SOUTHEND United suffered a humiliating FA Cup exit at Roots Hall this afternoon losing 2-1 to Conference club Chester.

Blues fought back from going a goal behind when Barry Corr fired home a first half penalty.

But Craig Mahon bagged the winning goal after the break to send the Shrimpers crashing out of the competition at the first hurdle.

Chester took just five minutes to open the scoring when Peter Winn’s inswinging free-kick from the right hand side was headed home from close range by right-back Ben Heneghan.

Blues hit back with Myles Weston sending a long range shot just past the right post but Chester soon responded with striker Craig Hobson having a low effort from 18 yards well saved down to his right hand side by Southend goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.

His opposite number, Jon Worsnop then did well block a close range effort from Weston before the Shrimpers drew back level in the 31st minute, with Corr on target with a penalty.

The spot-kick was given after Blues captain John White had been brought down by John Rooney, allowing Corr to drill his spot-kick in to the bottom left hand corner of the net with Worsnop diving in the opposite direction as the striker bagged his 50th goal of the club.

However, Chester then came close to taking the lead right on the stroke of half-time when Rooney’s low shot from the left hand side was cleared off the line at the far post by Gary Deegan.

At the start of the second half, Jakub Sokolik came close to putting Blues in front when he fired inches over the crossbar after David Worrall’s left wing corner had dropped down in to his path.

But, in the 51st minute, it was Chester who retook the lead when Craig Mahon cut in off the right flank and drilled a low, left footed shot in to the right hand side of the goal.

The Shrimpers hit back with White shooting inside wide of the right post and Worrall having a close range header parried out by Worsnop.

In a further bid to get back in to the game, Blues boss Phil Brown made a double change on the hour mark with Kevan Hurst coming on for Worrall and Shaq Coulthirst replacing Deegan.

Worrall’s departure was heavily jeered by the Shrimpers fans who soon saw a third change in the 71st minute with Jack Payne coming on for Corr.

Payne came close to netting an equaliser with a right footed shot which flew inches past the right post from 10 yards.

But, in truth, Southend barely threatened late on and Chester’s place in the second round draw was very well deserved.