Loan star Reeco has Shrimpers looking up
AN early goal from Reeco Hackett-Fairchild saw Southend beat fellow strugglers Barrow 1-0 at Roots Hall to close the gap at the bottom.
The on-loan Portsmouth forward put the Shrimpers ahead inside three minutes.
The hosts had to play most of the second half with 10 men as defender Greg Halford was sent off in the 52nd minute after picking up two yellow cards.
Southend are now just a point behind Grimsby,
who lost 3-0 at managerless Port Vale.
The hosts had sacked boss John Askey in the week after six games without a victory.
And their reaction was impressive as they went ahead in the eighth minutes through defender Shaun Brisley.
Midfielder Devante Rodney headed in a second after a quarter of an hour, with an own goal from Grimsby defender Luke Waterfall wrapping things up in the 60th minute.
Cambridge made the most of their promotion rivals not being in action as they came from behind to beat Harrogate 2-1 at the Abbey Stadium.
Jack Muldoon gave the visitors the lead in the 10th minute.
The U’s, though, rallied in the second half – which was played out in thick fog – and equalised through substitute Joe Ironside in the 71st minute.
Harrogate substitute Lloyd Kerry was then sent off in the 78th minute for violent conduct after a clash with Harry Darling.
Midfielder Wes Hoolahan scored the winner with nine minutes left.
Cambridge are third, two points off the top, but having played a match more than leaders Carlisle, whose fixture against Leyton Orient
was postponed because of a frozen pitch. Salford’s
game with Colchester and Scunthorpe’s fixture with Bradford were also postponed.