Southend United...1 Bury...2: BURY chose the best possible time to notch their first win at Southend in 43 years - clinching a precious play-off spot.

And, despite being given the luxury of two goals from free headers, few could complain that the Shakers were not full value for this vital victory.

Apart from a frantic last five minutes, lacklustre Southend were rarely in the hunt with powerful visiting defenders Mike Nelson and Colin Woodthorpe having the home strikers well and truly in their pockets.

And when Southend did stage that grandstand finish goalkeeper Glyn Garner earned his win bonus with a great stop to cement a success born out of non-stop endeavour and effort.

Player/boss Andy Preece readily admitted afterwards that his men have played better on their travels which have yielded ten victories but rightly praised the commitment shown right through the team.

Chris Billy and Martyn Forrest won the important midfield battles while Colin Cramb and George Clegg proved menacing figures up front, chasing and harrowing every loose ball and lost cause.

Poor Southend were never allowed time to settle on the ball and were left resorting to desperate punts downfield which fell right into Bury's hands.

Bury, who came into the game on the back of a four-match unbeaten run, got off to a fast start with Clegg arrowing in a fine second minute cross from the left which saw Jon Newby force a good save from home keeper Darryl Flahavan.

Southend, too, went close when skipper Kevin Maher's left-wing corner after six minutes was met by Leon Cort, whose header beat Garner only for Forrest to hack clear off the line.

But it was Bury who took the lead after 10 minutes cashing in when home defender Damon Searle carelessly conceded a needless corner. Dead ball expert Clegg punished the error by sending over a pinpoint flag kick and the powerful Nelson was left unmarked to head home past the helpless Flahavan.

Southend were back on terms within three minutes when Bury showed their only hint of defensive frailness in failing to clear Maher's free-kick and Cort pounced to score with a well struck volley.

And now it was Bury's turn to get on the back foot as Tes Bramble put Mark Rawle away but he drove a low shot wide of the far post. And then Mark Beard crossed in but Steve Redmond got in front of Rawle to head clear and Garner blocked a shot from Rawle with his legs eight minutes before he break.

Bury weathered the mini storm and came out fired up for the second period. Their small band of travelling fans were soon singing loudly when Newby drove the ball in from the left and Lee Connell was left all alone to head what proved to be the 48th minute matchwinner.

Cramb tried his luck with a 25 yard shot which flew straight into Flahavan's gloves and then the visiting front-man wasted a golden chance to seal up the points in the 80th minute.

The lively Cramb chased a long ball through the middle and held off David McSweeney before sending his lob over Flahavan but over the bar as well.

But keeper Garner proved the real hero when deep into injury-time he somehow pushed Salter's diving header round a post when a goal seemed inevitable.

BURY:

Glyn Garner...7

Lee Connell...7

Jamie Stuart...6

Michael Nelson...8

Steve Remond...6

Colin Woodthorpe...7

Martyn Forrest...7

Chris Billy...7

Jon Newby...6

Colin Cramb...7

George Clegg...7

Subs (all not used): Whalley, Preece, Unsworth, Dunfield, O'Shaughnessy.

SOUTHEND: Flahaven, Beard, Cort, McSweeney, Searle, Darby, Maher, Strachan, Jenkins, Bramble, Rawle. Subs: Thurgood, (for Beard, 88 mins), Clark (for Darby, 70 mins), Salter (for Strachan, 64 mins), Gay, Henry.

Referee: P. Taylor (Herts).

Attendance: 4,707.

Bookings: Southend - Beard 82 minutes (foul).