A bruised foot kept Shaun Goater out of Southend's line up on Saturday and he missed win seven of the incredible Shrimper streak.

A brace from Mark Bentley gave Steve Tilson's men a 2-1 victory over Gillingham, equalling the club's 81-year-old consecutive win record and keeping them in second place in League One on goal difference.

Goater's injury eased the selection headache facing the Shrimpers boss, with Tilson bringing back last season's top scorer Freddy Eastwood into the starting XI for the game following his brace on Tuesday after coming off the bench for the Bermudian.

With the Southend fans buying up their 1,500 allocation in quick time, it was party time at the Priestfield Stadium as Bentley's strikes in the 65th and 70th minute put the newly-promoted Shrimpers ahead and despite Alan Pouton pulling one back for the Gills, it wasn't enough to spoil the Essex boys' party.

Elsewhere, Khano Smith came off the bench in the 74th minute for the New England Revolution in their 2-0 defeat to the San Jose Earthquake at the Gillette Stadium.

Smith replaced Marshall Leonard but couldn't help his side, already a man down after the dismissal of Daniel Hernandez for elbowing, get back into the game against the Western Conference leaders.

The Revs, who have already clinched a play-off berth, have just two regular season games left.