United have dropped into the bottom two after many of their relegation counterparts - and in particular Darlington and Kidderminster Harriers - all chalked up victories, and with a game in hand Southend travel to Bury's Gigg Lane in three days time on Tuesday night in what has suddenly become yet another must-win encounter. And then, once a tricky trip to Lancashire has been navigated, whatever the result, another struggling team - Macclesfield Town - come to Roots hall on Saturday. Certainly nothing but three points is crucial in seven days time.

By far Leyton Orient's biggest crowd of the season - 6,119 - due to the mass gathering of around 2,000 visiting supporters on the North Terrace saw a Southend team, fresh from the aggregate LDV Vans Trophy victory over Colchester United the previous midweek, make two starting line-up changes with loanees Carl Pettefer and Lawrie Dudfield returning to the firts eleven ahead of Tesfaye Bramble and Duncan Jupp.

Perhaps Southend were still trying to get their heads around their trip to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in exactly a month's time, but for whatever reason's Steve Tilson's side just never got going at Brisbane Road. That said United were never outplayed by their hosts, but once Dudfield had given the visitors the lead on the stroke of half time the Essex side never really looked like striking again.

There match flew into life right from the off however, and with only three minutes on the clock a dangerous long throw-in from David Hunt saw Gary Alexander's head fly over the top via the top of the crossbar. Then, on six minutes Southend were awarded their thirteenth penalty of the season when John Mackie, on loan to the O's from Reading, blatantly handled a Leon Constantine cross leaving referee Scott Mathieson with little option but to point to the penalty spot.

However Constantine, who twice scored from twelve yards against Kidderminster the previous week, saw his shot pushed out by Glenn Morris diving to his left and and as the ball fell loose Mathieson blew up for a mysteriouis free kick just as Kevin Maher was lining up a rebound.

If an early penalty wasn't big enough a present for United, an opening goal almost came completely gift wrapped on nineteen minutes when Dudfield's angled shot saw Mackie, in yards of space, smash a clearance against the underside of his own crossbar.

As Southend came under pressure at the opposite end Darryl Flahavan made a decent stop to keep out Tom Newey's angled shot and Justin Miller drove an effort well wide of the upright before the Orient woodwoork was struck for a second time courtesy of Mark Gower's fantastic curling free kick which bounced to safety via the angle of crossbar and post.

Southend started the second period well and forced a couple of early chances. Leon Cort, still without a goal to his name this season, headed a Gower corner over the top seconds after the re-start and shot-stopper Morris did well to cling onto a curling Gower free kick, but unfortunately the Shrimpers produced very little for the rest of the half except when Dudfield turned and low Pettefer ball wide of the post and in the dying seconds, a goal behind, when Cort's header from a Maher corner was hacked off the line by Mark Peters after Mark Warren had see his fierce drive pushed around the post.

Unfortunately everything went horriby wrong for the Shrimpers in a thirteen minute period midway through the second period. Firstly, just seconds before being substituted on 67 minutes, Drewe Broughton had the misfortune of levelling the scores after putting through his own net. A Jones corner was inswinging, and with Broughton in two minds as to where to head the ball it crashed past the helpless Flahavan and into the back of the net.

An own goal by Tes Bramble - the second of the afternoon - handed Orient an undeserved victory.

Orient manager Martin Ling ran and danced on the pitch in delight, that summed up just how relieved he and his players were to have got a result out of what was a fairly poor showing, but for poor Southend this match just summed up their terrible League season.

Season 2003-04 may have yeilded a trip to the Millennium Stadium in a Cup final, but all that will be put into perspective if United fail to retain their Football League status come the second Saturday in May. Certainly Southend's luck will have to improve if they are going to escape their worst fears of playing Conference football. As for results, there will be no better place to start showing their worth than at Bury on Tuesday night...

Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com