Relegated Maidstone suffered a seventh straight defeat at Southend.

The Shrimpers struck in either half - Jack Bridge and Gus Scott-Morriss the scorers - as United’s winless National League run reached 21 games.

Yoan Zouma made just his second start for the Stones after George Fowler was taken ill on the team bus.

He was one of three changes to the side beaten by Boreham Wood last weekend, with Mark Marshall and Ryan Viggars in for the injured Mamadou Jobe and Josh Shonibare, who dropped to the bench.

Southend had lost their last seven before beating Yeovil on Saturday, a run that’s dented their play-off hopes.

They started well, taking an early lead, but largely looked like a team struggling for form, a shadow of the side who outclassed Maidstone at the Gallagher.

Either that, or it was a case of just doing enough.

That added to the frustration for the Stones who got in some good areas in the first half without making it count.

Southend went in front in just the seventh minute.

It was hard on keeper Yusuf Mersin, who made a good save as Harry Cardwell raced in on goal, with the loose ball hooked home by Bridge.

Maidstone - with Sam Bone captaining the side - had some decent spells of possession and threatened a few times.

Roarie Deacon forced a smart tip-over from Collin Andeng Ndi after collecting Kevin Berkoe’s pass.

Regan Booty’s 20-yard free-kick hit the angle of post and bar midway through the half and, shortly before half-time, Andeng Ndi made a flying save from Booty’s first-time strike after a neat move involving Berkoe and Deacon.

Little happened in a quiet start to the second half.

Viggars’ neat flick to Deacon might have led to an opening, only for his cross to be cut out, then a 25-yard free-kick from Deacon went well wide past the hour mark.

Dan Mooney wasted an opening for Southend from Cardwell’s pass before a second followed for the hosts in the 76th minute.

Callum Powell’s strike came back off the post and the rebound fell to Scott-Morriss, who squeezed the ball under Mersin from the edge of the box.

Southend controlled the closing minutes, makeshift centre-half Booty blocking a goalbound shot, as the hosts pushed to kill the game off.

Southend: Andeng Ndi, Scott-Morriss, Ralph, Hobson, Kensdale, Bridge, Taylor, Miley, Benton (Mooney 57mins), Cardwell (Sandat 82mins), Hyde (Powell 33mins). Subs not used: Fonguck, Demetriou.

Maidstone: Mersin, Gurung, Zouma (Iandolo 78mins), Bone, Berkoe, Odusanya, Booty, Deacon, Marshall (Touray 78mins), Viggars, Wanjau-Smith (Shonibare 46mins). Subs not used: Hadler, Walters.

Referee: Jason Richardson.

Attendance: