Latics stung by Bees

Latics stung by Bees

Published Jan. 12, 2013 1:15 p.m. ET

Charlton secured their first home win of the season with a 2-1 victory over Blackpool, piling more misery on the Seasiders.

Goals from Johnnie Jackson and Scott Wagstaff made for a rare happy weekend at The Valley despite Nathan Eccleston's late consolation.

The Seasiders are looking for yet another boss after Michael Appleton quit to join Blackburn just 24 hours earlier, which meant assistant manager Steve Thompson took temporary charge, just as he had two months ago when Ian Holloway also jumped ship to a rival Championship side, Crystal Palace.

Kevin Phillips, who is also linked with the managers job, missed a gilt-edged chance to give the beleaguered visitors the lead after just two minutes.

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The 39 year-old was unmarked, three yards out, when he met Nathan Delfouneso's cross but his header drifted back across goal, rolled against the far post and was hacked clear by Matt Taylor.

Instead Charlton recovered from their slow start and almost went ahead when Dale Stephens' corner found Taylor at the far post, only this time his header was nodded off the line by Delfouneso.

But Charlton did take the lead in the 23rd minute when Chris Solly's pass was deflected into the path of Jackson.

The midfielder's speculative effort from the edge of the box somehow bobbled its way past the diving Matt Gilks and into the bottom corner of the net.

Then in stoppage time Charlton grabbed their second when a slick move ended with Lawrie Wilson crossing to Yann Kermorgant.

His header was well saved by Gilks but the ball fell to the feet of Wagstaff, who rifled it back past the grounded keeper and into the net.

Blackpool spent the majority of the second half camped in Charlton's half, with Ince's touch and pace impressive but his finishing wayward.

Phillips' race was run after 77 minutes and substitute Eccleston finally found the way to goal with an 18-yard drive in stoppage time, but Charlton were not to be denied only their fourth home win of the campaign.

Dominic Samuel and Gavin Massey both went close for Colchester early on, while Scunthorpe debutant Akpo Sodje fired straight at keeper Mark Cousins and the U's keeper then denied both Jimmy Ryan and Andy Barcham.

Ryan cleared Josh Thompson's close-range effort off the line, and four minutes before the break Ryan's blistering 25-yard strike flew into the net, despite Cousins getting a hand to the shot.

Scunthorpe doubled their lead in the opening minute of the second half when Karl Hawley finished well from close range from Sodje's flick-on.

It was almost 3-0 soon after when Callum Kennedy's free-kick rattled the woodwork and Hawley did the same, before Colchester substitute Freddie Sears reduced the deficit when he lashed home from close range after latching onto Clinton Morrison's flick.

Colchester pressed for an equaliser in the closing stages but were unable to prevent a club record ninth successive league defeat.

Wycombe went ahead through Jo Kuffour, but West Ham loanee Paul McCallum levelled and added his fourth goal in three games to put the Dons ahead.

But a lucky goal from McClure 18 minutes from time rescued a point for a Wycombe side, who have lost only two of their last 10 league games under player-manager Gareth Ainsworth.

Kuffour put the visitors ahead early on, turning with his back to goal and firing in for only his second league goal of the season.

McCallum made it three goals in as many games for the Dons, blasting in from close range to level just seven minutes after going behind.

A combination of the crossbar and Wycombe goalkeeper Jordan Archer denied McCallum his second, his flicked effort nearly creeping in.

And Wimbledon's star man struck again after 41 minutes, turning expertly in the box to blast past Archer and give the Dons the lead.

Joel Grant tried to find a way back for Wycombe, but flashed his shot just wide as the visitors looked to be heading towards their eighth league defeat on the road.

And hat-trick hunting McCallum forced a reaction save from Archer as Wimbledon looked to seal the win before McClure's fortuitous late equaliser.

The home side dominated the first half and were only prevented from taking the lead by the woodwork after leading scorer David Mooney struck the crossbar with a header and new signing Charlie MacDonald saw his volley crash against a post before rebounding to safety.

It was no more than Orient deserved when Cook forced them in front in the 26th minute after Crewe keeper Steve Phillips could only palm a Dean Cox cross into the path of the winger.

But against the run of play the visitors equalised after 39 minutes when Moore ran in unmarked to meet a left-wing cross from Luke Murphy and head home from close range.

Crewe improved after the break and both sides had chances to claim all three points with O's keeper Jamie Jones denying Mark Ellis and Moore, while Phillips did well to save efforts from Mooney and MacDonald.

It was only the second time this season the O's had drawn in the league - and both have been recorded against Alex.

A full-blooded affair between two in-form sides looked to be edging Bournemouth's way on the back of Harry Arter's superb 20-yard strike midway through the first half.

But when the Cherries' former England goalkeeper David James lost his footing on a sodden surface 25 yards out of his goal, Williams composed himself to slot home and earn Swindon a deserved draw.

It was an absorbing affair from start to finish, with Swindon missing two good chances either side of Arter's goal, notably James Collins, who screwed his shot wide of an unguarded goal 10 minutes before the break.

The breakneck pace of the game, played in torrential rain, continued after the break, with Arter denied by Wes Foderingham as he attempted to double Bournemouth's lead.

Bournemouth pair Brett Pitman and Lewis Grabban traded missed chances with Matt Ritchie and substitute Chris Martin before Williams equalised for Swindon five minutes from time.

The Bees inflicted Oldham's fourth straight home defeat and suffered few real alarms after Donaldson's early breakthrough.

Oldham's Matt Smith had an effort saved, but Brentford led after just five minutes when Harry Forrester crossed from the left and Donaldson powered home an eight-yard header.

Oldham almost found a quick equaliser, but Smith, Jose Baxter and Cliff Byrne were all narrowly off target.

Donaldson could have doubled the Bees' lead, only to head straight at keeper Dean Bouzanis from close range.

Carl Winchester missed a chance for the Latics, but they had an escape when Marcelo Trotta blazed over for Brentford.

The visitors made sure of victory eight minutes from time though as substitute Sam Saunders played in Donaldson, who calmly slotted past Bouzanis from 12 yards for his 17th goal of the season.

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