Jordan Gibson scored a first career hat-trick but manager Paul Simpson says Carlisle’s match-winner should have finished with four goals against Bolton.

Gibson, who had never previously netted even a senior double, fired a 44th-minute equalising penalty after Jon Mellish’s own goal put the Trotters in front.

He added further goals in the 70th and 95th minutes as the Cumbrians secured a 3-1 Sky Bet League One victory.

The visitors also missed a first-half penalty through Joe Garner after Kyle Dempsey’s foul on Sean Maguire, and Simpson revealed: “We had talked for weeks that Jordan Gibson is on penalties.

“But we didn’t talk before the game because I automatically thought Gibbo was on them.

“He got the ball but the next time I looked Joe was on it. I will never criticise players for missing pens but stick with what the plan is. Fortunately, we got away with it.

“We have spoken for weeks about penalties we have not been getting but we got two today.

“We have said Jordan should be getting more goals. So, what an achievement to come to a place like Bolton and score a hat-trick.

“It was an outstanding performance. I am delighted we scored three goals, I am delighted with the football we played but that was built on a solid, team performance.

“It showed discipline to go and do the horrible side of the game, to chase and to tackle. We have had games with bits of that performance but that result we have been waiting for, especially with so many fans backing us.”

Bolton, chasing a third successive league win, faded badly after the boost of Mellish’s own goal.

“We looked devoid of energy, devoid of ideas second half, we looked flat and we looked leggy,” admitted Wanderers boss Ian Evatt.

“We lacked zest and energy and those are the foundations everything else is built from.

“This was probably one game too far with the lack of options to rotate and freshen up.

“There were too many players under par. We get ahead but the two penalties were an absolute joke.

“I am sure neither were penalties but we had chances which we didn’t take.

“We huffed and we puffed but their second goal goes in via a deflection and then we make a crazy decision at the end with Nathan (Baxter) going up with still four minutes left.

“That said, Nathan was outstanding in the game. This international break has come at the right time.”

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho admitted the 2-0 win at home to Port Vale was ‘a game of two halves’.

After a lacklustre opening 45 minutes, top-scorer Colby Bishop scored twice early in the second half to extend the Sky Bet League One leaders’ unbeaten run to 23 games.

Mousinho said: “Over the 90 minutes you could say ‘job done’ but it was a game of two halves.

“I thought we were excellent in the second half. I said to the lads that maybe it’s a sign of a good team that you can not quite be on it, like we were in the first half, and not concede goals.

“We moved the ball far too slowly in the first half, and we didn’t go forward with enough urgency.”

Pompey’s first half performance did not reflect their lofty league position as Vale had by far the better of the play.

The visitors could have taken the lead in the fifth minute but Funso Ojo could only hit the post from 18 yards.

Ojo had another chance which went straight to Will Norris, James Plant put the ball wide when clear and Ben Garrity headed over from close range for the visitors.

Portsmouth’s only effort before the break was a header from an unmarked Paddy Lane, which went wide.

However, Pompey came out fighting in the second half and they took the lead in the 53rd minute when Bishop tapped in Joe Rafferty fierce cross-shot from close range.

The hosts doubled their advantage five minutes later when a penalty, given for handball by Kofi Balmer, was converted by Bishop.

Mousinho added: “Colby’s all-round play is excellent, and he can sniff out opportunities, which is exactly what he did for the first goal. He works hard and deserves it.”

Disappointed Vale boss Andy Crosby admitted his team’s lack of ruthlessness in the first half cost them.

Crosby said: “We did well to create a number of chances against the league leaders but didn’t work their keeper enough.

“We were the better side in the first 45 minutes but couldn’t put anything away. Funso hit the post, but that was the closest we got.”

“The referee gives a penalty, which my players say wasn’t. They’re adamant it didn’t hit Kofi’s hand, and if anything, we should have had a free-kick.

“We’ve come here with a game plan, to utilise the strength of our players. We were OK up to the point of getting the ball in the box, but we have to be more clinical, more ruthless.

“I didn’t play with a recognised striker because we looked at their back four and felt that we had enough strengths in other areas to play without one.”

Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens was delighted to secure a 2-1 win against Reading after a difficult week for the club.

The O’s match with Lincoln on Tuesday was abandoned when lifelong supporter Derek Reynolds was taken ill and died later that evening.

Wellens had seen his team dominate the early exchanges against Reading to deservedly take a first-half lead through a Jordan Brown piledriver before Tyler Bindon equalised ahead of the interval.

But the points were secured in the 90th minute by George Moncur, who stepped off the bench to apply the final touch after a goalmouth scramble following a corner.

“It was a really emotional afternoon and I thought the club as a whole today made it a brilliant day to remember a lifelong supporter and someone who worked for the football club,” Wellens said.

“It’s been a very tough 72 hours. Finding that motivation to get going has been difficult

“We had to work hard in the end. We were totally dominant in the opening 20 minutes. We created loads of chances, we hit the crossbar and we found it easy to play round them but then they changed it when we scored and they blocked us up a bit.

“We’re still an emerging side, naive at times and tactically we have to get better while the game is happening but I can’t be prouder of the players as our points return has been really good.

“Jordan Brown epitomised what we’re all about. He was excellent today; picked pockets, kept possession and technically he’s a very good footballer which was demonstrated from the goal he scored.”

Reading remain in the relegation zone and manager Ruben Selles acknowledged that his side need to address their shortcomings.

“We competed well but it’s another moment late like the Exeter game where we lose the game in a situation we could have easily solved,” he said.

“We came here to compete and we were in the game. We came back after the first goal but we need to improve.

“Our pressure was not quick enough at the start of the game so I made a couple of modifications and we started to defend better. We went back to our system we know to get more pressure on the ball and it stopped the crosses coming in from the opposition.

“We lost Sam Hutchinson before the match as he was feeling his hip. He could run but not kick the ball so we had to made a change and brought in Charlie Savage.

“There is always pressure in football but there has been a lot of things out of our modifications of building the team but I will not make excuses. We came here to compete.”

Charlton head coach Michael Appleton praised the character of his side as they came back to draw 2-2 against Blackpool.

The south London outfit looked out of the game with 10 minutes to go, but two goals in as many minutes earned a point.

Although Charlton were unable to make it four wins in a row at the Valley, Appleton was pleased with the comeback.

He said: “I’m really happy with the response the players showed, they created lots of chances in the game.

“We don’t want to get used to coming from behind, but the one thing I did say when I came here was to hopefully improve the mentality – the never-say-die spirit.

“The fans have seen enough in the team at the minute that they’re giving everything. We’ll make mistakes and concede goals at times, but you’ve seen today they’re willing to have a right go.

“I think we could have won it if it went another five minutes, even before we scored we created a lot of chances in that second half.

“We had two sides, one side really wanted to win and the other had moments in the game, and I knew that would be the case.”

It looked to be a fine away performance from Blackpool, who took the lead after 34 minutes. James Husband crossed into the middle of the area for Jordan Rhodes to connect first time past keeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer.

The spoils looked to be heading back to Lancashire when substitute Karamoko Dembele stole the ball from defender Michael Hector to rifle home on 70 minutes.

However, Charlton stunned them with two goals in under 120 seconds. Firstly, Chuks Aneke found space to square for Alfie May to divert home on 82 minutes.

Then Corey Blackett-Taylor sent the Valley into raptures with a superb curled effort.

Visiting head coach Neil Critchley was left to bemoan the lack of discipline from his side.

He said: “We should have won that, without a doubt. At 2-0 you could say it was a perfect away performance. We’d restricted them to very little in the game.

“When you score the second goal you should see the game out. It was a couple of moments of madness that have cost us.

“There is a frustrated group of players in the dressing room, and a frustrated group of staff.

“The first Charlton goal is the one for me. We shouldn’t get counter-attacked when we’re 2-0 up. We lost the ball in a stupid position on the pitch.”

