Southend in driving seat

Monday, 16/01/2012

by James Beavis

With the league leaders dropping points, the two teams directly behind them took full advantage with victories.

Crawley could only play out a goalless draw at manager-less Bristol Rovers; a result that saw them drop from the summit to third position by the end of play.

Southend moved above them and into first as they produced a resounding 5-2 win on the road against strugglers Northampton, with Bilel Mohsni and Liam Dickinson both netting braces for the Shrimpers.

Cheltenham are second on goal difference and unbeaten in ten games as they comfortably beat Aldershot, who haven’t scored in their last five encounters, 2-0 at Whaddon Road.

Swindon Town maintained their fine form as they recorded an impressive 2-1 success on the road at Rotherham, with Matt Richie scoring two in two minutes for Paolo Di Canio’s men.

Shrewsbury beat fellow promotion hopefuls Gillingham 2-0 at Greenhous Meadow.

Oxford United’s six-match unbeaten run was ended by Crewe, as Greg Pearson’s last minute strike separated the sides at the Kassam.

Torquay kept up the pressure on the sides in the top seven as they triumphed 2-1 against Macclesfield at Moss Rose.

The same score-line was also registered at Home Park as basement side Plymouth moved off the bottom of the table with victory over Burton Albion.

Accrington suffered a shock 3-0 home reverse against lowly Barnet which ended their ten-game run without loss and leaves the Bees five points above the relegation spots.

Kevin Ellison’s injury-time equaliser rescued a point for Morecambe in their 2-2 draw with Bradford City at Valley Parade.

AFC Wimbledon ended their poor run of form with a 2-1 success on their travels against Port Vale, who have now lost four consecutive matches.

Hereford picked up a vital 1-0 win away at fellow strugglers Dagenham and Redbridge thanks to Yoann Arquin’s header, which inflicted a first defeat in seven contests on the Daggers.

• 

• Have your say