Southend United were dealt another blow in their battle at the bottom of League One, after suffering a 3-0 defeat at Gillingham.
With both sides fighting for points to beat the drop, this game was easily viewed as a 'six pointer', but after a stuttering first half, it was Gillingham who came out the blocks to secure the victory.
Dennis Oli put the hosts in front just two minutes after the restart before further goals from Renee Howe and Andy Barcham confirmed the three points for Gillingham in the latter stages of another frustrating away trip for Southend.
Inside the opening three minutes, Danny Jackman wasn't far off for the hosts when drilling a 25 yard free kick inches wide of the right-hand post.
At the other end, only a top-draw save from Alan Julian denied the Blues, as Johnny Herd's throw-in was arrowed at goal by Simon Francis inside the box, only for the goalkeeper to impressively palm the ball away.
Howe found space down the left wing to direct a low shot at goal, with the ball fizzing narrowly past Steve Mildenhall's left-hand post.
Two crucial tackles from Adam Barrett inside the box then stopped both John Nutter and Howe from getting through on goal during a nip and tuck affair.
But Gillingham had the best chance of the match at the end of the first half, with Mildenhall coming to the rescue with a point blank save to deny Howe's shot from just six yards out.
Disaster struck for the Blues inside just two minutes of the second half though, as a defensive mix-up gifted Gillingham the lead.
As Howe raced into the penalty box, Jean-Francois Christophe appeared to be in a position to clear the ball, but he dallied in possession allowing the striker a shot which Mildenhall saved before Oli slotted in the rebound.
Oli then burst into the box as Gillingham chased a second goal, with his strike taking a deflection as it cannoned off the top of the crossbar.
Gillingham continued to apply the pressure and only a vital stop from Mildenhall kept out a powerful header from Howe before Adam Miller somehow shot wide having volleyed Barcham's cross at the far post when it looked easier to score.
Southend struggled to create chances, but after Francis Laurent saw a shot charged down inside the box, Gillingham counter attacked forward and doubled their lead in the 74th minute.
Chasing a long ball over the top, Simeon Jackson was able to get there ahead of Anthony Grant and square it for Howe to rifle into the bottom corner of the net.
Barcham went on to put the result beyond doubt five minutes from time when exchanging passes with Weston before blasting the ball into the roof of the net from 10 yards.
Southend: Mildenhall, Sankofa, Baldwin, Barrett, Herd, Francis, Grant, Christophe (O'Keefe 74), Laurent (Crawford 77), Spencer (Paterson 65), Vernon.
Gillingham: Julian, Fuller, Nutter, Richards, Barcham, Miller, Jackman, Oli (Jackson 70), Weston (Maher 89), Howe (Lewis 89), Dennehy.