Darren Ferguson was thankful to players and fans alike following the  emotional 2-0 home victory over Lincoln.

The Posh chief took charge of his side following the death of his mother, Lady Cathy Ferguson, at the age of 84.

He was rewarded with a third consecutive home triumph and clean sheet which keeps them in the Sky Bet League One play-off places.

Players and fans both showed their support, with the entire Posh team celebrating David Ajiboye’s spectacular 52nd-minute opener with Ferguson.

And Joel Randall’s late clincher, his first EFL goal more than two years after arriving from Exeter, was immediately followed by loud applause from supporters in memory of Lady Ferguson throughout the 84th minute.

Lincoln should have been ahead by the break with Danny Mandroiu hitting the bar and Sean Roughan heading a glorious chance over from a corner, but then faded out of the contest.

Posh assistant boss Kieran Scarff said: “All I can say on behalf of Darren is how much he values and appreciates the support he has had from the players, the staff across the club and the fans.

“It’s always important to win football matches and perhaps there was a little bit more added to that today.

“The gaffer is delighted with the performance and the players deserve plenty of credit for it as we were very good for large periods of the game.

“We spoke at half-time about increasing the tempo of our play a bit and scoring the early goal in the second half was crucial.

“It was a great strike from David and I’m delighted for him scoring for the second home game running.

“Joel’s got the confidence and belief back. His performances have generally been good and it was great to see him scoring.

“We created a lot of chances to score more, but we’re more than happy.”

Lincoln head coach Mark Kennedy admitted: “For 45 minutes we looked like a really good team who I felt were going to win the game.

“I thought we should have been at least 2-0 up by half-time. We played really well in the first half, our counter-press was excellent, we caused Peterborough a lot of problems and turned the crowd.

“But the frustration is that we weren’t clinical enough to take our chances and the two goals we conceded in the second half were down to absolutely appalling decision-making.

“That’s the black and white of it. We had really good moments but got nothing because our decision-making then changed the course of the game.

“I said to the guys after the game that I can accept learning, but I’m not in an academy anymore. I’m now in the getting sacked business.

“We’ve got real talent in our group, but the best players in football make the best decisions.”

Jordan Gibson scored a hat-trick as Carlisle came from behind to beat Bolton 3-1 in Sky Bet League One.

The Cumbrians fell behind after 28 minutes when Jon Mellish turned the ball into his own net from Josh Dacres-Cogley’s cross.

Paul Simpson’s side, without an away victory in the third tier for nine years, responded well to the setback.

Joe Garner’s 35th-minute penalty, awarded for Kyle Dempsey’s foul on Sean Maguire, was saved by Nathan Baxter.

So, when referee Sebastian Stockbridge adjudged Eoin Toal to have handled in the box nine minutes later, Gibson took on spot-kick duties to fire United level.

Roared on by 4,407 fans in a crowd of 23,187, Maguire and Carlisle were twice denied by Baxter saves.

But Gibson, who scored Carlisle’s equaliser in a midweek draw with Peterborough, fired the visitors in front 20 minutes from time.

With Bolton pressing for a stoppage-time equaliser and Baxter stranded upfield, Gibson then broke away to complete his treble.

Aaron Pressley scored his second League One goal of the season to earn Stevenage an eventful 1-0 win over Wigan.

Both sides finished the game with 10 men as Stevenage moved up to fourth and the Latics suffered their fourth straight loss of the campaign.

After a feisty start, Pressley converted a ninth-minute penalty following a Babajide Adeeko foul on Jordan Roberts.

It went from bad to worse for the visitors as skipper Callum Lang was shown a second yellow card for a foul after 34 minutes of his 250th league appearance.

There were 19 minutes of first-half added time as Boro’s Luther James-Wildin was carried off on a stretcher following a head collision with team-mate Carl Piergianni.

Wigan manager Shaun Maloney also received a yellow card just before the break amid a busy afternoon for referee Alan Young.

Chaos continued in the 74th minute, as substitute Alex MacDonald saw a straight red for a foul on Charlie Hughes.

