SOUTHEND United’s first home game of the season ended in disappointment this afternoon as highly-fancied Stockport County recorded a 1-0 win at Roots Hall.

The Shrimpers had been hoping to build on their opening day win at King’s Lynn.

But an early effort from John Rooney saw the Hatters secure all three points.

Stockport assembled an expensive looking squad in the summer and came close to taking the lead in the opening 10 minutes when Arjan Raikhy saw his shot smartly saved by Steve Arnold low down to his right hand side.

Blues replied with Nathan Ferguson having a tame long range effort easily saved by Ben Hinchcliffe before the visitors hit back to bag the only goal on the game in the 15th minute, with Rooney on target.

The midfielder – who is the brother of Manchester United legend Wayne – collected the ball in the right hand side of the penalty area and drilled a well struck shot into the left hand side of the net.

The Shrimpers immediately suffered another blow with midfielder Abu Ogogo having to be taken off injured.

He was replaced by Terrell Egbri before Blues replied with Ferguson firing just past the right post from 20 yards.

Moments later, a snap shot from Harry Phillips was pushed wide of the left post by Hinchcliffe before Rhys Murphy headed Jason Demetriou’s left wing cross over the crossbar in the final action of the first half.

The second half was slow to get going and, in a bid to improve, Blues boss Phil Brown made his second change of the game in the 64th minute with Matt Dennis replacing Jack Bridge down the left hand side.

The Shrimpers began to enjoy more of the ball and had strong shouts for a penalty waved away in the 76th minute when Murphy appeared to be pulled back by Jordan Keane when attempting to reach Josh Coulson’s downward header.

But Blues were unable to draw back level with Murphy firing just wide of the right post from 20 yards late on.