Championship Luton Town 2-0 Crystal Palace A league double for Luton over Palace and thoroughly deserved, it could've been more. Palace's expensively assembled collection of players were no match for Luton for most of the game.  | | Simon Oxley reports. |
Beresford in the Hatters goal had to wait 89 minutes before he had to make a serious save, that despite a host of strikes and attacking options tried by Iain Dowie. In fairness though, they had nearly snatched an equaliser within seconds of the Luton opener scored by Heikkinen after a neat corner routine involving Morgan and Edwards. Vine made it 2-0 and Peter Holmes almost bagged a third before half-time with more chances after the break. The only downside for Luton: A fresh injury for Coyne. But the Hatters are back in form and heading to leaders Reading next week in confident mood. After the match Luton manager Mike Newell was delighted with his sides performance. "I think considering the opposition I think that is probably the best of the season, it could really have been more." "I don't think anybody would argue with the result, we just could have put it to bed a little bit earlier." Goals: Luton: Heikkinen 11, Vine 21. Att: 10,248 Referee: M Messias (S Yorkshire). Preston 1-1 Watford Watford had to settle for a point after a bright start to the game, Matthew Spring breaking the deadlock 11 minutes in with a well placed, left foot shot inside a post from just outside the penalty area, the ball having swung away from a defender.  | | Euan Duncan reports. |
But a lack of concentration allowed Preston to equalise almost immediately with Nugent teeing up the the unmarked Davidson to slot a half volley inside a post from in front of goal. Preston had several second half chances, but the best opening went Watford's way, Mackay seeing a header cleared off the line late on. Two home games to follow for the Hornets who remain in third place. After the match Watford manager, Adrian Boothroyd, was disappointed not to get all three points. "I would have liked to have three points, the fact that we had won headed off the line at the end disappoints me a little bit." "But I think as far as how far we have come since we played Preston before I think we were a lot more disciplined and a lot more professional." Goals: Preston: Davidson 14. Watford: Spring 11. Att: 14,638 Ref: M Jones (Wales). League One Bournemouth 2-0 MK Dons The Dons lost their unbeaten run to two well taken goals from a resolute Bournmouth side who deserved the win. The Cherry's opening goal came 36 minutes into the first half, Lewington giving away a free kick from just outside the D.  | | Luke Ashmead reports |
Up stepped Foley to curl a left-foot shot past Baker and score the first goal of his career. The visitors started better in the second 45 minutes, Morgan should have done better with the Mitchell free kick. Small also made an effort which saw the ball go high. Danny Wilson made three sunstitutions in the second half; Rizzo, Wilbraham and Smith were on for McClenahan, McLeod and Edds. This was to no avail as Bournemouth sealed it nine minutes before the end, Hayter's cross-field pass found sub Cooke's foot, who calmly finishing past Baker to find the bottom corner of the net. The Dons were beaten by the better side and there were no complaints really. After the match the MK Dons manager, Danny Wilson, was complimentary of the Bournemouth team. "They are a good side Bournemouth, they've had a few problems down here which I've spoken about but Sean keeps it together on the football pitch." "We knew it was going to be tough here, they are in I think they are in a false position and I guarantee they will be up there at the end of the season." Goals: Bournemouth: Foley 36, Cooke 82. Att: 5,485 Ref: S Dorr (Worcester). League Two Carlisle 0-1 Wycombe Wanderers "We are unbeatable" were the cries from the travelling Wycombe fans as their side played 19 and lost none in League 2 thanks to a late winner from Roger Johnson. John Gorman was applauded on and off the field due to his efforts here as a player in the 70s, but he won't have made any new friends on the Carlisle bench.  | | Ian Stringer reports |
It became heated on an icy afternoon when Gorman claimed every decision, as he usually does, much to the displeasure of the Carlisle boss Paul Simpson. But that bit is what got this one going. There were good chances for both sides in the match, but the Chair boys edged, and having more possession than the opponents it seemed like it could have been a cup tie at times. The goals which separated the two teams was scored three minutes from time by Johnson after a corner wasn't cleared by the Cumbrian defence. Maybe the home team deserved the point just for their effort alone, but luck wasn't with the newly promoted side meaning Wycombe lead League Two by three points. After the match Wycombe manager, John Gorman, was thrilled with the win. "I'm more than delighted, I'm proud and absolutely ecstatic to be honest, to come here and win against a team I knew was going to be our biggest test." "You think sooner or later somebody is going to get a lucky break and the ball will end up in our net and we'll be on a losing game, but the effort and the football we played today was a joy to watch." Goals: Wycombe: Johnson 88. Att: 7,033 Ref: D Drysdale (Lincolnshire). Conference Stevenage 0-1 Grays Conference leaders Grays Athletic retained their position at the top of the table thanks to a late strike from substitute Gary Hooper that earned a 1-0 win over Stevenage. With Stevenage unbeaten at home and Grays yet to lose on their travels something had to give but the home side, who also had substitute Dino Maamria dismissed, could feel hard done by in a game that saw little in the way of outstanding goalscoring chances. In a first half boasting few chances, neither keeper was truly tested until the 32nd minute when Ashley Bayes prevented Grays from falling behind by tipping Darryn Stamp's header over the crossbar. The home side were desperately unlucky to not take the lead in the 79th minute as Boyd's 20-yard shot came back off the bar. And things got worse for Stevenage five minutes later as substitute Hooper gave Grays the lead, converting the rebound after Alan Julian had saved Stuart Thurgood's penalty. All of this was obviously too much for Maamria and he was shown a straight red in the 85th minute for a bad foul on Andrew Sambrook, just 22 minutes after coming off the substitutes' bench. Goals: Grays: Hooper 84 Att: 2,753 Ref: S Creighton (Reading) | 
