SOUTHEND United’s final pre-season friendly of the summer ended in 1-0 to Leyton Orient at Roots Hall this afternoon.

O’s striker Paul McCallum bagged the only goal of the game midway through the first half.

And Blues were unable to draw back level as they wasted a succession of clear cut chances in the second 45 minutes.

After a quiet start to the game, Orient thought they had taken the lead in the 20th minute when McCallum lashed home a well taken left footed shot after a fine ball into the box by former Blues full-back Sean Clohessy.

However, the impressive effort from the former West Ham United trainee was ruled out for offside.

McCallum, who was sent off against the Shrimpers when on loan at Portsmouth last season, was not to be denied for long though as he fired home a speculative effort in the 24th minute of the match.

The summer signing collected the ball 30 yards from goal and unleashing a swerving long range shot which flew over the head of Blues goalkeeper Daniel Bentley and into the centre of the net.

The Shrimpers came close to immediately drawing back level when Cian Bolger headed Ben Coker’s left wing cross against the outside of the right post before David Mooney sent a 25 yard shot wide of the opposite upright.

In reply, Dean Cox saw soon two low efforts smothered by Bentley in the closing action of the first half.

Blues made a change at the break, with new signing Noel Hunt replacing Myles Weston in attack and the home-side almost equalised right at the start of the second half with O’s shot-stopper Alex Cisak denying Jack Payne from close range.

Moments later, Hunt saw a low, 20 yard saved by Cisak and, in the 59th minute, he wasted a fantastic chance to equalise when he headed John White’s right wing cross wide of the left post from eight yards.

With Blues continuing to attack, Mooney then also wasted a great opportunity to score, firing wide of the right post when clean through on goal after good approach play from Jack Payne.

Substitute David Worrall was the next to go close as his low shot was parried away by Cisak and, in the 85th minute, Luke Prosser headed Michael Timlin’s right wing corner against the left post as Orient clung on to secure a narrow win.

Southend United: Bentley, White, Bolger, Barrett, Coker (Prosser 75), Atkinson (Wordsworth 75), Deegan (Leonard 75), Payne(Worrall 71), Hurst (Timlin 61), Weston (Hunt 46), Mooney

Sub not used: T Smith

Leyton Orient: Cisak, Clohessy, Shaw, Essam, Baudry, Cox, James, McCallum (Kashket 50), Moore, Pritchard, Simpson

Subs not used: Grainger, Parkinson, Ling, Agyemang, Moncur, Semedo, Turgorr & Palmer