SOUTHEND United slumped to a frustrating 2-1 defeat against Torquay United at Roots Hall this afternoon.
An early goal from Ryan Hanson set the visitors on their way before a deflected effort from Will Goodwin ultimately secured the visitors all three points despite a late header from Shrimpers substitute Chris Wreh.
Blues – who had new signing Kacper Lopata on the bench – had been hoping to build on Monday’s home win over Maidenhead.
But Torquay opened the scoring after just four minutes when Ben Wyatt’s deep left wing cross found Corie Andrews at the far post and he headed the ball back across goal for Ryan Hanson to head home from close range.
Blues replied with Callum Powell curling an effort wide of the right post before Wes Fonguck fired over the crossbar from long range.
Mooney then curled a 25 yard straight at Torquay goalkeeper Rhys Lovett before the Shrimpers midfielder curled a long range free-kick over the crossbar in the final action of the first half.
At the start of the second half, Cav Miley saw a low, 20 yard shot easily held by Lovett before the Torquay goalkeeper parried away a cross-shot from Mooney.
But, after surviving the scares, Torquay hit back and doubled their lead against the run of play in the 61st minute when Goodwin’s deflected 20 yard shot hit the back of the North Bank net via the inside of the left post.
The Shrimpers responded with a double change as Jack Bridge and Wreh replacing Tom Clifford and Aaron Cosgrave.
And Bridge was immediately involved as he cut inside before unleashing a well-struck shot which clipped the top of the crossbar.
Powell then saw a curling shot impressively tipped wide of the right post by Lovett before Wreh headed Bridge’s left wing cross wide of the left post from six yards.
The Shrimpers finally got a goal back in the 86th minute when Powell’s left-wing cross was powerfully headed home by Wreh from eight yards.
Blues continued to push forward and came close to netting a late leveller when Mooney’s well-struck shot was parried away by Lovett.
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