RYAN Lowe’s stoppage time penalty meant Southend United’s season came to an end with a 3-2 defeat at Bury this afternoon.

The Shrimpers twice took the lead during an entertaining first half at Gigg Lane with Franck Moussa and David Mooney both on target.

But the Shakers bagged two equalisers and then made sure of a dramatic late victory when Lowe fired home from the spot.

The defeat was Blues’ fifth in succession and condemned them to a 15th place finish in League One.

However, the visitors began brightly and took just eight minutes to open the scoring with Moussa scoring on his first start since returning to the club.

The Belgian winger teed himself up on the edge of the penalty area and drilled an impressive, low, left footed shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.

The Shrimpers continued to threaten with Jack Bridge’s excellent left wing cross evading a cluster of bodies inside the penalty area.

But, after surviving the scare, Bury hit back and drew back level in the 21st minute, with Adam Barrett netting an unfortunate own goal.

The Southend defender had been attempting to cut out Jacob Mellis’ right wing cross at the near post but his sliding intervention resulted in the ball working its way past Shrimpers goalkeeper Ted Smith.

However, Blues were level for just two minutes as Mooney soon restored the visitors’ lead with eighth goal of the season.

Mooney, who lined up in a right wing role, reacted sharply inside the penalty area and fired home a well struck shot from 12 yards via the inside of the right post.

Tyrone Barnett then wasted a great chance to put the Shrimpers further in front as he sent a left footed shot wide of the left post from a great position after being teed up by Bridge.

But the missed opportunity soon came back to haunt Blues as Bury equalised for a second time in the 29th minute, with Ryan Lowe on target.

The striker – who was lining up for the Shakers for the last time – was picked out by Danny Mayor’s pass and netted with a weak right footed shot Smith should probably have kept out low down to his right hand side.

Blues immediately replied with Ryan Leonard firing straight at Bury goalkeeper Chris Neal before David Worrall sent a 25 yard shot against the outside of the left post right on the stroke of half-time.

The start of the second period was far less eventful before the Shrimpers made their first change of the afternoon in the 56th minute with Jack Payne coming on to replace Bridge in what is expected to be his final game appearance for the club.

But, shortly after his introduction, Payne sent a delightful cross-field pass into the path of Mooney who sent a fine effort crashing against the crossbar.

A second substitution soon followed for Southend with Adam Thompson replacing Piotr Malarczyk at the heart of the back four in the 62nd minute before Sam McQueen came on for Moussa five minutes later.

After the changes, Blues continued to threaten with Payne dragging an effort across the face of goal.

But, just as the game seemed to petering out for a draw, referee Trevor Kettle pointed to the spot on the advice of his assistant who adjudged McQueen to have handled the ball.

And Lowe made the most of the opportunity by sending the penalty low into the left hand side of the net despite Smith diving in the right direction.