AFC Bournemouth
Asmir Begovic’s top-drawer save helped AC Milan earn a share of the spoils from an incident-packed 1-1 draw with Serie A rivals Fiorentina at the Stadio Franchi.
Begovic made his debut for the Rossoneri as a 52nd-minute replacement for Gianluigi Donnarumma who was forced off by an ankle injury.
The 32-year-old came off the bench after Zlatan Ibrahimovic had seen a goal chalked off by VAR for handball but was on the pitch when Ante Rebic opened the scoring for the visitors.
Fiorentina were reduced to ten men when Dalbert saw red for a trip on Ibrahimovic, the referee upgrading his initial decision following an on-field review.
The hosts levelled from the spot after Alessio Romagnoli had been judged to have fouled Patrick Cutrone with Begovic getting a hand to Erick Pulgar’s penalty.
In the closing stages, Begovic came to Milan’s rescue when he pulled off a superb save to keep out Federico Chiesa’s effort from point-blank range.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Harry Arter made his 11th start for Fulham in their 1-1 draw with Derby County at Pride Park on Friday.
Arter was replaced by Kevin MacDonald nine minutes from time after Aleksandar Mitrovic had earned a share of the spoils for the visitors.
Mitrovic, the Championship’s leading goalscorer, volleyed home Aboubakar Kamara’s cross in the 71st minute to cancel out Wayne Rooney’s 55th-minute Panenka penalty.
LEAGUE ONE
Nnamdi Ofoborh went close to scoring his first league goal for Wycombe Wanderers in their 3-1 victory over struggling Tranmere Rovers at Adams Park.
Ofoborh, who bagged his first career goal in the Chairboys’ EFL Cup win at MK Dons in November, replaced Curtis Thompson just after Adebayo Akinfenwa had made it 2-1 to the hosts in the 71st minute.
And just nine minutes later, the midfielder saw his rasping right-foot effort from the edge of the box blocked by a defender.
Akinfenwa equalled Wycombe’s Football League goalscoring record when he headed home his 53rd goal for the club after James Vaughan had cancelled out Anthony Stewart’s opener for the hosts.
The promotion-chasing Chairboys made the points safe when Joe Jacobson netted a stoppage-time penalty after Alex Samuel had been cleaned out by Rovers goalkeeper Scott Davies.
SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP
Matt Butcher (pictured above) went close to doubling St Johnstone’s lead as they held title hopefuls Rangers to a 2-2 draw at McDiarmid Park.
Callum Hendry drew first blood for the Saints after eight minutes before Butcher saw his fierce 20-yard effort well saved by Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor two minutes later.
Substitute Florian Kamberi turned the game for Rangers by volleying home the equaliser five minutes into the second half before setting up Joe Aribo to make it 2-1.
However, the hosts had the final say when Stevie May rifled in his fifth goal in his past nine games to deny Rangers victory in Perth for the first time in a decade.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Jake Scrimshaw made his sixth appearance for Eastleigh as they went down 3-0 against Football League hopefuls Harrogate Town at Wetherby Road.
Scrimshaw was replaced by James Alabi in the 75th minute and with the Spitfires trailing to goals from Josh Falkingham, Jack Diamond and Jack Muldoon.
NATIONAL SOUTH
Calum Ward and Shaun Hobson came face to face with Cherries team-mate Dinesh Gillela as Weymouth battled out a 0-0 draw with Billericay Town at the Bob Lucas Stadium.
Ward and Hobson both played 90 minutes for the Terras while defender Gillela replaced Ade Cole in the 56th minute for the visitors.
Goalkeeper Ward made two vital second-half saves to thwart Femi Akinwande and Jack Paxman.
SOUTHERN PREMIER SOUTH
Luke Pardoe (pictured above) was labelled “the best player on the pitch” by the Poole Town official website following their 2-1 defeat by struggling Beaconsfield Town at Holloways Park.
Their report of the game said Pardoe "could easily have had four assists" had the Dolphins had "an in-form, match-fit striker".
Harry Baker missed a penalty and put Poole ahead before James Ewington’s double in the space of eight second-half minutes saw the hosts claim the points.
Cameron Plain played his part as Wimborne Town claimed a share of the spoils from an entertaining 2-2 draw with high-flying Tiverton Town at Ladysmead.
Wimborne twice took the lead through Tony Lee after four minutes and Sam Davidson in the 18th minute.
But Ryan Beckinsale’s 15th-minute effort and Alex Fletcher’s 30th-minute leveller gave spectators an absorbing watch in the first half.
Both teams had chances to take all three points in the second half with Plain pulling out all the stops to prevent Tivvy scoring again.
Tyrell Hamilton started for Gosport Borough as they were condemned to a 3-0 defeat by high-flying Chesham United at The Meadow.
Hamilton was replaced by former Cherries defender Dan Strugnell in the 74th minute as Boro trailed 1-0 to Eoin Casey’s first-half opener.
The Generals kept the heat on leaders Truro City by adding to their tally after Hamiton had made was with late goals from Zak Joseph and Casey.
Tom Hanfrey played his part as Blackfield & Langley kept a clean sheet in their 0-0 draw with Merthyr Town at Gang Warily.
Jack Torniainen played the full 90 minutes as Dorchester Town suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Weston-super-Mare at the Avenue Stadium. Tom Bath’s goal for Dorchester sandwiched efforts from Chris Knowles and Mike Symons, with all the goals coming in the first half.
SOUTHERN DIVISION ONE SOUTH
Jordan Murray went close to snatching a debut winner in Highworth Town’s 2-2 draw against AFC Totton at the Testwood Stadium.
Murray, who came off the bench midway through the second half, saw his thunderous 20-yard strike narrowly clear the crossbar five minutes from time.
Silvano Obeng’s double for AFC Totton sandwiched goals from Danny Drewett and Edjidja Mbunga as the points were shared.
ISTHMIAN PREMIER
Tom Dinsmore made his league debut for Bognor Regis Town in their 2-1 defeat by Haringey Borough at Coles Park.
Dinsmore kept his place having started the Rocks’ Sussex County Cup clash with Brighton & Hove Albion under-23s on Wednesday.
Following an even first half, goals from Georgios Aresti and Anthony MacDonald saw Boro prevail after Harvey Whyte had made it 1-1 on 61 minutes.
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