SUCH is the controversial reputation of referee Trevor Kettle that news of him taking charge of a Southend United game is initially met by a series of groans from anyone connected with the Shrimpers.

But, delve a bit deeper and it soon becomes apparent that Kettle should be a welcome appointment at Roots Hall.

And it certainly proved that way against Carlisle United at the weekend.

Blues brushed aside the struggling Cumbrians with relative ease in the second half, thanks to goals from Michael Timlin and Barry Corr.

That, rather incredibly, means the Shrimpers have now not lost any of the 18 matches Kettle has taken charge of during his career.

And both managers agreed he played a pivotal part in Blues coming out on top at the weekend when he opted not to award the visitors a penalty midway through the second half.

The controversy surrounded Shrimpers’ young goalkeeper Ted Smith who came charging out to the right hand side of his penalty area to try and beat visiting midfielder Steven Rigg to Kyle Dempsey’s pass forward.

From my vantage point, Smith seemed to get a slight touch on the ball before bringing down Rigg but it still seemed certain a penalty would be awarded, only for Kettle to wave play on.

After that, Blues dictated play and began to look far more dangerous in the final third than they have for quite some time at Roots Hall.

The final score-line could and probably should have been far greater than just the two goals.

But all that mattered was securing the three points in order for the Shrimpers to get back to winning ways after suffering two successive defeats.

The victory also pushed Phil Brown’s side right back in to the reckoning with three of the four teams above them in the League Two table all unable to win.

As a result, Blues now sit three points behind third place Wycombe Wanderers.

And, as they attempt to close that gap during the remaining 13 matches of the season, the right partnerships seem to have been established In attack, Corr and Joe Pigott carry a goal threat which the Shrimpers have been lacking for most of the season.

Carlisle chief Keith Curle heaped praise on the striking duo at the final whistle on Saturday after Corr had netted for the third game in succession.

Alongside him, Pigott worked hard but was presented with very few opportunities in front of goal.

However, the on loan Charlton Athletic striker has bagged five goals in nine games since coming to the club and Blues have now netted 14 times in their last eight outings.

In the eight games before that, the Shrimpers scored just seven times and had nowhere near enough firepower to secure a top three finish.

That is no longer the case but the new found attacking intent has left Southend slightly more open at the back.

That was highlighted at Stevenage when the home-side ran riot in the closing stages to condemn Blues to a 4-2 defeat.

Shrimpers boss Brown opted to shake up his defence following the reverse and brought Luke Prosser back in at the heart of the back four, along with Adam Thompson.

For Prosser it was his first start since being sent off at Northampton Town right at the start of January and he responded in fine fashion with a commanding display.

That resulted in Blues’ keeping a clean sheet and should also see Prosser reestablish himself as a regular in the back four.

With either the ever improving Thompson or the experienced Adam Barrett alongside him, the Shrimpers are likely to have their best possible pairing.

That bodes well for the remainder of the season, providing Blues’ injury concerns surrounding their goalkeepers do not prove to be serious.

However, Ted Smith should be fit enough to continue between the sticks and Daniel Bentley is likely to soon be back in contention as Southend seek a return to League One.

With fixtures coming thick and fast in the next few weeks, Blues are about to enter what could well prove to be a decisive stage of the season.

Plenty of twists and turns lie in wait and, after Saturday, the Shrimpers will also be hoping, so too does Trevor Kettle as referee!