WILL Atkinson’s new found goalscoring form secured Southend United a hard fought 1-0 win at Hartlepool United this afternoon.

Having previously gone 39 games without a goal, the Shrimpers midfielder has now netted in his last two outings.

And his latest effort was enough to secure all three points at Victoria Park.

Blues were made to fight hard for the win but wasted a golden chance to open the scoring after just four minutes when a flick from the recalled Jake Cassidy sent the in-form Barry Corr clean through on goal.

But the striker never seemed in complete control of the ball and sent a scuffed left footed shot wide of the right post when he should have done better.

Moments later, Atkinson saw a well struck low shot parried to safety by Hartlepool goalkeeper Scott Flinders before Blues’ other wide-man Stephen McLaughlin fired wide of the right upright with a powerful effort from 25 yards.

With Southend remaining on top, Corr then fired another low effort straight at Flinders from a narrow angle after neat approach play from Cassidy.

But, after surviving the scares, Hartlepool hit back and almost took the lead on the stroke of half time when the experienced Marlon Harewood cut in off the left hand side and unleashing a low 25 yard shot which Blues goalkeeper Daniel Bentley did well to tip wide of the right post.

The Monkeyhangers again went close to scoring right at the start of the second half when Brad Walker poked the ball just inches wide of the left post from 12 yards.

However, with 53 minutes on the clock, it was Southend who took the lead with Atkinson again on target The winger reacted sharply in the box after Corr had fallen to the floor when attempting to reach a deflected McLaughlin shot and, after a neat first touch, the former Bradford City man drilled home an accurate effort from 12 yards.

But Hartlepool reacted well to going behind and came within a whisker of drawing back level just four minutes later when a low, Dan Jones shot was somehow kept out by Michael Timlin on the goal-line as the stretching Shrimpers midfielder slammed the ball against the underside of his own crossbar before the ball was scrambled clear.

With the hosts continuing to attack, Scott Harrison then had a goalbound effort impressively blocked by an onrushing Bentley before Blues boss Phil Brown attempted to steady the ship with a double substitution in the 68th minute.

David Worrall replaced McLaughlin on the wing while Joe Pigott took Cassidy’s place in attack but only a superb piece of defending from John White then stopped Jonathan Franks racing clean through on goal.

The Hartlepool striker seemed destined to test Bentley before White tracked back well to force Franks wide of goal.

But, after surviving the spell of pressure, Blues soon wasted an excellent opportunity to double their lead when Corr latched onto a weak back header from David Mirfin before looping his effort wide of the left post.

That proved to be Corr’s last involvement in the match as he was replaced by Myles Weston in the 72nd minute.

After that, Hartlepool piled on the pressure in search of a late equaliser but Blues stood firm to secure another valuable victory.