SOUTHEND United recorded their first win at Tranmere Rovers in 19 years with a hard fought 2-1 victory at Prenton Park this afternoon.

A well taken effort from Jack Payne and a own goal from Tranmere defender will Aimson handed the Shrimpers a 2-0 lead in the first half.

But Max Power’s penalty at the start of the second half brought the hosts back in to the game and Phil Brown’s side had to dig deep to secure their third successive league victory.

That heaped more misery on the struggling home-side but it was them who created the first chance of the game in just fifth minute when Cole Stockton raced clean through on goal.

However, the striker’s low shot was blocked by the legs of Southend goalkeeper Daniel Bentley before Luke Prosser reacted sharply to clear the resulting rebound.

Blues soon hit back with Michael Timlin firing inches wide of the right post from 25 yards and, in the 16th minute, the visitors took the lead with Payne bagging his fifth goal of the season.

The attacking midfielder reacted sharply after David Worrall had headed down Barry Corr’s left wing cross and fired home a simple, close range finish.

Seven minutes later the Shrimpers doubled their lead, with Worrall again the creator.

This time the in-form winger was picked out by a brilliant cross-field pass from Kevan Hurst before charging towards goal.

Worrall’s low shot was blocked by the legs of Tranmere goalkeeper Peter Brezovan but hecould only then look on in horror as defender Aimson headed the ball in to his own goal.

The Shrimpers soon almost madde it 3-0 when Payne tricked his way past two defenders before having a goalbound shot blocked.

Hurst then saw a deflected effort fly inches wide of the right post but Tranmere hit back and almost halved Southend’s lead in the 41st minute when Steve Jennings fired just wide of the left upright from the edge of the penalty area.

Blues stood strong until the half-time break where they were forced in to making their first substitution of the game as Conor Clifford replaced the injured Ryan Leonard in midfield.

Leonard appeared to pick up a groin problem in the first 45 minutes but his departure handed Clifford an opportunity to impress after a frustrating six game spell out of the side.

The Shrimpers were initially on top after the break with Worrall and Payne both having efforts well saved by Brezovan.

But, with 53 minutes on the clock, Tranmere got themselves back into the game, with Power firing home a penalty.

The spot-kick was given after Cian Bolger chopped down Shamir Fenelon inside the area and Power cooly made the made of the opportunity as his chipped his 12 yard shot down the centre of the goal with Bentley diving to his right hand side.

After that, Tranmere continued to attack in pursuit of an equaliser but two brilliant blocks from Adam Thompson stopped the hosts bagging an equaliser.

Jerome Binnom-Williams was also brought on in place of Hurst late on and it was the Shrimpers who came closest to scoring in the dying seconds with Clifford and Payne both almost netting.

But a third goal was not needed for Blues to bag a rare win at Prenton Park.