SOUTHEND United fell five points below the League Two play-off places with a shock 2-0 defeat at Barnet on Tuesday night.

Jake Hyde’s first half header and a late strike from player manager Edgar Davids handed the Bees a vital victory in their fight against relegation.

But it was a disappointing evening for Blues, who were well below their best at Underhill.

Southend’s best spell came right at the start of the game and, with three minutes on the clock, Britt Assombalonga fired over from eight yards.

But Barnet soon hit back with Mauro Vilhete having a 20 yard shot tipped around the right post by Blues goalkeeper Paul Smith before the experienced shot stopper easily smothered a low Dani Lopez effort from long range.

Southend replied with Assombalonga shooting wide of the left post from the edge of the penalty area and, in the 18th minute, his strike partner, Barry Corr, curled a 20 yard shot in to the gloves of Graham Stack after Matthew Lund had done well to dispossess Clovis Kamdjo.

Moments later, Assombalonga had a deflected shot from the edge of the penalty area kept out by Stack before Barnet also came close to opening the scoring on the half hour mark when Barry Fuller’s right wing cross was volleyed just past the right post by Lopez.

However, the home-side did not have long to wait for the game’s opening goal as they broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute, with Hyde on target.

The Bees striker was left unmarked at the far post and headed a left wing free kick from Mark Byrne in to the bottom right hand corner of the net from eight yards.

The ease of the goal clearly frustrated Blues centre-back Ryan Cresswell who vented his fury at Smith for not coming off his line.

The home-side, who were skippered by former Holland international Davids, remained on top after the goal with Hyde having a 20 yard shot deflected inches wide of the left post after a poor attempted clearance from Anthony Straker.

From the resulting Byrne corner, Bondz N’Gala had a header parried to safety by Smith to ensure Barnet had just a one goal lead at the break.

That made it 11 games in succession that Southend had failed to score in the first half but it was Barnet who were still pushing forward after the break with Lopez shooting wide of the left post from 18 yards.

Byrne then had a 12 yard shot saved low down to his left hand side by Smith and Blues boss Paul Sturrock responded by making his first change of the night in the 62nd minute with Ryan Leonard coming on to replace Mickey Spillane.

The substitution led to Ben Reeves moving in to the middle, with Leonard down the left and former Plymouth trainee soon registered an effort on target as he controlled a right wing cross from Reeves before sending a half volley from 12 yards straight at Stack.

Blues’ frustrations increased in the 72nd minute when their shouts for handball inside the penalty area against Barnet defender David Stephens were ignored by referee Carl Berry.

After that and, in a further bid to get back in the game, Freddy Eastwood took Assombalonga’s place in attack after 81 minutes before Danny Mayor followed four minutes later after replacing Reeves.

But, just seconds after that final change, Barnet made sure of the win as Byrne’s pass from the right hand side picked out Davids at the back post and his low shot, which squirmed under the body of Smith, was adjudged to have crossed the line before Lopez placed it in to the back of the net.