SOUTHEND United’s meeting with Mansfield Town on Good Friday may not have been one of their more difficult matches this season but it could well prove to be one of the most important.

For the Shrimpers 2-0 triumph against the Stags at Roots Hall enabled them to regather some momentum at the most pivotal stage of the season.

And it also saw them get back to winning ways after a frustrating fortnight of action.

The disappointing spell began with an incredibly painful defeat at table-topping Burton Albion before being held to a dull goalless draw with struggling Cambridge.

After that a 500 mile round trip to Bury proved to be in vain after the game at Gigg Lane was abandoned after just six minutes due to a waterlogged pitch.

But those woes were washed away against Mansfield as two goals in the opening 27 minutes enabled the Shrimpers to secure a much needed success.

Barry Corr was again among the goals and the in-form striker has now bagged eight goals in his last nine games.

The Irishman now also has 14 strikes to his name this season, making it his most prolific season since the 2010/11 campaign when he hit the back of the net 21 times.

However, most importantly Corr’s fine form – which has come since he started playing in a two man attack – has added a more dangerous dimension to a Shrimpers side who had been struggling to score with much regularity earlier on in the season.

But Corr is now the seventh top scorer in League Two and will arguably be the side’s most important player during the remainder of the season as Blues bid to get back into League One.

Things will also need to be right at the other end of the field for that to happen though and it was the return of Adam Barrett in the Southend defence that most caught the eye against the Stags.

Barrett remains a hugely popular figure among the supporters due to the performances and passion he produced during his successful first spell with the club.

But since returning to Roots Hall, the defender has found it hard to force his way into the starting line-up.

In fact, prior to Friday’s encounter, Barrett had started just one game since coming back to the club.

Yet Luke Prosser being forced to the sidelines with whiplash injuries sustained when he was knocked unconscious during the 0-0 draw with Cambridge United has opened the door to Barrett.

And he more than made the most of his opportunity against the Stags, producing an all action display at the heart of the defence.

Barrett will now be hoping that can be the sign of things to come and alongside him for now, will be Cian Bolger who probably has an even bigger point to prove.

Bolger came to the club last summer, joining from Bolton Wanderers for £25,000 to become the Shrimpers’ most expensive signing in six seasons.

But the Irishman has been unable to nail down a regular starting slot and will now be desperate to show his worth during Adam Thompson’s absence with a shoulder problem.

Thompson was forced off in the early exchanges against the Stags but goalkeeper Daniel Bentley was still able to secure a ninth successive clean sheet at home meaning he has still not conceded a goal at Roots Hall since October.

Adding to the Shrimpers’ delight, the four teams below them in the table all failed to win while third placed Wycombe Wanderers were surprisingly seen off at home to Oxford United.

Blues are therefore now eight points behind the Chairboys with a game in hand but, with such minimal room for error, a place in the play-offs still seems most likely.

Once there, tougher tests than Friday will undoubtedly lie in store.

But the comfortable triumph against the Stags was still a step in the right direction and would certainly have lifted the Shrimpers’ spirits ahead of a vital few games which will decide their destiny this season.