League Two talk

Playmaker's Ollie Smith is back to survey the scene in League Two - and there's plenty happening as usual. 

Southend's stunning result against promotion hopefuls Forest Green, a late, late show from Morecambe, James Vaughan's matchwinning turn for Tranmere and a managerial change at Colchester all come under the microscope. 

©Getty / Jacques Feeney

Southend shock Forest Green

Southend stunned promotion chasing Forest Green 3-1 on Wednesday evening to climb off the bottom of the table and move out of the relegation zone.

Experiencing a resurgence in recent weeks, with a win against Newport, a draw against Cambridge and an impressive performance against Bolton, Southend have seemingly been revitalised as they seek to avoid relegation from League Two.

However, you would’ve expected Forest Green Rovers, a team second in the league table to comfortably do the business against the division's basement club heading into the clash.

Twenty minutes in, Shaun Hobson unleashed a powerful volley past Lewis Thomas to take the lead for Southend to stun the hosts.

Mark Cooper made three changes at half-time in a bid to get his side back into the game, but it was to no avail with Simeon Akinola setting up Tim Dieng to double the visitor’s lead after 55 minutes.

Nathan Ferguson then scored a stunning long-range 'Goal of the Season' contender on the 70-minute mark to truly blow Rovers’ chance of going to the top of League Two and become a viral sensation himself with his stupendous strike.

Yes, the Champions League is on...

But have you seen Nathan Ferguson’s goal for Southend United tonight? 😱pic.twitter.com/EvrV50T0C0

— Goal (@goal) February 24, 2021

Jamille Matt bagged a consolation goal late on for Forest Green, with Jake Young setting up the 31-year-old for his 12th goal of the season. However, the hosts were disappointing overall, with Southend’s determined performance earning them a deserved three points that sees them move one point above the bottom two.

Mark Cooper’s men will be looking to bounce back against Colchester on Saturday at The innocent New Lawn, but will be without the consistent performer that is Chris Stokes, as the club captain is out with a thigh strain.

Southend had scored five goals in their previous 10 games before netting three times in Gloucestershire on Wednesday in what was arguably their best performance of the season (and Forest Green’s worst).

Kyle Taylor had little impact during his loan spell at Forest Green last season, but the midfielder looked bright and controlled for Southend against Rovers, with the 21-year-old’s free-kick not being adequately dealt with in the build-up to the opening goal.

Taylor also put in three crosses, along with having the highest pass accuracy out of both sets of players on the pitch that night (87%).

Several other players caught the eye in Mark Molesley’s side, with goal scorer Ferguson not only netting a remarkable 35-yard strike, but putting in two tackles, 11 successful long balls and executing the most passes in the Southend team (27).

Reeco Hackett-Fairchild and Dieng also stood out on Wednesday with the former having two shots, four dribbles, five crosses and four tackles. Frenchman Dieng executed four tackles, three clearances, three successful aerial duels and drew three fouls, as well as scoring the visitor’s second goal of the evening.

Salford City make the journey to Roots Hall on Saturday, with Richie Wellens’ men currently eighth and one point off the play-off positions.

Morecambe leave it late against Salford

©Getty / Paul Currie

Play-off pursuers Morecambe scored two goals in stoppage time to complete a theatrical comeback and win 2-1 against fellow promotion hopefuls Salford.

The Ammies looked set to be leaving the Mazuma Stadium with three points after Brandon Thomas- Asante netted just before half-time.

Cole Stockton missed a brilliant chance for the hosts and Carlos Mendes Gomes also came close with a volley before the clash sprung into chaos going into stoppage time.

Morecambe equalised in the 94th minute with Mendes Gomes finishing off a Yann Songo’o rebounded header and a couple of minutes later Derek Adams and his men secured the victory as Aaron Wildig tapped in from close range.

Incredibly, Salford appeared to have levelled things up seven minutes into injury time, before the referee chalked off a goal for a foul in the build-up meaning Morecambe are now just one point off the automatic promotion spots.

