Lee Barnard struck an injury-time winner to give Southend all three points at home to Gillingham.
Banard tapped in from six yards after a long cross from Simon Francis had been nodded across goal by Alan McCormack.
Despite the goal, former Shrimpers goalkeeper Simon Royce was superb, saving a long-range Francis shot and an earlier first-half chance from Barnard.
The Gills were unlucky to lose with an Andy Barcham header cleared off the line and Mark Bentley firing over.
Southend manager Steve Tilson told BBC Essex: "It was a great night for everyone; myself, the fans and the players.
"The players gave us everything and the fans got right behind us. It's given everyone a big lift. It was a massive relief in the end.
"A fantastic result, fantastic performance, loads of energy, great attitude and to score when we did was obviously the best time and it was a great finish."
Gillingham manager Mark Stimson told BBC Radio Kent:
"I thought we had done enough for a draw.
"We thought we had kept him (Lee Barnard) quiet but he didn't switch off and it was a good finish but very disappointing for us."
Live text and stats
Friday, 30 October 2009
League One
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Southend
1-0
Gillingham
FT
(HT 0-0)
Barnard 90+3
Southend
01 Mildenhall
02 Francis
06 Barrett
18 Herd
04 Christophe
07 Grant yellow card
08 McCormack yellow card
14 Moussa
09 Barnard yellow card
10 Walker yellow card
26 Laurent
Substitutes
24 Joyce,
32 Whittaker,
22 O'Keefe,
33 Okai,
31 Asante
Gillingham
01 Royce
03 Nutter yellow card (Palmer 78)
16 Gowling yellow card
20 Fry yellow card
02 Fuller yellow card
04 Lewis
08 Bentley
26 Weston
10 Jackson
11 Barcham
21 Oli yellow card (Maher 70)
Substitutes
23 Julian,
07 Maher,
09 Palmer,
24 Yussuff,
27 Rooney,
28 Payne
Ref: WardAtt: 7,830
SOUTHEND
GILLINGHAM
Possession
Southend48%
Gillingham52%
Attempts on target
Southend8
Gillingham6
Attempts off target
Southend5
Gillingham2
Corners
Southend11
Gillingham4
Fouls
Southend18
Gillingham13
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:24 The referee brings the game to a close.
90:00+2:29 Assist on the goal came from Alan McCormack.
90:00+2:29 GOAL - Lee Barnard:Southend 1 - 0 Gillingham Lee Barnard fires in a goal from inside the area to the top right corner of the goal. Southend 1-0 Gillingham.
90:00+2:20 Simon Francis sends in a cross.
90:00+1:06 Corner taken right-footed by Simon Francis, Mark Bentley makes a clearance.
90:00+0:01 The ball is sent over by Chris Palmer.
87:43 Unfair challenge on Josh Gowling by Adam Barrett results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Simon Royce.
87:07 Barry Fuller challenges Johnny Herd unfairly and gives away a free kick. Simon Francis restarts play with the free kick.
85:48 Chris Palmer restarts play with the free kick.
85:48 Booking The referee shows Alan McCormack a yellow card for persistent infringement.
85:43 Foul by Alan McCormack on Curtis Weston, free kick awarded.
83:45 Effort from just outside the area by Matt Fry goes over the bar.
83:33 Kevin Maher takes a shot. James Walker gets a block in.
82:22 Strike comes in from Kevin Maher from the free kick, Franck Moussa gets a block in.
82:22 Booking James Walker goes into the referee's book.
82:16 Free kick awarded for a foul by James Walker on Simeon Jackson.
81:33 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Anthony Grant by Simeon Jackson. Simon Francis takes the free kick.
80:37 Simon Francis delivers the ball, Matt Fry makes a clearance.
79:24 Foul by Kevin Maher on James Walker, free kick awarded. Steve Mildenhall takes the free kick.
79:17 Chris Palmer delivers the ball.
76:51 Direct free kick taken by Simon Royce.
