SOUTHEND United let slip the lead to suffer their first defeat of the season at Dorking Wanderers tonight.

Harry Cardwell fired the Shrimpers into an early lead with his third goal in three games.

But a poor backpass from Noor Husin gifted Ryan Seager an equaliser for the hosts before Jason Prior’s header in the 79th minute secured Dorking a 2-1 win.

Blues dominated the majority of the first half and broke the deadlock in just the second minute, with Cardwell on target for the third game in succession.

A fine move down the left hand side resulted in Dan Mooney teeing up Jack Bridge who advanced towards the penalty area before delivering a low pass into the path of Cardwell and the striker made no mistake with an assured close range finish high into the top right hand corner of the net.

Moments later the Shrimpers wasted a good chance to double their lead as a fine free-kick from Mooney found Ollie Kensdale at the far post, only for the defender to somehow send his close range effort away from a goal when it seemed certain to be 2-0.

With Blues remaining on top, Oli Coker – who was making the first senior start for the Shrimpers – had a well struck 25 yard shot pushed to safety by Dorking goalkeeper Harrison Male.

The Wanderers custodian then clawed away a close range effort from Cardwell before Gus Scott-Morriss fired just wide of the right post from 20 yards.

In reply, Dorking’s Sebastian Bowerman scuffed a left footed shot straight at Blues goalkeeper Collin Andeng Ndi but play soon switched back to the end of the field with Mooney sending a well-struck shot, from just outside the penalty area, over the crossbar.

The Shrimpers continued to push for a second goal and, with 33 minutes on the clock, a brilliant through ball from Harry Taylor teed up Cardwell who could not quite bring the ball under control before seeing his shot kept out by Male.

And those missed opportunities came back to haunt Blues in the 34th minute when a misplaced backpass from Noor Husin was latched onto by Seager who sent a low shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Blues hit back with Cav Miley seeing a 25 yard shot smothered by Male before Mooney curled an effort over the crossbar at the start of the second half.

Briggs then did likewise at the other end of the field before the Shrimpers made their first change of the night on the hour mark with Wes Fonguck replacing Coker in the centre of the park.

But five minutes later Blues were left holding their breath when Kensdale brought down Prior when the Wanderers striker seemed to be heading towards goal.

However, Kensdale was shown just a yellow card for the challenge and, shortly after the mistimed challenge, Cardwell fired wide of the right post after a fine run and cross down the left hand side from Nathan Ralph.

Shrimpers boss Kevin Maher made a second change in the 71st minute with Callum Powell replacing Mooney but nine minutes later it was the hosts who took the lead.

A deep right wing free-kick from Aaron Kuhl was headed back across goal by Daniel Gallagher, enabling Prior to nod home from close range at the far post.

Blues responded by bringing on Jack Wood in place of Husin and the midfielder sent a low 20 yard shot straight at Male in the closing minutes.