A DETERMINED Southend United display lit up Roots Hall tonight – just hours after the club had been due in court over a disputed energy bill.

The civil hearing – which had been called for the company to get access to the ground – will now take place at the start of October.

But Blues brushed aside those issues to record a 2-0 win against Maidenhead United with a threadbare squad.

The Shrimpers were able to add goalkeeper David Martin and midfielder Mauro Vilhete to their squad just before kick-off but were still only able to select two substitutes.

However, Blues were still able to secure all three points in a game which was held up for four minutes in the first half by protesting supporters.

Southend came close to taking the lead when an inswinging right wing cross from Dan Mooney was missed by Maidenhead defender Remy Clerima but goalkeeper Craig Ross got down well to his right hand side to stop it hitting the back of the net.

Moments later, Jack Wood cut in from the left hand side before delivering a low cross shot which seemed to hit both Ross and the outside of the left post before going behind for a corner.

With play switching back to the other end of the field, the visitors had shouts for a penalty waved away after former Blues winger Ashley Nathaniel-George went to ground inside the area.

But, after Maidenhead’s protest died down, they started from the Shrimpers supporters who threw tennis balls and toy rats onto the pitch while chanting for the club’s chairman Ron Martin to sell the club.

Once play resumed Shrimpers striker Harry Cardwell headed a Jack Bridge cross over the top of the North Bank net before Oli Coker clipped the outside of the right post with a curling free-kick from the left flank.

Mooney then had a curling left footed shot pushed away by Ross who then also diverted a shot from Cav Miley wide of the left post.

In reply, Casey Petitt fired over from 20 yards before Blues hit back and opened the scoring in the 73rd minute, with Jack Bridge on target for the penalty spot.

The pace of Harry Cardwell saw him race in behind the Maidenhead defence and roll the ball back into the path of Wood who cut inside his man before being brought down by Remy Clemira.

Referee Stephen Parkinson immediately pointed to the spot, enabling Bridge to step forward and confidently fire his penalty high into the centre of the goal.

Blues made their first change of the night in the 88th minute with Mauro Vilhete replacing Dan Mooney for his debut.

And a second goal followed in stoppage time with Wes Fonguck superbly making space for himself down the left hand side before surging into the penalty area and scoring with a curling right footed shot which hit the back of the net via the inside of the right post.