A LAST-GASP penalty save from Mark Oxley secured Southend United a dramatic 2-1 win against Blackpool at Roots Hall.

The Shrimpers seemed to be cruising towards a third win in succession when goals from Anthony Wordsworth and Simon Cox put Phil Brown’s side 2-0 ahead.

But Kyle Vassell’s smartly taken strike put the visitors back in the game before Oxley denied Jimmy Ryan from the spot deep into stoppage time to make sure of another win for Blues.

Southend – who now sit 12th in the League One table – went ahead after just five minutes when Stephen McLaughlin’s left wing corner picked out Wordsworth at the near post who netted with a neatly caressed half volley into the top left hand corner of the net.

However, Blackpool eventually began to get into the game with Sessi D’Almeida heading over from 12 yards before the visitors came even closer to taking the lead when Kyle Vassell’s saw a powerful left footed shot tipped onto the left post by Oxley.

Moments later, Oxley tipped over a well-struck long range shot from Sean Longstaff before the Shrimpers came close to extending their lead in the 39th minute when McLaughlin teed up Cox whose effort was partially saved by Seasiders goalkeeper Ryan Allsop allowing Tilt to clear the shot off the goal-line.

However, Cox was not to be denied for long and he doubled Blues’ lead immediately after half-time when he capatilised on poor defensive play from Tilt to volley home from close range.

Blackpool replied with Oliver Turton firing wide of the right post when well placed in the area before the visitors got back into the game in the 56th minute when Ryan’s long ball forward was neatly controlled by Vassell who rounded Oxley before firing home.

Seven minutes later the Shrimpers made their first change of the game with Marc-Antoine Fortune replacing Nile Ranger in attack before John White came on for McLaughlin in the 73rd minute.

Theo Robinson then also took the place of Cox before Blues came close to making it 3-1 when Fortune’s low shot was smartly smothered by Allsop.

His opposite number – Oxley – then did well to tip Clark Robertson’s header wide of the right post at the other end of the field before Will Aimson saw his header cleared off the line by Jason Demetriou.

But Blackpool continued to pile on the pressure and, deep into stoppage time, Demetriou pulled down substitute Scott Quigley at the far post and referee John Brooks pointed to the spot.

However, Ryan was not able to make the most of the opportunity as his effort was well saved by Oxley to his left hand side to secure a third win in eight days for the Shrimpers.