Southend came unstuck at Braintree Town, as they lost their latest pre-season friendly 2-0.

The Blues made a slow start and should have fallen behind when Dave Bryant was presented with an opening in front of goal, but shot straight at Ian Joyce.

Braintree did take the lead inside 13 minutes though after Joyce was forced to rush out of goal to collect Osei Sankofa's mistimed backpass and brought down Micky Shinn in the box to concede a penalty.

Mark Jones stepped up to take the spot kick on his testimonial and although Joyce made the save, he was first to score the rebound.

Bryant headed over from close range and then forced Joyce to smother the ball with a volley at the far post.

Braintree's pressure eventually saw them score a second of the afternoon when Joyce kept out Shinn's header, but Bryant was first to react to bundle the ball in despite protests from Peter Clarke that the ball never closed the line.

Southend's best chance of the first half arrived when Alan McCormack chipped the ball into the area for Paul Furlong to head narrowly over the top.

Lee Barnard came close to scoring after the break only to be foiled by goalkeeper Craig Holloway and later flashed a header over from a corner.

Southend continued to press and only a superb one-handed save from Holloway denied Barnard, as the goalkeeper dived down to his left to keep the ball out.

A swift attack allowed Nicky Bailey to play in McCormack, but the Irishman's low shot was placed into the gloves of Holloway.

The last chance arrived when Adam Barrett headed over Simon Francis' cross from just four yards out to cap a disappointing performance.

Southend: Joyce (Mildenhall 46), Francis, Clarke (Barrett 46), Sankofa, Murray, Moussa, McCormack, Bailey, Scannell, Furlong, Walker (Barnard 46).