Southend's hopes of climbing back into the top half of the National Division Three South table were dashed 27-21 in a topsy-turvy clash at Hertford on Saturday.

Captain Jamie Connors summed up the feeling of gloom in the Seasiders' dressing room.

"I was very disappointed - we just didn't turn up for the game," said the National Division Three South Player of the Month for December.

"We know if we had played to our best we could have won."

Defeat leaves Southend ninth in the table, but still staring nervously over their shoulder at the relegation zone. .