SOUTHEND United narrowly failed in their bid to reach the quarter-finals of the Essex Senior Cup last night as Grays Athletic won a penalty shoot-out 4-1 at Roots Hall following a goalless draw at the end of 90 minutes.

Graham Coughlan’s men had prevailed in similar circumstances against the Gravelmen’s Ryman League Division One North rivals Waltham Forest in the third tound.

But this time they were twice thwarted by goalkeeper Andy Hall in the space of three penalty kicks, with the visitors’ unblemished record from the spot earning them a place in the last eight.

Custodian Hall was also on-form during the regulation play that preceded penalties as he kept out efforts from Blair Sturrock and Marlon Agyakwa, while opposite number Glenn Morris will also be pleased to have kept a clean sheet on his return to action after injury.

Morris, Sturrock and Coughlan were joined by Anthony Grant and Luke Prosser in a strong Southend line-up, but the match took some time to ignite.

Leon McKenzie prodded a six-minute shot into the side-netting for Grays before Hall claimed Coughlan’s arching header at the other end.

But it was not until midway through the first half that either goalkeeper was truly extended.

Morris made a smart save at his near post when Anthony Ryan latched onto Craig Pope’s incisive through-ball.

However, he was trumped at the other end by former Brentwood Town shotstopper Hall, who was called upon to turn the ball wide of the right-hand post when Sturrock attempted to chest in Anthony Furlonge’s swinging cross from close range.

Just after the half-hour mark, Sturrock seized on a misplaced Louis Dennis pass, advancing to the edge of the penalty area where his driven attempt flew inches wide of the post.

And, minutes later, Shamir Mullings nodded Prosser’s chipped cross wide while unmarked in the middle of the penalty area.

Blues briefly believed they had edged in front in the 33rd minute when good build-up play from Agyakwa, Alex Woodyard and Sturrock led to the well-travelled front man stinging the palms of Hall, who could only push the ball into the path of Teddy Nesbitt.

The young left-footer tapped into the unguarded net, but found his effort disallowed for offside.

Lee Flynn crashed a free-kick over the crossbar for the away side eight minutes before the break, but there was nothing to separate the sides as they went down the tunnel at half-time.

Sturrock smashed over after a surging run from Mullings in the opening stages of the second period while, at the other end, Coughlan had to be watchful to nod Harry Agombar’s teasing centre off the head of the expectant Joao Carlos.

In reply, Mullings fired wide after taking Grant’s clearance in his stride on 55 minutes before the midfielder and Sturrock were withdrawn shortly after the hour mark.

Kenny Beaney curled into Morris’ gloves from 25 yards after working himself into space but, inspired by an energetic Woodyard from the centre of midfield, Blues dominated the final half-an-hour without truly threatening to replicate their most dangerous moment midway through the second period.

Agyakwa had been switched from the right to the left flank after the substitutions, and that allowed him to drift in from the touchline.

Untroubled by any defenders tracking his run, he sent a searing shot arrowing towards the bottom right-hand corner, only for Hall to fling himself to his left to push the ball around the post.

Merrick James-Lewis was also introduced to the action, and his flicked pass released Nesbitt, but Hall advanced off his line to block before the ball was whisked out for a corner.

Later, Nesbitt smashed aimlessly over after receiving a return pass from James Stevens, but the match was destined to go to penalties.

Flynn immediately put the pressure on Blues in the shoot-out by scoring the opener before Hall became the hero, first flying to the left to keep out Stevens’ 12 yarder, then to the right to deny James-Lewis.

In between, Woodyard had coolly slotted home but excellent penalties from Carlos, Dennis and then Pope, who converted via the right-hand upright, sealed Grays’ passage.

Southend United: Morris, Furlonge, Prosser, Woodyard, Coughlan, Artemi, Agyakwa, Grant (James-Lewis 62), Sturrock (Smith 62), Mullings (Stevens 74), Nesbitt.

Subs not used: Chambers & Payne.