SOUTHEND United live to fight another day after Matt Rush bagged the first senior goal of his career to fire the Shrimpers to a 2-1 victory against Leyton Orient.

Rush came off the bench to bag the winner 14 minutes from time.

And, with Barrow losing 1-0 at Tranmere Rovers, Blues remain five points behind their relegation rivals with just two games to go.

The Shrimpers also head to Barrow next weekend but Phil Brown’s side will now also need their rivals to lose at Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday night to keep alive their slight survival hopes After a quiet start to the game, Blues were forced into making a change after 26 minutes when Timothee Dieng went off injured and was replaced by Greg Halford.

Dieng was restored to the starting line-up after missing the last two matches with a hamstring problem but his return to the team was to be shortlived.

The game remained short of action but the visitors did waste a decent chance to open the scoring in the 32nd minute with top scorer Danny Johnson firing over from close range.

Moments later, the O’s came even closer to scoring when a left wing cross from Dan Kemp found Sam Ling who somehow sent a close range effort against the crossbar when he should have hit the back of the net.

After surviving the scare, the Shrimpers hit back and took the lead themselves in the 42nd minute with Cordner heading home a left wing corner from Ricky Holmes.

The goal was the first Blues had scored at Roots Hall since January and was also the first time the Shrimpers had hit the back of the net since Phil Brown’s return.

However, Southend’s lead was to be shortlived as Orient equalised three minutes into stoppage when a deep right free-kick from James Brophy was headed down by Ouss Cisse before Dennis fired home a low shot which deflected in off Cordner.

After the break, Nathan Ferguson curled a 25 yard free-kick wide inches wide of the right post before Blues were forced into another change in the 54th minute when Rush came on to replace an injured Ricky Holmes.

But it was Orient who threatened next with Mark Oxley doing well to deny Johnson with his feet from close range following a right wing cross from Conor Wilkinson.

Blues responded by making a double change in the 70th minute as Shaun Hobson replaced an injured Nathan Ferguson and Louis Walsh took the place of Reeco Hackett-Fairchild out wide.

Shortly after the alterations, Halford’s effort from a long Cordner throw was clawed away by Vigouroux before a deflected right wing cross from Walsh was cleared off the line by Cisse.

However, Southend were not to be denied and regained the lead in the 76th minute, with Rush on target.

The 20-year-old striker, who has been a regular scorer in the under 23s this season, worked space for himself before moving into the left hand of the penalty area and firing home a low shot which deflected in off Dan Happe.

The Shrimpers soon came close to making it 3-1 with Walsh cutting in from the left hand side and seeing a curling effort pushed away by Vigouroux before the O’s replied with Wilkinson being denied by Oxley from close range.

But Blues dug deep and successfully saw out seven minutes of stoppage time to stay alive, for now.