SOUTHEND United added to the club’s celebrations by securing a 2-1 win at Kidderminster Harriers this afternoon.

News of the consortium exchanging contracts with chairman Ron Martin was confirmed just before kick-off at the Aggborough Stadium.

And Blues made it even more of an afternoon to remember by bagging all three points thanks to first half goals from Oli Coker and Nathan Ralph.

Despite the pre-match boost for Kevin Maher’s side it was the home-side who threatened first with Ashley Hemmings sending an early header straight at fit-again Blues goalkeeper Collin Andeng Ndi.

But the visitors hit back to open the scoring in the sixth minute, with Coker on target for the fourth time this season.

The Shrimpers midfielder was picked out by a fine left wing cross from Jack Bridge and netted, at the back post, with a volley goalkeeper Christian Dibble could only parry into the back of the net.

Moments later, Wes Fonguck sent a tame 18 yard shot straight at Dibble after being teed up by Mauro Vilhete.

But the hosts hit back and equalised in the 27th minute with Hemmings lashing an impressive left footed shot into the roof of the net from just inside the penalty area.

In reply, a fine left wing cross from Nathan Ralph then fizzed across the face of goal before Vilhete – who was making his first Blues start – intercepted a Brooklyn Kabongolo pass meant for Fonguck when the midfielder would have been well placed to shoot at goal.

However, the Shrimpers were not to be denied and regained the lead on the stroke of half-time when a left wing corner from Bridge was headed home by Ralph from close range via the inside of the right post.

After the break, Kidderminster skipper Shane Byrne fired over from long range before Blues made their first change of the game just past the hour mark with Henry Sandat coming on for Fonguck.

Sandat -who has returned to the Shrimpers on loan – lined up alongside Kabongolo in attack with Vilhete moving back into a midfield role.

The match remained short of goalmouth action until the Shrimpers were somehow denied a penalty 13 minutes when Sandat was brought down by the advancing Dibble.

However, referee Dale Baines bizarrely opted to wave play on before showing yellow cards to both Noor Husin and boss Maher for their subsequent protests.

A deflected free-kick from Coker then fizzed just wide of the right post before the hosts exerted their own spell of pressure, forcing Andeng Ndi to make two fine saves in quick succession.

The Shrimpers shot-stopper somehow clawed away a close range header from Amari Morgan-Smith following a left wing corner from Jack Lambert.

And, just seconds later, Andeng Ndi made another fine save to again stop Morgan-Smith scoring with a header.

After surviving the scares, Blues then wasted a golden chance to make it 3-1 with Sandat running clean through on goal.

But, with just Dibble left to beat, the youngster opted for a bizarre chipped finish with the Kidderminster defence scrambled to safety.

The miss almost increased in significance late on by Andeng Ndi did well to parry away a powerful shot from Morgan-Smith to make sure of Southend’s sixth straight win against Kidderminster.