SOUTHEND United slumped to a dismal 2-0 defeat against Maidenhead United at Roots Hall this afternoon.

Two headed goals from centre-back Kevin Lokko saw the Shrimpers end the National League encounter empty handed.

And Kevin Maher’s side have now triumphed just once in six games.

Southend started on the front foot with Gus Scott-Morriss heading over a right wing corner from Jack Bridge before Josh Walker headed wide following a quickly taken corner.

But, after surviving the scares, Maidenhead broke the deadlock in the 13th minute with a right wing free-kick from ex Shrimpers midfielder Nathan Ferguson found the head of centre-back Lokko who scored with a looping header high into the right hand side of the net.

Blues hit back and came close to equalising midway through the half when Bridge cut in from the left hand side and unleashed a swerving right footed shot which was pushed wide of the right post by Maidenhead goalkeeper Craig Ross.

Moments later, the Shrimpers were left frustrated again when Adam Crowther appeared to be pulled down in the box when attempting to reach a right wing corner from Bridge but referee Ruebyn Ricardo opted to wave play on.

Crowther needed treatment following the clash which left him with a cut face before Harry Taylor was yellow carded for his part in the protests for a penalty.

Southend continued to enjoy more of the ball but it was the visitors who threatened just before the break with Reece Smith just missing a right wing cross from Shawn McCoulsky.

Moments later, a left wing corner from Ferguson also caused problems in the Shrimpers box but the hosts managed to keep the ball during a goalmouth scramble – despite the visitors insisting the ball had crossed the line.

Blues threatened at the start of the second half when Nathan Ralph’s left wing cross was parried out by Ross before Josh Walker’s scuffed shot from the rebound was cleared off the line by Owen Cochrane.

The Shrimpers continued to try and get back into the game but, with 53 minutes on the clock, Scott-Morriss’ took his passion a bit too far and launched into a terrible tackle on Reece Smith which resulted in the wing-back being shown his fifth yellow card of the campaign.

Soon after the caution, Walker fired over after Bridge’s left wing corner had only been partially cleared before Maher’s side made their first change of the afternoon on the hour mark with James Morton replacing George Moncur in midfield.

Morton soon saw a curling free-kick pushed away by Ross before the visitors doubled their lead in the 68th minute, following another corner.

Ferguson’s delivery from the right flank was headed down towards goal by Lokko whose effort was deflected into the roof of his own net by Scott-Morriss.

The Shrimpers responded with a double change which saw Taylor Foran replace Adam Crowther and Bim Pepple come on for Keenan Appiah-Forson.

Shortly after the alterations, McCoulsky fired wide of the right post from 12 yards before Blues made another substitution with Joe Gubbins taking the place of Bonne.

And the afternoon was summed up late on when an unmarked Husin fired way over the crossbar from inside the penalty area,