Football / Endsleigh round-up: Boro strike back

AFTER two games without scoring and a 5-1 thrashing at Luton, Middlesbrough hit the win button again with a timely disposal of their fellow promotion hopefuls Swindon at Ayresome Park. Boro started in blistering style. There were only two minutes on the clock when Bryan Robson's side went ahead, Neil Cox rounding off a four-man move with a close-range header.

They forced 10 first-half corners but were knocked back when Jan Age Fjortoft equalised soon after the break. Parity was short-lived and two goals in as few minutes - a Hendrie shot and Paul Wilkinson penalty - made the points secure. Boro are level on points with Wolves at the top of the Endsleigh First Division but Wanderers can re-establish a three-point lead by winning at Stoke this afternoon.

Reading dropped to fourth after their 2-0 defeat in West Brom's first game at the Hawthorns under Alan Buckley. With key players injured and the match still goalless, Reading had Michael Gilkes sent off after shoving Paul Raven to the ground. Albion took command.

Port Vale spoiled Tranmere's 100 per cent home record after a 1-1 draw and Derby's 2-2 draw with Charlton meant no league wins in October for the Rams.

Millwall beat Sheffield United 2-1 thanks to an injury-time winner from Richard Cadette, his third goal in three games since arriving on loan from Falkirk. It was the Lions' first Endsleigh victory since 27 August and, not surprisingly, their manager Mick McCarthy is talking terms with Cadette tomorrow.

Of the Second Division pace-setters, only Huddersfield won comfortably. But then they were playing bottom-of-the-table Bournemouth. Oxford and Wycombe both drew and Stockport won at Leyton Orient where Wimbledon's manager, Joe Kinnear, and owner, Sam Hammam, were watching the County striker Kevin Francis. He scored the game's only goal.

The top three in Division Three - Bury, Carlisle and Doncaster - all won.

The Shakers' 1-0 victory at Walsall was the most impressive.