Shrimpers clobber Cobblers

 

The title-chasing Shrimpers twice came from behind to beat relegation-threatened Northampton 5-2 at Sixfields.

John Johnson gave the Cobblers a 10th-minute lead, forcing the ball home from close range after Southend failed to deal with Ben Tozer's long throw.

David Martin equalised in the 41st minute, volleying home at the far post after Northampton were caught out by Sean Clohessy's cross, but Saido Berahino restored Northampton's advantage two minutes later, beating Glenn Morris from the edge of the box.

Southend dominated the second half, with Hall parrying Liam Dickinson's drive and then saving Elliot Benyon's rebound, but the pressure finally told in the 70th minute when Hall impeded Dickinson in the box and the striker picked himself up to fire home the ensuing spot-kick.

Michael Jacobs almost restored Northampton's advantage moments later when Morris turned his 25-yard free-kick around the post, while Harding went even closer in the 74th minute when his set-piece from a similar distance hit the inside of an upright before Berahino headed just past the wrong side of a post.

Substitute Bilel Mohsni put Southend in front for the first time in the 82nd minute, heading home Hall's perfect cross. Three minutes later Dickinson grabbed his second with a clinical close-range finish and Mohsni headed home his second in stoppage time from Hall's inswinging corner.