'Tin Pot' Shots returned from Essex with all three points, having completed the double over the self acclaimed 'Thames Estuary Galactico's' this season. Danny Hylton's 59th minute header was enough to secure victory, thanks to another sound defensive performance throughout.
With a few knocks, bumps and injuries coming into this game, Shots manager Dean Holdsworth was forced to shuffle his pack a little. Luckily though, he had players returning too, so Adam Mekki, Josh Payne and Troy Brown and Peter Vincenti all returned to the starting line-up, whilst Wilko Risser - scorer of the only goal in Saturday's narrow victory over Bradford failed to make the squad. Guy Madjo dropped to the bench, alongside loanee Rob Sinclair, who had done so well coming on just three days earlier.
The first half was a dour affair, with few clear cut chances at either end. The home side dominated possession, but as Shots know only too well themselves, possession alone does not win football matches. Shots defended well as a team and made it hard for the Shrimpers to break through, forcing them to shoot from long range and cross from deep. At the heart of defence, young Sonny Bradley continued to go from strength to strength, snuffing out the home side time after time.
The second half was much more even. Shots finally started to feed Mekki down the right flank and he began to trouble the home defence, winning a couple of corners for Shots and then on the hour, significantly, a free kick on the edge of the box. Josh Payne took it from the right, it was half cleared, but Darren Jones sent back in a cracking cross from the by-line and Danny Hylton rose at the far post to head home. 1-0 Shots!
The goal knocked the stuffing out of Southend, who's home form had been patchy and who's confidence looked fragile. They huffed and puffed but were never going to blow Shots defence down, with Herd, Bradley, Jones and Straker all on their games and Jamie Young's handling superb throughout. In front of them, the midfield worked tirelessly, with Vincenti the pick of the bunch.
Holdsworth brought on the fresh legs of Madjo and Sinclair for Mekki and Payne. Then with just a couple of minutes to go, Hylton received a standing ovation from the Shots faithful, as he was replaced by Ben Smith.
There was one final scare for Shots as the fourth official held up his board to indicate SIX minutes of added time would be played, but they need not have worried, as Holdsworth's men saw it out with ease and the win moved Shots up to 11th place in League Two.
Shots: Young 7 Herd 7 Straker 7 Jones 8 Bradley 8 Mekki 7 (Sinclair) Payne 7 (Madjo) Morris 7 Brown 7 Vincenti 8 Hylton 7 (Smith) Subs not used: Clement, Doughty. Att: 4,580 (with 145 Shots fans)