The visitors should have equalised when Josh Magennis scuffed wide seven minutes from time but Steve Evans’ side held on to remain six points off an automatic promotion place.

Rob Street ended Cheltenham’s record-breaking wait for a goal to earn a 1-1 home draw against Derby.

The Robins had gone 11 games without finding the net, but Street struck in the 39th minute, touching in Will Goodwin’s low ball into the middle for his first goal for the club.

Street’s strike ensured Cheltenham avoided becoming the first team in EFL history to fail to score for 12 matches in a row.

Derby responded deep into first half stoppage time when Tom Barkhuizen’s corner was met by James Collins, who was denied by Luke Southwood’s superb save.

But Curtis Nelson followed up to make it 1-1 in the seventh minute of added time.

Derby had looked the most likely to score early, with Eiran Cashin’s effort cleared off the line by Goodwin.

Will Ferry and James Olayinka both shot wide for Cheltenham from outside the box.

Lewis Freestone denied Martyn Waghorn with a block in the 55th minute and Max Bird was close to winning it for the Rams.

Southwood saved brilliantly from Collins in the 80th minute to ensure Cheltenham picked up their first home point of the campaign.

Substitute John McAtee came off the bench to grab a dramatic late winner as Barnsley picked up a 1-0 win at Exeter in League One.

After a slow start to the game, Max Watters had Barnsley’s first effort, but dragged his shot wide from 25 yards and then Herbie Kane’s mis-hit cross almost caught out Vili Sinisalo, but Exeter’s Finnish goalkeeper did superbly well to get back and tip the ball behind.

Barnsley goalkepeer Liam Roberts almost gifted Exeter the opener when he slipped on the ball, but he managed to clear it against Jack Aitchison and the ball looped behind for a goal kick.

Demetri Mitchell headed a good chance wide as Exeter looked more potent after the break before he curled a delightful effort with the outside of his foot against the far post from 20 yards.

At the other end, Devante Cole headed wide from a corner and Callum Styles shot tamely at Sinisalo, but the Tykes got the breakthrough in the 89th minute when Owen Dodgson crossed and McAtee stooped at the near post to head past Sinisalo from six yards.

Exeter almost salvaged a point at the death, but Mitchell’s header again struck the upright as Barnsley held on for the win.

George Moncur’s 90th-minute strike gave Leyton Orient a 2-1 win over Reading at Brisbane Road.

Jordan Brown’s opener was cancelled out by the visitors’ Tyler Bindon but Moncur settled the issue in the final minute of normal time.

Joe Pigott was twice denied early opportunities to open the scoring as his powerful header crashed against the crossbar and then David Button went at full-stretch to save his shot.

Orient were rewarded for their persistent pressure when Brown completed a five-man move by slamming an unstoppable 20-yard shot past Button for the opening goal after 26 minutes.

At the opposite end, Lewis Wing had an effort spilled by O’s keeper Sol Brynn but they levelled on 35 minutes when Ballard headed against the upright but Bindon rolled the ball into the net.

Both keepers were kept busy after the break with Brynn denying Harvey Knibbs and Wing while Button thwarted Ed Turns and Theo Archibald.

But the Reading keeper missed a corner late on and Moncur was first to the ball in a goalmouth scramble to give Orient the points.

Charlton came from behind to score two late goals in their 2-2 draw at home to Blackpool.

The visitors struck first after 34 minutes. James Husband crossed into the middle of the area for Jordan Rhodes to connect first time past keeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer.

Blackpool almost doubled their lead seven minutes after the interval. A bout of pressure saw a fierce strike by Sonny Carey tipped onto the bar by Maynard-Brewer.

The visitors looked out of sight on 70 minutes when substitute Karamoko Dembele stole the ball from defender Michael Hector to fire home.

But Charlton stunned them with two goals in as many minutes. First, Alfie May diverted home on 82 minutes after great work by Chuks Aneke.

Then Corey Blackett-Taylor sent the Valley into raptures with a superb curled effort to earn a share of the spoils.

Peterborough stretched their unbeaten Sky Bet League One run to six games as a second-half double saw off Lincoln, 2-0.

The hosts had the woodwork to thank for not being behind at the break as Lincoln’s Danny Mandroiu lifted a shot against the bar before Sean Roughan missed with a free header from a corner.

But it was all about Posh in the second period as David Ajiboye came off the bench to set them on the way to glory in spectacular style in the 53rd minute, racing onto an Ephron Mason-Clark pass and arrowing a terrific 20-yard strike past goalkeeper Lukas Jensen.

Ajiboye, introduced late in the first half following an injury to Kwame Poku, had seen another effort saved by Jensen moments before making the breakthrough.

Jensen then denied Peter Kioso and Mason-Clark fired over before Posh clinched the points in the 83rd minute courtesy of Joel Randall’s first EFL goal for the club, more than two years after his arrival.

The former Exeter player coolly controlled a Mason-Clark cutback from the left and steered a low shot past Jensen to seal victory, before Harrison Burrows came close to a third in stoppage-time, striking the bar with a shot.

Wycombe secured their first home win for over a month with a convincing 4-1 victory at struggling Fleetwood.

Lee Johnson, who took over from Scott Brown last month, had led the Cod Army to back-to-back wins without conceding.

But they were completely blown away by the on-song Chairboys as Dale Taylor’s double, Freddie Potts and Luke Leahy secured victory at Highbury.

Jack Marriott’s effort was a mere consolation before the hosts’ day was compounded by Ben Heneghan’s second-half sending off.

Northern Irish striker Taylor opened the scoring with a looping header from the edge of the six-yard box from Josh Scowen’s cross in the 20th minute.

Potts doubled the advantage with his second goal for the club with a fine touch and finish, completing a great team move, 14 minutes later.

It was three before the break as Potts turned provider for Taylor to slot home.

Marriott pulled one back as he diverted home Junior Quitirna’s cross.

But any hopes of a miracle comeback were dashed moments later when Heneghan tripped Brandon Hanlan who was racing through.

Leahy added gloss from the resulting free-kick as he bent it into the top corner.

Colby Bishop’s second half double saw Sky Bet League One leaders Portsmouth extend their unbeaten run to 23 games with a 2-0 win over Port Vale.

Pompey’s first half performance did not reflect their lofty league position as Vale had by far the better of the play at Fratton Park.

The visitors could have taken the lead in the fifth minute but Funso Ojo could only hit the post from 18 yards.

Ojo had another chance which went straight to Will Norris, James Plant shot wide when clear, and Ben Garrity headed over from close range.

Pompey’s only first half effort was a header from an unmarked Paddy Lane, which went wide.

However the hosts came out fighting in the second half and took the lead in the 53rd minute when Bishop tapped in from close range after a fierce Joe Rafferty cross-shot.

They doubled their lead five minutes later when a penalty given for handball by Kofi Balmer was converted by Bishop.

Daniel Udoh struck in stoppage time to end Shrewsbury’s seven-game goal drought and earn a 1-0 win over Northampton in League One.

The Shrews had gone five league games and two EFL Trophy matches without scoring.

But that run was ended by Udoh in the first minute of stoppage time after Sam Hoskins had missed a second-half penalty for the Cobblers.

The home side went close just after the 20-minute mark when Tom Bayliss sent a free-kick flashing across the face of goal.

Northampton hurried forward soon after through Mitchell Pinnock, who used some creative footwork to get a powerful shot off, but goalkeeper Marko Marosi displayed great reactions to parry away.

Just before the break, visiting striker Louis Appere went close when he poked goalward at the near post, but Marosi managed to clear the danger.

Kieran Phillips broke into the box just after the hour mark, laying it off to Ryan Bowman in the centre, but Shrewsbury’s number nine sent it flying over the bar.

Tom Flanagan conceded a penalty with 17 minutes to go, but Hoskins crashed his spot-kick against the crossbar.

And just as the game appeared to be heading for a goalless draw, Udoh broke Salop’s scoreless streak by calmly placing a shot into the bottom corner.