Last-gasp goal hero Rob Newman was anything but a happy man on Saturday even though his dramatic injury time strike earned Southend United a 1-1 draw at Chester City.

The central defender continued his extraordinary goal-scoring exploits for the Shrimpers by sliding home his eighth goal of the season at the Deva Stadium five minutes into injury time.

However, the disappointed 34-year-old was quick to admit that the point Blues had salvaged from this Third Division clash was not enough if they hoped to get their promotion push back on track.

"I'm pleased to have got on the scoresheet, but I'm also gutted that we haven't made the trip home with another three points," explained Newman.

"The first half wasn't a brilliant performance, but after a half-time rollicking from the manager we came out and took control of the game in the second period.

"We were all over Chester and looked very comfortable as we created chance after chance. But the ball just wouldn't go in the net for us and we got hit by the classic sucker punch as Chester broke away and scored.

"However, the boys continued to press and I was fortunate enough to pull a goal back for us - but it wasn't enough.

"Draws are no good to us, we need to be winning games, but we won't do that until we start finishing teams off by converting the opportunities we are creating in front of goal."

Southend boss Alvin Martin was also angry at the way his men had failed to turn a hatful of chances into goals as they robbed themselves of another win.

"To say I'm disappointed by this result would be the understatement of they year - I'm livid," said the Blues chief.

"The Chester fans have seen their team totally outclassed today, but they've still managed to take a point from us which they don't deserve.

"Our first-half performance wasn't good enough and their were a few teacups thrown around the dressing room at half-time which seemed to have the desired effect as we came out for the second period and played much better.

"But yet again a mixture of bad luck in front of goal and sloppy defending let us down.

"We were so on top of Chester during the second-half it was unbelievable, but Keith Dublin fell asleep once and they punished us for it.

"We can't afford to have players dozing off like this because we are being made to pay for our blunders every time, but at least we remained positive and fought our way back to get a point at the death.

"But it's all very disappointing as I know, as do our supporters who were here today, that we should have scored at least three or four goals against Chester which would have seen us home and dry."

Shrimpers keeper Martyn Margetson, who had an immaculate game between the posts, agreed with his boss. "One individual error cost us dearly today, but that has been the story of our season," he said.

"One individual error cost us dearly today, but that has been the story of our season. All the lads are devastated because they know we should have got more than a single point from this game."

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