AN EVENTFUL week ended with Southend United suffering a 2-1 defeat against Aldershot Town at Roots Hall this afternoon.

Just 24 hours after chairman Ron Martin announced he was looking to sell the Shrimpers, Kevin Maher’s side suffered a fifth setback in succession despite taking the lead in the first half.

A neat finish from Rhys Murphy saw Blues break the deadlock but an effort from Tyler Frost brought Shots back level before a penalty from Joe Partington secured all three points for the visitors.

Recalled Blues midfielder Dan Mooney volleyed wide of the left post from 25 yards early on before the visitors hit back with Justin Amaluzor seeing a deflected low shot saved by Steve Arnold.

But, with 11 minutes on the clock, Shots wasted a great chance to go in front when a right wing cross from Amaluzor found Jack Barham six yards from goal, only for the striker to see his slow shot deflected wide of the right post.

After surviving the scare, Southend hit back and opened the scoring in the 16th minute with the fit-again Murphy on target for the first time since December 2021.

The striker – who has battled back from a serious knee injury – raced onto a fine pass from Mooney before firing an accurate right footed shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Aldershot immediately replied and wasted a big chance to draw back level when ex Blues loanee Tyler Cordner sent Barham clean through on goal before the striker fired well wide of the right post after the ball appeared to bobble up.

Shots midfielder Frost then sent a 20 yard shot just past the right upright in the closing action of the first half.

Aldershot made a change at the break with former Shrimpers midfielder Michael Klass replacing Ochieng and the visitors threatened first in the second half with Oliver Pendlebury having a well struck 30 yard shot smartly held by Arnold.

Blues responded with a double change on the hour mark as Harry Taylor replaced Wes Fonguck in midfielder and Callum Powell took the place of Murphy up front.

But Shots continued to enjoy more of the ball and equalised in the 63rd minute when Frost nipped into the box and scored with a neatly controlled shot into the right hand side of the net from 12 yards.

Blues immediately pushed to regain the lead with Mooney firing wide of the left post from a narrow angle before also shooting over the crossbar from 20 yards.

However, Shots were soon back on top with Frost firing over from just outside the penalty area before the visitors took the lead, from the penalty spot, in the 70th minute.

A weak back header from Ollie Kensdale was latched onto Amaluzor who nipped in ahead of Arnold before being clattered into by the Blues goalkeeper.

Arnold was shown a yellow card for the challenge but Shots took full advantage of the opportunity with Partington sending his penalty into the top right hand corner of the net.

In reply, Powell had a low left footed shot smothered by Aldershot goalkeeper Luca Ashby-Hammond before Taylor sliced an effort wide of the right post after a half cleared corner from Cav Miley.

Blues made their final change in the 86th minute with Chris Wreh replacing Mooney but the hosts rarely threatened late on as their poor run of results continued.

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