SOUTHEND GO TOP

Southend United moved into top spot in npower League 2 after twice fighting back from deficits to defeat lowly Northampton Town 5-2 at Sixfields.

Northampton put themselves on course for a shock upset as goals from John Johnson and Saido Berahino saw them leading 2-1 at the break, with David Martin having netted an equaliser for Southend.

However, the visitors turned the game on its head with four goals in the final 25 minutes to claim their 16th win of the season, Liam Dickinson and substitute Bilel Mohsni both collecting braces.

Southend now lead the table just ahead of Cheltenham Town, with both clubs level on 52 points after leapfrogging previous pacesetters Crawley Town, who were held to a goalless draw at managerless Bristol Rovers. Cheltenham beat Aldershot Town 2-0 with goals at either end of the match from Luke Summerfield and Kaid Mohamed.

SWINDON HIT FIVE

Fourth-placed Swindon Town continued their good recent form with a 2-1 win at Rotherham United, Matt Ritchie scoring twice inside a minute midway through the first half to put Paolo Di Canio's men on track with Alex Revell's 54th-minute reply nothing more than a consolation.

Shrewsbury Town remain a point behind Swindon in fifth spot after goals from Shane Cansdell-Sherriff and Mark Wright earned them a 2-0 home win over rival Play-Off hopefuls Gillingham.

ELSEWHERE IN THE DIVISION

There is now a four-point gap between Shrewsbury and sixth-placed Oxford United after Chris Wilder's men suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Crewe Alexandra, debutant Greg Pearson netting the only goal of the game in the 89th minute.

At the foot of the table, a miserable day for Northampton was compounded by a 2-1 victory for Plymouth Argyle over Burton Albion that left the Cobblers propping up the standings. Simon Walton was Plymouth's hero, opening the scoring in the 47th minute and then, after Burton had drawn level through Calvin Zola, slotting in an 89th-minute winner from the penalty spot.

Dagenham and Redbridge were beaten 1-0 at home by fellow strugglers Hereford United while Barnet boosted their hopes of survival with an impressive 3-0 away win over Accrington Stanley.

Torquay United climbed into the top eight after beating Macclesfield Town 2-1 at Moss Rose and AFC Wimbledon were also celebrating a 2-1 away win over Port Vale while Bradford City and Morecambe shared the points in a 2-2 draw.

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