76:51 Substitution John Nutter leaves the field to be replaced by Chris Palmer.
76:51 Corner from the left by-line taken by Simon Francis, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Curtis Weston by Adam Barrett.
76:44 The ball is sent over by Franck Moussa, clearance by Josh Gowling.
72:20 Outswinging corner taken by John Nutter from the left by-line, clearance by Francis Laurent.
72:06 The ball is delivered by John Nutter, Anthony Grant makes a clearance.
71:41 Corner taken by John Nutter from the right by-line played to the near post, Simon Francis manages to make a clearance.
71:34 Centre by Mark Bentley, clearance made by Jean Francois Christophe.
69:50 Barry Fuller takes the free kick.
69:50 Substitution Dennis Oli leaves the field to be replaced by Kevin Maher.
69:50 Foul by Jean Francois Christophe on Mark Bentley, free kick awarded.
68:30 The ball is delivered by Simon Francis, Adam Barrett has a header from inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.
68:30 Booking Barry Fuller receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.
68:10 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Johnny Herd by Barry Fuller.
67:08 Free kick crossed right-footed by Simon Francis from right channel.
67:08 Booking Dennis Oli is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.
66:58 Unfair challenge on Francis Laurent by Dennis Oli results in a free kick.
66:07 Headed from the edge of the area by Jean Francois Christophe goes wide of the left-hand post.
65:15 Simon Francis takes the free kick.
65:15 Booking Booking for Josh Gowling for unsporting behaviour.
64:59 Josh Gowling challenges Lee Barnard unfairly and gives away a free kick.
64:11 Lee Barnard takes a shot. Save made by Simon Royce.
63:26 Effort on goal by Mark Bentley from inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the bar.
62:10 A cross is delivered by Barry Fuller, Simeon Jackson takes a shot. Anthony Grant gets a block in.
61:17 A cross is delivered by Franck Moussa.
60:36 Anthony Grant takes the direct free kick.
60:36 Booking The referee cautions John Nutter for unsporting behaviour.
60:24 John Nutter gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Francis Laurent.
55:46 A cross is delivered by Mark Bentley, clearance made by Simon Francis.
53:13 Unfair challenge on Francis Laurent by Andy Barcham results in a free kick. Steve Mildenhall takes the free kick.
52:23 Unfair challenge on Mark Bentley by Jean Francois Christophe results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Stuart Lewis.
50:09 Dennis Oli challenges Anthony Grant unfairly and gives away a free kick. Adam Barrett takes the direct free kick.
46:42 Corner taken by John Nutter from the right by-line played to the near post, Steve Mildenhall makes a comfortable save.
46:35 Dennis Oli delivers the ball, Anthony Grant makes a clearance.
45:01 The referee starts the second half.
Half Time
45:00+2:20 The referee blows for half time.
45:00+1:18 Effort on goal by Simon Francis from just inside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the target.
45:00+1:00 Johnny Herd takes the inswinging corner, comfortable save by Simon Royce.
45:00+0:12 Corner taken left-footed by Johnny Herd, Shot from 12 yards by Lee Barnard. John Nutter gets a block in.
43:47 Franck Moussa sends in a cross.
43:10 Stuart Lewis takes a shot. Jean Francois Christophe gets a block in.
43:02 Barry Fuller delivers the ball, clearance made by Alan McCormack.
40:44 Shot by James Walker from 30 yards. Save by Simon Royce.
40:27 Simon Francis crosses the ball, Stuart Lewis manages to make a clearance.
40:19 The ball is delivered by Johnny Herd, Matt Fry manages to make a clearance.
38:56 Free kick taken by Steve Mildenhall.
38:56 Booking Matt Fry is shown a yellow card.
38:09 Matt Fry gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Steve Mildenhall.
37:12 John Nutter takes the direct free kick.
37:12 Booking The referee cautions Lee Barnard for dissent.
37:08 Free kick awarded for a foul by Lee Barnard on John Nutter.
