Cheltenham moved into the League Two automatic promotion places thanks to a win over play-off chasing Southend.

Marlon Pack put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot after Alex Woodyard had brought down Russell Penn.

Paul Benson then doubled the Robins' lead with his first goal for the club when he capitalised on a mix-up between Michael Spillane and keeper Paul Smith.

Southend created little throughout, but got a late consolation through on-loan Ben Reeves's effort from 10 yards.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Southend United manager Paul Sturrock told BBC Essex:

"I've got to put my hand up, I probably didn't pick the right team from the kick-off.

"Sometimes you make mistakes and you pay the penalty. In hindsight, there were one or two players I should have maybe started instead.

"We lost two ridiculous goals, the second goal was farcical, but we still had chances in the first half.

"The second half we totally dominated, there's several half-chances that we don't take."

Cheltenham Town manager Mark Yates told BBC Gloucestershire:

"We've now got to make sure we don't let ourselves down and put in a good performance on Saturday.

"We performed heroically, in terms of our effort. We didn't start the second half very well but we weathered it.

"The 93rd minute goal gave us a slight scare but I thought we thoroughly deserved the win."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)

Southend United

  • 01 Smith
  • 02 Clohessy
  • 03 Straker
  • 04 Spillane
  • 16 Prosser
  • 26 Reeves
  • 11 Mayor (Lavery - 81' )
  • 14 Hurst
  • 27 Laird (Assombalonga - 37' )
  • 30 Woodyard (Leonard - 64' )
  • 10 Corr

Substitutes

  • 17 Bentley
  • 05 Coughlan
  • 18 Leonard
  • 19 Spicer
  • 09 Harris
  • 13 Lavery
  • 20 Assombalonga

Cheltenham Town

  • 01 Brown Booked
  • 02 Lowe
  • 06 Elliott
  • 22 Jombati
  • 27 Hector
  • 07 Pack
  • 11 McGlashan
  • 16 Penn (Deering - 87' )
  • 25 Taylor
  • 19 Benson (Mohamed - 58' )
  • 29 Harrison (Duffy - 81' )

Substitutes

  • 12 Roberts
  • 03 Jones
  • 24 McCullough
  • 08 Deering
  • 09 Duffy
  • 14 Harrad
  • 23 Mohamed
Ref: Attwell
Att: 3,908

Match Stats

Shots

12 14

On target

9 6

Corners

7 4

Fouls

12 11

Live Text Commentary

1:08

Ben Reeves takes a shot. Scott Brown makes a save.

90:00 +4:34 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +4:22

The assistant referee signals for offside against Darryl Duffy. Free kick taken by Paul Smith.

90:00 +3:18

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Michael Hector by Barry Corr. Scott Brown takes the free kick.

90:00 +3:00

Jermaine McGlashan is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Paul Smith.

90:00 +1:43

Caolan Lavery provided the assist for the goal.

90:00 +1:43 Goal scored

Goal - Ben Reeves - Southend 1 - 2 Cheltenham Ben Reeves fires in a goal from inside the penalty box to the top right corner of the goal. Southend 1-2 Cheltenham.

90:00 +1:38

The ball is swung over by Caolan Lavery,

89:57

The referee blows for offside. Paul Smith restarts play with the free kick. Ben Reeves takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Marlon Pack makes a clearance.

89:14

Ben Reeves has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal.

86:32

Indirect free kick taken by Paul Smith.

86:32 Substitution

Substitution Sam Deering is brought on as a substitute for Russell Penn.

86:32

The assistant referee flags for offside against Kaid Mohamed.

85:31

A cross is delivered by Sean Clohessy, Steve Elliott manages to make a clearance.

84:28

Unfair challenge on Michael Spillane by Darryl Duffy results in a free kick. Kevan Hurst restarts play with the free kick.

83:33 Booking

Booking Booking for Scott Brown for time wasting.

81:40

The ball is sent over by Caolan Lavery.

80:19 Substitution

Substitution Caolan Lavery comes on in place of Danny Mayor.

80:19 Substitution

Substitution Darryl Duffy replaces Byron Harrison.

80:19

Jason Taylor produces a cross, Effort on goal by Marlon Pack from inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.

77:11

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Marlon Pack from the right by-line, clearance by Ryan Leonard.

75:44

Effort on goal by Kaid Mohamed from outside the box goes harmlessly over the bar.

74:11

Corner taken by Ben Reeves from the right by-line to the near post, Russell Penn makes a clearance.

73:28

Unfair challenge on Ben Reeves by Sido Jombati results in a free kick. Ben Reeves takes the direct free kick.

73:03

Sean Clohessy delivers the ball, clearance made by Marlon Pack.

71:20

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jason Taylor on Danny Mayor. Direct free kick taken by Paul Smith.

70:31

Shot from just outside the box by Ben Reeves goes over the crossbar.

66:20

Sean Clohessy crosses the ball, save made by Scott Brown.

64:28

Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Hector on Britt Assombalonga. Ben Reeves restarts play with the free kick. Jermaine McGlashan delivers the ball. The ball is crossed by Jermaine McGlashan, Luke Prosser makes a clearance.

63:05 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Leonard joins the action as a substitute, replacing Alex Woodyard.

62:29

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Russell Penn by Barry Corr. Steve Elliott restarts play with the free kick.

61:29

Anthony Straker gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jermaine McGlashan. The ball is swung over by Marlon Pack, Kaid Mohamed takes a shot. Paul Smith makes a save.

