JOE Pigott’s fifth goal in four games fired Southend United to a 1-0 win against Port Vale at Roots Hall this afternoon.

The in-form forward bundled home the only goal of the game in the 63rd minute.

And his latest effort was enough to secure Phil Brown’s side their fifth win in six games.

But, despite the final score-line, it was Vale who went close to scoring after just three minutes when Uche Ikpeazu battled past Luke Prosser before seeing his goalbound effort blocked by Blues captain John White.

In reply, the Shrimpers soon also threatened when Pigott pulled the ball back into the path of Ryan Leonard who fired over the crossbar from 18 yards.

With the topsy, turvy start continuing, Vale winger Enoch Andoh had a deflected 20 yard effort palmed to safety by Southend goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.

But Blues soon replied with Myles Westin cutting in off the right flank and sending a low, left footed shot inches wide of the right post from 20 yards.

The Shrimpers went even closer to opening the scoring in the 13th minute when John White’s header from Ben Coker’s left wing corner fell to Joe Pigott whose effort struck a defender on the goal-line before crashing against the right post.

Vale soon hit back with former Southend midfielder Anthony Grant unleashing a 20 yard shot which struck Andoh and flew just wide of the left post.

Having survived the scare, Blues soon replied with great from Gary Deegan and Pigott resulting in Weston slicing an 18 yard effort wide of the left post.

Weston, who bagged his first goal in 18 months at Crawley Town in the week, then wasted a clearer chance to score in the 34th minute when David Mooney played him through on goal.

But, on the stretch, Weston could only send his low side wide of the left upright when he should have done better.

At the start of the second half, Vale winger Andoh saw a rasping effort pushed to safety by Bentley before Colin Daniel burst forward and fired wide of the left post from the edge of the penalty area.

In a bid to get back into the game, Shrimpers boss Phil Brown made his first change of the afternoon on the hour mark with Anthony Wordsworth coming on to replace Gary Deegan.

And the substitute made an immediate impression as, just three minutes after his arrival, the midfielder made the game’s only goal.

Racing onto a pass from Coker, the midfielder delivered an excellent low cross from the left hand side of the penalty area which Pigott bundled into the back of the net from close range.

Port Vale came close to equalising when substitute Byron Moore sent a low, 20 yard shot inches wide of the left post before the Shrimpers made their final change in the 80th minute with David Worrall coming on to replace Mooney.

But the visitors continued to attack in search of an equaliser with Andoh having a low volley smothered at his near post by Bentley before Blues comfortably saw out the closing stages to record another victory at Roots Hall.