SOUTHEND United suffered a miserable 2-1 defeat at Maidenhead United last night.
The Shrimps seem to be heading for another positive result, as Tom Clifford shot them before their first visit to York Road Stadium.
But an equalizer from Will De Havilland equalized the home side before Ryan Upward scored the winning goal after a hard-fought free-kick.
Recall Blues midfielder James Dunne looked red to take his later protests too far as Kevin Maher’s side suffered their first league defeat on the road since December.
Before the late drama unfolded, former Shrimps striker Emile Acquah held a header from distance slightly by goalkeeper Steve Arnold.
However, the Blues quickly bounced back and threatened from an own corner that saw Harrison Neal send a long-range effort just past the right post after a Clifford flag was cleared in his path.
Moments later, a 20-yard shot from Clifford was slightly blocked by Maidenhead goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore, but with 17 minutes left, the visitors came even closer to breaking the deadlock.
Dunne – who made his first start since December – is well crossed from the left, but a solid header from Matt Dennis was somehow knocked out by Ashmore.
Dennis then headed over to the left wing cross of Clifford, before also seeing a low, left foot, which was voted by Ashmore.
But after surviving the scare, Maidenhead came in a whisker to take the lead as former Blues loaner Shaun McCoulsky slammed Reece Smith’s long ball forward before slicing his lobster finish off the inside right. Post in the closing action of the first seen. half.
The second period started slowly before Dennis broke out on the right side of the box in the 58th minute before he saw his cross shot from Ashmore.
In response, Reece Smith quickly hit a rebound shot straight at Arnold before the Blues came back to open the scoring in the 63rd minute, with Clifford on target.
Will Atkinson – who shot the side on his 200th appearance – rolled the ball into the way of Clifford in the left side of the penalty area.
And, after making a touch to control the ball, Clifford struck an impressive shot high into the top right corner of the net from 16 yards out.
Maidenhead responded immediately with McCoulsky sending a left foot over the cross as well placed, but the visitors were not long in refusing and got shot in the 72nd corner of the net by Will De Havilland.
The goal ended a barren run for Maidenhead, who had not scored in five games before facing the Shrimpers.
The visitors soon threatened again with Dunne, who shot over the edge of the penalty area, after a good approach play by Dennis. But the game ended dramatically as the Magpies won seven minutes before closing, with Upward bundling the ball home from close range before Dunne’s red card brought further misery to the visitors.
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