TEAM captain Efe Sodje was thrilled with a win which he believes puts Town in pole position to claim promotion.

The 31-year-old led a powerful defensive effort which earned a fourth clean sheet in seven starts for Paul Rachubka.

"It was a hard game in which Southend battled every inch of the way, so to win it and take three points was just unbelievable," said the Third Division's Player of the Month for March.

"There was a little bit of panic towards the end because the game was so tight, but I thought we defended well overall and deserved a clean sheet.

"With the way the other results have gone, this was a big, big win for us and it means we can look ahead very positively indeed.

"It is obviously hard in a physical sense to be playing two games in three days with Southend at home and Kidderminster away, but it's a matter of being mentally tough as well.

"If we keep the same focus which we've had during this good run then we will be fine.

"Physically we are strong and I'm sure our fitness will come through. That's all down to the work we did in pre-season when the gaffer and Taff were running us up and down through the woods, but it is paying off for us now when we need to be strong."

* Town Juniors had a successful finale to their season when beating Middlesbrough 3-0 in the FA Academy Premier League at Emley.

Mark Sheridan, Joe Shaw and Gavin Huxall were the Town scorers.