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Nathan Ferguson scored a spectacular long-range goal to help Southend rise off the foot of the League Two table and deny Forest Green the chance to go top, with a surprise 3-1 away victory.

Shaun Hobson's sumptuous first-half volley and Tim Dieng's strike after the break was capped by Ferguson's 70th minute thunderbolt.

Jamille Matt pulled a goal back for Rovers four minutes from time on a chastening night for Mark Cooper's side.

Resurgent Southend opened the scoring after 20 minutes - defender Hobson thumping in a volley beyond a static Lewis Thomas after the ball dropped to him on the edge of the box from a partially cleared Kyle Taylor free-kick.

Rovers had to wait until the 45th minute to muster their first shot in anger - Odin Bailey inducing a gloved response from Mark Oxley.

Southend made it 2-0 when Simeon Akinola drove into the box for Dieng to curl home in the 55th minute.

And Ferguson's searing shot from distance which flew into the net was the pick of the goals with 20 minutes to go.

Matt's 12th goal of the season from a Jake Young cross with four minutes to go was scant reward for Rovers as Southend moved one point above the drop zone.

Match report supplied by PA Media.