TEN-MAN Southend United slumped to a frustrating 1-0 defeat at Boreham Wood this afternoon.

Shrimpers midfielder Abu Ogogo was shown two yellow cards in quick succession midway through the second half.

And Boreham made the most of their extra man with Tyrone Marsh scoring the only goal of the game seven minutes from time.

Blues, who remain in the relegation zone, also had head coach Kevin Maher red carded late on to cap another miserable afternoon

Table-topping Boreham threatened early on when an early Frankie Raymond corner was headed inches over by Will Evans before the hosts came even closer to taking the lead with Josh Rees seeing his volley, from Jacob Mendy Mendy’s left wing cross, impressively tipped over by the fit-again Steve Arnold.

Moments later, Arnold fumbled a long range free-kick from Tyrone Marsh over the crossbar in unconvincing fashion.

Blues soon replied with Rhys Murphy sending a curling 20 yard shot wide of the right post from 20 yards and the visitors came even closer to scoring on the stroke of half-time with Sam Dalby heading Zak Brunt’s right-wing free-kick wide of the right post from close range.

After the break, Will Evans’ six yard header was easily held by Blues goalkeeper Arnold before the visitors replied with Brunt seeing his well struck long range free-kick smartly smothered by Taye Ashby-Hammond.

With play soon switching back to the other end of the field, Arnold easily collected a weak volley from Scott Boden before the Blues custodian also kept out a powerful 25 yard shot from Kane Smith.

Arnold then did well to tip over a powerful long range effort from Mufuta before Blues were reduced to 10 men in the 66th minute, with Ogogo shown two yellow cards in a matter of seconds.

The midfielder picked up his first caution for not reverting 10 yards from a Boreham Wood corner and was then issued with an immediate second yellow card for something he said to referee Aaron Jackon.

Blues reshuffled with Nathan Ferguson replacing Dalby but Boreham Wood pushed forward with their extra man and came close to taking the lead when Marsh headed wide of the left post from eight yards.

Marsh then sent an angled effort wide of the left post from close range before the striker netted what proved to be the only goal of the game, with 83 minutes on the clock.

The striker reacted quickly after Arnold had parried out a long range shot from Raymond and squeezed an effort home from a narrow angle.

Blues immediately responded with Louis Walsh replacing Brunt but the visitors suffered more misery late on with Maher being sent from the dug-out for taking his protests too far.