Southend United 1-3 Eastleigh

Southend were caught cold on their return to action after a spell of freezing weather as Eastleigh eased to an away win.

Charlie Carter forced Shrimpers goalkeeper Blondy Nna Noukeu to make one of two critical errors in the 32nd minute, with Alfie Lloyd following up after the ball was spilled back into the danger zone.

Carter doubled the lead after play-off chasing Southend struggled to clear a long throw into the box in the 72nd minute, but the hosts soon rallied and halved the deficit when Harry Cardwell found the back of the net following good work from Rhys Murphy.

But it was not to be, as Nna Noukeu somehow allowed a speculative effort from substitute JJ McKiernan to squirm past him with four minutes remaining.

Match report supplied by PA Media.