60:29

Britt Assombalonga sends in a cross, Danny Mayor takes a shot. Blocked by Steve Elliott. Ben Reeves takes a shot. Save by Scott Brown.

59:31

Jason Taylor produces a right-footed shot from long distance which goes wide right of the goal.

57:29 Substitution

Substitution (Cheltenham) makes a substitution, with Kaid Mohamed coming on for Paul Benson.

57:29 Substitution

Substitution Kaid Mohamed comes on in place of Paul Benson.

56:47

Russell Penn produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.

56:47

Russell Penn produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the target.

55:59

The ball is delivered by Ben Reeves, clearance by Steve Elliott.

53:33

Foul by Jermaine McGlashan on Britt Assombalonga, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed by Kevan Hurst. The ball is delivered by Danny Mayor, Michael Spillane takes a shot. Scott Brown makes a save.

51:03

Ben Reeves takes a shot. Save made by Scott Brown. Britt Assombalonga is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Scott Brown takes the free kick.

50:17

Corner taken right-footed by Kevan Hurst to the near post, clearance made by Marlon Pack. A cross is delivered by Kevan Hurst.

49:00

Marlon Pack takes a shot. Blocked by Luke Prosser. Corner from the right by-line taken by Marlon Pack, Danny Mayor makes a clearance. Shot by Russell Penn from outside the area goes high over the crossbar.

48:01

Centre by Britt Assombalonga, Barry Corr takes a shot. Save made by Scott Brown.

46:07

Paul Benson challenges Luke Prosser unfairly and gives away a free kick. Paul Smith takes the direct free kick.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:00 +3:25 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

45:00 +1:56

Kevan Hurst takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by Jason Taylor.

44:43

Barry Corr concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Hector. Free kick taken by Scott Brown.

42:07

Sean Clohessy crosses the ball, Steve Elliott makes a clearance.

41:13

Outswinging corner taken by Kevan Hurst, Header from deep inside the penalty area by Luke Prosser goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

41:04

The ball is delivered by Danny Mayor, clearance by Sido Jombati.

39:30

Russell Penn is caught offside. Free kick taken by Paul Smith.

37:35

Marlon Pack provided the assist for the goal.

37:35 Goal scored

Goal - Paul Benson - Southend 0 - 2 Cheltenham Paul Benson grabs a goal from inside the box low into the middle of the goal. Southend 0-2 Cheltenham.

36:34 Substitution

Substitution Britt Assombalonga replaces Marc Laird.

34:48

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Marlon Pack by Barry Corr. Free kick taken by Scott Brown.

32:36

Anthony Straker fouled by Byron Harrison, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Kevan Hurst.

31:06

Shot from long distance by Jermaine McGlashan misses to the right of the goal.

30:01

Jason Taylor takes a shot. Save made by Paul Smith.

29:26

Ben Reeves takes a shot. Scott Brown makes a save.

27:23

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jason Taylor on Sean Clohessy. Direct free kick taken by Sean Clohessy.

26:26

Corner taken by Marlon Pack, save made by Paul Smith.

25:13

Russell Penn produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the goal.

22:43

Kevan Hurst produces a cross, clearance made by Keith Lowe.

21:04

Marlon Pack delivers the ball.

20:33

Shot by Paul Benson. Blocked by Anthony Straker. Corner taken by Marlon Pack from the right by-line, Marc Laird makes a clearance.

19:51

Free kick awarded for a foul by Barry Corr on Russell Penn. Steve Elliott takes the free kick.

18:04

Foul by Paul Benson on Michael Spillane, free kick awarded. Paul Smith takes the free kick.

17:38

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jermaine McGlashan by Alex Woodyard. Keith Lowe takes the free kick.

15:15

Marlon Pack fouled by Alex Woodyard, the ref awards a free kick. Marlon Pack fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick, save made by Paul Smith.

14:31

Byron Harrison produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that clears the crossbar.

12:49

Assist on the goal came from Russell Penn.

12:49 Goal scored

Goal - Marlon Pack - Southend 0 - 1 Cheltenham Penalty taken right-footed by Marlon Pack and scored. Southend 0-1 Cheltenham.

11:50

Alex Woodyard gives away a Penalty for an unfair challenge on Russell Penn.

11:14

The ball is swung over by Kevan Hurst, clearance by Steve Elliott.

9:27

Corner taken right-footed by Kevan Hurst to the near post, Marlon Pack manages to make a clearance.

8:01

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ben Reeves on Marlon Pack. Scott Brown takes the free kick.

6:50

Free kick awarded for a foul by Sean Clohessy on Russell Penn. Free kick taken by Scott Brown.

5:25

Corner taken by Kevan Hurst from the left by-line to the near post, Jason Taylor manages to make a clearance.

4:30

Marlon Pack gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Alex Woodyard. Free kick taken by Paul Smith.

4:03

The ball is swung over by Kevan Hurst, Barry Corr takes a shot. Save by Scott Brown.

3:17

The referee blows for offside. Paul Smith restarts play with the free kick.

3:00

Russell Penn fouled by Alex Woodyard, the ref awards a free kick. Steve Elliott restarts play with the free kick.

1:55

Russell Penn challenges Sean Clohessy unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kevan Hurst.

8:01

Unfair challenge on Marlon Pack by Marc Laird results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Scott Brown.

1:08

Marc Laird takes a shot. Scott Brown makes a save.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.

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