EVEN the extension of Anthony Grant’s amazing scoring streak could not stop Southend United’s winning run coming to an end at Northampton Town this afternoon.

Grant went 79 games and almost two years without netting for Blues.

But he has now hit the back of the net in his last three league outings and the midfielder’s latest effort seemed like securing a fourth successive win for Paul Sturrock’s side.

However, Northampton had other ideas as Abdul Osman and skipper Andy Holt both capatlised on lapses of concentration in the Southend defence to grab their first league triumph of the campaign.

Such drama was in stark contrast to a slow start to the game, with the only excitement early on being a third minute volley from Town new boy Leon McKenzie which deflected off Sean Clohessy and flew only inches wide of the left post with Blues goalkeeper Glenn Morris wrong-footed.

Both sides then struggled to keep hold of the ball during a scrappy period of play but Southend should have opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when a chipped Louie Soares pass picked out the run of Blair Sturrock.

But, with just the advancing Northampton goalkeeper – Chris Dunn – to beat, the Scottish striker sliced a woeful left footed shot well wide of the left post from eight yards when he should have done better.

Twenty minutes later, Ryan Hall blasted a long range effort straight at Dunn with the game's first shot on target but free-flowing football and any excitement remained in short supply.

A fine right wing cross from Grant, which was not reached by Sturrock at the back post, momentarily livened up proceedings just before the half-time break .

And, at the start of the second period, a left wing corner from Hall was headed only inches off target by Chris Barker before Blues came close to opening the scoring in the 55th minute with a well worked free-kick which saw Soares roll the ball in to the path of Grant who blasted a 25 yard shot just inches past the left post.

But the let-off was only shortlived for Northampton as Southend broke the deadlock just two minutes later when a deep right wing cross from Clohessy found Grant at the back post and the midfielder made no mistake with an assured first time volley from six yards.

Blues' lead was to last just six minutes though as the Cobblers netted a quick equaliser when Osman lashed a 14 yard shot in to the roof of the net after Bilel Mohsni had failed to clear John Johnson’s low ball in to the box.

In a bid to get his side back in front, Blues boss Sturrock responded by bringing on Barry Corr in place of Soares and Southend did almost regain the lead when a 20 yard shot from Grant fizzed just over the crossbar.

But, in the 76th minute, it was the Cobblers who netted what proved to be the winning goal when Kevin Thornton's left wing corner was met by Holt who climbed above Mohnsi to score from eight yards.

In reply, Sturrock brought on both Scott Spencer and Matt Paterson in attack but Northampton remained solid and they also came closest to scoring late on with Osman heading Courtney Herbert's right wing free-kick against the foot of the right post.