SOUTHEND United slumped to a miserable 2-1 defeat at Maidenhead United tonight.

The Shrimpers seemed to be heading for another positive result when Tom Clifford fired them in front on their first ever visit to the York Road Stadium.

But an equaliser from Will De Havilland brought the hosts level before Ryan Upward grabbed the winning goal following a hotly contested free-kick.

Recalled Blues midfielder James Dunne saw red for taking his subsequent protests too far as Kevin Maher’s side suffered their first league defeat on the road since December.

Before the late drama unfolded, former Shrimpers striker Emile Acquah had a close range header easily held by goalkeeper Steve Arnold.

However, Blues soon hit back and threatened from a corner of their own which saw Harrison Neal send a long range effort just wide of the right post after a flag kick from Clifford had been cleared into his path.

Moments later, a 20 yard shot from Clifford was easily held by Maidenhead goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore but, with 17 minutes on the clock, the visitors came even closer to breaking the deadlock.

Dunne – who was making his first start since December – crossed well from the left hand side but a firm header from Matt Dennis was somehow clawed out by Ashmore.

Dennis then headed over a left wing cross from Clifford before he also saw a low, left footed shot smothered by Ashmore.

But, after surviving the scares, Maidenhead came within a whisker of taking the lead when ex Blues loanee Shaun McCoulsky latched onto Reece Smith’s long ball forward before seeing his lobbed finish bounce back off the inside of the right post in the closing action of the first half.

The second period started sluggishly before Dennis burst into the right hand side of the box in the 58th minute before seeing his cross-shot cut out by Ashmore.

In reply, Reece Smith soon scuffed a back post shot straight at Arnold before Blues bounced back to open the scoring in the 63rd minute, with Clifford on target.

Will Atkinson – who skippered the side on his 200th appearance – rolled the ball into the path of Clifford in the left hand side of the penalty area.

And, after taking a touch to control the ball, Clifford slammed a stunning shot high into the top right hand corner of the net from 16 yards.

Maidenhead immediately replied with McCoulsky sending a left footed shot over the crossbar when well placed but the hosts were not to be denied for long and drew back level in the 72nd minute when Charlee Adams’ right wing free-kick was headed into the top left hand corner of the net by Will De Havilland.

The goal ended a barren run for Maidenhead who had not scored in five games prior to facing the Shrimpers.

The visitors soon threatened again with Dunne firing over from the edge of the penalty area after neat approach play from Dennis. But the game ended in dramatic fashion as the Magpies clinched victory seven minutes from time with Upward bundling the ball home from close range before Dunne’s red card heaped further misery on the visitors.