Smith: Hat-trick hero
Macclesfield Town have now lost their last five after Cheltenham Town went top of the table after a 3-1 win. Marcus Marshall gave the hosts the lead on the half-hour mark, but seven minutes later Cheltenham were level through Sido Jombati.
Jeff Goulding put the visitors in front in the 67th minute and Luke Garbutt completed the scoring in stoppage-time.
Michael Smith netted a first-half hat-trick as Accrington Stanley hung on to beat Gillingham 4-3. Smith took less than a minute to net the opener. Danny Jackman levelled for Gillingham six minutes later before Smith got his second in the 19th minute.
Luke Joyce added a third for Accrington just after the half-hour mark, and Smith completed his hat-trick in first-half stoppage-time to make it 4-1 and should have secured the points.
Gavin Tomlin pulled one back for Gillingham in the 70th minute, before grabbing another in the 85th minute to set up a tense finale, but the hosts held on and climb into the play-off spots.
Shrewsbury climbed into fourth after a 2-0 win at Hereford. Terry Gornell headed the visitors in front after 16 minutes before James Collins added the second just before the half-hour mark.
AFC Wimbledon's run of three straight wins came to an abrupt end with a 2-1 defeat at home by Aldershot Town.
Anthony Straker put the visitors ahead after 13 minutes, but Sammy Moore levelled 15 minutes later. Straker grabbed a second in the 70th minute to take all three points for Aldershot who climb to 18th in the table.
Barnet eased to a 2-0 win against Crewe who played most of the game with nine men. David Artell was sent off in the 29th minute for a foul on Izale McLeod in the box. McLeod then converted from the spot.
Adam Dugdale was then dismissed just before half-time for a foul on Rick Holmes. Michael Hector made sure of the points in the 77th minute.
Dagenham & Redbridge climbed out of the relegation zone with a 3-2 win over out-of-form Rotherham United.
Danny Harrison gave the visitors a half-time lead with a goal in the 28th minute, but five minutes into the second half Jon Nurse headed the hosts level.
Mark Bradley then put the ball in his own net in the 62 minute to put Dagenham ahead but within a minute Alex Revell had headed Rotherham level. With 12 minutes to go defender Scott Doe headed in the winner.
Bristol Rovers beat Bradford 2-1 at The Memorial Stadium. Lee Brown gave the home team a sixth minute lead which Eliot Richards doubled in the 55th minute. Andrew Davies pulled one back for the visitors in the 72nd minute.
Plymouth Argyle slipped into the relegation zone after losing 1-0 at Port Vale. Substitute Tom Pope scored the game's only goal in the 86th minute.
Torquay United moved up to fifth after a 1-0 win, their fifth victory in succession, over Northampton who remain rooted to the bottom of the table. Mark Ellis secured the points for Vale in the 75th minute.
(League Two round-up supplied by PA Sport)
Accrington Stanley 4 Gillingham 3
The post-John Coleman era at Accrington got off to a winning start as Accrington Stanley edged past Gillingham 4-3.
Coleman this week left the Crown Ground after 13 years to join Rochdale and caretaker boss Leam Richardson will not want too many games like this as his side almost squandered a 4-1 lead.
Accrington needed just 45 seconds to break the deadlock. A poor throw from Gills goalkeeper Ross Flitney went straight to Padraig Amond, who raced down left and played in a cross from which Michael Smith - on his home debut on loan from Charlton - tapped home.
It was all square after seven minutes when Danny Jackman's 25-yard free-kick levelled for the Gills. But Stanley regained the lead when Peter Murphy set up Smith on the edge of area and his low shot sneaked into the bottom of the net beyond the diving Flitney.
Number three came after 31 minutes as Smith turned provider to set up Luke Joyce 20 yards out. And, in a cracking game, Murphy's right-wing cross found Smith unmarked to tap home for his hat-trick on the stroke of half-time.
Gillingham pulled one back after 70 minutes when a mistake by home 'keeper Ian Dunbavin allowed Gavin Tomlin to nip in and fire home, before the on-loan forward registered his second brace in as many games since his arrival. But it was not to be as the Gills fell to a 4-3 defeat for the second successive weekend.
