SOUTHEND United got back to winning ways with an important 2-1 triumph at Maidenhead United tonight.

The Shrimpers went into the game having not won or scored in their last four outings.

But goals from Adam Crowther and Danny Waldron saw Kevin Maher’s side bag all three points at York Road to move up to 18th in the National League standings.

Blues came close to taking an early lead when Harry Cardwell’s header from a left wing Jack Bridge cross was smartly saved by Maidenhead goalkeeper Craig Ross.

But the Shrimpers were not to be denied for long and, with 12 minutes on the clock, Kevin Maher’s side broke the deadlock with Crowther on target with his first Southend goal.

The defender met an inviting right wing corner from James Morton and scored with a firm header into the left hand side of the net from eight yards.

The goal was the Shrimpers’ first since mid-January and Blues soon came close to adding a second with the recalled Waldron firing wide of the right post from 16 yards before a deflected effort from Noor Husin was well held by Ross.

Bridge then sent a dangerous left wing cross across the face of goal before Maidenhead drew back level on the stroke of half-time from a set piece of their own.

A left wing free-kick from ex Shrimper Sam Barratt found the head of Kevin Lokko who scored with a firm header into the right hand side of the net for his first goal for the club.

At the start of the second half, Charlee Adams sent a long range shot straight at Blues goalkeeper Collin Andeng Ndi before the visitors had appeals for a penalty waved away after Waldron went down in the box when attempting to reach a header from Cardwell.

Shrimpers midfielder Morton then had a swerving long range shot gathered by Ross at the second attempt before the hosts also had penalty shouts waved away after Chanka Zimba went down following a challenge from Crowther.

But, seconds after surviving the scare, Blues regained the lead with Waldron scoring his first goal for the club.

The striker raced into the right hand side of the penalty area and, with 58 minutes on the clock, scored with a low shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Moments later, Bridge curled a 20 yard shot against the top of the crossbar before Blues made a double change in the 77th minute with Henry Sandat and Marcus Dackers replacing Waldron and Cardwell in attack.

However, it was Maidenhead who threatened next with Chanka Zimba having a powerful long range shot tipped wide of the right post by Andeng Ndi.

With play soon switching back to the other end of the field, Blues had another penalty shout waved away by referee Abigail Byrne after Jason Demetriou went down when challenged by Sam Beckwith.

But a third goal was not needed as the Shrimpers saw out six minutes of stoppage time to secure a crucial victory.