With the central midfield decimated for the relegation sixpointer with Exeter City Saturday, the best thing to come out of this reserve fixture for the Shrimpers was the sight of Anthony Grant surviving an hour and looking good for a return to the first team after his ankle injury.

However, it didn't take long for new keeper Kelvin Jack to join the Blues injury club, not a very exclusive membership, as he limped off clutching his hamstring, Daniels Bentley replacing him on 71 minutes, and probably on the bench at the weekend.

As for the game, well we didn't get hammered, which was nice, and Scott Spencer continued to look lively. (If only Walker had showed half of Scott's effort he would have been twice the player he turned out to be).

Early on the former Everton trainee flicked a close range shot straight at Canary shot stopper Declan Rudd but, on the downside, in the 29th minute he should have given the Shrimpers seconds the lead when he shot wide of the right post from close range.

Spencer then attempted to set up fellow forward Harry Crawford but his pass went just behind the youth team striker, recently promoted to the first team squad, and nothing came of it.

As we begun the second half Spencer again was involved, curling a 20 yard free kick straight at Rudd, as Grant went off to be replaced by Jamie Dennis.

A boring goaless draw would have been more than Ricky Duncan could have wished after recent results, but it wasn't to be as the reserves followed their seniors by conceding a late goal to the Canaries!

With seconds left Paul McVeigh got past left back Johnny Herd and delivered a perfect low cross for Danny Kelly to score the winner from six yards.

Southend United: Jack (Bentley 71), Osifuwa, Sankofa, Whittaker, Herd, Milner, Kerr, Grant (Dennis 60), Okai (Hazell 80), Spencer, Crawford

Sub not used: Calver.