Southend United's first game of 2010 ended in narrow disappointment, after a 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield Town.
It was a goal in each half from Jordan Rhodes that set Huddersfield up for victory, even though the Blues produced a spirited performance against a side unbeaten at home in League One.
Debutant Scott Spencer provided hope when he scored in the 90th minute, but it proved to be in vain as Huddersfield held out for the three points.
It was Huddersfield who had two excellent chances to open the scoring in quick succession after just 11 minutes, with Anthony Kay heading a corner on to the crossbar before only a vital block from Anthony Grant denied Rhodes from the rebound, with the ball deflected over the top.
A cross from the left by Lee Novak then caused problems for Steve Mildenhall, as he stretched out an arm to parry the ball to safety, with Huddersfield's pressure more telling from the start.
Southend's first sight of goal did arrive for leading scorer Lee Barnard, as he cut inside the left flank and having created enough space between himself and former Blues defender Peter Clarke, unleashed a curling strike that sailed wide of the right-hand post.
Barnard was at it again just moments later, as he got in between Huddersfield's defence to again try his luck from long range.
He looked to catch out goalkeeper Alex Smithies with an effort that flew narrowly wide of the target, as the Blues started to establish themselves in the match the longer the first half wore on.
Yet as is the way in football, despite Southend frustrating their hosts and finding their feet in the game, the opening goal arrived for Huddersfield just a minute before the break.
Steve Tilson would have disappointed at the manner of the goal, as they struggled to clear their lines at the back to allow Gary Robert's low cross from the left to be poked in by Rhodes and off the body of Grant.
Within two minutes of the second half, Damian Scannell flashed a header wide of the right-hand post from a corner, but it wasn't until near the hour mark to see a shot on target for either side, with Novak's low strike taking a deflection before being comfortably grasped by the hands of Mildenhall.
But it was Huddersfield who soon doubled their advantage in the 62nd minute, with Rhodes on target for a second time, as he was left with too much freedom to powerfully head home a corner.
The game was now petering out with little action of note at either end, but Southend handed a debut to Spencer when the newly signed striker entered the field of play with 13 minutes remaining.
A cross from Theo Robinson saw Rhodes plant a header goalwards in search of his hat trick, but the ball was directed straight at Mildenhall.
With just 30 seconds of normal time remaining though, Spencer pulled a goal back.
Spencer raced on to a pass from Francis and kept his composure with an excellent finish sending the ball past Smithies, but despite four minutes of injury time being shown, Southend were unable to conjure up an equaliser.
Southend: Mildenhall, Sankofa, Francis, Barrett, Malone, Laurent, Grant (Christophe 77), McCormack, Moussa, Scannell (Spencer 77), Barnard (Freedman 85).
Huddersfield: Smithies, Peltier, P Clarke, N Clarke, Roberts, Kay (Drinkwater 62), T Clarke, Williams, Rhodes (Simpson 82), Pilkington, Novak (Robinson 79).
