It has been another weekend of goal-tastic action from the Npower League Two as Southend remain top of the table and Swindon continue their climb up the play-off places. Reports Andrew Steele-Davis.

Let’s start off at Port Vale, where Swindon, who are one of the form teams in the league at the moment, continued their recent good form. After being held to a goalless draw at home to ten man Bradford last week, Paolo Di Canio’s men were looking to get back to winning ways. Lukas Magera and Lander Gabilondo were brought in for Town, and they made an instant impact when Gabilondo teed Magera up who then unleashed a fierce 20-yard shot just inside the right hand post.

Magera and Gabilondo continued to torment Vale’s defence and their work was rewarded when Magera was fouled in the box by Adam Yates just after the half-time interval. Mehdi Kerrouche, brought on for loanee Jake Jervis stepped up to calmly convert the penalty to lift Swindon up to sixth place in the table.

In a top of the table clash, Oxford travelled to Roots Hall to take on league leaders Southend United. Oxford dominated the first half proceedings however and could have been three up if it were not for Luke Daniels denying Oxford’s Peter Leven three times in the Southend goal.

However, the hosts took the lead just on the stroke on half time when Mark Phillips headed home. Michael Timlin, of course on loan from Swindon, had a perfect chance to make it 2-0 when he was sent clear through on goal but he perhaps had too much time in front of goal as he sliced his effort well wide.

And he lived to regret his missed chance when Oxford levelled. Leven sent in a decent delivery with which right-back Damian Batt headed home with ease. But the inform Ryan Hall unleashed a 25 yarder bullet to secure the three points for Southend and send them two points clear at the top of the table.

A Jo Kuffour hat-trick was the highlight of Gillingham’s 4-3 win over Northampton. Kuffour put the hosts in front with a neat finish and he doubled his and the Gill’s tally with a cheeky back-heel before Northampton’s Saido Berahino made it 2-1 with a fine 25-yard strike which wins this week’s ‘Goal of the Weekend’ award.

Kuffour completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot but goals from Kelvin Langmead and Berahino’s second of the afternoon made it 3-3. But Danny Kedwell scored an injury time penalty to secure the points for Gillingham after Frank Nouble was fouled.

Plymouth came close to a much needed three points but a last gasp goal by Morecambe’s Nick Fenton rescued a point for the faltering Morecambe. Simon Walton crashed home a lovely volley from 25 yards but Fenton fired home late after the hosts failed to clear their lines.

Accrington wins this week’s ‘Home Performance of the Weekend’ award after defeating Bristol Rover’s 2-1. Micah Evans, on loan from Blackburn, scored his first ever Football League goal to give the hosts the lead and open his account for his new club. Kevin Long, also on loan at Stanley made it 2-0 with a superb volley before Joe Anyinsah pulled one back but Stanley held on for the points.

In the ‘Team Performance of the Weekend’, this season’s surprise package Cheltenham Town produced a solid display over Bradford to secure the three points in Yorkshire and send them to a surprise third in the table.

Kaid Mohammed, a Swindon flop, scored the only goal of the game with a low shot from 15 yards which beat keeper Matt Duke in the Bradford goal. Darryl Duffy twice forced Duke into making decent saves but he was nearly caught out by Marlon Pack’s free-kick from his own half.

In a roundup of the other results from the weekend, AFC Wimbledon and Barnet shared the points with a 1-1 draw, Burton Albion beat Macclesfield 1-0, Torquay put in a good performance to beat Crewe 3-0, Dagenham and Redbridge lost again to Shrewsbury Town, Hereford frustrated high flying Crawley Town in their 1-1 draw and Rotherham defeated Aldershot 2-1.

The ‘Player of the Weekend’ award has to go to Jo Kuffour whose sensational hat-trick was enough to earn Gillingham the three points against Northampton.

A mention must also go to Swindon’s trio of Wes Foderingham, Lander Gabilondo and Lukas Magera. Foderingham, who is on loan from Crystal Palace, has now kept five consecutive clean sheets and is now just one game way from equalling a club league record which dates back to the sixty’s. Gabilondo and Magera, meanwhile have not featured much this season but both put in a starring role in Town’s 2-0 win over Port Vale and both will be hoping for a decent run of games.