FLY-HALF Tom Ashton felt Southend Saxons fully deserved their 26-21 defeat to fellow National Two South strugglers Canterbury on Saturday.

Southend let slip an 18-5 lead at Warners Bridge to fall down to 13th in the table.

And Ashton, who kicked 11 of Saxons’ points, was left feeling incredibly frustrated at the final whistle.

“We didn't deserve to win the game on Saturday but to be leading 18-5 and lose was really frustrating,” said Ashton.

“We didn't execute our game plan for enough of the game and the defeat leaves us still fighting against relegation, but it’s still in our own hands.

“We have the Easter weekend off and it’s paramount we work hard and put in a good honest shift against Taunton in our next outing and see what occurs.”

Southend initially seemed well set for success at the weekend, with Ashton putting them in front with a penalty.

However, Canterbury soon hit back with fly-half Tom Best scoring a try to put the Kent club 5-3 in front.

Southend replied with a penalty try which was converted by Ashton just before the break before he also kicked another penalty.

Winger Mark Billings then touched down for his sixth try of the season to make it 18-5 but he was soon forced off injured along with Sam Nash and Sam Fombo.

After that, Canterbury piled on the pressure with flanker Ryan West bagging a try, in the 51st minute, which Best converted to get the visitors back into the game.

Ten minutes later they went ahead when centre Charlie Harding also touched down and Best again added the extras to make it 19-18.

Ashton momentarily halted Southend’s slide with his third penalty of the afternoon but Canterbury were awarded a penalty try nine minutes from time which Best converted to make sure of his side’s victory.

The defeat leaves Saxons sitting one place and six points above the drop zone with just three games to go, two of which are against top three teams.

Southend Saxons: Ashton, Billings, Gay, Vaughan, Nash, Burr, Branch, Guess, Bloomberg, Bevans-Royston, Fombo, Chesney, Hudson, Kellard, Legge Replacements: Strachan, Fardell, Jackson, Meads & Driver.