SOUTHEND Saxons’ first team coach Josh Ward was happy with the vital 28-25 win against Westcombe Park - but not the performance.

A late penalty kick from Adam Dobson secured victory for Saxons against their relegation rivals at the foot of the London & SE Premier Division.

But Ward knows Southend must improve if they are to work their way out of trouble.

“It was an important game so we’re happy to have got the win but internally we’re disappointed with how we performed,” said Ward.

“We weren’t able to get the continuity or momentum in the game that we would have ideally liked but the pleasing thing is we were still able to win, which is something we might not have been able to do a few months ago.

“But we also know we will have to step things up, especially against Westcliff at the weekend.”

Southend’s win at Warners Bridge moved them off the foot of the table, ahead of Westcombe Park, and saw them rise up to 12th in the 14 team table.

The visitors opened the scoring with a penalty before Saxons levelled with one of their own from Tom Ramsey.

Westcombe Park hit back with an unconverted try but Southend replied with another penalty from Ramsey and then took the lead when Laurence Joel stripped the ball in the tackle on the Saxons’ 22 before sprinting through for a try which put the hosts 11-8 ahead at half-time.

After the break, Park regained the lead with a try before the match swung back Southend’s way as Joel teed up Jack McVeigh to touch down and Ramsey’s conversion put them 18-13 ahead.

Westcombe Park soon replied with an unconverted try to level the scores but Southend immediately replied when Ramsey broke down the far wing before offloading to McVeigh, who bagged his second try of the afternoon.

But Westcombe Park replied with a try of their own to level the score at 25-25 before a penalty from Dobson - inside the final five minutes - decided the match in Southend’s favour.

However, Ward was keen for the whole team to take the credit.

“Adam takes the plaudits for the kick but you have to look deeper than that and everyone played a part,” said Ward.

“The team kept their heads and did well to get us into a good position to force the mistake which led to the penalty.”

Southend will now look to build on their victory at home to local rivals Westcliff this weekend.

Westcliff were without a game on Saturday as their scheduled clash with Hertford was postponed because of a frozen pitch.

Southend Saxons: Barton, O’Brien, Joel, Vaughan, McVeigh, Ramsey, Sprangers, Briggs, Forster-Knight, Bailey, Wood, Maggiolo, Read, Morrison, Shields