STRIKER Lee Hughes grabbed his seventh goal in six games to stretch Oldham’s unbeaten run to 10 matches.

The 31-year-old fired his side in front after just four minutes with a superbly angled drive.

The Latics had a scare only three minutes later and more were to follow.

High flying Southend striker Leon Clarke, who had a loan spell at Boundary Park last season, only had keeper Mark Crossley to beat but pulled his shot wide.

Steve Collis in the home goal also had to come to the rescue soon after with a superb stop to keep out a full blooded effort from top scorer Craig Davies.

There was more goal mouth action in the 22nd minute when Southend, sixth in the table, had an Adam Barrett header cleared off the line by full back Ryan Bertrand.

It was end to end stuff and five minutes later Collis was at full stretch again to keep out a 20 yard free kick from Neil Kilkenny.

John Sheridan’s battlers had to be on their toes in the second half and Crossley did well to hold a Clarke shot from the edge of the box after 61 minutes.

Ten minutes later the lively Clarke burst into the box but Crossley was equal to his shot.

The home side hopes of sneaking something from the contest were blunted when midfielder Alan McCormack was sent off for a second bookable offence with 17 minutes to go.

The Latics owed much to Crossley who has now kept four clean sheets in their unbeaten surge and his man of the match performance helped make it five away wins on the trot.

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