SOUTHEND United slumped to their second defeat in succession this afternoon, losing 2-0 at Aldershot Town.

Blues had been hoping to bounce back from Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Gateshead.

But the Shrimpers were unable to recover from gifting the Shots the lead on the stroke of half-time.

And, after going 11 league games without losing, Kevin Maher’s side have now been seen off twice in the space of eight days.

Blues were forced into the attacking alterations with Callum Powell missing out with a knee problem and Harry Cardwell joining him on the sidelines with a foot injury.

Aaron Cosgrave was therefore handed his first start since September and his early header was collected by Aldershot goalkeeper Luca Ashby-Hammond before the fit-again Dan Mooney curled a 20 yard shot wide of the left post.

Ashby-Hammond then did well to tip Wes Fonguck’s right wing cross away from Cosgrave and, just moments later, Cosgrave flicked a near post volley wide of the left post after a long throw from Gus Scott-Morriss.

Blues continued to enjoy more of the ball but without forcing Ashby-Hammond into action.

But, with 38 minutes on the clock, the hosts broke the deadlock against the run of play following some catastrophic defending from Blues.

The visitors attempted to play the ball out from the back but Cav Miley overhit his ball back to Kacper Lopata who then rushed to his right to pass to Shaun Hobson.

However, Hobson failed to bring the ball under control which left Justin Amaluzor with just Collin Andeng Ndi to beat and he made no mistake with an assured low finish.

The goal boosted Aldershot and they soon threatened to score a second when Ody Alfa saw a well saved 20 yard shot parried to safety by Andeng Ndi.

Aldershot stayed on top immediately after the break and made it 2-0 in the 48th minute when a left-wing free-kick from Ollie Harfield found the head of Corey Jordan who nodded an impressive effort into the top right hand corner of the net.

Blues boss Maher responded by making his first change of the game in the 55th minute as Chris Wreh replaced Ollie Kensdale in an attacking alteration.

After the substitution, Scott-Morriss headed an inviting left wing cross from Jack Bridge well off target before Mooney’s deflected 20 yard shot was easily gathered by Ashby-Hammond.

But, with play soon switching back to the other end of the field, Shots wasted a golden chance to make it 3-0 with Amaluzor playing a left wing cross into the path of a sliding Tommy Willard whose close range shot was well kept out by Andeng Ndi when a goal seemed certain.

In reply, Blues midfielder Fonguck saw a curling effort clawed away by Ashby-Hammond before Fonguck collected a fine through ball from Mooney and saw a deflected effort easily collected by the keeper.

In a further bid to get back into the game the Shrimpers made their second change in the 76th minute with Henry Sandat coming on for his first team debut in place of Cosgrave.

A third substitution followed six minutes later with Harry Taylor replacing Fonguck in midfield but Blues never looked like getting back into the game.