Southend United returned to winning ways with a 4-0 victory over Cheltenham Town on Friday.
It was the home side who nearly opened the scoring after six minutes when Bilel Moshni struck from distance, but it drifted just wide.
Ryan Hall was next to come close for the home side after 16 minutes, but Jack Butland made a smart save in the away side's goal.
Cheltenham were reduced to 10 men after 19 minutes when Sido Jombati felled Michael Timlin in the middle of the pitch.
It got worse for the away side just before the 30-minute mark when Kane Ferdinand struck from close range to send the home side 1-0 ahead, before Hall added a second with an effort from distance five minutes before the break.
It might have been three moments later when Lee Hills found Freddy Eastwood at the back post, but he headed wide.
Eastwood did add Southend's third five minutes after the break when he tapped home a Hall cross.
Timlim and Southend both came close to adding Southend's fourth just past the 60 minute mark, with the away side struggling to create any chances of note.
The home side did secure their fourth after 67 minutes, however, when Moshni struck from distance after good work from Timlin.
Chances were few and far between in the latter stages, as Southend secured a vital win to boost their promotion hopes.
Matt Law
