TWO Jack Bridge penalties in the space of six second half minutes secured Southend United a 2-0 victory against Dagenham & Redbridge this afternoon.

Bridge fired the Shrimpers in front from the spot in the 51st minute before also scoring with a second penalty just moments later to make sure of a third victory in four games for Kevin Maher’s side who now just three points outside the play-off positions.

The game – which was played in front of a crowd of 7,345 – was slow to get going.

But Shrimpers striker Harry Cardwell saw a low 12 yard shot saved by Dagenham goalkeeper Elliot Justham low down to his right hand side early on before the visiting custodian also smothered a long range shot from Gus Scott-Morriss.

In reply, former Blues winger Myles Weston cut in from the right hand side before seeing a well-struck left footed shot parried wide of the goal by Southend goalkeeper Collin Andeng Ndi.

A sliding Harry Taylor then did well to stop Inih Effiong charging through on goal before the Shrimpers hit back just before the break with Henry Sandat rolling the ball into the path of Harry Cardwell who sprinted forward and saw a left footed shot diverted over the crossbar by Justham.

But Blues started the second half strongly and went in front in the 51st minute, with Bridge on target from the penalty spot.

Referee Daniel Middleton awarded the penalty after Bridge had been brought down in the left hand side of the area by Josh Hare.

And, despite missing his previous effort from the spot at Boreham Wood, Bridge confidently fired into his penalty into the left hand side of the night with Justham diving in the opposite direction.

Six minutes later, the Shrimpers were awarded another penalty when Sandat was brought down in the box by Harry Phipps and Bridge again made the most of the opportunity as he sent his shot into the left hand side of the South Stand net for his 12th goal of the seasom.

Blues made their first change of the afternoon in the 68th minute with Callum Powell taking the place of Sandat in attack.

And Powell was soon involved as he found himself clean through on goal, only for his shot to be blocked the legs of Justham.

The Shrimpers brought on both Jason Demetriou and Wes Fonguck late on and comfortably saw out the closing stages to pick up their first win over Dagenham since 2015.

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