SHRIMPERS shot-stopper Steve Mildenhall heroically played through the pain to help his side return to winning ways against Hereford United on Saturday.

The 30-year-old custodian sustained a serious ankle injury when making a save from Matt Done 18 minutes from time.

But, with no substitute keeper on the bench, Mildenhall ignored the advice of the medical staff and somehow continued between the sticks to help Southend secure a 1-0 win “I was in a lot of pain but decided to play on,” said the summer signing from Yeovil Town.

“I just didn’t want to come off and let the team down because we really needed the win.

“There wasn’t a substitute goalkeeper to come on and I felt that I could run it off, although the doctor and physio were advising against it.

“We needed the win and it was a huge relief that their final effort came straight at me as I was really struggling to move.”

Striker Alex Revell was ready to replace Mildenhall before the keeper bravely hobbled back onto the pitch.

And, despite his lack of mobility, he still denied Done again right at the death as Blues ended a run of four successive defeats, with a goal from Lee Barnard, to move up to 16th in the League One standings.

But while his team-mates celebrated the welcome win, Mildenhall was taken to hospital for an X-ray.

That revealed he had not broken his ankle, which was first feared, but the keeper, who will today have an MRI scan on the injury, still seems set for quite a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

“The X-rays have shown that there isn’t a fracture which is better than first thought but the doctor thinks I have severely sprained my ankle and I am going to have a scan today,” he said “It doesn’t look good though as my ankle has ballooned up and I have been on crutches since the end of the match.”

Mildenhall’s bravery earned praise from his manager Steve Tilson who was also relieved to see the keeper continue after deciding to name five outfield players on the bench.

“It just goes to shows Steve’s commitment to the team,” said the Blues boss.

“For him to carry on in such pain was a relief for me because it’s the first time this season I haven’t had a keeper on the bench.

“When he went down I couldn’t believe it but Steve was fantastic to stay on and get the clean sheet.

“I just felt we had a lot of options with everyone fit and that’s why I went with five outfield players for us.

“But I thought we deserved the win. We could have been four or five up at half-time but in the end it was a dogged performance with Steve getting injured and full credit to the lads for digging in to get the win.”