Ibou Touray was impressive for the visitors, while Liam Gibson did well for Morecambe as a left wing-back.

Touray won three successful aerial duels, had the most touches in the Salford team (67), four dribbles, three tackles, five crosses, three interceptions and 15 long balls.

Gibson also had the most touches for his respective side (58), along with five successful aerial duels, three interceptions and clearances, five tackles and seven long balls.

As previously mentioned, Salford face Southend on Saturday, but for Morecambe, they travel to Field Mill to play 19th placed Mansfield, who have lost their last three league games in a row.

Tranmere come from behind to beat Carlisle

©Getty / Lewis Storey

Tranmere have moved within two points of the automatic promotion spots after James Vaughan scored late on to earn his side three points in a dramatic 3-2 win against Carlisle United.

Nick Anderton’s cross was met by Josh Kayode in the third minute to give the Cumbrians the lead, before Kaiyne Woolery equalised after 21 minutes.

Anderton put the hosts in front once again with a thunderous effort on the 27-minute mark, but Vaughan levelled things just before half-time with a looping cross somehow making its way into the back of the net.

The 32-year-old then netted two minutes from time to snatch the win for Tranmere in what was an extremely impressive showing from the striker.

Vaughan grabbed two goals up top for the visitors, but also put in an important shift at the other end of the field with a goal line clearance and several important tackles.

With 18 goals this season, Vaughan is Tranmere’s top scorer and against Carlisle he scored with both of his two shots on target, while winning 13 aerial duels.

Keith Hill’s men travel to 12th placed Leyton Orient on Saturday, while Carlisle host Harry Kewell’s Oldham.

Steve Ball leaves Colchester

After a 2-1 defeat to Exeter City on Tuesday night, Colchester United have parted company with head coach Steve Ball.

Colchester are 21st in the League Two table, nine points clear of the relegation zone and currently on a 13-game winless run in the division. Ball’s predecessor John McGreal left The U’s in the summer also after defeat to Exeter ironically, but this time in the play-off semi-finals.

Their last victory was over Scunthrope on December 8, but the winners on Tuesday night Exeter are now on a unbeaten run of four matches.

Robbie Wilmott scored after 27 minutes to give Exeter the advantage, with the winger netting from close range to finish off an impressive phase of attack for the visitors.

©Getty / NurPhoto

The Grecians looked bright, with Colchester shotstopper Dean Gerken being forced into a series of important saves to keep Joel Randall and Pierce Sweeney at bay.

Target man Frank Nouble came close for the hosts just before half-time but Exeter continued to regularly test Gerken and the hosts’ backline as the second half began, with Matt Jay and Tom Parkes almost doubling the lead for The Grecians.

The second goal eventually came in the 65th minute with Josh Key’s cross emphatically met by a Ben Seymour header.

Aramide Oteh grabbed a goal back for Colchester a few minutes later, but Michael Flynn’s men secured the win to move back into the play-off spots and up to seventh in the table, with a trip to 14th placed Crawley up next for Exeter.

The Exeter City youth system received plenty of praise after the victory, with academy products Seymour and Key impressing with their performances.

Seymour scored his first league goal, won four aerial duels and had three shots, two on target against Colchester, while Key had two assists, the most touches in the visitor’s team (88), four successful dribbles and five crosses.

As for the hosts, Wayne Brown has been appointed as interim First Team Coach, with his first game in charge, a trip to Forest Green Rovers on Saturday.

Brown comes in to the struggling team, with a hectic, tough schedule ahead of Colchester, as they face back-to-back home games against Carlisle and Newport, before three successive away fixtures in a run of 11 matches in just 35 days.

⏰ Most league goals scored in stoppage time this season (#EFL teams):

5⚽️: 🦐 Morecambe* 🦐, Newport, Blackburn
4⚽️: Crewe, Rochdale, Swindon, Cambridge, Forest Green, Oldham

*have won 21 points from losing positions this season#COYS 🦐 #Shrimps @ShrimpsOfficial pic.twitter.com/0AnScoU7tF

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) February 24, 2021