SOUTHEND United’s winless start to the season continued with a heart-breaking 4-3 defeat at Wycombe Wanderers this afternoon.

The Shrimpers seemed set for their first victory of the season with a brace from Stephen Humphrys putting them 3-1 ahead at the start of the second half.

However, the Chairboys staged a late fightback with two goals right at the death condemning Blues to a fifth successive League defeat at the start of a season for the first time in their 113-year-history.

Southend began the clash brightly and opened the scoring in the 11th minute, with Brandon Goodship scoring his first goal for the Shrimpers.

The recalled Humphrys started the move down the left hand before teeing up the on-rushing Ethan Hamilton.

But, as the ball broke loose, Goodship reacted sharply to score with a neatly taken left-footed shot from 12 yards.

In reply, Anthony Stewart headed Joe Jacobson’s right-wing free-kick over the crossbar from close range before Darius Charles fired wide of the right post from close range.

However, after surviving the scares, Southend hit back to double their lead with Humphrys scoring his first goal of the season on the half hour mark.

The striker picked the ball up on the right hand side and cut inside before curling an impressive 20 yard shot into the left hand side of the net.

But, six minutes later, Wycombe halved the Shrimpers lead with Mark Milligan netting an own goal.

The Blues skipper rushed back in a bid to stop Wycombe’s break forward but could only send the ball flying into the bottom left hand corner of the net from 18 yards.

However, Blues restored a two goal cushion just two minutes into the second half with Humphrys scoring his second goal of the game.

The striker picked up the ball on the edge of the penalty area and netted with an excellent swerving shot which flew into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

But, eight minutes later, Wycombe replied when David Wheeler’s long range shot fortuitously flew into the path of Scott Kashket who neatly controlled the ball before scoring with his left foot from close range.

Kashket then also fired over from a promising position before Blues made their first change of the afternoon on the hour mark with Layton Ndukwu replacing Goodship.

Yet, it was Wycombe who continued to threaten with Wheeler heading against the crossbar from 12 yards before Dominic Gape sent a long range effort crashing against the left post from long range.

In response, Blues made their second change of the afternoon with Theo Robinson coming on for Humphrys but the hosts continued to push for an equaliser with Nathan Bishop doing well to block Wheeler’s effort.

Adebayo Akinfenwa then headed over from close range but Wycombe were not to be denied and the Chairboys equalised in the 89th minute with Stewart slotting home from 12 yards.

But the drama was not over yet and, two minutes into stoppage time, Wycombe grabbed all three points with Kashket cutting in from the right hand side to score with a well-taken left-footed shot.