AN UNBELIEVABLE late effort from 17-year-old striker Charlie Kelman was not enough to stop Southend United suffering a 3-2 defeat against Plymouth Argyle this afternoon.

Kelman, who made his League debut as a second half substitute, netted from close to the halfway line in stoppage time.

But the second from bottom Pilgrims were still able to secure all three points.

After a quiet start to the game, only a fine last ditch sliding challenge from John White stopped Freddie Ladapo in his tracks when the former Southend forward appeared to be clean through on goal.

Moments later, Shrimpers youngster Isaac Hutchinson fired over at the far post but, with 21 minutes on the clock, the visitors broke the deadlock following a mistake from Stephen Hendrie.

The Southend left-back sent a tame header back into the penalty area and that enabled Antoni Sarcevic to drill a powerful low shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

With 34 minutes on the clock, Blues suffered another blow when Harry Bunn limped off injured and was replaced out wide by Michael Kightly.

But the new look Shrimpers came close to equalising in the 43rd minute when Timothee Dieng’s header from Sam Mantom’s right wing corner was nodded off the line by David Fox.

After surviving the scare, Plymouth hit back and wasted a huge chance to double their lead on the stroke of half-time when Ladapo raced clean through on goal, only to see his effort well saved by Shrimpers shot-stopper Nathan Bishop.

Ruben Lameiras then fired inches wide of the left post from 20 yards but, four minutes after the break, the visitors made it 2-0 when Fox’s long ball forward found Ladapo completed unmarked and the striker strode into the penalty area before sending a low shot into the left hand side of the net.

Blues attempted to get back into the game by bringing on teenage striker Charlie Kelman in place of Isaac Hutchinson.

But it was the Pilgrims who remained on top and, in the 73rd minute, the visitors extended their lead when Ruben Lameiras netted from six yards.

Southend got back into the game five minutes from time when Cox netted from the penalty spot after Mantom’s well-struck shot was adjudged to have been handled in the box.

And deep into stoppage time came Kelman’s memorable moment as he netted with an outrageous effort from close to the halfway line.

But the strike was not enough to prevent a second home defeat in the space of five days for the Shrimpers.