SOUTHEND MARCH ON

Southend United continued their hot run of form with a 2-0 win over Macclesfield Town at Moss Ross to climb to the top of npower League 2.

Ryan Hall opened the scoring in the 39th minute before Kane Ferdinand sealed the Shrimpers' ninth win in 10 games with his 62nd-minute strike.

Crawley Town relinquished top spot as they slipped up at home to Accrington Stanley in a 1-1 draw at the Broadfield Stadium, with Danny Hylton scoring twice as Aldershot Town beat Crewe 3-1 at the Recreation Ground.

BURTON BEAT BEES

Burton Albion thrashed Barnet 6-3 at Underhill thanks in large part to a hat-trick by Billy Kee and Bristol Rovers beat Dagenham and Redbridge 2-0 thanks to second-half goals from Joe Anyinsah and Matt Harrold's penalty.

Cheltenham Town came from behind to beat Plymouth Argyle 2-1 to keep the Pilgrims rooted to the bottom of the division, Darryl Duffy's 83rd-minute penalty and 90th-minute winner sealing the result for the home side.

ELSEWHERE IN THE DIVISION

Morecambe beat Gillingham 2-1 thanks to goals from Garry Hunter and Kevin Ellison, with Frank Nouble's last-minute penalty scant consolation for the Gills. Northampton Town's run of defeats ended as they drew 1-1 with Rotherham at the Sixfields Stadium.

Oxford United beat Port Vale 2-1 at the Kassam Stadium after Us keeper Ryan Clarke saved Marc Richards' 81st-minute penalty, with Peter Leven scoring a spectacular winner from the half-way line,  and Torquay United beat Hereford United 2-0 thanks to two goals in four minutes at the end of the first half.

Elsewhere, Shrewsbury Town drew 0-0 against AFC Wimbledon while Swindon Town's match against Bradford City also stayed at 0-0 even after Bradford defender Andrew Davies was sent off in the 57th minute for foul and abusive language.

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