Southend boost play-off hopes as Wealdstone’s survival bid dented

Southend moved into the National League play-off places with a 3-0 home win over a Wealdstone outfit now lying in the relegation zone.

Ben Goodliffe headed the Shrimpers in front in the eighth minute, connecting with Gus Scott-Morriss’ cross, and Charley Kendall doubled the advantage with a strike just past the hour mark.

Goodliffe almost scored again in the 83rd minute as he saw another header hit the bar before substitute Macauley Bonne added the third in stoppage time.

Kevin Maher’s team rise to seventh, swapping places with Gateshead, with a point between the sides ahead of them facing each other in the north east a week on Monday in their final game of the regular season.

Neil Gibson’s Wealdstone, meanwhile, have slipped a spot to 21st, a point adrift of 20th-placed Dagenham, who had earlier moved out of the drop zone with a 6-1 thrashing of Altrincham.

Wealdstone host Halifax in their last game while Dagenham go to Solihull.