JOSH Walker’s goal on the stroke of half-time secured Southend United a hard-fought 1-0 win at Rochdale this afternoon.

The Shrimpers striker swept the ball home just seconds before the break before dogged defending made sure of all three points in Kevin Maher’s 150th game as the club’s head coach.

After a quiet start to the game, George Wind – who was making his first Shrimpers start – saw his close range header from Joe Gubbins’ deep left wing cross blocked in front of goal by Rochdale defender Sam Beckwith.

However, Blues continues to enjoy more of the ball and came close to taking the lead in the 26th minute when James Morton’s left wing free-kick saw Nathan Ralph leap high above Rochdale goalkeeper David Robson only to send his header wide of the right post.

But Southend continued to attack and took the lead right on the stoke of half-time, with Walker on target for the second time this season.

The striker reacted sharply after Ralph had played a brilliant right wing cross from Noor Husin back into the box and, despite missing the ball completely with his first shot, Walker sent a well-taken left footed effort into the back of the net from close range.

After the break, Rochdale’s Tarryn Allarakhia saw a well struck shot from a narrow angle pushed wide of the target by Collin Andeng Ndi before Kairo Mitchell headed a dangerous right wing cross from Allarakhia over the crossbar.

Moments later, a poor backpass from Ralph teed up Connor McBride but the half-time substitute was forced wide by Andeng Ndi who then got down well low to his left hand side to divert the ball behind for a corner.

With Rochdale remaining on the front foot, Jili Buyabu saw a deflected 20 yard shot loop over the crossbar before the Shrimpers made their first change of the game in the 64th minute with Keenan Appiah-Forson replacing Oli Coker in midfield.

Blues then made a double change in the 72nd minute with Macauley Bonne coming on for Bim Pepple in attack and Jack Bridge taking the place of Walker.

Shortly after his introduction, Bonne sliced a half volleyed shot wide of the right post after a long throw from Adam Crowther had only been half cleared.

Bonne then sent another looping effort wide of the target after a long clearance from Andeng Ndi but the Shrimpers shot-stopper was then called upon with his hands as he impressively palmed away a curling left-footed shot from Allarakhia as Blues held on to record their second successive 1-0 win on the road.