Gillingham boss Steve Lovell was left frustrated at the goal that never was against Southend.

The Gills, trailing 1-0, felt they had scored an equaliser when the ball appeared to have crossed the line in time added on.

But the officials didn’t agree and rather than the Gills celebrating a well-earned point, the hosts grabbed a second to clinch the win.

Scroll down for audio.

Report & pictures: Southend United 2 Gillingham 0

Speaking after the final whistle, Lovell said: “It was hard to say from where I was (whether the ball had gone in) but my boys would be honest and say if it was over the line. Looking at the pictures after the game the ball was over the line and that’s the disappointing thing.

“We didn’t deserve a point, we deserved all three. Anybody at the game could say we were the better side, all the way through it.

“To have not got anything out of the game and in that manner as well is very disappointing.

“All credit to our boys for the way they played because they took the game to Southend. Their goalkeeper was man-of-the-match and we were on top.”

Reflecting on those missed chances, the manager said: “We created more chances and their keeper made more saves. We played really good football and the way we performed was excellent.

“I can’t have asked any more of them. We will get breaks but we are not getting any at the moment. I am not one to make excuses but a point would have been the least that we deserved.”

Gillingham were a goal down after a free-kick bounced in after missing everyone in the box.

Lovell wasn’t pointing any fingers, however.

“I will have to look at it again,” he said.

”It is an excellent free-kick, a great ball in and it’s hard to defend against, but I will have to look again to see if Tomas (Holy, the goalkeeeper) could have done anything about it.

“I am not putting any blame on anyone at the moment. For them to have scored at that point was disappointing.”