NOVEMBER finished with a flourish for Stoke City, though the leaders left it late at struggling Wycombe to bag the points.

Midfielder Graham Kavanagh was the Potters' hero smacking in the only goal of the game at Adams Park 11 minutes from time.

That enabled Stoke to carve out a four-point lead at the top after setbacks for two of their rivals.

Big-spending Fulham crashed to an even later strike down at the Priestfield Stadium, where Gillingham's costly import Robert Taylor scored a 90th-minute winner. Taylor's decider ended a run in which the Cottagers had prised out eight wins from nine games.

Preston too suffered a dip, but a late fightback at least secured a point.

The hosts trailed 2-0 to Lancashire rivals Wigan, whose Colin Greenall and Andy Porter struck to send tremors rippling through Deepdale.

Preston countered with strikes from Jonathan Macken and Mark Rankine, the latter five minutes from time, to avoid a home embarrassment.

No such problem for hosts Walsall. They edged into second spot above Fulham after a 1-0 win over Bournemouth. Winger Darren Wrack was the marksman.

York City's FA Cup opponents Wrexham ended a run of six matches without a win when Kevin Russell hit the points-decider over Racecourse Ground visitors Notts County.

In the day's other Red Roses battle Burnley saw off Blackpool at Turf Moor with a second-half penalty from Andy Payton, while Reading's revival continued with a 2-1 win at home to bottom placed Lincoln City. Liberian striker Mass Sarr bagged the winner.

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