Danny Rowe gave Stockport County’s slim survival hopes a boost with a last-minute winner against Southend United.

It had looked as though County would be forced to settle for a point after Kyle Asante had cancelled out Greg Tansey’s first-half penalty until Rowe’s late heroics.

Rowe – making just his third senior start – was the first to threaten. The 19-year-old ran at Sean Clohessy before forcing Glen Morris diving save low to his left.

But Rowe was far from finished and it was the youngster who was instrumental as the hosts took the lead midway through the first half.

After collecting the ball in midfield, Rowe walked round Blair Sturrock before drawing a clumsy challenge from Clohessy.

Referee Craig Pawson had no hesitations in pointing to the spot and Tansey coolly tucked away his eighth goal of the season.

It was a lead the Hatters held until the break but Southend should have equalised shortly afterwards when Ryan Hall’s corner found an unmarked Teddy Nesbit whose header flashed wide of the far post.

Matt Glennon almost gifted the visitors the equaliser when he misjudged Clohessy’s cross but the County keeper – recalled to the team with Ian McLoughlin away on international duty – instantly made amends with a fantastic save from Louis Soares’ fierce drive.

Southend had an escape of their own after 55 minutes, Anthony Elding miscuing a simple chance after Rowe’s cross had made it easier to score.

And Elding was guilty of missing another gilt-edged chance after being sent clean through by the impressive James Wallace.

County were made to rue those missed opportunities when a lightening Southend counter attack ended with substitute Asante side-footing past Glennon 10 minutes from time.

But there was still time for some late drama when Rowe rifled in Elding’s knock down in the first minute of stoppage time to hand Ray Mathias his first win as County boss.

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