A FINE first half goal from Southend United midfielder Dan Mooney saw off Oldham Athletic at Roots Hall this afternoon to secure the Shrimpers their first win of the season.
The summer signing fired home following a well-worked move on the half hour mark.
And, despite Blues wasting a number of good chances to extend their lead, his effort proved to be enough for Kevin Maher’s side to pick up all three points.
Southend striker Wreh curled an early left footed shot wide of the left post before he came even closer to opening the scoring in the 20th minute as his low effort from 20 yards bounced back off the inside of the right post.
Wreh continued to cause the Latics problems and soon turned well in the left hand side of the penalty area before sending a deflected low shot across the face of goal.
With Blues remaining on top, Callum Powell then fired over from just inside the penalty area after neat approach play from Wes Fonguck but the hosts were not to be denied for long, with Mooney firing them in front in the 30th minute.
A well worked move resulted in Fonguck rolling the ball across to Mooney who steadied himself well before sending a low 20 yards hot into the bottom right hand corner of the net.
Moments later, Mooney curled a long range effort inches over the crossbar and, in the 36th minute, Powell saw a 25 yard shot gathered by Oldham goalkeeper Magnus Norman.
The Shrimpers then had shouts for a penalty waved away after a cross from Callum Powell struck the arm of Oldham defender Harrison McGahey in the closing action of the first half.
After the break, Latics midfielder Ben Tollitt had a 20 yard shot parried to safety by Blues goalkeeper Collin Andeng Ndi who came into the starting line-up late on after Steve Arnold suffered a back spasm in the warm up.
The Shrimpers replied with Powell having a low, left footed shot parried away by Norman before the visiting custodian easily collected a low, 18 yard shot from Wreh.
But, with 56 minutes on the clock, the hosts wasted a golden chance to double their lead when Powell latched onto a loose defensive pass only to fire over with just Norman left to beat.
The Shrimpers stayed in front and made their first change of the afternoon in the 69th minute with Oli Coker replacing Mooney in midfield.
And, second after the alteration, Blues came within a whisker of doubling their lead as a low shot from Powell struck the inside of the left post before rolling across the six yard box in agonising fashion.
Southend made a double change in the 78th minute with Jon Benton replacing Wes Fonguck and new signing Aaron Cosgrave in attack for his debut.
Benton was soon involved as he fired over from 20 yards before visiting skipper Liam Hogan limped off with what appeared to a serious looking ankle injury.
Having used all three of their subs it left Oldham down to 10 men late on and Blues nearly took advantage with Powell firing wide of the right post after cutting in from the left hand side in the dying minutes of the game.
Southend United: Andeng Ndi, Demetriou, Hobson, Kensdale, Lomas, Ralph, Miley, Fonguck (Benton 78), Mooney (Coker 69), Wreh (Cosgrave 78), Powell.
Subs not used: Bridge & Crowhurst
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