A late goal saw Southend United endure a harsh defeat at Carlisle United in the longest journey of the season.
Despite Francis Laurent pulling the Blues level at the end of the first half, it was a goal from substitute Joe Anyinsah nine minutes from the end that did the damage to secure a 2-1 win for Carlisle in this League One encounter.
Having been made to weather a heavy storm at the start, Southend improved the longer the match wore on and will feel hard done by to come away empty handed.
Almost immediately from kick-off, Anthony Grant was called upon to make a vital block to deny Graham Kavanagh's goal bound shot, with Carlisle intent on piling on the pressure.
And with just 10 minutes on the clock, the home side opened the scoring. Scott Dobie got away from Simon Francis down the right flank to deliver a cross which Vincent Pericard met at the far post to volley out of Steve Mildenhall's reach.
Carlisle continued to look dangerous in attack and threatened again when Dobie was first to meet the ball inside the box and powerfully headed just over the frame of the goal.
Only a superb tackle from Francis stopped Dobie from pulling the trigger, as he looked to race clear inside the box, before Mildenhall was soon beating the ball away to keep out Matty Robson's drilled strike.
Southend were finding little favour at the other end of the field, but came close from a corner when Laurent's snap shot was palmed away by goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley, before a scramble for possession saw Carlisle able to deal with the danger.
Carlisle then came close again to increasing their lead, as Ian Harte was first to meet a free kick and crashed a header on to the top of the crossbar before the injury woes piled up for the Blues.
Dougie Freedman was taken off injured in the 39th minute to be replaced by Stuart O'Keefe, which led to a switch to a five-man midfield.
An enterprising run forward from Franck Moussa saw him test Pidgeley with a well struck shot which was pushed out, but from the resultant throw-in Southend drew level in the 42nd minute.
Johnny Herd threw the ball into the box and with Pidgeley inadvertently pushing the ball on, Laurent picked up possession and arrowed a shot into the back of the net for his second goal of the season.
Alan McCormack's wasn't far off after the restart when shooting wide of the left-hand post from the edge of the penalty area, but it wasn't until the closing 15 minutes for the next serious chance to arrive.
With both defences keeping it tight, Lee Barnard beat Pidgeley in the air from Laurent's cross that left Moussa with a gaping goal in sight, but he couldn't keep his shot down and blazed over.
Jean-Francois Christophe was also off target when firing over the top, but despite looking in control for most of the second half, Carlisle provided a sucker punch when they broke forward and scored.
Anyinsah was afforded far too much space down the right and hit a low strike into the far corner of the net in the 81st minute.
A shot from Francis was deflected over the top, but Southend were unable to come away with any reward for their endeavour.
Southend: Mildenhall, Grant, Francis, Barrett, Herd, Laurent, Christophe, McCormack, Moussa, Freedman (O'Keefe 39), Barnard.
Carlisle: Pidgeley, Horwood, Livesey, Kavanagh, Dobie, Robson, Taiwo, Harte, Pericard, Keogh, Hurst (Anyinsah 55).
