SOUTHEND United’s poor run of results continued with a 1-0 defeat at Altrincham this afternoon.

An 80th minute penalty from Robins substitute Regan Linney saw the hosts come out on top and condemned the Shrimpers to a sixth successive defeat for the first time during Kevin Maher’s spell in charge.

Blues had chances of their own during a rather drab game but both Jack Bridge and Callum Powell failed to convert from close range during an instantly forgettable afternoon.

Altrincham threatened first with Joe Hugill firing over the crossbar from 25 yards before Southend hit back with Cav Miley seeing a scuffed shot gathered by the home-side’s goalkeeper Ollie Byrne.

Moments later, the hosts hit back with Miles Welch-Hayes heading a right wing cross from Josh Lundstram before Aaron Bennett fired wide of the left post from the edge of the penalty area.

Bennett then sent a long range effort over the crossbar before Blues came close to taking the lead when a high left wing cross from Miley found Nathan Ralph whose header clipped the outside of the right post.

The Shrimpers threatened again just before the break as Harry Taylor’s shot was deflected into the path of Bridge who seemed certain to score from close range, only for the wing-back to somehow see his shot blocked on the line by Lewis Baines.

Baines was involved again after the break when his right wing cross was deflected just wide of the right post by Ollie Kensdale before Jordan Hulme fired wide of opposite upright from just inside the penalty area.

Blues replied by making their first change of the game in the 61st minute as Powell replaced Rhys Murphy in attack and the visitors soon started to threaten more with Ralph and Shaun Hobson both delivering dangerous left wing crosses into the box without a team-mate getting a touch.

Bridge then had a 25 yard shot pushed wide of the right post by Byrne before the Shrimpers made their second change in the 74th minute as Dan Mooney entered the action against his former side, replacing Wes Fonguck.

But, with 80 minutes on the clock, Altrincham went ahead from the penalty spot after a sliding Ralph brought down in the Linney in the right hand side of the penalty area.

And Linney made the most of the opportunity as he calmly sent his 12 yard shot into the centre of the goal as Southend conceded a penalty for the third game in succession. 

However, Blues immediately wasted a golden chance to draw back level when Mooney darted into the box and teed up Powell who controlled the ball before sending a left footed shot wide of the right post from six yards when he should have scored.

In a further bid to draw back level, Maher made a third change with Jake Hyde replacing Bridge but the Shrimpers failed to threaten late on as they slumped to a sixth straight loss for the first time since November 2020. 

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