Southend United lost out in the Essex derby to Colchester United, after a 2-1 defeat at Roots Hall.
Colchester scored twice inside the opening 12 minutes of the second half to give themselves a cushion and despite Lee Barnard scoring his 17th goal of the season in the closing stages, it was the visitors who held out for the three points.
There was a near full-house inside the ground, but the first half was perhaps not as fast and furious as you would have imagined for a local derby.
Colchester probably had the best two chances of the half, but neither side was really able to provide a consistent threat.
Southend carelessly lost possession outside their own penalty area and Clive Platt was able to square the ball to an unmarked Steven Gillespie just 10 yards from goal, but he got under the ball and blazed over the top.
Another chance soon arrived for the visitors, with Southend again failing to clear the ball and Paul Reid was able to scramble a shot that needed Scott Malone to volley it to safety off the line.
The Blues got closer to goal the nearer the first half wore on, with Franck Moussa trying an aerial kick into the gloves of goalkeeper Ben Williams before Jean-Francois Christophe had a much clearer opening when planting a free header from a corner into the side netting.
Francis Laurent had a half chance as he raced away down the left wing, but his low effort was directed straight at Williams.
The first half may have been uninspiring, but it took just 50 seconds for Colchester to break the deadlock after the interval.
Gillespie got away down the left wing and delivered a teasing cross for Paul Ifil to meet with a powerful header into the far corner of the net.
Southend looked to response, with Alan McCormack providing a cross for Laurent to direct a header at goal, but he lacked the power needed to test Williams.
The intensity of the second half had clearly been raised, but with Southend failing to clear the ball away from their own half, Colchester were awarded a free kick right on the edge of the area in the 57th minute for a foul on Anthony Wordsworth.
Wordsworth stepped up himseld and rifled the ball over the top of the wall and beyond the outstretched arms of Joyce to double the U's lead.
Southend needed a goal to apply the pressure on Colchester and following a scrappy period of play, this duly arrived in the 77th minute.
Simon Francis delivered the perfect cross from the right flank to find Barnard in space to head the ball past a statuesque Williams.
The goal was a boost to Southend and their fans and they looked to raise the tempo in search of an equaliser.
An excellent pass from Barnard set James Walker on his way through, but he couldn't get his control right with the goal in his gasp and the ball got away from him.
Barnard then looked to get on the scoresheet again through a header, but Damian Scannell got in his way and denied him the chance, as he could only knock the ball up in the air.
Southend continued to apply the pressure, with Malone's cross finding McCormack, but he lacked power with his shot going straight to Williams.
The final chance arrived for Sean Morrison, as the Blues continued to press for a second goal, but with his header sailing straight at Williams, it was Colchester who held out for a hard fought victory.
Southend: Joyce, Francis, Morrison, Barrett, Malone, Grant, Christophe (Walker 67), McCormack, Moussa (Scannell 74), Laurent, Barnard.
Colchester: Williams, Okuonghae, Reid, White, Tierney, Ifil (Hackney 85), Wordsworth, O'Toole, Izzet, Platt (Thomas 74), Gillespie (Lislie 65).
