Emile Heskey had proved a real handful, and he almost extended Wigan's lead with an acrobatic over-head kick after 50 minutes that brought an equally spectacular save from Paddy Kenny.
The Uruguayan became the league's top scorer with five goals after racing to his hat-trick in just over an hour but he blazed a 75th minute spot-kick over the bar.
Portadown's pressure paid off when Mackle scored a goal out of nothing and then Mouncey's header looped over the goalkeeper after Ross Redman's free-kick over the back of the defence was crossed in by Braniff.
Bellamy this time claimed the assist, whipping over a free-kick which Bothroyd headed downward and into the net from 12 yards.
Celtic had also written to the SFA seeking clarification over a spot-kick awarded against them by referee Willie Collum in their defeat by Rangers.
But Drogba sealed the win for Marseille when he was left unmarked as Batlles sent over a free-kick and he sidefooted in his 32nd goal of the season.
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Leinster's kicking game was atrocious at times, Brian O'Driscoll, Isa Nacewa and Contepomi all booting the ball out on the full, while Contepomi over-cooked a kick to the left corner.
Joy at last week's 2-1 victory over Chelsea was dampened by dismay over the tea-time kick-off and the pre-match news that midfielder Marouane Fellaini requires an operation on his injured ankle and will be out for six months.
Such adventure, combined with West Brom's pace on the counter-attack, ensured a lively afternoon for Everton keeper Tim Howard, who acrobatically palmed over a Brunt free-kick and somehow managed to get a hand to a close-range header from Odemwingie.
Marlet was thwarted by a tight angle and Given's efforts before Robert sent a 35-yard free-kick over Barthez's crossbar.
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City went close to snatching the lead just before the break when Stewart headed McAllister's free-kick over the crossbar.
Constable nearly won it for Oxford late on, but he could only head Anthony Tonkin's free-kick over the bar.
Forbes also blazed over with a free-kick from 14 yards after Balogh had been penalised for picking up a Jose Goncalves back-pass.
Liam Craig forced MacDonald to parry a ferocious free-kick over the crossbar after Andy Webster had hauled back Francisco Sandaza 25 yards out.
Tuitupou, who had over-run the original kick, pounced on the loose ball ahead of a desperately retreating Wasps defence to dive over the line.
Josh Hannay followed him over straight from kick-off but Lennon missed the kick and the Welsh side were just two points away from extra-time.
Cardiff looked capable of taking a firm stranglehold on the final but the inspirational Adam quickly restored parity with his left-foot free-kick over the Cardiff wall.
Van der Sar spared United further embarrassment after 53 minutes when he dived high to his right to brilliantly turn Tafforeau's 20-yard free-kick over the bar.
Kirkland saved a header from Alex, Michael Ballack drilled a free-kick over the bar and Joe Cole narrowly missed as Chelsea looked for a decisive second goal.
Crusaders goalkeeper Chris Keenan made an even better save at the other end in the 18th minute as he tipped a fierce Murphy free-kick over the crossbar.
Shaun Wright-Phillips became the first player to be yellow-carded after 29 minutes for a challenge on Jermaine Jones, but striker Miroslav Klose headed Trochowski's resulting free-kick over the bar.
Hearts had the first opportunity of the match when Grant Munro fouled Christian Nade on the edge of the box, but Andrew Driver fired the resulting free-kick over the bar.
Mackay spiralled a free-kick over the bar from a promising position with five minutes remaining but it was to be May's double that separated the teams come the full-time whistle.
Arsenal were shaken and the 10 men of Liverpool seized the initiative, with Ngog wasting a promising chance to add to the lead when he headed a Steven Gerrard free-kick over from six yards.
Having been shown a yellow card, rather than a red, Kiraly retreated to his line, only to see Arteta curl a superb free-kick over the wall and past his dive into the top left-hand corner.
Italian Diamanti fired a free-kick over the bar, while Mido, starting up front in place of Cole, slid in at the back post and narrowly missed out on converting a devilishly low cross from the recalled Junior Stanislas.
Both sides created half-chances as the game began to open up and Keith Andrews blazed over after Lawrence's free-kick hit the wall.
Soon after, England were almost over for their first try of the autumn after Juan Fernandez-Lobbe spilled a kick over the top straight into Mark Cueto's path but the winger was unable to finish the chance, thanks to a great tackle from full-back Horacio Agulla.
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Van Persie came close again shortly after the restart, bending a left-footed free-kick just over the bar.
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