Shrimpers climb into top three
Southend moved into the Coca-Cola League Two automatic promotion places with a 2-0 win at Cambridge.
Veteran defender Spencer Prior put the ball beyond Cambridge goalkeeper John Ruddy after 22 minutes and the rock-bottom Us gave little in reply before Adam Barrett headed home a minute before half-time.
A controversial late equaliser gave promotion-chasing Macclesfield a point in a 1-1 home draw with Boston.
The Pilgrims took the lead in the 15th minute when David Noble converted a penalty after a foul on Jermaine Easter. The home side piled on the pressure but only broek through six minutes from time when Mark Bailey’s goal-bound header appeared to have been cleared off the line, only for the officials to judge it had crossed.
Leon Britton hit a late winner as Swansea overtook Macclesfield in fourth place, beating Cheltenham 2-1 at Whaddon Road. Lee Thorpe opened the scoring after three minutes but Martin Devaney hit back on the break after 25 minutes.
Britton headed the Swans to victory with eight minutes to go before Grant McCann was sent off for violent conduct following an incident with Swansea’s Lee Trundle.
New signing Ryan Lowe hit a debut double to hand struggling Chester a vital 2-1 victory at home to Bury as they came from behind to win, moving them up to 19th in the table.
Colin Kazim-Richards put the Shakers in front after 12 minutes but Lowe - signed from fellow relegation battlers Shrewsbury last week – equalised after 58 minutes before hitting a winner with 20 minutes left.
The Shrews, meanwhile, remain in danger after going down 2-0 at Northampton. Martin Smith put the Cobblers ahead at Sixfields (16) and when Ashley Westwood doubled the lead before half-time, there was no way back. Shrewsbury had Stuart Whitehead dismissed for a second bookable offence late on.
Bristol Rovers and Darlington fought out an entertaining 3-3 draw at the Memorial Stadium as Rovers came from behind to draw.
Craig Russell put the Quakers in front in the first minute and the visitors held their lead until Richard Walker scrambled home an equaliser deep into first-half injury time.
After the break a penalty by veteran Craig Hignett restored Darlington’s lead and things got worse for Rovers when Jason St’ Juste made it 3-1 after 63 minutes. Steve Elliott and a Walker second were enough to salvage a point for Ian Atkins’ side.
Kidderminster briefly led at home to Mansfield but went down 3-1 at home.
Mar Rawle’s 41st-minute effort ensured Harriers enjoyed a half-time lead but Richard Barker equalised three minutes after the break and Simon Brown quickly put Carlton Palmer’s side ahead before Barker added a late third.
Gary Jones’ penalty for Rochdale was cancelled out by a Nathan Tyson equaliser as Wycombe left Spotland with a point.
Grimsby and Rushden cancelled each other out in a goalless draw but the point did not lift Diamonds up the table.
Leyton Orient took the lead but had to come from behind to draw at Oxford.
Lee Steele broke the deadlock for the Londoners but when Steve Basham (17) and Tommy Mooney (54) scored to turn it round for Oxford, Michael Simpson was on hand to level for Orient after 72 minutes.
