Southend United boss Alvin Martin blasted his players' performances as "the worst of the season" after their last-minute 2-1 defeat at Darlington on Saturday.

The Quakers sealed a deserved Third Division victory when home substitute Mario Dorner lit up a dreadful match at Feethams with a dramatic winning goal three minutes into second-half injury time.

Martin said: "If we had got a draw here it would have been criminal because we were awful and got what we deserved - nothing.

"Darlington were superior to us in every department and we are lucky to be coming away from here with only a one-goal defeat.

"They must have created about seven clear-cut chances and if they had taken them they could have buried us."

However, Martin was more disappointed with his men for failing to capitalise on Blues striker Barry Conlon's equalising goal and earn an unlikely draw.

"Despite our poor performance we still should have stolen a point from Darlington," he added.

"All we had to do was defend solidly for the last few minutes and we could have got a draw, but we never looked like holding our nerve and paid the ultimate price.

"We're capable of so much more, but yet again we've let ourselves down."

Conlon, whose opportunist 25-yard free-kick pulled Southend back into the game, admitted his side had caused their own problems.

"Darlington put us under a lot of pressure, but in all honesty we were dreadful and didn't do ourselves any favours," he said.

"They had a lot more chances in front of goal than us and could have scored more. We were lucky to get away with a one-goal defeat."

The Republic of Ireland under-21 forward laid some of the blame for his team's mediocre showing on Darlington's rugged pitch.

"The playing surface was one of the worst I have ever played on which made it near impossible to play football," he said.

"We like to knock the ball around, but the pitch was so bobbly we couldn't get the ball down and play our usual game. Although, I felt we played well in spells without really getting anywhere."

However, Conlon was sure his goal had dug the Shrimpers out of a hole and sealed them a precious point.

"As soon as we won the free-kick outside their box I made my mind up that I was going to hit it," he explained.

"Darlington's defenders were trying to organise themselves into a defensive wall and I told Rob Newman, who usually takes our free-kicks, that I was going to have a go and the ball flew into the net.

"I felt then that we had got ourselves out of jail and would hold on for a point, but we didn't and ended up being on the wrong end of a disastrous result."

Southend United keeper Martyn Margetson will attempt to sort out his Roots Hall future today.

The 27-year-old shot stopper, who is unhappy at losing his place in the first team to Mel Capleton, will meet Blues manager Martin for crunch talks this afternoon.

Margetson wants assurances over his place in the first team before making his mind up on an offer to join Second Division Blackpool.

Backs to the wall - Southend United left-back Martyn Booty (right) tries to hold off his Darlington opponent in his side's woeful 2-1 defeat

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