Dons edge nearer Leicester

MK Dons closed the gap on Coca-Cola League One leaders Leicester to nine points with a 3-1 win at home to Hartlepool this afternoon.

Roberto Di Matteo’s men did it the hard way, though, an Ali Gerba brace either side of Dean Lewington’s strike rendering Rune Lange’s opener meaningless.

Leicester needed an 86th-minute equaliser from Andy King to earn a 1-1 draw at home to Swindon, for whom Simon Cox was on target.

Third-placed Peterborough slipped seven points adrift of the automatic promotion places as they went down 3-1 at home to Yeovil.

Paul Warne and Aaron Brown put the visitors 2-0 up at the break, and although Aaron Mclean pulled a goal back, Shaun MacDonald killed the contest with a Yeovil third.

Scunthorpe and Oldham are level on points with Posh after the Iron went down 2-0 at home to Bristol Rovers and the Latics were 2-1 winners of Northampton.

Darryl Duffy and Jo Kuffour scored the goals for Rovers, with Paul Hayes missing from the spot for Scunthorpe.

Reuben Hazell and Dean Windass were on target for Oldham, who held on for victory after Adebayo Akinfenwa had halved the deficit.

Millwall hold the last play-off place despite surrendering a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Stockport.

Izale McLeod scored twice, the second with a penalty, to put the Londoners in control, but they had David Martin sent off with 25 minutes remaining and County made the most of the extra man, Matty McNeil and Oli Johnson securing the hosts a point.

At the other end of the table, Leyton Orient moved out of the drop zone with a 1-0 win over second-bottom Crewe, Stephen Purches the scorer.

Struggling Hereford boosted their survival hopes with a 3-2 win at basement boys Cheltenham.

Lloyd Owusu’s brace was not enough for Cheltenham, who had Lee Ridley dismissed in injury time, as Febian Brandy and two goals from Sam Hewson won it for the visitors.

In the day’s lunchtime kick-off Huddersfield dealt Yorkshire rivals Leeds’ promotion hopes a blow, Nathan Clarke scoring in a 1-0 victory.

Elsewhere, Carlisle won 2-0 at Brighton, who slipped in to the drop zone, Southend were 2-1 winners at home to Tranmere and Walsall claimed a 2-0 home success over Colchester.