36:26 Alan McCormack gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andy Barcham. Direct free kick taken by John Nutter.
34:37 Free kick crossed by John Nutter, Anthony Grant manages to make a clearance.
34:37 Booking Anthony Grant receives a caution.
34:33 Anthony Grant handles the ball and concedes a free kick.
33:25 Free kick awarded for a foul by Franck Moussa on Barry Fuller. Simon Royce takes the direct free kick.
33:10 Shot from 25 yards by Franck Moussa. Comfortable save by Simon Royce.
31:29 Foul by Lee Barnard on Matt Fry, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Andy Barcham.
29:03 A cross is delivered by Alan McCormack.
26:53 Simeon Jackson fouled by Jean Francois Christophe, the ref awards a free kick. John Nutter restarts play with the free kick.
26:39 Shot from 20 yards from Johnny Herd. Blocked by Matt Fry.
26:15 Centre by John Nutter, clearance made by Simon Francis.
24:54 Foul by Francis Laurent on Dennis Oli, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed left-footed by John Nutter from left wing, Lee Barnard manages to make a clearance.
23:44 Simon Francis takes a short corner.
23:11 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Johnny Herd, clearance by Andy Barcham.
21:52 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adam Barrett by Dennis Oli. Steve Mildenhall takes the free kick.
20:30 Unfair challenge on Dennis Oli by Adam Barrett results in a free kick. John Nutter restarts play with the free kick.
19:55 The referee blows for offside against Jean Francois Christophe. Simon Royce restarts play with the free kick.
19:12 Corner taken left-footed by Johnny Herd from the right by-line, clearance by Matt Fry.
Correction - 18:52 Simon Francis takes a shot. Fantastic save by Simon Royce.
18:52 Jean Francois Christophe takes a shot. Fantastic save by Simon Royce.
18:35 Lee Barnard sends in a cross, John Nutter manages to make a clearance.
17:51 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Johnny Herd from the right by-line, Mark Bentley makes a clearance.
17:45 Francis Laurent delivers the ball, clearance by Curtis Weston.
17:16 A cross is delivered by John Nutter, Adam Barrett makes a clearance.
16:21 Unfair challenge on John Nutter by Alan McCormack results in a free kick. Simon Royce takes the direct free kick.
15:24 Dennis Oli fouled by Adam Barrett, the ref awards a free kick. John Nutter takes the direct free kick.
14:39 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Matt Fry by Lee Barnard. Direct free kick taken by Josh Gowling.
13:22 Andy Barcham concedes a free kick for a foul on Francis Laurent. Francis Laurent restarts play with the free kick, The ball is sent over by Andy Barcham.
13:09 John Nutter produces a cross, save by Steve Mildenhall.
12:24 Corner taken left-footed by John Nutter from the left by-line to the near post, Francis Laurent makes a clearance.
11:17 Alan McCormack challenges Stuart Lewis unfairly and gives away a free kick. Simon Royce takes the free kick.
10:09 Foul by Alan McCormack on Curtis Weston, free kick awarded. Simon Royce restarts play with the free kick.
9:45 Simeon Jackson takes a shot. Blocked by Adam Barrett.
9:27 Shot by Andy Barcham. Save by Steve Mildenhall.
8:49 Mark Bentley concedes a free kick for a foul on Johnny Herd. Steve Mildenhall takes the free kick.
8:29 Centre by Francis Laurent, save made by Simon Royce.
5:57 Effort from deep inside the area by Francis Laurent misses to the right of the goal.
3:59 Franck Moussa produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes wide left of the goal.
3:39 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Johnny Herd, save made by Simon Royce.
3:01 Corner taken by Johnny Herd from the right by-line to the near post, Adam Barrett takes a shot. Blocked by Josh Gowling.
Correction - 2:47 Francis Laurent produces a cross.
2:47 Francis Laurent sends in a cross.
1:24 Short corner taken by Franck Moussa, Anthony Grant delivers the ball, save made by Simon Royce.
0:00 The match has kicked off.
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