Striker Dion Charles took his tally for the season to nine after hitting a brace in Bolton Wanderers' 3-2 EFL League One defeat away to Shrewsbury Town at the weekend.
The 27-year-old, who was joined in the Trotters starting line-up by Conor Bradley and former Derry City defender Eoin Toal, cancelled out Town’s opener on 13 minutes and levelled the game for a second time with a penalty kick, only for the home side to snatch the points in injury time.
Also on the scoresheet in League One was U21 defender Carl Johnston who scored his first goal for Fleetwood Town in their 2-1 success at struggling MK Dons, who dismissed their manager Liam Manning after their 13th league defeat of the season.
Speaking to the club website following the match, Fleetwood boss said: “CJ (Carl Johnston) was great in the second half. His attitude the last four of five weeks has been spot on, and today it showed – it proves why we trust him at left back.”
The only other Northern Ireland player to find the net at the weekend was Altrincham’s on-loan striker Chris Conn-Clarke who hit his fifth of the campaign for the National League outfit as they recorded a 3-2 victory at Maidstone.
In the Championship in England, which was returning following a four-week break due to the World Cup, Gavin Whyte marked just his second start of the season for Cardiff City with an assist for the opening goal in the 2-2 draw at Stoke City.
Whyte’s international colleague Jordan Thompson started for the home side but was frustrated at dropping two points after they had come from behind to lead the Welsh side 2-1.
“It was frustrating today,” Thompson told the club website. “I think we started quite slow and they got their goal. But our reaction to their goal was pretty good and we dominated most of the first half.
“But then again we go and try to create another chance and they get their equaliser.”
Elsewhere in the division Shayne Lavery (Blackpool), Craig Cathcart (Watford) and George Saville (Millwall) all started for their respective clubs, while Conor Washington (Rotherham United) and Josh Magennis (Wigan Athletic) were both used from the bench.
Paddy McNair was again an unused substitute as Middlesbrough made it three league wins in a row after a 2-1 home success over Luton Town, however Ali McCann missed out on Preston North End’s emphatic 4-1 win at Blackburn Rovers due to injury.
Finally, in the FA Women’s Super League, Jackie Burns and Lauren Wade both started in Reading’s narrow 3-2 away defeat to last season’s champions Chelsea.
