League One Results Round Up

Last updated : 11 August 2004 By Andy Burton
The opening day of the season usually throws up a few funny results. None more so than at Hillsborough where Sheffield Wednesday were entertaining Colchester United.

With 5 minutes to go, the game was heading for a 0-0 draw, but then Colchester stunned the home crowd with 3 goals and a 0-3 away win!! Craig Fagan, Sam Stockley and Joe Keith netted to seal the unlikely win. Pre-season, Owls fans thought they had an easy start to the season!! WRONG!! Speaking on the Owls web site, Turner is quoted as saying: "It was a bad performance today and it's come at the worst possible time because it's the opening day of the season. Everyone will be thinking: "It's no better than last year" and I can't hide behind the fact that we didn't play as well as we have been in pre-season." Meanwhile, the Essex club are celebrating their 'top-of-the-league' status - at least til Tuesday anyway!!

Chesterfield recorded the second biggest win of the League One opening day, with a 3-1 victory over Brentford at Saltergate. Debutant Wayne Allison (on his 750th league appearance) scored on his debut. Further goals from Caleb Folan and Tcham N'Toya scored the Spirites goals while Alex Rhodes scored the visitors consolation.

Last seasons Third Division Champions, Doncaster Rovers recorded a 2-0 victory over Blackpool to continue their impressive return to the Football League in front of a decent crowd of 7802 at Belle Vue. Their goals came from Tim Ryan and Leo Fortune-West as Blackpool rarely threatened the Rovers goal.

The third promoted side from last seasons Third Division made it a hat trick of wins the new boys in a thriller at Edgeley Park as Huddersfield Town beat Stockport County 3-2. Town took the lead through Carss just before half time, before Luke Beckett and Warren Feeney (remember him?!) put County in the driving seat. Just as County thought they were heading to an opening day win, Andy Booth and Pawel Abbott netted in the last 3 minutes to steal the points for the Yorkshire side.

Walsall boss, Paul Merson was delighted with their 3-2 win over local rivals Port Vale. Goals from Fryatt, Williams and Daryl Taylor secured the points for the West Midland side, even though Paynter and Matthews scored for Vale. Officaldom did have more than a hand in this game. Paynter was dismissed for celebrating his Vale goal too much, Walsall had Ian Roper dismissed as were the Vale Manager and Saddlers coach!!

Hartlepool United bounced back after their play-off diappointment by beating Bradford City 2-1 at Victoria Park. Pool had to come back from a Dean Windass goal to secure victory through Adam Boyd and Robertson.

Luton Town also had to come from behind to secure their win (2-1) against Oldham Athletic. Will Haining netted for The Latics, before Steve Howard and Steve Robinson (remember him!) secured the win.

There was a spot of bother at The Racecourse ground as Wrexham beat Swindon Town 2-1. The home fans were protesting at the prospect of moving away from their traditional home causing a few problems for the home stewards. Wrexham manager admitted that "I want to be looking on the field and I want the players concentrating, but that's this football club at the moment and we've got to live with it". Dennis Lawrence and Chris Armstrong had already secured three points before Andy Caton scored the visitors consolation in the final few moments.

Apart from Hull City beating AFC Bournemouth, Peterborough United were the other side to win on the opening day as they secured a win over pre-season favourites Tranmere Rovers. Understandably Barry Fry was delighted at the win saying that "It was special to get off to such a great start at home, where we struggled so badly last term". Sagi Burton scored the winner in the 80th minute.

Of the four other teams in League One, Barnsley and MK Dons shared the spoils (1-1) at The National Hockey Stadium. The same result saw Bristol City and Torquay United share the points.