Cheltenham go top & Crawley fixtures pile up: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
And earlier, the Shrews moved within a point: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
League Two Results and Match Reports
AFC Wimbledon 1 Aldershot 2
Accrington 4 Gillingham 3
Barnet 2 Crewe 0
Bristol Rovers 2 Bradford 1
Dagenham & Redbridge 3 Rotherham 2
Hereford 0 Shrewsbury 2
Macclesfield 1 Cheltenham 3
Port Vale 1 Plymouth 0
Torquay 1 Northampton 0
Accrington 4 Gillingham 3
Barnet 2 Crewe 0
Bristol Rovers 2 Bradford 1
Dagenham & Redbridge 3 Rotherham 2
Hereford 0 Shrewsbury 2
Macclesfield 1 Cheltenham 3
Port Vale 1 Plymouth 0
Torquay 1 Northampton 0
(Click on the fixture to get the report and match statistics)
League Two reports supplied by www.skysports.com
News Update
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Plenty of action on the i-player; League Two action from 17 min 50 sec: www.bbc.co.uk
Listen with managers: http://news.bbc.co.uk
Sturrock to decide on starting strikers against Swindon: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
Who will win the biggest game of the season so far?: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
The Robins faithful speak: http://thetownend.com
Discuss the game on S24: http://boards.footymad.net
FA Cup Fourth Round Round-Up: www1.skysports.com
Crawley beat Hull: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
Swindon run ends at Leicester: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
Fixtures
League Two
Sunday, January 29th: Burton Albion v Oxford Utd, 15:00.
A Burton win this afternoon will see them replace Accrington in the play-off zone.
Tuesday, January 31st: Southend v Swindon, 19:45.
A home win will see the Shrimpers return to the top, an away victory will see the Wiltshire Robins enter the top three for the first time this season.
Saturday, February 4th; (all kick-offs 15.00 unless stated): Shrewsbury v Port Vale, (13:00), Aldershot v Bristol Rovers, Bradford v Crawley Town, Cheltenham v AFC Wimbledon, Crewe v Accrington Stanley, Gillingham v Hereford, Morecambe v Dag & Red, Northampton v Macclesfield, Oxford Utd v Barnet, Plymouth v Southend, Rotherham v Torquay, Swindon v Burton Albion.
| 1 | Cheltenham Town | 27 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 16 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 42 | 24 | 55 | +18 | ||||
| 2 | Southend United | 26 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 30 | 19 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 51 | 28 | 52 | +23 | ||||
| 3 | Crawley Town | 26 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 29 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 48 | 30 | 52 | +18 | ||||
| 4 | Shrewsbury Town | 27 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 41 | 25 | 51 | +16 | ||||
| 5 | Torquay United | 28 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 27 | 17 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 42 | 32 | 50 | +10 | ||||
| 6 | Swindon Town | 26 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 26 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 4 | 7 | 41 | 20 | 49 | +21 | ||||
| 7 | Accrington Stanley | 28 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 24 | 19 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 38 | 32 | 43 | +6 | ||||
| 8 | Oxford United | 27 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 23 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 38 | 27 | 42 | +11 | ||||
| 9 | Gillingham | 27 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 25 | 27 | 12 | 5 | 10 | 47 | 39 | 41 | +8 | ||||
| 10 | Port Vale | 28 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 25 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 20 | 18 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 45 | 39 | 41 | +6 | ||||
| 11 | Burton Albion | 27 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 24 | 26 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 40 | 41 | 41 | -1 | ||||
| 12 | Crewe Alexandra | 28 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 19 | 19 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 18 | 21 | 12 | 3 | 13 | 37 | 40 | 39 | -3 | ||||
| 13 | Rotherham United | 27 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 26 | 28 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 44 | 42 | 37 | +2 | ||||
| 14 | Morecambe | 27 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 23 | 21 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 20 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 43 | 34 | 36 | +9 | ||||
| 15 | AFC Wimbledon | 28 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 22 | 32 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 17 | 21 | 10 | 5 | 13 | 39 | 53 | 35 | -14 | ||||
| 16 | Bristol Rovers | 28 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 19 | 24 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 25 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 36 | 49 | 33 | -13 | ||||
| 17 | Barnet | 27 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 19 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 9 | 5 | 13 | 35 | 46 | 32 | -11 | ||||
| 18 | Aldershot Town | 27 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 16 | 23 | 9 | 4 | 14 | 26 | 35 | 31 | -9 | ||||
| 19 | Macclesfield Town | 28 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 17 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 21 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 26 | 34 | 30 | -8 | ||||
| 20 | Bradford City | 27 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 23 | 19 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 19 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 32 | 38 | 27 | -6 | ||||
| 21 | Hereford United | 28 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 13 | 30 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 27 | 45 | 26 | -18 | ||||
| 22 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 28 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 20 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 23 | 7 | 3 | 18 | 29 | 49 | 24 | -20 | ||||
| 23 | Plymouth Argyle | 28 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 19 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 14 | 31 | 5 | 7 | 16 | 29 | 50 | 22 | -21 | ||||
| 24 | Northampton Town | 28 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 15 | 31 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 18 | 26 | 5 | 6 | 17 | 33 | 57 | 21 | -24 | ||||
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