SOUTHEND United returned to Roots Hall with a 3-1 defeat against Gillingham this afternoon.

The Shrimpers hosted the League Two side in their first home fixture since April.

But it was the Gills who triumphed as Kevin Maher’s side suffered their first setback of pre-season.

After a quiet start to the game, Blues striker Harry Cardwell volleyed an inviting left wing cross from Jack Bridge off target before Gus Scott-Morriss wasted a clearer chance to score in the 22nd minute.

A deep left wing cross from Bridge dropped to the feet of the unmarked right wing-back but he could only drag a low shot wide of the left post.

Moments later, a left wing free-kick from James Morton also picked out Scott-Morriss at the back post but last season’s player of the year again dragged his effort across the face of goal, with summer signing Josh Walker just failing to get his head to the ball.

But, after surviving the scares, Gillingham broke the deadlock in confusing and controversial fashion in the 42nd minute.

Aaron Rowe won the ball back from Harry Taylor in the centre of the park before advancing forward and rolling a pass into the path of summer signing Marcus Wyllie down the right hand side.

Wyllie played in Robbie McKenzie whose cross was nodded against the inside of the left post by Jack Nolan and appeared to be cleared off the line by Oli Coker.

However, confusion surrounded the stadium as the Shrimpers soon re-started the game with a kick off to indicate a goal had been given.

Moments later, Gills doubled their lead as Wyllie played in Jayden Clarke who advanced down the left hand side of the pitch before scoring with a low, left footed shot into the right hand side of the South Stand net.

But Blues rallied immediately after the break, with Walker on target for the third time this pre-season.

The former Dagenham & Redbridge forward fought hard before sweeping a low, left footed shot into the left hand side of the goal.

However the visitors soon rallied and made it 3-1 in the 55th minute following an inviting inswinging cross from the right hand side by Nolan.

The dangerous delivery posed problems for the Shrimpers and hit the back of the net via the inside of the left post with Wyllie close to applying the final touch with his head.

Moments later, Wyllie wasted a good chance to make it 4-1 as he sent a close range header wide of the left post before the visitors changed all 10 of their outfield players just past the hour mark.

With 65 minutes on the clock, Blues made their first two changes with Nathan Ralph and Danny Waldron replacing Taylor and Walker before three further alterations came five minutes later with trialists Rafferty Pedder and James Hillson entering the action along with Jack Wood.

Pedder replaced Coker in midfield while Wood came on for Cardwell up top and Hillson took the place of Andeng Ndi in goal.

Pedder was soon involved as his left wing cross was headed wide of the right post by Waldron before the Shrimpers made a further change in the 79th minute with trialist Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo coming on for Bridge down the left hand side.

Pedder continued to look lively and came close to scoring late on after his well-struck shot from Waldron’s pass, was impressively saved by Jake Turner.

Southend United: Andeng Ndi (Hillson 71), Scott-Morriss, Taylor (Waldron 65), Kensdale, Gubbins, Bridge (Otseh-Taiwo 79), Miley, Morton, Coker (Pedder 71), Walker (Ralph 65), Cardwell (Wood 71).

2,225 (278 from Gillingham)