Three second-half goals helped to ease Gillingham's relegation troubles but left Southend deep in the drop zone.
The Gills began well and Rene Howe wasted a great chance, but a minute after the break Dennis Oli hooked in after Curtis Weston's shot was blocked.
Howe doubled the lead when he fired in from substitute Simeon Jackson's pass.
United's best opportunity fell to Simon Francis who shot straight at the keeper but Andy Barcham sealed the points when he knocked in with five minutes left.
Despite occasional glimpses of creativity from set-pieces for Southend, it was another miserable trip as they endured their eighth straight away defeat.
While victory for the hosts lifted them to 17th spot in League One and two points above the relegation spots.
Gillingham assistant boss Scott Barrett told BBC Radio Kent:
"The result tells the story, we fully deserved the win today.
"They are vital points because every point is vital at this stage of the season.
"It's still tight, one defeat and we're possibly back in the relegation spot."
Southend United manager Steve Tilson told BBC Essex:
"A poor decision by us has cost us the first goal and that was the all important goal for me today.
"With two sides that are down there, it was all about who scored the first goal.
"We didn't score first and with the situation we're in, a few heads probably dropped."
Live text and stats
Monday, 5 April 2010
League One
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Gillingham
3-0
Southend
FT
(HT 0-0)
Oli 47
Howe 74
Barcham 85
Gillingham
23 Julian
03 Nutter
06 Richards
18 Jackman yellow card
31 Dennehy
02 Fuller
14 Miller
26 Weston yellow card (Maher 89)
11 Barcham yellow card
21 Oli (Jackson 70)
29 Howe (Lewis 89)
Substitutes
01 Royce,
16 Gowling,
04 Lewis,
07 Maher,
08 Bentley,
10 Jackson,
15 Dickson
Southend
01 Mildenhall
02 Francis
05 Baldwin yellow card
06 Barrett
15 Sankofa
18 Herd
04 Christophe (O'Keefe 74)
07 Grant
17 Vernon
26 Laurent yellow card (Crawford 77)
28 Spencer (Paterson 65)
Substitutes
36 Bentley,
03 Malone,
20 Mvoto Owono,
22 O'Keefe,
30 Crawford,
09 Paterson
Ref: ScottAtt: 7,657
GILLINGHAM
SOUTHEND
Possession
Gillingham59%
Southend41%
Attempts on target
Gillingham8
Southend6
Attempts off target
Gillingham7
Southend4
Corners
Gillingham5
Southend7
Fouls
Gillingham12
Southend13
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+5:26 The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.
90:00+4:50 Direct free kick taken by Kevin Maher.
90:00+4:50 Booking Pat Baldwin is shown a yellow card.
90:00+4:42 Pat Baldwin gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Simeon Jackson.
90:00+4:00 Shot from just outside the box by Stuart O'Keefe misses to the right of the goal.
90:00+2:17 Stuart O'Keefe takes a shot. Stuart Lewis gets a block in.
88:06 Substitution Stuart Lewis is brought on as a substitute for Rene Howe.
88:06 Substitution (Gillingham) makes a substitution, with Kevin Maher coming on for Curtis Weston.
86:15 Shot by Anthony Grant from outside the box goes high over the crossbar.
84:14 Rene Howe provided the assist for the goal.
84:14 GOAL - Andy Barcham:Gillingham 3 - 0 Southend Andy Barcham finds the back of the net with a goal from close range to the top left corner of the goal. Gillingham 3-0 Southend.
83:22 Free kick awarded for a foul by Andy Barcham on Anthony Grant. Anthony Grant takes the direct free kick.
82:09 Matthew Paterson is penalised for a handball. Alan Julian restarts play with the free kick.
81:06 Direct free kick taken by Steve Mildenhall.
81:06 Booking Danny Jackman goes into the referee's book.
80:58 Scott Vernon fouled by Danny Jackman, the ref awards a free kick.
80:02 Inswinging corner taken by Johnny Herd from the right by-line, Garry Richards manages to make a clearance.
78:46 Shot by Matthew Paterson. Save by Alan Julian.
78:09 Booking Andy Barcham is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
77:28 Matthew Paterson sends in a cross, save by Alan Julian.
76:26 Substitution Harry Crawford replaces Francis Laurent.
76:13 Close range shot by Simeon Jackson misses to the left of the goal.
74:20 Foul by Simeon Jackson on Anthony Grant, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Simon Francis.
73:51 Substitution Jean Francois Christophe leaves the field to be replaced by Stuart O'Keefe.
73:02 Assist on the goal came from Simeon Jackson.
73:02 GOAL - Rene Howe:Gillingham 2 - 0 Southend Rene Howe fires in a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Gillingham 2-0 Southend.
72:49 Francis Laurent takes a shot. Darren Dennehy gets a block in.
72:08 Johnny Herd takes the inswinging corner, save made by Alan Julian.
71:25 The official flags Simeon Jackson offside. Free kick taken by Steve Mildenhall.
70:27 Unfair challenge on Danny Jackman by Anthony Grant results in a free kick. Barry Fuller takes the free kick.
69:01 Substitution Dennis Oli goes off and Simeon Jackson comes on.
68:36 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Alan Julian.
67:45 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Simon Francis.
65:07 Free kick awarded for a foul by Curtis Weston on Jean Francois Christophe. Free kick taken by Simon Francis.
64:25 Substitution Scott Spencer goes off and Matthew Paterson comes on.
63:25 Simon Francis takes a shot. Blocked by Darren Dennehy.
