MARK Gower's first goal of the season handed Southend United a thoroughly deserved 1-0 victory over 10-man Kidderminster Harriers at Roots Hall on Saturday.

The talented winger thundered home a decisive 27th-minute shot as the Shrimpers secured their fourth win in five games over a tooth-less Harriers side, who had defender Abdou Sall sent off just before the half-time break.

Despite Steve Tilson's side's eventual dominance, the game started slowly with neither team creating any clear-cut chances in the opening exchanges.

Gower fired a deflected 25-yard shot straight at John Danby in the 12th minute and in reply, the visitors Youssou Diop soon wasted what proved to be Harriers' best opportunity of the afternoon - heading Steve Burton's left-wing cross wide of the South Stand net from just six yards.

That miss increased in significance in the 27th minute when Blues scored the only goal of the game.

With Gower challenging Richard Appleby in the centre of the park, the ball fortuitously flew into the path of Lawrie Dudfield on the right wing. Dudfield fed Gower with a fine square pass which enabled the former Tottenham Hotspur winger to fire home an unstoppable 14-yard shot.

Dudfield then fired an angled shot into the side netting before a last-ditch Spencer Prior challenge stopped Kelvin Langmead registering another effort on target at the other end of the field.

Gower then nearly doubled his tally - curling an 18 yard shot just past the right post following a fine pass from Mark Bentley.

But, seconds after surviving the scare, Jan Molby's struggling side were reduced to 10 men as defender Abdou Sall aimed a petulant kick at Dudfield after a brief altercation with the Seasiders' striker.

Adam Barrett then dragged a 20-yard shot well wide of the North Bank net and, in the opening action of the second half, Kevin Maher saw his 10-yard effort well blocked by Appleby when a goal looked certain.

The Shrimpers skipper then nodded a curling Tes Bramble cross into the grateful gloves of Danby, who was then nearly beaten by a flicked Spencer Prior header, from an accurate Gower left wing cross, which drifted just wide of the right upright.

Gower soon fired a 30-yard drive off target in the 52nd minute and, following a well worked move just three minutes later, Dudfiel's looping header, from a Duncan Jupp cross, was gathered by a stretching Danby.

The young keeper then stopped a low free kick from Mark Bentley and, with Blues continuing to create chances, the lively Tes Bramble warmed Danby's hands with a stinging shot from 25 yards after a neat turn from the front-man.

In the 63rd minute, Gower's low drive was smartly saved by Danby before Dudfield dragged a 10-yard effort wide of the right upright in the very next attack.

Goal-getting centre-back Adam Barrett then headed a deep, left wing corner from Gower wide of the target and, just moments later, Che Wilson also got in on the act - curling an 18-yard shot straight at Danby.

The Harriers custodian then denied Bentley from 20 yards and, just two minutes from time, Danby clung on to a curling 16-yard shot from Carl Pettefer in the closing action of another strong showing from the Shrimpers.

* Full match reaction in Monday's Evening Echo.