Gus Scott-Morriss fires Southend to hard-fought victory over Sutton

Gus Scott-Morriss fired Southend to a hard-fought victory over Sutton to keep them firmly in the National League play-off race.

The Shrimpers took a 17th-minute lead when, after Harry Cardwell’s penalty – awarded for a foul on Charley Kendall by defender Jack Taylor – had been saved by Jack Sims, Scott-Morriss pounced on the rebound.

Junior Eccleston hit the post with a header and Lewis Simper rattled the crossbar with a well-struck drive as the visitors responded, but it was the hosts who finished the half the stronger, but only a goal to the good.

Sims saved from Harry Boyes and Slavi Spasov only just failed to reach Cardwell’s flick as Southend looked for a second goal, but they had done enough to claim the points.