62:29 Barry Fuller takes the free kick.
62:29 Booking Booking for Francis Laurent for unsporting behaviour.
62:20 Unfair challenge on Rene Howe by Francis Laurent results in a free kick.
Correction - 60:32 The ball is sent over by Andy Barcham, Adam Miller has an effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the goal.
60:32 Centre by Andy Barcham, Close range effort by Adam Miller misses to the right of the goal.
57:57 Shot by Jean Francois Christophe went wide of the right-hand post.
56:44 The referee blows for offside against Scott Spencer. Indirect free kick taken by Alan Julian.
55:41 Free kick awarded for a foul by Jean Francois Christophe on Adam Miller. Direct free kick taken by Danny Jackman.
54:26 Corner from the left by-line taken by Danny Jackman, Adam Barrett manages to make a clearance.
54:10 Rene Howe takes a shot. Adam Barrett gets a block in.
52:47 Simon Francis restarts play with the free kick.
52:47 Booking Curtis Weston receives a yellow card.
52:33 Anthony Grant fouled by Curtis Weston, the ref awards a free kick.
50:52 Foul by Anthony Grant on Adam Miller, free kick awarded. Adam Miller takes the free kick. John Nutter takes the chance to get an effort at goal and missed to the left of the net.
50:02 Corner taken right-footed by Adam Miller from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Scott Vernon.
49:47 Andy Barcham takes a shot. Adam Barrett gets a block in.
48:27 The ball is delivered by Simon Francis, save made by Alan Julian.
Correction - 46:09 The assist for the goal came from Rene Howe. Rene Howe takes a shot. Save by Steve Mildenhall.
Correction - 46:09 GOAL - Dennis Oli:Gillingham 1 - 0 Southend Dennis Oli scores a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Gillingham 1-0 Southend.
46:09 Assist by Rene Howe.
46:09 GOAL - Dennis Oli:Gillingham 1 - 0 Southend Dennis Oli grabs a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Gillingham 1-0 Southend.
45:01 The second half kicks off.
Half Time
45:00+1:11 The first half comes to an end.
45:00+0:38 Free kick awarded for a foul by Pat Baldwin on Rene Howe. Free kick taken by John Nutter.
44:03 Simon Francis takes a corner.
43:37 Foul by Adam Miller on Johnny Herd, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Steve Mildenhall.
43:17 Shot from 25 yards by Francis Laurent. Alan Julian makes a comfortable save.
42:03 Free kick awarded for a foul by Curtis Weston on Jean Francois Christophe. Steve Mildenhall takes the direct free kick.
41:48 Rene Howe takes a shot. Save by Steve Mildenhall.
38:07 Corner taken by Danny Jackman from the right by-line, Simon Francis manages to make a clearance.
36:26 Jean Francois Christophe has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
35:16 Effort from outside the penalty box by Curtis Weston goes wide right of the target.
34:43 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Danny Jackman from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Scott Vernon.
34:31 The ball is crossed by Rene Howe, clearance made by Pat Baldwin.
33:48 John Nutter takes a shot. Adam Barrett gets a block in.
30:08 Scott Vernon is caught offside. Alan Julian restarts play with the free kick.
28:13 The referee blows for offside against Rene Howe. Indirect free kick taken by Steve Mildenhall.
26:38 Free kick awarded for a foul by Jean Francois Christophe on Dennis Oli. Garry Richards takes the free kick.
24:59 Foul by Pat Baldwin on Dennis Oli, free kick awarded. The ball is sent over by Danny Jackman, Adam Miller has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.
24:40 The ball is sent over by Adam Miller, Pat Baldwin makes a clearance.
22:46 Anthony Grant fouled by Curtis Weston, the ref awards a free kick. Pat Baldwin takes the free kick.
22:02 Rene Howe has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.
21:37 Foul by Scott Vernon on Barry Fuller, free kick awarded. Barry Fuller takes the free kick.
20:53 Jean Francois Christophe challenges Adam Miller unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Alan Julian.
19:21 Johnny Herd crosses the ball, Darren Dennehy makes a clearance.
16:51 Foul by Rene Howe on Anthony Grant, free kick awarded. Steve Mildenhall takes the direct free kick.
11:55 Corner taken by Simon Francis from the left by-line, save made by Alan Julian.
11:42 Simon Francis takes a shot. Save by Alan Julian.
10:48 Jean Francois Christophe fouled by Dennis Oli, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Steve Mildenhall.
9:27 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Johnny Herd played to the near post, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Garry Richards by Adam Barrett. Alan Julian takes the free kick.
8:57 Unfair challenge on Scott Spencer by Darren Dennehy results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Simon Francis.
7:57 Centre by Simon Francis.
7:17 The assistant referee signals for offside against Simon Francis. Indirect free kick taken by Alan Julian.
Correction - 6:39 Corner taken right-footed by Simon Francis.
6:39 Inswinging corner taken by Anthony Grant.
5:52 Handball by Scott Spencer. Alan Julian restarts play with the free kick.
4:57 Rene Howe challenges Adam Barrett unfairly and gives away a free kick. Steve Mildenhall takes the direct free kick.
4:23 Francis Laurent gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Danny Jackman. Adam Miller restarts play with the free kick.
3:41 Corner taken by Danny Jackman from the right by-line.
1:29 Free kick awarded for a foul by Adam Barrett on Curtis Weston. Danny Jackman produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.
1:17 The ball is delivered by Dennis Oli, clearance by Johnny Herd.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to start the match.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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