted twice for Yeovil before Clarke Carlisle pulled one back. Paul Huntington was sent off late on for the hosts.

Colchester United were the day's other winners, beating Leyton Orient 1-0 thanks to an own goal from Terrell Forbes in the 28th minute.

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