SOUTHEND United’s club record equaling run of unbeaten results was ended by Swindon Town in the southern area semi final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tonight.

Blair Sturrock fired Blues in front against his former side just past the hour mark at Roots Hall.

But the Robins, who had been the last team to beat Southend 17 games ago, hit back to triumph 2-1 with goals from captain Paul Caddis and substitute Ronan Murray.

Murray’s winner came just two minutes after he had come off the bench but the start to the game was far less eventful.

It eventually came to life in the 18th minute of the match when Swindon striker Jake Jervis fired just inches wide of the right post with a low, left footed shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Southend replied with Ryan Hall shooting well wide of the left post after a jinking run in off the right flank before Blues twice came close to breaking the deadlock in quick succession.

With 24 minutes on the clock, Sturrock’s well struck 12 yard volley from Sean Clohessy’s right wing cross was pushed over by Swindon goalkeeper Wesley Foderingham.

And, from the resulting corner which was taken short, Anthony Grant sent an angled 25 yard shot crashing against the top of the crossbar with his left foot.

Swindon then almost netted in the 33rd minute when Lander Gabilondo raced in behind Sean Clohessy’s down the visitors’ left flank.

He immediately delivered an inviting cross which a sliding Matt Ritchie put just wide at the back post from six yards but Blues hit back with Hall firing straight at Foderingham with a skimming shot from 20 yards.

Southend again threatened five minutes before the break when a left wing cross from Neil Harris eventually arrived at the feet of Luke Prosser.

But the makeshift winger saw his six yard shot brilliantly diverted to safety by Swindon defender Aden Flint.

In reply, Town winger Ritchie forced Blues goalkeeper Luke Daniels in to a solid save with a deflected low shot from 25 yards to ensure the first half ended goalless.

Daniels was again forced in to action right at the start of the second period as he tipped a low free-kick from Alessandro Cibocchi around the right post.

However, it was Southend who went in front in the 62nd minute when Hall teed up Clohessy down the right hand side and his deep cross was met by Prosser at the back post.

His pass rebounded kindly in to the path of Sturrock who stabbed a six yard shot in to the top left hand corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

Swindon came close to an immediate equaliser when Jonathan Smith saw a low effort smartly smothered by Daniels.

But the Robins did draw back level in the 69th minute when captain Caddis unleashed a swerving 20 yard shot which flew high in to the left hand side of the goal.

The effort also opened the right back’s goalscoring account for the season and forced Blues boss Paul Sturrock in to making a double change as both Liam Dickinson and Jean-Paul Kalala entered the action in place of Harris and Prosser.

Seconds after the changes, Peter Gilbert had a scorching 25 yard shot parried to safety by Foderingham but eight minutes from time it was Swindon who bagged the winner.

Gabilondon was the provider as he delivered a left wing cross which was headed home by Ipswich Town loanee Murray just two minutes after he had come off the bench.

Sturrock immediately threw on Lee Sawyer hoping he could have a similar impact but Blues were unable to conjure up a late equaliser as their dreams of advancing to Wembley came to an end.