Old Boys Weekend Round-Up
Our old boys weekend round-up begins at Goodison Park where just when it looked like the points were sealed, a momentary lapse in concentration for David Moyes' Everton side in first half stoppage time gifted Newcastle a lifeline which eventually sparked their comeback. Everton were 2-0 up going into the closing moments of the first half when Steven Taylor heading in on the stroke of half time. Manager Joe Kinnear missed the goal as he was on his way from the executive box to the dressing room much was the same when Damien Duff equalised immediately after the restart with Kinnear on his way back. Carlo Nash was in reserve for Everton.
Stoke fell to a 2-1 to Pompey defeat at Portman Road despite Ricardo Fuller getting himself on the score sheet against his old club. Fuller equalised just after half time only for Jermain Defoe to net what turned out to be the winner two minutes later. Richard Cresswell came on as a substitute for Stoke midway through the second half as he replaced Rory Delap.
David Healy was an unused substitute for Sunderland as the Black Cats earned a valuable point against Arsenal at the Stadium of Light. Local boy Grant Leadbitter's stunning strike gave Sunderland after 86 minutes before Cesc Fabregas headed in a late, late equaliser.
Elsewhere in the Premiership, Kevin Kilbane remained on the bench for Wigan as they fell to 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough at the JJB.
To the Championship now where at Oakwell, Simon Davey's Barnsley proved to be too strong for newly promoted Doncaster Rovers as they recorded a 4-1 win over their fellow Yorkshire men. Jon Macken came on as a second half substitute to net Barnsley's third and did so within a minute of coming on. Brian Stock did put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot early on but it was Davey's side that ran out deserved winners. Rob Kozluk started for Barnsley.
Patrick Agyemang started upfront for a QPR side devoid of ideas as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to high-flying Birmingham City at St Andrews. Kevin Phillips got the only goal of the game just before half time to see the midlands side occupy top spot.
Kelvin Wilson was in from the start for Nottingham Forest as they were on the receiving end of a 2-0 defeat from Crystal Palace. Craig Beattie played the full ninety minutes for Palace but couldn't add to his goal in midweek.
Former loaned striker Paul Gallagher seems to have found his goal scoring touch as he netted his fourth goal for Plymouth. The Pilgrims put four past Sheffield Wednesday with Gallagher netting the second of the afternoon. Yoan Folly was an unused substitute for Plymouth.
Burnley's good run of form came to an abrupt end this Saturday as the Clarets were comprehensively beaten by the ever impressive Reading at the Madejski. Graham Alexander started in his newly adopted midfield holding role but was unable to thwart the efforts of the Royals who ran out 3-1 winners.
Tamas Priskin was back in the Watford side to take on Preston at Vicarage Road. Priskin proved to be a handful all afternoon as the Preston back line struggled to come to terms with the Hornets strikers pace. Despite going ahead through Sean St Ledger, Preston crashed to their fourth straight defeat with Watford emerging 2-1 winners.
Meanwhile Marlon Broomes was an unused substitute for Blackpool as the Seasiders drew ones-a-piece with Cardiff at Bloomfield Road whilst Andy Gray made a second half substitute appearance for Charlton as the Addicks saw off Ipswich in a 2-1 win. Gray was booked for his efforts.
Claude Davis was also an unused substitute as Derby beat Norwich City at Carrow Road.
In League One, Paul Reid was beaten in the air by Rickie Lambert as the former Rochdale man got the only goal of the game to condemn Colchester to their second straight league defeat.
Michael Ricketts was in from the start for Walsall but was unable to break the deadlock as Walsall extended their unbeaten run to four games after a goalless draw at bottom of the league Hereford.
Elsewhere, Chris Lucketti was an unused substitute for Huddersfield's 3-2 defeat at home to Leicester. Lucketti had just come back from a three match ban after he was dismissed in his previous game for Town.
In League Two, the usual suspects were in action for their respective clubs. Firstly Brian Barry-Murphy was in from the start for Bury's 3-3 draw with Aldershot on Saturday. Bury currently sit in second place, just two points behind Wycombe.
A rare moment occurred at the Underhill Stadium as Colin Murdock got himself on the score sheet for Accrington Stanley against Barnet. Murdock netted an equaliser just before half time only for Ismail Yakubu to put Barnet back in front. Yakubu's goal turned out to be the winner. John Mullin also played for Stanley.
Luton Town, minus skipper Kevin Nicholls of course, drew with Bradford City at Valley Parade on Saturday who fielded former Preston winger Omar Daley. Luton are now on minus eighteen points and are ten behind Bournemouth who also began the season on minus figures.
Paul Simpson's Shrewsbury Town extended their unbeaten run to four games thanks to a 1-1 draw with Darlington. Michael Jackson was at the heart of the defence whilst Dave Hibbert spearheaded the Shrews attacking line. Kelvin Langmead was an unused substitute.
Marcus Stewart was credited with an assist for Exeter City's first of three goals against Gillingham on Saturday. Exeter ran out 3-0 winners although Stewart was replaced after just over an hour played.
In the conference, two of former Preston's goalkeepers were in action this weekend. Firstly, Gavin Ward was between the sticks for Wrexham as they emerged as winners in a 5 goal thriller against Forest Green Rovers. The game finished 3-2 to Wrexham after Louis netted a 90th minute winner.
Things weren't quite so rosy for Chris Day however as he leaked three goals in the goal of Stevenage Borough who were comprehensively beaten by an impressive looking Torquay side. All of which concludes our old boys round-up.
Our old boys XI this week is as follows:
Old Boys XI
Gavin Ward (Wrexham)
Rob Kozluk (Barnsley)
Kelvin Wilson (Nottingham Forest)
Paul Reid (Colchester United)
Colin Murdock (Accrington Stanley)
Brian Stock (Doncaster Rovers)
Brian Barry-Murphy (Bury)
Graham Alexander (Burnley)
Omar Daley (Bradford)
Ricardo Fuller (Stoke City)
Paul Gallagher (Plymouth Argyle)
Old Boys Substitutes:
Richard Cresswell (Stoke City), David Healy (Sunderland), Kevin Kilbane (Wigan), Jon Macken (Barnsley), Chris Lucketti (Huddersfield Town)