REFEREE Abigail Byrne took centre stage as Southend United crashed to a frustrating 1-0 defeat against Yeovil Town at Roots Hall this afternoon.

Byrne red carded Shrimpers goalkeeper Zach Jeacock and head coach Kevin Maher during a frustrating first half which also saw her wave away strong appeals for a Southend penalty.

And Yeovil added to Blues’ frustrations in the 66th minute when a mis-hit cross from James Plant caught out Collin Andeng Ndi on its way into the right hand side of the net.

READ MORE: Shrimpers boss Maher reacts to home defeat

Blues threatened early on with Bim Pepple sending a deflected 20 yard shot just wide of the right post.

But, with 27 minutes on the clock, the Shrimpers were reduced to 10 men when the recalled Jeacock was red carded after handling the ball outside of his penalty area.

The on-loan Lincoln City goalkeeper rushed out trying to stop Pedro Borges scoring but looked to block the shot with his outstretched arm before being sent off by referee Byrne.

Byrne had already yellow carded Blues boss Maher and aggravated sections of the home support with a series of soft free-kick but, on first viewing, the sending off appeared to be the right decision Jeacock’s dismissal led to Andeng Ndi being brought on for Josh Walker as the Shrimpers reshuffled with 10 men.

Blues stood firm and threatened on the stroke of half-time when Pepple battled his way into the left hand side of the penalty area and appeared to be brought down by onrushing Glovers goalkeeper Ollie Wright.

However, Byrne opted to bizarrely award a corner-kick and then added to the Shrimpers’ agony by red carding Maher.

The Blues boss watched on from the directors box in the second half but chances remained few and far between until Yeovil took the lead, in fortuitous fashion, when an overhit left wing cross from Plant flew over the head of Andeng Ndi and nestled in the right hand side of the South Stand net.

The Shrimpers rallied with a triple change in the 75th minute as Cav Miley, Macauley Bonne and George Wind replaced Noor Husin, Jack Bridge and Oli Coker.

But after the alterations, the Glovers threatened with former Blues striker Frank Nouble seeing a low, left footed shot pushed to safety by Andeng Ndi.

The Shrimpers replied with Keenan Appiah-Forson taking the place of James Morton late on but Maher’s side were unable to find their way back into the game.