BARRY Corr bagged his fifth goal in six games to fire Southend United to a 1-0 win against Burton Albion at Roots Hall.
Corr headed home a left wing cross from Kevan Hurst to secure all three points for the Shrimpers.
And the narrow victory also secured Southend a fifth place finish in the final League Two standings.
Phil Brown’s side will now face Burton again in the play-offs and they will do so on the back of a hard fought three points, thanks to Corr’s 13th goal of the season.
His latest effort was his fifth in six games and came following an excellently worked move which started when Ryan Leonard drilled a fine cross-field pass in to the path of Kevan Hurst on the left flank.
The winger then delivered a pin point, left footed cross which Corr nodded in to the back of the net from eight yards.
Burton came close to equalising just before the break when Phil Edwards’ excellent through ball picked out Robbie Weir but his close range shot was smartly blocked by the on-rushing Daniel Bentley.
After the break, Blues were back on top and almost doubled their lead when a well struck, long range shot from Ryan Leonard was gathered by goalkeeper Dean Lyness at the second attempt.
The visiting shot stopper then also did well to smother a low effort from Shrimpers skipper John White before the hosts made their first change of the afternoon in the 66th minute with Bedsente Gomis coming on to replace Jacob Murphy.
Eight minutes, Blues made their second change with Anthony Straker coming on for Michael Timlin before Eastwood took Corr’s place in attack with 78 minutes on the clock.
After the changes, Burton came close to equalising when Chris Hussey’s 25 yard free-kick was tipped over by Bentley.
But the Shrimpers were able to hang on to secure all three points and home advantage in the second leg of the play-offs.
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